The spirituality of Don Louis Guanella is based on the understanding of the Gospel as a story of a father’s love for his children: God cares for each one, especially the weakest and most in need.
On the afternoon of March 15, 2002, a young American, William Glisson, was rollerblading without a helmet at high speed on a street in the Philadelphian suburb of Springfield, when he suffered a violent fall resulting in serious head injuries.
Taken to hospital in a comatose state, he underwent several surgeries over the next few days. But his state continued to deteriorate, leaving little hope for survival. The best prognosis was that if he lived he would have permanent disabilities.
Four days after the accident, on the solemnity of St. Joseph, a family friend, Dr. Noreen M. Yoder, gave William’s mother two relics of the Blessed founder of the religious order which ran the hospital where she worked, suggesting that she turn to him to obtain a cure for the youth. In a gesture of faith, the woman attached one of the relics to her son’s wrist and kept the other with her, to ask the Blessed for a miracle. A prayer chain for this intention soon formed.
Against all medical expectations, the young man began showing signs of recovery and twenty days later he was discharged from the hospital, with only a follow-up program for neuro-motor rehabilitation. Eight months after the accident, completely recovered, he was back at work in his father’s carpentry business.
This miracle, obtained through the intercession of the Blessed fulfilled the last requirement for his canonization process. He will be raised to the altars and inscribed in the catalogue of saints of the Catholic Church on October 23, in St. Peter’s Square in Rome.
Who is this intercessor? He is Louis Antonio Guanella Bianchi, founder of the Congregation of the Daughters of St. Mary of Providence and the Servants of Charity, also known as Guanellians.
Balance between firmness and kindness
Born on December 19, 1842, in the Italian alpine village of Fraciscio di Campodolcino, Louis was the ninth of thirteen children in a family of strong Christian principles.
His father, Lorenzo di Tomaso Guanella, solid of both physique and personality, inspired confidence by his mere presence. His son’s autobiography reads: “He exuded health and his character was strong and decisive, similar to Mount Calcagnolo, which towered over the village of Fraciscio.”1
His mother, Maria Antonieta Bianchi, was also pious and hard-working like her husband but differed from him by her gentle manner. Of her, Fr. Louis Guanella wrote: “The weight of paternal authority over the children was providentially counterbalanced by the mother […] a creative and very loving woman; a treasure from Providence!” 2
He got along well with all of his siblings, but his favourite was Catherine, just one year old than he. As children, they spoke of the adventures of the saints and learned to see Jesus in the person of the poor. Near their house, there was a rock with indentations like soup pots. In them, the innocent children would mix water and earth, saying as they stirred: “When we grow up, we’ll make soup like this for the poor.” 3
Early signs of a vocation
From an early age, there were many signs, premonitions and extraordinary events, showing little Louis the way traced for him by Divine Providence.
The first of these occurred when he was only six years old, on the Feast of St. John the Baptist. He was in the Square of the Cathedral of Fraciscio, with his uncle and his brother-in-law, who handed him a gift of a small bag of diavoletti, tasty mint candies, just as the bell for Mass began to toll.
Not wanting to enter the church carrying sweets, he went to hide them in a woodpile, safe from the envy of other children. Suddenly, he heard clapping and saw an old man near the door of the Town Hall looking at him. The saint described him in his Autobiography: “He was thin, white-haired, of dark complexion; he was wearing short pants and socks of undyed wool, and his friendly face seemed to be pleading for the candies.” 4 He hid them, frightened, and when he turned to look the man had disappeared.
This image never left his mind and it would re-awaken “whenever he met other elderly people, asking for a little charity and kindness at the end of their life.” 5
Another striking episode took place on his First Communion day, when he was nine. Since it was Holy Thursday, no celebration followed. When he returned home, he was sent to watch over the sheep, as usual. But touched by grace, he sat down on, as if on a sofa, on one of the grassy knolls of Motto Hill where he often rested while the flock grazed, and began to pray, thanking Our Lady for the happiness of having received Jesus in his heart.
He felt himself taken up by a gentle kindliness that inspired him to make generous resolutions. However, as he began to nod off with his prayer book in his hands, he was awakened by a feminine voice, calling his name. Not seeing anyone nearby, he thought it must have been a dream. He took up his book again, only to return to his slumber.
