Saint Luigi Orione
Priest of Tortona who founded the Little Work of Divine Providence
- Rank
- Saint
- Kind
- Priest, Founder
- Life
- 1872 – 1940
- Era
- 20th century
- Feast
- 12 March
- Countries
- Italy
Life story
Luigi Orione was born on 23 June 1872 at Pontecurone, in the diocese of Tortona in Piedmont, Italy. From 1886 to 1889 he studied at the Valdocco Oratory in Turin, where Saint John Bosco worked. In 1892 he opened an oratory for poor boys in Tortona, and in 1893 a boarding school for the poor. He was ordained a priest on 13 April 1895.
From 1899 he gathered priests and clerics around him. The work was called the Little Work of Divine Providence, and its male branch, the Sons of Divine Providence, received canonical approval in 1903. In 1915 he founded the Little Missionary Sisters of Charity, and later branches for blind sisters, Adorers of the Blessed Sacrament and contemplative sisters.
In 1908, after the earthquake at Reggio Calabria and Messina, he went to help the victims, especially orphans. Saint Pius X appointed him vicar general of the diocese of Messina for three years. In 1915 he went again to the Marsica region after another earthquake. He also founded “Little Cottolengos” for the suffering and abandoned, often on the outskirts of cities.
From 1913 he sent religious abroad, beginning with Brazil and then to Argentina, Uruguay, Palestine, Poland and the United States. He made two missionary journeys to Latin America. In 1931 he founded the shrine of Our Lady of Safe Keeping (Madonna della Guardia) at Tortona. He died on 12 March 1940 at Sanremo. When his body was first exhumed in 1965 it was found intact. Pope John Paul II beatified him on 26 October 1980 and canonized him on 16 May 2004.
Works and witness
- Opened an oratory (1892) and a boarding school (1893) for poor boys at Tortona; ordained in 1895
- Founded the Sons of Divine Providence, approved in 1903
- Helped earthquake victims at Messina in 1908 and Marsica in 1915
- Founded the Little Missionary Sisters of Charity in 1915 and the Little Cottolengos
- Sent religious on missions abroad from 1913, beginning with Brazil
Saints from the same country
References
- Vatican, biography of Luigi Orione for his canonization of 16 May 2004 (vatican.va, liturgy/saints)
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.