St. Maria was the foundress of the Handmaids of Charity of Brescia, Italy. She was born in 1813 and died in 1855. Although of delicate constitution, apostolic zeal made her an angel of consolation to those needing any of the corporal or spiritual works of mercy Her spiritual guide, Monsignor Pinzoni, said that “her life is a marvel that astonishes everybody who sees it”. St. Maria di Rosa told one of her sisters that “I can’t go to bed with a quiet conscience if during the day I’ve missed any chance, however slight, of preventing wrong-doing or of helping to bring about some good”. She would go at a moment’s notice to help any in need. The people of Brescia acknowledged this when they flocked to her funeral. She was canonized in 1954.