Saint Leonard Muraildo
Saint Leonard Muraildo (born October 26, 1828 AD in Turin, Piedmont, Italy; died March 30, 1900 AD in Turin, Piedmont, Italy) was an Italian priest who founded the Congregation of Saint Joseph (Giuseppini del Murialdo) to care for youth and former prisoners in 19th-century Turin. He was a disciple of Saint John Bosco and a close collaborator of Saint Joseph Cafasso. Pope Paul VI canonized him in 1970. His feast day is March 30.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Leonard Muraildo
| Saint Leonard Muraildo | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | March 30 |
| Profession | Diocesan priest; founder of the Congregation of Saint Joseph (Giuseppini del Murialdo); youth apostolate; prison apostolate |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Congregation of Saint Joseph (Giuseppini del Murialdo); disciple of Don Bosco; Turin school of social holiness |
| Patronage | Youth; orphans; neglected children; prisoners and former prisoners; the Giuseppini del Murialdo congregation; Turin |
| Attributes | Priest's vestments; young people (oratory setting); prisoner's chains (rehabilitated ex-prisoners); Turin city skyline; [[Saint John Bosco (his model and near-contemporary)]] |
| Birthplace | Turin, Piedmont, Italy |
| Death Place | Turin, Piedmont, Italy |
| Cause of Death | Natural death; died March 30, 1900, in Turin; spent his final years suffering from illness while continuing to guide his congregation |
| Primary Shrine | Church of the Congregation of Saint Joseph (Giuseppini del Murialdo), Turin — the center of his congregation; pilgrimage site on his feast day (March 30) |
| Liturgical Class | Optional Memorial (Roman Rite); March 30 |
| Historic Class | Not in 1962 calendar (canonized 1970) |
Biography
Leonard Muraildo was born on October 26, 1828, in Turin, to a middle-class family. He was orphaned at a young age and educated partly by the Christian Brothers. He was ordained a priest in 1851. He studied at the Convitto Ecclesiastico under Saint Joseph Cafasso, one of the greatest influences on his spirituality and priestly identity.
He became deeply involved in the oratory movement inspired by Saint John Bosco and in 1866 took over the direction of the Oratory of the Artigianelli ("Little Craftsmen") in Turin, a workshop and oratory for working-class youth. He served as its director for over thirty years.
In 1873 he founded the Congregation of Saint Joseph (Giuseppini del Murialdo, or Josephite Fathers) to carry on this work of youth and prison ministry. The congregation spread through Italy and eventually internationally.
He suffered from ill health in his final years but continued his work until his death on March 30, 1900.
Pope Paul VI beatified him on November 3, 1963, and canonized him on October 3, 1970.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Turin, Piedmont, Italy
Death location: Turin, Piedmont, Italy
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Shrines
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Known shrines
- Church of the Giuseppini del Murialdo, Turin, Italy — center of his congregation and principal pilgrimage site.
Feast day
March 30
Veneration
Saint Leonard Muraildo was canonized by Pope Paul VI on October 3, 1970. He is the patron of neglected youth and former prisoners and the founder of the Congregation of Saint Joseph (Giuseppini del Murialdo).
Prayers
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