Saint Giovanni Calabria
Veronese priest, a cobbler's son, who founded a congregation for abandoned boys
- Rank
- Saint
- Kind
- Priest, Founder
- Life
- 1873 – 1954
- Era
- 20th century
- Feast
- 4 December
- Countries
- Italy
Life story
Giovanni Calabria was born on 8 October 1873 in Verona, the youngest of seven children of Luigi, a cobbler, and Angela Foschio, a maidservant. When his father died he left primary school to find work. He prepared privately for the seminary lyceum, which he attended as an extern. His studies were also interrupted by two years of military service.
In November 1897, during his first year of theology, he took in a boy who had run away from gypsies; this is presented as the start of his work for orphaned and abandoned boys. A few months later he founded a charitable institution for poor sick people. He was ordained a priest on 11 August 1901. On 26 November 1907, as rector of San Benedetto al Monte, he founded the Casa Buoni Fanciulli in Verona; in 1908 it moved to Via San Zeno in Monte, now the motherhouse. In 1910 he founded the female branch, Le Sorelle, and in 1944 a lay group, the Family of External Brothers.
Father Calabria corresponded in Latin with the English writer C. S. Lewis. On the eve of his death he is said to have offered his life for the ailing Pope Pius XII, who unexpectedly recovered and lived four more years. Calabria died in Verona on 4 December 1954. Pope John Paul II beatified him on 17 April 1988 and canonized him on 18 April 1999.
Works and witness
- Took in a runaway boy in 1897, the start of his work for abandoned children
- Founded the Casa Buoni Fanciulli in Verona on 26 November 1907
- Founded the female branch, Le Sorelle, in 1910
- Corresponded in Latin with C. S. Lewis
- Canonized on 18 April 1999
Saints from the same country
References
- Holy See, biography for the canonization of 18 April 1999 (vatican.va, ns_lit_doc_19990418_giovanni-calabria_en), read in full – birth, 1897 runaway boy, Casa Buoni Fanciulli 1907, Le Sorelle 1910, Family of External Brothers 1944, offer of life for Pius XII, death, beatification 1988
- Wikipedia (English), “Giovanni Calabria” – ordination year 1901 (the Holy See text gives only 11 August) and the Latin correspondence with C. S. Lewis; canonization 1999
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.