Today, our Church remembers a Saint who is characterized by his love for the youth in society: his example is a clear reminder for all of us to put our energies and talents in forming the next generation of young people to be of greater service to God and to their society, to be leaven of the world which is already so broken by pride and self-interest. On 16 October 2016, Pope Francis added seven new witnesses to the catalogue of saints. Among them was St Lodovico Pavoni (1784-1849) from Brescia in Northern Italy. Lodovico Pavoni realized that the education of young people was the most urgent need of his time. The figure of Pavoni is of a saint who made a great impact by his work on behalf of youth and persons most in need of support (deaf, disabled, orphans, and the poor) while also contributing to the renewal of contemplative life. His story is very relevant in this jubilee year, because the founder of the Sons of Mary Immaculate was an authentic witness of God's mercy to the younger generation. LODOVICO PAVONI was born to a noble family, in Brescia, on September 11, 1784, in a time of profound political and social upheavals. Ordained a priest on February 21, 1807, he devoted himself to the education of the poor youth. For them, in 1812, he founded an oratory; and, for their sake, he gave up the possibility of an ecclesiastical career, which seemed paved for him when the Bishop Nava called him to be his Secretary (1812) and appointed him Canon of the Cathedral (1818). Feeling deeply questioned by the situation of many teenagers who, left to themselves and forced to work in morally dangerous environments, were losing the values and Christian principles learned in the Oratory, Lodovico Pavoni offered them a home, a family and a job, opening in 1821 the Institute of St. Barnabas. He wanted it as a “College of Arts” in which the welfare intervention was completed by an articulate educational project, based on the centrality of the person being educated and on tenderness, what later came to be called “preventive method.” He also understood that to offer his young people a decent future, it was necessary to teach them a profession that would make them autonomous and socially useful. That is why eleven craft workshops were opened at St. Barnabas, among those the Typography stand out as the first graphic school in Italy, which soon became a real Publishing House. He also received in the Institute deaf people, whom he loved with preference, because “being in greatest need, have more right to the concerns of charity.” For the peasant he projected an agricultural farm at Saiano in Franciacorta, twelve kilometers away from Brescia. In order to provide continuity and prosperity to his works, he founded, on December 8, 1847, the Congregation of the Sons of Mary Immaculate, whose members − priests and consecrated brothers − could be directly inserted into the same mission and share “a life perfectly in common.” Lodovico Pavoni died in Saiano, where he had gone to rescue his boys, on April 1, 1849, the last of the “Ten Days” of Brescia. Pius XII, recognizing his heroic virtues in 1947, called him “another precursor of St. Philip Neri ... a forerunner of St. John Bosco ... a perfect emulator of St. Joseph Cottolengo.” On April 14, 2002, in the solemn setting of St. Peter’s Square in Rome, he was beatified by Pope John Paul II, who also established his annual memorial on May 28. A miracle occurred in Brazil made it possible for Fr. Lodovico Pavoni to be declared saint by Pope Francis, on October 16, 2016, in a solemn celebration, also at St. Peter’s Square in Rome. Currently the Congregation of the Pavonians continues the charism of its founder in education, publishing apostolate (Àncora publishing house) and pastoral in Italy, Spain, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Eritrea, Burkina Faso and Philippines. There are many reasons why Pavoni can be considered a precursor. Long before Don Bosco or Don Murialdo, Pavoni saw in the phenomenon of juvenile neglect one of the great dramas that characterized the age of transition between the old regime and industrialized society. He understood that the only way of redemption was through holistic education of the person. Religious education was his fundamental objective, but Pavoni saw professional training as the way that best covers all aspects of the person. The centrality of the Christian faith, love for each person, the importance of work as an instrument of human and social development, clear rules within an organization but implemented as in a family, attention to personal relationship and recourse to reason rather than imposition – these are the components of a plan that aims to equip young people with the necessary tools to develop a balanced personality and to recognize their social role before the impact of the social situation drives them inexorably to the margins. PRAYER to St. LodovicoWe implore you, Father, source of life and joy;
through the intercession of Saint Lodovico Pavoni, with confidence we ask for the grace of... (mention the grace you are praying for) May your all-powerful love grant our prayer and make us more like your faithful servant, who gave joy and hope to the young and the poor. May our dearest Mother Mary present You our petitions; she obtained the first miracle in Cana through Jesus, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Comments are closed.
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![]() "All the Saints of God are there to protect me, to sustain me and to carry me. Indeed, the communion of Saints consists not only of the great men and women who went before us and whose names we know. All of us belong to the communion of Saints, we who have been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, we who draw life from the gift of Christ’s Body and Blood, through which he transforms us and makes us like himself. Yes, the Church is alive – this is the wonderful experience of these days. "
(Pope Benedict XVI, Homily on the Mass of Inauguration to the Petrine Ministry, 24 April 2005) NOTE:This ministry does not entertain requests nor for information to obtain the relics which appear in this website. Guide For Relic ClassificationWe strive to provide English translations of the terminology used to label relics. However, there may be a need to consult the original term to avoid confusion.
Please go to this page for a short guide to relic classification. Instagram Feed/BlogArchives
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