Maria Teresa Merlo

The work of Maria Teresa Merlo is intimately intertwined with the foundation, structuring, and expansion of the congregation of the Daughters of Saint Paul (popularly known as the Pauline Sisters). Under her maternal and energetic leadership, the institute developed rapidly. The charism of the Daughters of Saint Paul was revolutionary for the time: it involved using the most modern means of mass communication (the press, book publishing, and later radio, cinema, and television) to proclaim the Gospel. Maestra Tecla encouraged her sisters not to fear technical progress, but to place it at the service of the Word of God. The congregation reached decisive milestones during her generalate: - January 16, 1926: Sending of the first group of sisters to Rome to establish a community. - March 15, 1929: Msgr. Giuseppe Francesco Re, Bishop of Alba, officially erected the Pious Society of the Daughters of Saint Paul as a congregation of diocesan right. Maestra Tecla was confirmed as Superior General. - March 19, 1929: She made her perpetual public vows in the hands of the founder, delegated by the bishop. - December 13, 1943: The institute received the pontifical decree of praise, becoming of pontifical right, before the definitive approval of its constitutions by Pope Pius XII on March 15, 1953. Maestra Tecla was also a great missionary. Starting in March 1936, she began a long series of international journeys to visit and support her religious sisters around the world. She traveled through Europe, Latin America (notably Brazil and Argentina), the United States, Asia, and Africa (notably the Congo). At the time of her death, the congregation already numbered more than 2,000 sisters spread across numerous houses on five continents. At the same time, she collaborated actively with Father Alberione to support the birth of other branches of the Pauline Family, notably the Pious Disciples of the Divine Master (founded in 1924), the Sisters of Jesus the Good Shepherd (Pastorelle), and the Sisters of Mary Queen of the Apostles (Apostolines). She transferred the motherhouse to Rome and founded a clinic for sick sisters in Albano Laziale, which would later become the Regina Apostolorum hospital, open to all.

The spiritual life of Maestra Tecla is marked by a heroic faith and a profound humility. Her spiritual notes reveal her secret: "I am nothing, God is everything." She abandoned herself totally to the divine will and to the spiritual direction of Father Alberione. In June 1961, during the feast of the Most Holy Trinity, she made a solemn offering of her life to God so that all the Daughters of Saint Paul might become saints. In June 1963, she was struck by a severe stroke (cerebral spasm). During her final months of illness, spent at the Regina Apostolorum clinic in Albano Laziale, she lived her physical suffering as a final apostolic offering. In August 1963, she received a surprise visit from the recently elected Pope Paul VI, who came to comfort her and express his admiration for her work. Maestra Tecla passed away peacefully on February 5, 1964, in Albano Laziale, at the age of 69. In 1967, her remains were transferred to the crypt of the Basilica of Santa Maria Regina degli Apostoli alla Montagnola in Rome, where she now rests.

The reputation for holiness of Maria Teresa Merlo quickly led to the opening of her cause for beatification: - July 15, 1967: The Sacred Congregation of Rites issued the decree authorizing the opening of the informative processes. - February 25, 1982: Official introduction of the cause for beatification and canonization in Albano Laziale. - January 25, 1987: Closing session of the diocesan inquiry (apostolic process) on her life, virtues, and works. The documents were officially transmitted to Rome in December of the same year. - January 22, 1991: Pope John Paul II signed the decree recognizing the heroic nature of her virtues, thus granting her the title of Venerable. A file concerning a medically unexplained healing, attributed to her intercession, was investigated at the diocesan level and validated in Rome on September 26, 1996. The medical board of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints formally recognized the unexplained nature of this healing on December 16, 1999. The cause is currently awaiting the final recognition of the miracle by the theologians and the Sovereign Pontiff to allow for her beatification.

The spirituality of Tecla Merlo is entirely Christocentric and Pauline. It is centered on Jesus Master (Way, Truth, and Life), love for the Eucharist, fidelity to the Church, and a passion for the Gospel. She liked to repeat: "Let us lend our feet to the Gospel so that it may run and spread everywhere in the world. [...] I would like to have a thousand lives to dedicate them all to this noble apostolate."

Her legacy remains alive through the Daughters of Saint Paul, who continue their mission of evangelization today in more than 50 countries. Faithful to the spirit of innovation of their co-founder, the sisters continue to invest in new languages of communication, including digital ones (as evidenced by the interactive scrollytelling project launched to celebrate the legacy of Maestra Tecla).