He heard the same voice again and, like Samuel (cf. 2 Sm 3:8), there was yet a third time, in which the voice was louder and clearer: “Louis, Louis”. At that moment, the saint tells us, “I saw a Lady extending her right arm as if pointing out something. She said to me: ‘When you are an adult, you will do all of this in favour of the poor.’ And as if on a screen, I saw everything that I should do.” 6
Shaping his temperament
At age twelve, Louis received a scholarship and went to study at Gallio College in Como. For the young shepherd who was used to the freedom of the fields and breathtaking alpine vistas, adjusting to rigid school discipline was no small suffering. To him, the college seemed like a prison. However, this phase helped him to dominate his strong and sometimes impulsive temperament and to develop the amiable, expansive and affectionate side of his character, inherited from his mother.
Strengthened by the frequent reception of the Sacraments and an ardent devotion to Mary, the first seeds of his vocation took root. He was resolute in his principles and unshakeable in his great esteem for the virtues of chastity and modesty, despite the revolutionary and liberal winds sweeping through Italy and the world.
After six years at the college, he entered St. Abbondio Diocesan Seminary, where he strengthened the bonds that attached him to the specific vocation to which Providence had called him since childhood. When he returned to his birthplace during the holidays, he dedicated himself to the local poor and sick, and those most in need.
“A fiery sword in the holy ministry”
In a political atmosphere of resentment and anger, marked by the profanations of churches in Como carried out by the followers of Garibaldi, Louis was ordained a priest on May 26, 1866, by Most Rev. Bernardino Frascolla, Bishop of Foggia.
On that day, his soul overflowing with joy, the new priest made a promise to God and his brothers: “I want to be a fiery sword in the holy ministry!” 7 On these words, a biographer comments: “The young man demonstrated a capacity to dream and to ‘desire great things’; to take up the cause of the poorest, giving first place to the love of God and neighbour.” 8
His first Mass was celebrated on the solemnity of Corpus Christi in Prosto, where he had served as deacon, and he remained there almost a year as an associate pastor.
Appointed pastor of Savogno, he made use of his teacher’s diploma to open a school there, which was soon filled with students. He then enthusiastically dedicated himself to ministry with the poor for eight years. He gave religious formation to people of all ages, inviting them to union with the Holy Father and cautioning them about new doctrines of the time which were hostile to the Church. Because of this, and especially due to the publication of a booklet entitled Saggio di ammonimenti containing these teachings, he was considered a “dangerous element” by civil authorities. His school was closed and he was forced to leave the diocese.
Three years of “apprenticeship” with Don Bosco
Drawn by the personality of St. John Bosco, he decided to go to Turin. He spent three years (1875-1878) in “apprenticeship”, as he would later say, following in the footsteps of the Salesian founder along the path of sanctity and collaborating with his educational work for youth. During this time, he became acquainted with the charitable work of St. Joseph Cottolengo, which also left a profound impression on his soul.
However he was still beset by doubts and concerns. Was he following the path to which he felt himself called? Where was the fulfillment of everything he had seen on the day of his First Communion? The voice of Providence continued echoing in his soul, prompting him to found his own institution, for which this time of trials and experiences would contribute much.
Convoked by his bishop, he returned to the Diocese of Como. Leaving Turin and parting ways with the Salesians and especially Don Bosco was very painful. “I never felt such sorrow, not even holding my parents in my arms at the time of their death,” 9 he affirmed in his Autobiography.
First house of Divine Providence
In the parish of Traona, where he was sent in 1878, with the mission of helping the sick pastor, he attempted to transform an old convent into a school for poor boys aspiring to the priesthood, in the Salesian manner. However, since he was considered a “priest under suspicion,” he was unable to obtain the necessary permission from civil authorities.
In 1881, the bishop transferred him to the parish of Olmo, high in the mountains, where it was hoped he could evade suspicion of exercising a “dangerous influence” against the government. There, seeing the fulfillment of his calling impeded, he felt exiled and abandoned by God.
