Giuseppe Frassinetti

Paolo Giuseppe Maria Frassinetti, also known as Giuseppe Frassinetti or Joseph Frassinetti (1804–1868), was an Italian priest who founded the Congregation of the Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate, also known as S.H.M.I. or F.S.M.I..

Venerable Paolo Giuseppe Maria Frassinetti
File:Giuseppe Frassinetti.jpg Venerable Joseph Frassinetti
Born	15 December 1804 Vico San Paolo, corner Vico Carlone, Genoa, Italy
Died	2 January 1868 (aged 63) Santa Sabina, Genoa, Italy

The Frassinetti family

Joseph Frassinetti, whose complete baptismal name was Paolo Giuseppe Maria was born in Genova, Italy on December 15, 1804: from Giovanni Battista Frassinetti, and Angela Viale. His father had a small fabric store, which allowed them a modest but decorous life. The parents, of firm Christian principles, educated their children in an austere and fervent piety. Unfortunately, out of eleven, only five siblings survived the childhood; namely: Joseph, Francesco, Paola, Giovanni, and Rafaele.

The mother, a kind and lovely woman, educated her children to a deep Marian devotion. Following a traditional custom among the Catholics of Genoa, she brought all her children, once they reached the age of reason, to the Shrine of La Madonnetta, on the Hill of Carbonara, for offering their heart to the Virgin Mary.

Suddenly, on January 6, 1819, the family's devout and serene life was disturbed by an unexpected event: the untimely death of mother Angela.

This profound grief put father Giambattista and his children into the test, deeply marking their existence. The profound faith in God, as well as their mutual love and solidarity, allowed them to move forward, without regrets, trusting in the Divine Providence.

With them, there also lived Aunt Antonietta, the sister of father Giovanni Battista, who tried as much as possible to make up for the absence of their mother. Sadly, seven years later, she died too. Although the Frassinettis had a maid for the heaviest work, the responsibility of being, the governess of the house, fell on the young Paola, who was only seventeen years old at that time. She was particularly attentive to her younger brothers, for whom she played a maternal role. For this, Giovanni and Raffaele would show her a deep gratitude till the end of their life.

Meanwhile, Joseph attended the Archdiocesan Seminary of Genoa as an outsider; meaning: he would attend classes during the day, and then return home for the night. He did not limit himself to scholastic knowledge, but kept himself abreast of the social issues of the time, in a daily dialogue with his father and siblings.

By listening to them and asking questions, Paola, who had no formal schooling as by the custom of the time, was able to learn many things. Moreover, having received the basic lessons on reading and writing from her father and sibling, she would continue her education through self-study.

Following on the footsteps of Joseph, his brothers also chose the path of the priesthood: Francesco joined the Canons of the Lateran Basilica; while Giovanni and Raffaele became diocesan priests, and then collaborators with Fr. Giuseppe in the Parish of Santa Sabina. Inspired by the elder brother, they also wrote some books on preaching.

Preparation for priestly ministry

The Seminary School of Genoa, included the following curriculum: the Minor Humanities, corresponding to the Junior High School; Rhetorics, or Senior High School; which was followed by Philosophical and Theological Studies.

Joseph dedicated himself to studies with seriousness and proficiency. Among the many qualified professors who contributed to his formation, was Fr. Antonio Maria Gianelli - now a Saint, who became the Bishop of Bobbio. In addition to teaching Rhetorics, Fr. Gianelli had organized the Academy of the Simple-hearted, whose purpose was to foster creativity and love for literature among the young seminarians. Every year, some artistic representations were organized, in which the best students would present their poetic and literary compositions - and Joseph was among the most active. By means of these activities, Fr. Gianelli also desired to establish with the seminarians a deep spiritual dialogue, which, for some of them, lasted the whole life through; as documented by the correspondence in our possession between the two. In particular, Joseph learned from his master to esteem the Christocentric spirituality, and to value the morality of St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, which was in opposition to dominant rigorism of the time.

The Theological studies allowed the young Frassinetti to form a solid doctrinal and catechetical preparation, which perfectly complemented his spiritual fervor.

On June 9, 1827, Frassinetti was ordained to the Diaconate; and on September 22 of the same year, to the Priesthood. Both ordinations were held in Savona, through the imposition of hands of Monsignor Joseph Vincenzo Airenti, bishop of that Diocese; since the Archdiocese of Genoa was at that time sede vacante.

Fr. Joseph would write in his "Clarifications on My Past" (Rischiaramenti sul mio passato): "As soon as I was ordained a priest, a strong desire took possession of my heart to help the young clergy, as much as I could, in my nothingness and trusting only in divine help - and it seemed to me that much could have been done for them." Fr. Frassinetti was therefore passionate about his vocation and eager to support his fellow priests in the apostolate, by word and example. In 1852, at a mature age, he would write a book for priests, with the intention of comforting and inciting them in doing good: "Jesus Christ, Model of the Priest" (Gesù Cristo, regola del sacerdote). This masterpiece was so well written that it can still be read today with great spiritual profit.

The care for priestly vocations, as well as the attention in fostering fraternity among priests, and the commitment to their spiri-tual, cultural and moral formation, would become the specific charism of Fr. Joseph Frassinetti.

Youth apostolate and the Congregation of Blessed Leonardo

After his Ordination, Fr. Joseph was sent as vicar to the Parish of Santo Stefano in Genoa, where he dedicated himself especially to the catechesis for children.

