Saint Leonardo Murialdo

Life story

Leonardo Murialdo was born on 26 October 1828 in Turin. His father, a wealthy stockbroker, died in 1833. He attended the Piarist boarding school at Savona from 1836 to 1843 and then studied theology at the University of Turin. He was ordained a priest in 1851.

He worked with poor boys in Turin's oratories, first at the Guardian Angel oratory and then as director of the San Luigi oratory from 1857 to 1865. He spent a year in Paris for further study. In 1866 he was called to the Collegio degli Artigianelli in Turin, which taught a trade to poor boys, and he stayed with that work for the rest of his life.

On 19 March 1873, in the Artigianelli college itself, he founded the Congregation of Saint Joseph (the Josephites of Murialdo). Its purpose was the Christian education of poor, orphaned or abandoned young people. Later he opened a home for young workers, an agricultural colony and further oratories.

He was also active in the Catholic press, in the Opera dei Congressi and in Turin's Catholic Workers' Union. He died of pneumonia on 30 March 1900 in Turin. Pope Paul VI beatified him on 3 November 1963 and canonized him on 3 May 1970.

Works and witness

• Ordained in 1851; director of the San Luigi oratory from 1857 to 1865
• Took charge of the Artigianelli college for poor boys in 1866
• Founded the Congregation of Saint Joseph in 1873
• Opened a home for young workers and an agricultural colony
• Worked in the Catholic press and the Catholic workers' movement

Saints from the same country

Saint Agnes, Saint Lawrence, Saint Cecilia, Saint Sebastian

References

• Murialdo.org (Josephites of Murialdo), La Vita di San Leonardo Murialdo
• Vatican City State, Saint of the day, 30 March: Saint Leonard Murialdo (vaticanstate.va)

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