With the assistance of Cardinal Giovanni Francesco Barbarigo, Rose Venerini founded schools for young women, especially the poor, in Viterbo.

At the age of six, she went to live with her aristocratic aunt and uncle who encouraged her religious inclination by entrusting her education to the Benedictine nuns at Santa Lucia.

[2] Her career began under the patronage of Cardinal Marcantonio Barbarigo, who entrusted her with the work of founding schools for young women, especially the poor.

[3] The young ladies of Montefiascone were taught domestic arts, weaving, embroidering, reading, and Christian doctrine.

Twelve years later the Cardinal devised a set of rules to guide Lucy and her followers in the religious life.