“That loving tender providence that never deserts those who trust in him”
St Luigi’s life and work were always guided by divine providence. Though as can be the case in our own lives — and even more in the lives of the Saints — this took many turns and led him to heaven by a narrow and rocky path.
From early childhood Luigi was filled with the Oratorian spirit. His half-brother Carlo was a member of the Udine Oratory for four years, until its suppression by Napoleonic forces in 1810. When Luigi was ordained in 1827, at the age of 23, he celebrated his first Mass at the former Oratory Church, and then devoted himself to serving the poor after St Philip’s example. Then in 1846, the Udine Oratory was re-established with Father Carlo as the Provost. Luigi joined the Oratory that same year, and would consider himself an Oratorian to the end of his life. He exhibited the Philippine spirit with such perfection that, after the death of Father Carlo in 1856, he was elected Provost himself. Providence, however, had not finished with him yet, and the Udine Oratory was suppressed once again, eleven years later, sharing the fate of so many congregations caught in the anti-clericalism of unified Italy. This obstacle could not stop St Luigi. He continued to imitate St Philip and, when he died, the words Priest of the Oratory were written on his headstone. Such was his faithfulness and dedication in living out our charism, despite such serious obstacles, that he is now celebrated as a saint of the Oratory, and we keep his feast this Saturday.
Luigi’s greatest work was with the poor, which relied on providence in equal measure. Feeding and schooling orphans at a time of war and famine was no easier than living out the Oratorian vocation amidst militant anti-clericalism. In times of extreme want, he would gather his orphans in the chapel and knock on the tabernacle door, trusting that God, knowing their need, would provide for them. He named the congregation he founded The Sisters of Providence, and despite the hard times, Luigi opened twelve houses before he died. They fared better in the face of anti-clericalism than the Oratory and continued their work past Luigi’s death, helping to lead scores of orphans to a better life. In some of his last words written to the sisters, Luigi encouraged them saying: “After my death, your congregation will have many troubles, but afterwards it will have a new life.”This was how he saw providence working in his life, leading him through hardship to new life in heaven, and that is how he believed it would keep working in the life of their congregation.
Our lives may also take unexpected turns, and we can’t always see how we will accomplish the tasks God has destined for us (even if they seem much simpler than saving orphans or founding a new religious order). In all of these trials, we must follow St Luigi’s example and place ourselves at the mercy of “that loving tender providence that never deserts those who trust in him”. Like St Luigi, we will gain strength in our own struggles if we always keep in mind that we live for Christ and remember the words he addressed to the Sisters of Providence: “The weariness, persevering effort, constant work and the tiresome attention should not cause you discouragement, because you know you are doing all this for Jesus.”