Rosa Venerini was born in Viterbo, Italy on February 2, 1656. After a long period of prayer and discernment, seeking to know what God asked of her, she began to invite the girls and women of her neighborhood to her home to recite the Rosary and learn the truth of their Faith. On August 30, 1685 she opened her first school where young women received religious instruction and learned to read, to write, to sew and embroider and develop those skills which would help them live full and productive lives. Rosa's work marked an important milestone in the education of young people. As other young women joined her and as the number of Maestre (teachers) and school increased throughout other parts of Italy. Rosa spent the remainder of her life dedicated to the work she had begun training and guiding Maestre, founding schools and visiting them. It was a life of prayer, concern, travel, sacrifice. She spent seeking every available opportunity to help others. The norms she formulated for a way of life were simple, relevant, and based of the Gospels of Jesus Christ. Rosa died in Rome on May 7, 1728. She was beautified on May 4, 1952. On October 15, 2006, Rosa Venerini was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI.