Since 1925 these nuns have had the privilege of working in the sacristy of St. Peter's Basilica. Leading up to that, their work had caught the attention of Pope Pius XI who called them to service in the Vatican, taking care of the forty-seven altars of the Basilica of St. Peter along with the sacred vestments of the sacristy.
In addition, they also came to provide the hosts and altar wine, a service they still provide today.
The work of the sisters continues full-steam ahead. In this way, they live their unique charism, consecrating their lives to the service of the cult of the Eucharistic mystery. The sisters therefore manifest their faith and love in the Eucharist through their very specific call of service, maintaining behind the scenes the liturgical life of the Vatican.
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| The sisters' convent in Rome |
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| The sisters in Rome welcome all with a smile |
To this day, clergy visit their convent in Rome in Trastevere on the Lungotevere Farnesina, 7 in order to purchase already made or custom commissions of items such as quality altar linens and surplices and rochets, etc. And not only the Vatican, but also some other parishes drop off their soiled altar linens here in order for them to be laundered professionally by the sisters (for example: they professionally launder and press amices, purificators, finger towels, altar clothes, albs, etc.).
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| The sisters' vestment shop in Rome |
Although the sisters sell vestments and other liturgical appurtenances, they really shine with their linen works and hand-made lace. Much of the quality hand-made lace they sell was made by sisters who have since passed. Meanwhile, the craft has been passed on to other younger sisters. Most of the younger sisters today are from Brazil. Below is an image of the entrance to their shop in Rome.
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| A bust of the founder of the order, Don Clemente Marchisio, at their convent in Rome |
The Sisters were founded by Blessed Fr. Clemente Marchisio, who was born in Racconigi, near Turin, in 1833. The son of a shoemaker, he grew up in a Dominican parish where he discovered his vocation as an altar boy and was led to study for the priesthood. In Turin he came under the tutelage of St. Joseph Cafasso, the rector of a local sanctuary and boarding school.
It was in his youth that Fr. Marchisio developed a strong love for the Mass and sacred vestments. He was fond of saying: "Mass is my life." Indeed, it was the center of his life.
After his ordination, Providence led him to the village of Rivalba where he made his home and went on to live for forty-three years. This is where he founded his religious institute, known as the Figlie di San Giuseppe. That was in the year 1875 - difficult years of revolution in Italy, when the Masons took over the country and waged war on the Church, especially in big cities such as Turin and Rome.
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| The co-founder of the order, Sr. Rosalia Sismonda |
At his side from the beginning in Rivalba was a woman of great faith, Rosalia Sismonda. Born and raised in Turin, she felt the call to be a sister while Fr. Marchisio eventually felt called to start a religious order. He took her on as his first vocation when in 1875 in a small house in Rivalba, four young ladies made private vows without yet wearing any habit. This was the start of the future congregation, co-founded by Sr. Sismonda.
Thus, under the guidance of Fr. Marchisio, Sr. Sismonda became the first vocation and the co-founder. She was an artist and was very gifted at embroidery, a skill she cultivated for service at the altar and she later taught to her sisters to apply this same skill to vestment making.
Sr. Sismonda then designed the original habit of the sisters. Soon the nuns moved into the 1,000-year-old castle of Rivalba, that was to become the cradle of their new congregation. Sr. Sisomonda went on to be the foundress of many more convents in Turin and Venice and Rome and even in Africa and South America. Their work gradually grew.
Although the sisters began with a kindergarten in 1872, God led them to later irradiate the sacred liturgy with beauty, forever defining their ultimate charism. In Piacenza the sisters established an embroidery shop.
In their early years, the sisters helped establish a textile workshop to make sure the local girls were educated in the craft of sewing. This was to save them from having to move to Turin to work as house maids or in the big factories of the Industrial Revolution.
Although this work began as a type of social action to help alleviate local poverty, the sisters themselves became adept in the making of vestments and altar linens. This is how they helped support themselves over the years and make a name for themselves, through the creation and sale of quality liturgical items sewn for service at the altar.
This then led naturally to the making of wafers to be Holy Communion hosts and they began to bottle and sell altar wine. Since those early years, this work has consumed the good sisters, giving rightful importance to their order and a careful a concrete legacy of care to beautify the central action of Christian worship, the Mass.
For this reason, the sisters of San Giuseppe have for many years been called "the host sisters." Their work has caught the attention of many popes, including Pope St. Pius X and all the twentieth century popes who appreciated their quiet work to help enhance the liturgical life of St. Peter's Basilica and the Papal Chapel.
May God reward these good sisters.
Historical images of the sisters can be seen here.
Below are sample images of some of their products.
Feel free to visit their shop in Rome. Tell them "Little John" sent you.
