Saint Luigi Scrosoppi

Life story

Luigi Scrosoppi was born on 4 August 1804 at Udine, son of Domenico, a jeweller, and Antonia Lazzarini; two older brothers became diocesan priests. He entered the seminary at Udine at 12, was ordained deacon in 1826 and priest on 31 March 1827.

He helped establish the Sisters of Providence to care for poor and abandoned girls; the home for the destitute in Udine was called the House of the Destitute. In 1846 he joined the Oratory of St Philip Neri and on 9 November 1856 was elected its provost. On 22 September 1871 Pius IX approved the Sisters of Providence of St Cajetan of Thiene.

He died at Udine on 3 April 1884 after a long illness, aged 79. Paul VI declared him Venerable on 12 June 1978, John Paul II beatified him on 4 October 1981 and canonised him on 10 June 2001; the miracle accepted was the healing of a young man with AIDS in Africa. His feast day is 3 April.

Works and witness

• Ordained priest at Udine on 31 March 1827
• Helped found the Sisters of Providence for poor and abandoned girls
• Joined the Oratory of St Philip Neri in 1846 and became provost in 1856
• His sisters' institute received Pius IX's approval on 22 September 1871
• Beatified in 1981 and canonised in 2001

Saints from the same country

Saint Agnes, Saint Lawrence, Saint Cecilia, Saint Sebastian

References

• EWTN: 'Decrees Promulgated for the Servants of God' (miracle decree of 1 July 2000), ewtn.com/catholicism/library
• Birmingham Oratory: 'Saint Luigi Scrosoppi', birminghamoratory.org.uk/saint-luigi-scrosoppi
• Wikipedia: 'Luigi Scrosoppi' (dates of Oratory entry, provost, approval of the Sisters)

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