THE FOUNDATION

The National Federation of The Misericordie was established with the statute approval of November 21st 1899 at Pisa.
The statute approval and the conclusive act of the congressional work, held in Pistoia the 24th and 25th of the previous September 1899, in the course of which, for the first time in the history of the association a reunion was held to congruently of their experience, discuss and trace a common future pathway.
The initiative of convoking the Congress was taken by the Misericordia of Pistoia, which initially intended to celebrate it in occasion of the festivity of its own 4th, centenary (1500-1900), but motives of general opportunity suggested the anticipation.

“However, due to special reasons, and for the good and interest not only of the proposing institution, but also for all sisters associations, it was suitably deliberated to anticipate the reunion of such congress, and to have it in this last year of the dying century (in which so many wounds were inflicted to our praiseworthy institutions), so that at the dawn of the century, that is about to begin, it could find the same already fruitful advantages, witch are about to bring them a saint and solid Federal League” ("Proemio" - Acts of first National Congress - Pistoia 24th September 1899)

The meeting of the Congress revealed itself problematic.
The Commission, installed on January 14th 1899 to organize the national encounter, it immediately had difficulties to identify all the existing confraternities.
For centuries there was lack of contacts and each Association had an autonomous evolution that was measured only through its local reality.
Now the Commission would had to research and contact the various Misericordie scattered over the territory and bring them back to a common place where they could discover themselves, even though there had been lack of contacts through the century.
The task looked difficult nevertheless, the Commission was able to fulfill its goal at least in part tanks to the assured collaboration of some dioceses.
At the end of this investigation 77 Misericordie were discovered whereupon the commission sent a note of invitation.
Only 45 of them answered to the invitation and nine responded only by letter.
The reunions of September the 24th and 25th saw the active participation of only 36 Misericordie of witch seven were represented by delegation. Among the present there were representative of the big associations of the major cities of Tuscany, but, also the smaller league representatives of the suburbs.
The contribution to the debate offered by these small Associations was significant, this is how it emerges from the minute of the Congress, demonstrating a vitality and attention as it evolves in really surprising fast times.
The congress work, concluded September 25th, electing the Count Cesare Sardi as representative of the Lucca and Borgo a Mozzano Misericordia’s, as well as first president of the Misericordie.
The closing speech (published completely in its integrity into the document section of the site) given by Conte Sardi traces the physiognomy of the new born Federation movement.
That’s is the way the commission in charge of the publication act’s closed the document:

“Lets remember that after the solemn proclamation of the Federation belief made in the Congress of Pistoia, the joys and sorrows of only one of our institute have truly become the joys and sorrows of all of us.” (Acts of 1st Congress)