“Annetta Bentivoglio - the future Mother Maddalena - was at this time under the direction of a Father of holy and austere life, Father Bernardine of Porto-Gruaro, whose ideals were singularly like her own. Before the first followers of the Poverello of Assisi had any name, they were sometimes embarrassed as to how to account for themselves when asked who and what they were; and they had hit upon the simple explanation that they were poor penitents — “homines penitentiales de Assisi.” Father Bernardine and the Sister Mary Magdalen both felt that this was the truest definition for Franciscan men and women. Each in his and her own life was endeavoring to realize that type, out of sheer love for it.” - Gabriel Francis Powers