Ludovico of Casoria
Encyclopedia
Blessed
Ludovico of Casoria, O.F.M., (b. at Casoria
, near Naples
, 11 March 1814; d. at Pausilippo, 30 March 1885) was an Italian Franciscan
friar
, renowned social reformer and founder of the "Gray Friars of Charity" and the "Gray (or Franciscan) Sisters of St. Elizabeth".
of the Order of Friars Minor at which time he took the name Ludovico. Shortly after his ordination
, he was appointed to teach philosophy and mathematics to the young members of the Order at the Franciscan friary of St. Peter (San Pietro) in Naples.
He soon embarked on a lifetime of establishing works to care for the poor and needy of the time, founding dispensaries
and orphanage
s. About the year 1852 he opened a school for the education of African boys and girls redeemed from slavery. In addition to his other institutions, he went on to found institutions for the deaf and the mute
. He also worked to provide care for the elderly members of his own Order.
Following the advice of his superiors to find others to whom he could entrust this work, in 1859 he instituted a community of men as a religious congregation of the Franciscan Third Order Regular
at San Pietro. They became known as the Gray Friars of Charity (Frati Bigi della Carità in Italian) on account of the grayish or ashen color of their habits. Three years later, he instituted likewise a congregation of religious women, known as the Franciscan Sisters of St. Elizabeth (Suore Elisabettiane Bigie), whom he placed under the protection of St. Elizabeth of Hungary. These friars received formal approval by the Vatican
in 1877. (They were disbanded, however, in 1971, also by the Vatican, due to the few members of the congregation.)
Nine years before his death, he was attacked with a serious and painful illness, from which he never completely recovered.
The cause for his canonization
was introduced in Rome within months of his death. He was beatified in 1993 by Pope John Paul II
.
Attribution
Beatification
Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
Ludovico of Casoria, O.F.M., (b. at Casoria
Casoria
Casoria is a comune in the Province of Naples in the Italian region Campania, located about 9 km northeast of Naples.Casoria borders the following municipalities: Afragola, Arzano, Cardito, Casalnuovo di Napoli, Casavatore, Frattamaggiore, Naples, Volla.-History:The name of Casoria is...
, near Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
, 11 March 1814; d. at Pausilippo, 30 March 1885) was an Italian Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
friar
Friar
A friar is a member of one of the mendicant orders.-Friars and monks:...
, renowned social reformer and founder of the "Gray Friars of Charity" and the "Gray (or Franciscan) Sisters of St. Elizabeth".
Life
Born Archangelo Palmentieri, he apprenticed as a cabinet maker in his youth. On 1 July 1832, he entered the novitiateNovitiate
Novitiate, alt. noviciate, is the period of training and preparation that a novice monastic or member of a religious order undergoes prior to taking vows in order to discern whether they are called to the religious life....
of the Order of Friars Minor at which time he took the name Ludovico. Shortly after his ordination
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
, he was appointed to teach philosophy and mathematics to the young members of the Order at the Franciscan friary of St. Peter (San Pietro) in Naples.
He soon embarked on a lifetime of establishing works to care for the poor and needy of the time, founding dispensaries
Dispensary
A dispensary is an office in a school, hospital or other organization that dispenses medications and medical supplies. In a traditional dispensary set-up a pharmacist dispenses medication as per prescription or order form....
and orphanage
Orphanage
An orphanage is a residential institution devoted to the care of orphans – children whose parents are deceased or otherwise unable or unwilling to care for them...
s. About the year 1852 he opened a school for the education of African boys and girls redeemed from slavery. In addition to his other institutions, he went on to found institutions for the deaf and the mute
Muteness
Muteness or mutism is an inability to speak caused by a speech disorder. The term originates from the Latin word mutus, meaning "silent".-Causes:...
. He also worked to provide care for the elderly members of his own Order.
Following the advice of his superiors to find others to whom he could entrust this work, in 1859 he instituted a community of men as a religious congregation of the Franciscan Third Order Regular
Third Order of St. Francis
The Third Order of St. Francis is a third order within the Franciscan movement of the Roman Catholic Church. It includes both congregations of vowed men and women and fraternities of men and women living standard lives in the world, usually married...
at San Pietro. They became known as the Gray Friars of Charity (Frati Bigi della Carità in Italian) on account of the grayish or ashen color of their habits. Three years later, he instituted likewise a congregation of religious women, known as the Franciscan Sisters of St. Elizabeth (Suore Elisabettiane Bigie), whom he placed under the protection of St. Elizabeth of Hungary. These friars received formal approval by the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
in 1877. (They were disbanded, however, in 1971, also by the Vatican, due to the few members of the congregation.)
Nine years before his death, he was attacked with a serious and painful illness, from which he never completely recovered.
The cause for his canonization
Canonization
Canonization is the act by which a Christian church declares a deceased person to be a saint, upon which declaration the person is included in the canon, or list, of recognized saints. Originally, individuals were recognized as saints without any formal process...
was introduced in Rome within months of his death. He was beatified in 1993 by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
.
Sources
- Acta Ordinis Minorum (May, 1907), 156-158;
- The Catholic World (November, 1895), 155-166;
- Voce di Sant' Antonio (July, 1907), 23-26.
External links
- http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintofDay/default.aspx Saint of the Day
- http://www.storiadeisordi.it/articolo.asp?ENTRY_ID=114 an account in Italian of his founding of the first school in Umbria for the care of deaf-mutes.
Attribution