The Piccola Adunanza and the Storm of the Napoleonic Era (1799–1815)
The Institute of the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Assisi was founded in 1702. The first community was known as the Piccola Adunanza, meaning “small gathering,” and it was also referred to as a “Pious House.” Today, the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Assisi continue to embrace these names as a reminder of their humble beginnings and enduring call to holiness.
The Piccola Adunanza has withstood the test of time for over three centuries. Rooted in a deep desire to seek God alone. However, this humble and pious house has faced many storms that threatened its very existence. Among these, the Napoleonic Era stands out as one of the turbulent periods in our history. Yet, through divine mercy and providence, the Piccola Adunanza not only survived but emerged with renewed strength and faith.
The Napoleonic Winds of Change in Italy
The period between 1799 and 1815 saw profound upheavals across Europe, as Napoleon Bonaparte expanded his empire and reshaped political and religious life. Italy, a patchwork of states and territories at the time, was particularly affected. With the fall of the Papal States and the establishment of satellite republics under French influence, the Church lost much of its temporal power and property.
In 1797, the Treaty of Campo Formio handed parts of northern Italy to French control. By 1809, Napoleon had annexed the Papal States entirely, exiling Pope Pius VII and initiating widespread suppression of religious institutions. In 1810, an imperial decree mandated the closure of monasteries and religious houses that were deemed non-essential. This suppression was not just political, it was a direct challenge to the very heart of religious life in Italy.
The Crisis and Providential Exception
Our community, founded in 1702, had grown modestly over the years, steadfast in its commitment to prayer, simplicity, and service. But in 1810, just over a century after our foundation, the Piccola Adunanza faced the threat of dissolution. The decree required all religious Sisters to abandon their habits and cease admitting new vocations. The very identity of our Institute, our way of life, was under siege.
Yet God, in His mysterious providence, provided a narrow path through the darkness. The decree included exceptions for religious institutions engaged in social work, particularly education. Because our convent housed a small school attached to it, we were permitted to remain, though under watchful eyes and without the visible signs of our religious profession.
A Slow Return to Life
With the defeat of Napoleon in 1814 and the restoration of the Papal States, the Church began to regain its freedom. On October 26, 1819, our sisters were once again permitted to wear their habits. At the time, only four Sisters remained—two of whom were over 80 years old. But it was not the end. In that same year, a new light arose in the person of Sister Marianna Fedele Guerrini from Assisi.
Though her leadership was initially unofficial, Sr. Marianna’s energy and faith were undeniable. She is rightly remembered as the Second Foundress of our Institute. With prayerful determination, she worked to rebuild the community and re-establish the school. In 1820, after a decade of uncertainty, the Institute was once again allowed to receive new vocations. It was a resurrection of sorts—an experience of the tender mercy of God breathing new life into what seemed lost.
The Quiet Witness of Sr. Paola of Jesus
Among the many testimonies of faith that carried the Institute forward in those years, the story of Sr. Paola of Jesus from Bagno Cavallo stands out. Frail and often ill, Sr. Paola experienced what she believed to be a miraculous healing on February 16, 1830, through the intercession of St. Joseph. This experience ignited in her a burning devotion to St. Joseph, which she shared not only with the sisters but also with the wider community of Assisi. Her humble witness of suffering, healing, and renewed zeal continues to inspire us to this day.
A Legacy Carried in Faith
The survival of the Piccola Adunanza during the Napoleonic era is a testament to God’s providence and the courage of faithful women who stood firm in the face of adversity. Their quiet resistance, grounded not in politics but in prayer and perseverance, is the legacy we inherit and strive to honor today.
We remain grateful for the sisters who endured, for the leaders who rebuilt, and above all, for the hand of God that preserved this little gathering that sought nothing more than to love Him.
