Saint Luigi Orione was born in Piedmont, Northern Italy, at Pontecurone, a village near Tortona on 23rd June 1872. The young Luigi felt he wanted to be a priest and joined the Franciscans, but had to leave due to ill health. He was welcomed by St. John Bosco, but left the Salesians after a few years to become a seminarian in his own Diocese of Tortona. Don Orione loved everybody; but the poor, the young, the elderly, the sick and people with disabilities were his special friends.
He died in Italy on 12th March 1940 after sending a loving message to the Pope: His last words were: "Jesus.. Jesus.. Jesus." His body is incorrupt and can be venerated in Tortona. He was beatified in Rome on 26th October 1980 by Pope John Paul II. The same Pope declared him a Saint on 16th May 2004.
The ideal of Don Orione's life was to live and to die for the spiritual welfare of people, serving Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Mother Church and its head, the Pope. His motto was, "Do good always, to all, evil to none". This year as we orionines celebrate His 80 years of Birthday in heaven, His life encourages us to follow very closely his motto "Do good always, to all, evil to none."
Author: Br. George Fernandes, Fdp
Second Year Theology
Author: Br. George Fernandes, Fdp
Second Year Theology
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