One of the largest Catholic women’s organizations in the nineteenth century. Founded in 1850 in Lille by Louise Josson, the group quickly developed in Europe and all over the world, with its headquarters in Paris and Rome. The study sheds light on women’s crucial role in two different forms of Catholic counter-revolution: in Italy, the struggle against unification; in France, opposition to the secularization process. Key words: Catholic women, motherhood, counter-revolution, Theodore Ratisbonne, conversion
Keywords: Donne cattoliche, maternita, controrivoluzione, Theodore Ratisbonne, conversione