Luigi Talamoni

Blessed Luigi Talamoni

Plaque in Monza
Mystic, Confessor, and Founder
Born 3 october 1848
Monza, Lombardy
Died 31 january 1926 (age 77)
Milan, Lombardy
Honored in Catholic Church
Beatified 2004, Rome by John Paul II
Patronage Province of Monza and Brianza

Blessed Luigi Talamoni (Monza, October 3, 1848Milan, January 31 1926) was an Italian priest, professor, councilor of Monza and founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Gerard Misericordine: in 2004 Pope John Paul II beatified him.

Biography

Born October 3, 1848 in Monza, Luigi Talamoni was the second of six children of Giuseppe and Maria Sala. He completed his first studies in the elementary '"Oratory of Barnabite Carrobiolo" Monza that, given the modest economic conditions of the family, welcomed him later in the "Seminar of the poor." In 1865 he graduated to the "diocesan seminary" in Milan. After completing his theological studies he began on literature and philosophy.

He was ordained on March 4, 1871 and he was sent to teach at the "Collegio San Carlo" in Milan, where he had as a student (1874-1875) Achille Ratti, the future Pope Pius XI. In 1875 he was called to the "Seminary of Monza", as a teacher of the High school. Also worked in pastoral care, especially in preaching and in the confessional of the Cathedral.

The growing success of socialism led him to politics: he agreed to be included in the civil lists of the "Catholic Committee of Monza" and in 1893 was elected to the City Council.

His political commitment was directed to the needs of schools and kindergartens, to improve the status of public roads and their safety, lighting, and to the defense of morality. Churches houses for the poor and the protection of small business, medicine for the poor, the improvement of the prison environment. The social work efforts also earned him the esteem of his political opponents. Despite his re-election in 1923, the climate of violence initiated by fascism forced the resignation of the city council.

Encouraged and directed the relief organization started by Maria Biffi Levati(1835-1905) with whom he founded the Congregation of the "Sisters of St. Gerard Misericordine", of which he wrote the first regulation.

He died in Milan, in the clinic of the Sisters of Maria Bambina, January 31, 1926 at 77 years and the solemn funeral were bestowed by the town of Monza.

Worship

Having established the fame of his holiness, the archbishop of Milan, Cardinal Ildefonso Schuster began the work of canonization, and its process was completed by his successor, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Montini.

On March 21, 2004, in St. Peter's Square in Rome, he was beatified by Pope John Paul II. On this occasion, his body was moved from the church of the nuns Misericordine the Cathedral of Monza.

On October 3, 2009, with a solemn celebration in the Duomo of Monza headed by Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi, archbishop of Milan, the archpriest Silvano Provasi announced positive pronouncement of the Congregation for Divine Worship, and the Discipline of the Sacraments, on his proclamation as Blessed, and patron of the new Province of Monza and Brianza.