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 St. Giuseppe Benedetto Cottolengo 150th Anniversary of Death Scott 908-909 (1992) The Feast of Saint Giuseppe Benedetto Cottolengo is celebrated on April 30. In 1992, Vatican City issued a two-stamp set to commemorate the 150th anniversary of his death on April 30, 1842. The stamps were prepared from a design by artist Giovanni Hajnal and depict the saint comforting the sick (650 L) and with the Little House of Divine Providence (850 L). Joseph Cottolengo (1786-1842) was born on May 3, 1786, into a middle class family in Bra (Piedmont). He was educated at the seminary in Turin and ordained a priest in 1811. He devoted his life to the care for the needs of the poor. Inspired by St. Vincent de Paul de Paul (1581-1660), Joseph founded religious institutes and also established a small hospital to care for the destitute. Cottolengo founded the Societies of the Little House of Divine Providence. These institutions care for people suffering from epilepsy, hearing and speech difficulties, orphans, the mentally handicapped, and the elderly. He also established a rescue home for girls. Cottolengo founded communities of prayer for the dying or those in grave danger of death. Historian David Farmer states: “…his aim throughout was to provide not only for physical needs, but also for the good of souls. His trust in Providence was complete, even when money ran out.”At age 56 he handed over his communities to others and died a week later of typhoid fever. Cottolengo was canonized in 1934 by Pope Pius XI. REFERENCES: |
