Saint Luigi Orione
Saint Luigi Orione (born June 23, 1872 AD in Pontecurone, Piedmont, Italy; died March 12, 1940 AD in San Remo, Liguria, Italy) was an Italian priest, a student of Saint John Bosco, and the founder of the Little Work of Divine Providence (Opera Don Orione) dedicated to serving the poor, the sick, the disabled, and the marginalized. He is known for his energetic response to natural disasters (he served at the Messina earthquake of 1908, the deadliest earthquake in European history), his immense pastoral charity, and his saying Do good to all, evil to no one. He was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2004. His feast day is May 12.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Luigi Orione
| Saint Luigi Orione | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | May 12 |
| Profession | Diocesan priest; founder of the Little Work of Divine Providence (Opera Don Orione) |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Little Work of Divine Providence (Opera Don Orione); disciple of Don Bosco; apostle of the poor and marginalized; Piedmont |
| Patronage | Tortona; the Little Work of Divine Providence; the poor; orphans; the disabled; earthquake victims; disaster relief; nurses; those who serve the marginalized |
| Attributes | Priest's vestments; children (serving orphans); earthquake ruins (Messina 1908); embrace of the suffering; Don Bosco (his model) |
| Birthplace | Pontecurone, Alessandria, Piedmont, Italy |
| Death Place | San Remo, Liguria, Italy |
| Cause of Death | Natural death; died March 12, 1940, in San Remo; he went to the sea to recover his health and died there; his body was returned to Tortona for burial |
| Primary Shrine | Mother House of the Little Work of Divine Providence (Opera Don Orione), Tortona, Piedmont, Italy — his body; principal shrine; the congregation's global headquarters; pilgrimage site; open to visitors |
| Liturgical Class | Optional Memorial (Roman Rite); May 12 |
| Historic Class | Not in 1962 calendar (canonized 2004) |
Biography
Luigi Orione was born on June 23, 1872, in Pontecurone, Piedmont, the son of a road worker. As a young seminarian he served as doorkeeper at Saint John Bosco's oratory at Valdocco in Turin — an experience that permanently shaped his apostolic vision.
He was ordained a priest in 1895. In 1893, before his ordination, he had already founded a small educational institution in Tortona that became the Little Work of Divine Providence (Opera Don Orione). The congregation grew rapidly, combining education, healthcare, and service to the poor and disabled.
His most celebrated act was his response to the Messina earthquake of December 28, 1908 — the deadliest earthquake in European history (80,000–200,000 dead). He rushed to Sicily with his community, organized orphan care, and worked personally among the dying. Pope Pius X called him "the priest of Messina."
He spent his life building a network of institutions for the poor, sick, and marginalized across Italy and eventually internationally. He died at San Remo on March 12, 1940. His body was returned to Tortona.
Pope John Paul II beatified him in 1980 and canonized him on May 16, 2004.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Pontecurone, Alessandria, Piedmont, Italy
Death location: San Remo, Liguria, Italy
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Parishes
No parishes dedicated to Luigi Orione have been added to the database yet.
Media
| Media | Length | AuthorCreator |
|---|---|---|
| The Saint Who Ran into the Hell of Messina– Saint Luigi Orione | 15–30 minutes | Journey of the Saints |
| Prayer to St. Luigi Orione | Under 5 minutes | Joy of Heaven |
Shrines
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Known shrines
- Mother House of the Opera Don Orione, Tortona, Piedmont — his body; principal shrine.
Feast day
May 12
Veneration
Saint Luigi Orione was canonized by Pope John Paul II on May 16, 2004. He is the founder of the Little Work of Divine Providence (Opera Don Orione) and a patron of Catholic social work among the poor, disabled, and disaster victims.
Prayers
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