Blessed Chiara Bosatta

Biography

Blessed Chiara Bosatta, also known as Clare and by her birth name Dina Bosatta, was born on May 27, 1858, in Pianello del Lario, Como, Italy. She was the daughter of Alexander Bosatta, a silk manufacturer, and Rosa Mazzocchi. Unfortunately, her father passed away when she was still young, leaving a deep impact on her life.

At the age of 13, Chiara began her studies with the Daughters of Charity, where she developed a deep love for serving others and embracing a life devoted to God. However, after some time, she felt that her true calling lay elsewhere, and so she began a novitiate with the Canossian Sisters.

During her time with the Canossians, Chiara began to discern that their charism was not aligned with her personal vocation. As a result, she made the difficult decision to return home. Together with her sister, she found her path in the Daughters of Mary and dedicated herself to caring for neglected elderly people and children at a charity hospice.

Chiara also took on the role of a teacher, providing education to the children at the hospice, and her kindness and compassion made a significant impact on their lives. Her desire to further dedicate herself to the service of God led her to co-found the Daughters of Saint Mary of Providence alongside her sister and Saint Luigi Guanella.

In this new religious congregation, Chiara took on the name Chiara as she continued to live a life devoted to caring for those in need. Her primary focus was on the spiritual formation of the sisters, guiding and nurturing them in their own journeys towards holiness.

Blessed Chiara Bosatta's life was tragically short, but rich in her selfless service to others. She passed away on April 20, 1887, in Pianello del Lario, Como, Italy, at the age of 28 due to natural causes. Her legacy of love, compassion, and devotion to God lives on.

Recognizing the remarkable virtues exhibited by Chiara Bosatta, Pope John Paul II declared her venerable on September 1, 1988, acknowledging her heroic virtues. On April 21, 1991, she was beatified by Pope John Paul II in Rome, Italy, further acknowledging her sanctity and offering her as a model of holiness for Catholic faithful to emulate.