Saint Lucy Filippini, the co-founder of the Institute of the Maestre Pie Filippini, dedicated to the education of young girls, was born in Italy. Orphaned at an early age and raised by her aunt and uncle who encouraged her pious inclinations by sending her to be taught by the Benedictine nuns. Under the guidance of Cardinal Barbarigo, she opened schools for young ladies and trained teachers to instruct them in the domestic arts of weaving, embroidery, reading, and Christian doctrine. The cardinal later devised a set of rules to guide Lucy and her followers in religious life. 52 schools were established during her lifetime and she died of breast cancer at 60.