At that time, in the city, there were a number of priestly associations involved in preaching and religious instruction; notably: The Urban Missionaries and The Evangelical Workers, of which Fr. Frassinetti was an active and zealous member. In addition to this, he played a leading role in a new ecclesial group, which he himself helped founding, the so-called, Congregation of Blessed Leonardo of Porto Maurizio.

Blessed Leonardo of Porto Maurizio (1676-1751) - now a Saint, whose baptismal name was Paolo Girolamo Casanova, was a Franciscan preacher particularly committed to popular missions. He was also responsible for propagating The Way of the Cross. St. Alphonsus defined him as, "The greatest missionary of our century. He was chosen as Patron Saint of the new Congregation for his zeal in evangelizing the simple people.

It all began in the Lent of 1829, when Fr. Luca de' Passi came from Bergamo to establish in Genoa the two institutions he had founded for the catechetical instruction and human formation of children: The Pious Works of St. Raphael, for boys; and The Pious Works of St. Dorothy, for girls.

Abbot Agostino De Mari, who was the presider of the Evangelical Workers, advised him to get help from Luigi Sturla, who was known as an enterprising seminarian, and rich in apostolic spirit. The advice was accepted and proved to be a valuable one; so much so that before returning to Bergamo, Fr. Passi entrusted to him both Pious Works in Genoa.

Luigi Sturla and Joseph Frasineil were best friends, as they had been schondmates for several years. After the death of his father, Luigi temporarily left the seminary, as his relatives obliged him to take care of the family business - they were wealthy cloth merchants. After a few years, however, Luigi resumed his formation for the priesthood. It was Sturla himself who conceived the idea of an Association that would bring together the priests and seminarians involved in the Pious Works of Saint Raphael and Saint Dorothy. Fir. Frassinetti participated in the Association from the very beginning, and in a sense became its mind and heart.

In addition to the commitment to catechetical activity, the members were dedicated to develop their spirituality, and to care for the formation of the new generations. This Association, after changing name several times, ended up being popularly called, Congregation of Blessed Leonardo of Porto Maurizio. It was well accepted in Genoa by the young clergy who, thanks to it, were formed in the doctrine of St. Thomas Aquinas and in the morals of St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori. Other characteristics of the institution were the fidelity to the Pope and the opposition to Jansenism, which was still alive in the region of Liguria. Precisely these aspects, together with a certain sympathy for the Society of Jesus, arose some mistrust and persecution, which caused the closure of the Congregation in 1848.

Aside from that, Fr. Frassinetti proposed and implemented the establishment of the Academy of Studies within the Congregation itself, which played an effective role in spreading the ideas mentioned above.

Some young priests, endowed with lively minds and apostolic zeal, collaborated in this academy; among them were: Fr. Gaetano Alimonda, who would become the Archbishop of Turin; Fr. Salvatore Magnasco, soon to be Archbishop of Genoa; Fr. Filippo Gentile, then appointed Bishop of Novara; and Fr. Tommaso Reggio, now Blessed, who was appointed first Bishop of Ventimiglia and then Archbishop of Genoa.

Teamwork was the practice in the Congregation of Blessed Leonardo, as everyone placed the common good before his personal interest. Moreover, among many members, there arose a sincere friendship; as it was the case between Fr. Joseph Frassinetti and Fr. Luigi Sturla. The latter, with his extroverted and tireless character, held the threads of the organization; while the former, as can be seen from his writings, continually elaborated the fundamental contents and the lines of development of the common work. For both of them, in the prime of their priestly life, it was an unforgettable school of apostolate and priestly fraternity.

Bibliography

Sources

FRASSINETTI Giuseppe, opere edite ed inedite, 13 volumi, Tipografia Poliglotta Vaticana, Roma 1906–1912.

FRASSINETTI Paola, Lettere, Congregazione delle Suore di Santa Dorotea della Frassinetti, Roma 1985.

Bibliographies

FASSIOLO Domenico, Memorie storiche intorno alla vita del sacerdote Giuseppe Frassinetti, Priore a S. Sabina in Genova, Tipografia della Gioventù, Genova 1879.

OLIVARI Carlo, Della vita e delle opere del Servo di Dio sacerdote Giuseppe Frassinetti, Priore a Santa Sabina in Genova, Fondatore dei Figli di Santa Maria Immacolata, Tipografia Poliglotta Vaticana, Roma 1928.

FALDI Emilio Felice, Il Priore di S. Sabina, il Servo di Dio Giuseppe Frassinetti, Scuola Grafica Don Bosco, Genova Sampierdarena 1967.

TEODOSIO DA VOLTRI, Un prete rinnovatore, ritratto di Giuseppe Frassinetti, Tipografia SS. Vergine di Pompei, Genova 1969.

ROSSETTO Rosa, Paola Frassinetti, in punta di piedi. Fondatrice delle Suore di Santa Dorotea, EMP, Padova 1984.

RENZI Giordano, Giuseppe Frassinetti, Postulazione FSMI, Roma 1992.

FALASCA Manfredo Paolo, Storia di un parroco. Il Venerabile Giuseppe Frassinetti, Fondatore dei Figli di Santa Maria Immacolata, Cantagalli (Edizione maggiore), Siena 2006.

PASSARELLI Gaetano, Santa Paola Frassinetti. La via del cuore e dell'amore, Editrice Velar, Gorle - BG 2012.