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 Father Luigi Orione: 100th Anniversary of Birth Scott 526 (1972)  Don Orione: 150th Anniversary of Birth Scott 1794 (2022) On March 12, the Church celebrates the feast day of Saint Luigi Orione. Don Orione was an Italian priest who was active in addressing the social needs of his nation during the late 19th and early 20th century. He founded a number of religious institutes during his lifetime and was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2004. Luigi Orione was born in 1872 at Pontecurone, in the Piedmont region of Italy. At age thirteen, he entered the Franciscan Friary of Voghera (Pavia) and later became a student at the Valdocco Oratory in Turin, operated by the Salesians of Don Bosco. There he gained the attention of Saint John Bosco. During his early life, Luigi had suffered a variety of health problems. However, in 1888, he was present at Don Bosco's death, and from that moment his ailments were miraculously cured. Don Orione was determined to become a priest and entered the seminary of the Archdiocese of Turin. He became a member of both the San Marziano Society for Mutual Help and the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, societies both famed for their works of social support. In 1892, he opened his own oratory to educate the poor boys of the city, and the following year he started a boarding school for the poor. He was ordained a priest on April 13, 1895. Over the years, he started religious groups whose works were directed towards helping those in need. Among the first groups was the Piccola Opera della Divina Provvidenza (Little Work of Divine Providence), followed by the Little Missionary Sisters of Charity. After World War I, he expanded his work and founded schools, farming colonies, charity organizations and nursing homes throughout Italy. His mission eventually started foundations in the Americas. In 1931, Don Orione founded the Shrine of the Madonna della Guardia in Tortona, which to this day is the principal church for the Orionine order. Following his death on March 12, 1940, his body was laid to rest in the crypt at the Shrine. In 1972, Vatican City issued a two-stamp set marking the centenary of the birth of two important priests: Don Orione and Don Lorenzo Perosi (Scott 526-527). Don Perosi was a close friend of Don Orione and was the Perpetual Director of the Sistine Chapel Choir, as well as a composer of sacred music. Note that the stamp bears the title "Father Orione" as it predates his canonization. Fifty years later, in 2022, a second stamp issue was released, marking the 150th anniversary of Saint Luigi Orione's birth:  Saint Luigi Orione: 150th Anniversary of Birth Minisheet, Scott 1794M (2022) Once again, the author must bring in one of his personal notes and a connection to Massachusetts. Many charitable organizations begun by Saint Luigi Orione are still operating around the world. In the United States, the national shrine and headquarters of the Sons of Divine Providence is located on Orient Heights in East Boston. The site, with sweeping views of Boston, includes the Madonna Queen of the Universe National Shrine, which features a magnificent three-story statue of Our Lady of Fatima, constructed by the Don Orione Fathers in 1954. The link below to the Shrine website shows this beautiful statue. REFERENCES: |
