Saint Filippo Smaldone

Life story

Filippo Smaldone was born on 27 July 1848 in Naples, the eldest of seven children. While still a seminarian he began helping marginalized people and deaf-mutes in Naples, who then received little suitable assistance. He was ordained a priest on 23 September 1871 (Holy See biography).

On 25 March 1885 he founded an institute for deaf-mutes at Lecce with Father Lorenzo Apicella and some sisters he had trained. It became the basis of the Salesian Sisters of the Sacred Hearts, and the Lecce institute became the congregation's motherhouse. In 1897 the work extended to Rome and Bari, and later to blind children, orphans and abandoned children. He was also a canon of Lecce Cathedral and founded a Eucharistic league for priests and lay adorers.

Father Smaldone died at Lecce on 4 June 1923, aged seventy-five, of diabetes with heart complications. Pope John Paul II beatified him on 12 May 1996, and Pope Benedict XVI canonized him on 15 October 2006.

Works and witness

• Helped deaf-mutes in Naples while still a seminarian
• Founded an institute for deaf-mutes in Lecce on 25 March 1885
• Founded the Salesian Sisters of the Sacred Hearts
• Opened houses in Rome and Bari in 1897 and extended the work to blind children and orphans
• Served as a canon of Lecce Cathedral

Saints from the same country

Saint Agnes, Saint Lawrence, Saint Cecilia, Saint Sebastian

References

• Holy See, biography of Blessed Filippo Smaldone (vatican.va, ns_lit_doc_20061015_smaldone_en), read in full – birth, ordination 23 Sept 1871, Lecce 1885, Rome and Bari 1897, death, beatification 1996
• Wikipedia (English), “Filippo Smaldone” – canonization on 15 October 2006

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.