Despite his early health problems, Roscelli would grow into a quiet intellectual, receiving his basic education from the parish priest, Andrea Garibaldi.

These times were brief however, as he would spend a large part of his childhood caring for his poor farming family's sheep in the mountains.

[2] Seeing a great need for change, Roscelli set about forming a new type of job training for girls.

He gathered together a group of young women, and with them founded a "sewing workshop", in which girls could receive practical and professional training as well as Christian instruction.

The women who ran the sewing workshop, known as "Roscelli's Collaborators", decided their mission would be greatly helped if they were to consecrate themselves to Christ in a more formal way.

Roscelli was reluctant to start a religious congregation, but was encouraged to seek the advice and approval of Pope Pius IX.

Nine years later, on 21 December 1989, Roscelli was declared Venerable by Pope John Paul II in a decree of heroic virtues.

[6] A spiritual feature characteristic of Blessed Agostino Roscelli…was to work at the service of his brothers and sisters without ever neglecting his interior union with the Lord.

His ardent love for God, enriched by the gift of wisdom, enabled him to give himself as far as possible to serving his neighbor without ever being separated from the Lord.99 years after his death, Roscelli was officially declared a saint by Pope John Paul II on 10 June 2001.

The love of God for men is manifested with particular clarity in the life of St. Augustine Roscelli, whom we contemplate today in the splendor of holiness.

Its existence, all imbued with deep faith, can be considered a gift offered to the glory of God and for the good of souls.