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Anna Maria Adorni was born on June 19, 1805, in Fivizzano, Massa, Tuscany in what is considered central Italy today, to Matteo Adorni and Antonia Zanetti. When she was only seven, she and a friend decided to become missionaries and, together, left home for the missions. Their families brought them back home.
In 1820, Anna Maria’s father died, and she and her mother moved to Parma. It was then that Anna Maria shared her dream of becoming a Franciscan sister. Her mother, however, did not want Anna Maria to leave, for she needed her support. So, Anna Maria put her dream on hold.
On October 18, 1826, Anna Maria married Antonio Dominico Botti, and the two had six children together. Five of the children died in childhood, and the son who lived, Leopoldo, grew up to become a Benedictine monk
On March 23, 1844, Antonio died, leaving Anna Maria a widow in her late 30’s. Immediately, she began doing missionary work in Parma by visiting prisoners and educating poor street girls. Soon, others joined Anna Maria in her work, and they became known as the Institute of the Good Shepherd. The bishop of Parma and the duchess of Parma both approved this pious union, and the duchess rented an apartment for the group to use for their work. Later, on January 18, 1856, the group were able to use an old, abandoned convent that Augustinian sisters had once used. The charism of the group was to help women who found themselves in difficult times.
On May 1, 1857, Anna Maria and eight other women formed a new religious congregation called the Handmaids of the Immaculata. On March 25, 1876, the bishop of Parma approved both the Institute of the Good Shepherd and the Handmaids of the Immaculata, and the rule for the Handmaids was confirmed on January 28, 1893.
Anna Maria died on February 7, 1893, at the age of 87 in Parma, Italy, and she was beatified on October 3, 2010. Blessed Anna Maria’s feast day is February 7.
