Saint Luigi Orione
A priest with the heart of the Apostle Paul, tender to the point of tears, tireless to the point of heroism, who gave his life to the poor and forgotten.
Luigi Orione (1872-1940), the humble son of a road-paver from Pontecurone, Italy, became one of the great figures of Christian charity of his century. As a young man he spent three years at Valdocco with Don Bosco; at just 21, while still a seminarian, he opened his first college for poor boys in Tortona.
Ordained a priest in 1895, he went on to found the Sons of Divine Providence and the Little Missionary Sisters of Charity, along with homes, schools and "Little Cottolengos" for orphans, the sick and people with disabilities. He rushed personally to the rescue after the earthquakes of Messina (1908) and Avezzano (1915), and twice crossed the ocean to open missions in South America.
He died in Sanremo on 12 March 1940 with the words "Gesù, Gesù, Gesù... vado!", "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus... I am coming!". He was beatified in 1980 and canonised by Pope John Paul II on 16 May 2004.
His whole life can be read in two of his own phrases, which we carry to this day in Kaburugi:
- "Instaurare omnia in Christo", to restore all things in Christ.
- "Only charity will save the world."
A life given away, year by year
Born in Pontecurone
On 23 June, Luigi Orione is born into a poor family in Piedmont, Italy.
Three years with Don Bosco
He enters the Oratory of Valdocco in Turin, formed by Saint John Bosco himself.
His first college, at 21
Still a seminarian, he opens a college for poor boys in Tortona. Two years later he is ordained a priest.
The Little Work is born
The Sons of Divine Providence receive diocesan approval; in 1915 he founds the Little Missionary Sisters of Charity.
First at the rubble
He rushes to the survivors of the Messina and Avezzano earthquakes, taking in hundreds of orphans.
A mission to the world
Missionaries leave for Brazil; Don Orione himself twice travels through South America opening works of charity.
"Jesus... I am coming!"
He dies in Sanremo on 12 March, having given everything away.
A saint of charity
Canonised by Pope John Paul II in St Peter's Square on 16 May.
