Saint Luigi Maria Palazzolo

Life story

Luigi Maria Palazzolo was born on 10 December 1827 in Bergamo, son of Ottavio Palazzolo. He was ordained on 23 June 1850, worked in the apostolate at San Alessandro in Colonna and, from 1855, was rector of the church of San Bernardino. He devoted himself to the poor and the marginalised.

Teresa Gabrieli, later a Servant of God, became his first collaborator. The work began on 22 May 1869 according to the apostolic letter and homily of John XXIII; the evening before, 21 May, Gabrieli had made her vows. From it grew the Poor Sisters (Suore delle Poverelle), also called the Palazzolo Institute, who cared for orphans, the sick and the poor. On 4 October 1872 he also founded the Brothers of the Holy Family, when a priest and two brothers made their vows at Martinengo.

He died in Bergamo on 15 June 1886, aged 58. The decree on his heroic virtue came in 1962 and John XXIII beatified him on 19 March 1963 in St Peter's Basilica. On 28 November 2019 Pope Francis authorised the decree on a miracle, and on 15 May 2022 he canonised Palazzolo. His feast day is 15 June.

Works and witness

• Ordained on 23 June 1850; rector of San Bernardino from 1855
• Began the Poor Sisters with Teresa Gabrieli in 1869
• Founded the Brothers of the Holy Family at Martinengo in 1872
• Spent his life on orphans, the sick and the poor of Bergamo
• Beatified in 1963 and canonised in 2022

Saints from the same country

Saint Agnes, Saint Lawrence, Saint Cecilia, Saint Sebastian

References

• Dicastery for the Causes of Saints: 'Luigi Maria Palazzolo (1827-1886)', causesanti.va/it/santi-e-beati/luigi-maria-palazzolo.html

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