St Luigi Orione
San Luigi Orione (1872-1940), a marvelous and genial expression of Christian charity , one of the most eminent personalities of the last century for his Christian faith lived openly.
He had the character and heart of the Apostle Paul, tender and sensitive to tears, indefatigable and courageous all’ardimento, tenacious and dynamic to heroism. All showed the way of the good. Always ready drooping on the needs of the poor , treasures and pearls precious, has tried to fill with love the furrows of the earth, full of selfishness and hate. The heart of this strategist of charity was “without limits because it was opened wide by the charity of Christ.”
This humble son of a repaired roads proclaimed that ” only charity will save the world ” and told everyone that ” perfect joy can only be found in perfect dedication of oneself to God and to men, to all men .”
1872
23 June was born in Pontecurone (AL).
1885
September 14 is received between the Franciscans of Voghera; It is stepped down in June 1886 due to an illness that had reduced dying.
1886
October 4, enters the Oratory of Valdocco (Torino) during Don Bosco; There remains three years.
1889
16th October entered the seminary in his diocese, Tortona (AL). He is doing his studies and works as a caretaker in the Cathedral.
1892
March 2 begins the apostolate for youth, gathering children for play and catechism. On July 3 next, the Oratorio San Luigi inauguration.
1893
October 15 the cleric Orion, 21, opened the first college in the San Bernardino district of Tortona.
1894
15 October, the Board is transferred to the more spacious “Santa Chiara”; open to students homes in Genoa and Turin. 1895, April 13 Don Luigi Orione was ordained priest.
1896
October opens a House at Mornico Losana.
1898
August 5th, the publication of “The Work of Divine Providence”. In September it is called in Noto (Syracuse) by Msgr. Bandini; Here accepts the Episcopal College of St. Louis and later the Agricultural Colony.
1899
30 July takes place the dressing of the first Hermits of Divine Providence. In October, the College opened in Sanremo San Romolo.
1901
Since the beginning of the agricultural colonies of Bagnorea, Cegni Varzi and in Rome, Nunziatella, of St. Joseph in Balduina, Santa Maria a Monte Mario.
1903
March 21: diocesan approval of the Little Work by Msgr. Igino Bandi, bishop of Tortona.
1904
May: takes place the definitive transfer of the Mother House in Via Emilia 63 in Tortona, called “Convitto Paterno.” It is entrusted with the care of the Church of St. Anne of the Grooms, at the Vatican.
1905
Don Orione opened in Tortona his first printing.
1908
March 25: at the request of Pope Pius X, Don Orione starts the ministry at Appio neighborhood in Rome, “Roman Patagonia.”
1909
January 4 leaves for Sicily to bring the first and urgent help after the disastrous earthquake of Reggio and Messina; It opens an orphanage in the Ionian Cassano.
1909
15 June, Pius X appointed him Vicar General of the Diocese of Messina.
1911
December 8, buys Villa Moffa, Bra (CN) will be the novitiate and house of studies of the Little Work.
1912
in April, Don Orione can return to Tortona after three years spent in Sicily. On April 19, during a hearing emits perpetual vows in the hands of the Pope, St. Pius X
1913
in December the first Missionaries leave for Brazil.
1915
13 January: another terrible earthquake at Avezzano; Don Orione rescued promptly and heroic generosity.
29 June: Don Orione began the Congregation of the Little Missionary Sisters of Charity. It takes place the opening of the first Piccolo Cottolengo in Ameno (Novara).
1918
August 29: in Tortona, imploring the end of the great world war, he vows, with the people, to build a shrine to the Madonna della Guardia.
1921
August 4, Don Orione leaves for South America, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay. New works at Rafat (Palestine) Colonia Agricola; in Rio de Janeiro, House Preservation; Puerto Mar del Plata, Parish and the College of St. Francis; Buenos Aires, Marcos Paz reformatory. He returned to Italy July 4, 1922.
1923
First house in Poland, at Zdunska Wola; reopening dell’Eremo Sant’Alberto di Butrio where arrives Friar Ave Maria.
1924
March 19: Foundation of the Little Cottolengo of Genoa.
1925
June 30: assumes an Orphanage in Acandia (Rhodes Island).
1927
August 15: Foundation of the branch of the Sisters Sacramentine blind in Tortona.
1929
It starts the publication of Marian periodical “Mater Dei”.
1931
August 29: Inauguration of the Sanctuary Madonna della Guardia in Tortona.
1933
In November, from start-up to the Little Cottolengo of Milan.
1934
First house in the United States, Jasper, Indiana. Sept. 24, he left for his second trip to Latin America.
1935
April 18: starts the Piccolo Cottolengo Argentino, in Claypole (Buenos Aires).
1936
Start the presence of the Little Work in England, Cardiff and South Wales to support Italians emigrated. It also opens in Albania Shijak for assistance to Italian workers.
1937
on August 24 it returned to Italy from South America.
1938
Inauguration of the new Institutes “San Filippo Blacks” in Rome and “Workmen” in Alexandria. Starting the Little Cottolengo in Milan.
1939
on April 1, Don Orione has a severe attack of angina pectoris in Alexandria. He is recovering. In May, start of Villa Santa Caterina in Genoa-Molassana for noble Lord decayed ;, inauguration of the Shrine of Our Lady of Caravaggio, in the Smoking (Pavia).
1940
on 9 February, a new angina pectoris attack threatens Don Orione’s life; He received the last sacraments; He is shooting a little. He spent his last days in Tortona. March 6 makes last visit to the Guardia Sanctuary and communities;
March 8 with the last “Good night” in Mother House greets the Brethren;
on March 9 of Sanremo.
March 12: last Mass and last telegram to the Pope; at 22.45, with the words “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus … I go!”, back to the Lord.
1980
26 October: Don Orione is proclaimed “Blessed” in Rome by Pope John Paul II.
2003
July 7 is promulgated the decree recognizing a miracle through the intercession of Don Orione.
2004
February 19 during the Consistory of Cardinals, announcement of the canonization of Don Luigi Orione.
May 16 – canonization of Don Luigi Orione in St. Peter’s Square by Pope John Paul II.