Saint Who?
Saints Who Were Teachers
Saint Luigi Orione
Priest and founder († 1940) Feast: March 12
What would it be like to be taught by a saint? Luigi Orione was fourteen years old when he became a pupil of Saint John Bosco. Three years later, he had grown both spiritually and academically, had become one of Bosco’s favorite students, and yet was suffering from many health problems. After praying at the bedside of the dying Don Bosco, Luigi was completely healed. He realized that God had given him this second chance so that he could become a priest.
Just like his famous mentor, Luigi quickly demonstrated his gifts as a priest and teacher, and he inspired many men and women to follow him and dedicate their lives to the Lord in the multiple religious orders he established. One order was made up of priests and seminarians who served as teachers in his schools; another was for hermits. He founded three orders for women: one for teaching sisters, one for contemplative sisters, and one for religious sisters who were blind.
During his lifetime, his orders spread to Albania, Argentina, Brazil, England, Palestine, Poland, Uruguay, and the United States. Luigi himself traveled on two missionary journeys to Latin America and led the Catholic faithful on pilgrimages, processions, and missions. Luigi died with his brothers around him, a tireless servant of God until the end.
Heavenly Father, show us how to inspire
one another to excellence.