A few months later, he received orders to go to Pianello, where these trials came to an end. There, an orphanage and shelter had been founded by his recently deceased predecessor, Fr. Carlos Coppini, and placed under the care of some young women aspiring to religious life. It was from within these setting that his first foundation came about in 1886; the Congregation of the Daughters of St. Mary of Providence, with the invaluable collaboration of Mother Marcelina Bosatta and her sister, Blessed Clara Bosatta.
Always docile to the divine will, Don Guanella would say: “The secret of perfection is to do the will of God.” 10 Finally, he opened in Como the first House of Divine Providence—the same name used by St. Joseph Cottolengo—with the goal of caring for the poor and needy. The institution began to grow and there was no shortage of generous benefactors or souls ready to dedicate themselves to this work of charity.
On a trip to Turin, he sought guidance from Don Bosco about his desire to also found a male institute. The Salesian founder convinced him that the undertaking was a worthy one and thus was born, under the blessing of the Archbishop of Milan, Blessed Andrew Carlo Ferrari—who until 1874 had been Bishop of Como—the Congregation of the Servants of Charity.
With the collaboration of Fathers Aurelio Bacciarini and Leonardo Mazzucchi, having canonically erected the work on March 24, 1908, the long-awaited moment had arrived: Don Guanella and a small group of priests pronounced their perpetual vows of poverty, chastity and obedience before the tabernacle.
Called to belong to the divine family
The spirituality of the holy founder was based on the understanding of the Gospel as a story of the love of a father for his children: God is the Father of all, and a Providential Father, who cares for each one, especially for the weakest and those in most need.
All are called to belong to the divine family through Jesus Christ. And in it, the most needy deserve special help, such as the abandoned elderly, orphans, the terminally ill who have no one to care for them, or the physically and psychologically impaired.
He summarized the formation to be given within this divine family with the motto “Bread and Lord”. 11 The “Bread” would be the whole development of the person: physical, intellectual, psychological and social. And by “Lord” was understood the care for the “most profound needs of the human soul, called to find its fulfillment in the life of faith, hope and charity.” 12
In this family the indispensable figure of the Mother who leads all to Christ stands out. He spent hours before the statue of Our Lady of Divine Providence. He never doubted in the intercession of her who had shown him the scope of his work in his childhood: “Stay close to Mary and proceed with confidence,” 13 he would counsel his disciples.
To die well is even more important…
At the end of his life, after undergoing countless vicissitudes and trials, Don Guanella saw his work expand to four continents. Convinced that men are mere instruments, because “è Dio che fa —it is God who does—the founder encouraged the missionary ardour of his sons and daughters by telling them: “Your country is the world.” 14 He himself witnessed the founding of new houses in other countries, such as one in the United States in 1912.
The Guanellian work received important support, including that of St. Pius X, who honoured the founder with his friendship. He himself proposed the foundation of the Parish of St. Joseph the Triumphant, today a minor basilica, near the Vatican, with a shelter to help families who lived there in shacks.
In the midst of so many activities, he still found time to write many works of Christian formation, in addition to more than three thousand letters in which are evident his virtue, prophetic sense and his special love for the poor and abandoned.
One of his last initiatives, and perhaps the most popular, was the Pious Union of St. Joseph for the Salvation of the Dying, erected in 1913, to care for those in their last moments. “There is a need to live well,” he said, “but even more important is to die well. A good death is everything, especially today, when people only think of material things and in amusing themselves, rejecting eternity.” 15
Crowning a holy life, this good death came also for Don Guanella, on October 24, 1915, at 73 years of age. May his elevation to the honour of the altars reveal to today’s world, so confident in itself, the secret of his sanctity as a model to be followed: put oneself in the hands of Divine Providence, certain that, no matter how much men work, “è Dio che fa!” ◊
Notas
1 DON LOUIS GUANELLA. Autobiografia, apud CARRERA, Mario (Org.). Bem-aventurado Luís Guanella. São Paulo: Paulinas, 2007, p.71.
2 Idem, p.71-72.
3 Idem, p.74.
4 Idem, p.59.
5 CARRERA, op. cit., p.60.
6 DON LOUIS GUANELLA. Autobiografia, apud CARRERA, op. cit., p.62.
7 Idem, p.103.
8 CARRERA, op. cit., p.103.
9 Idem, p.117.
10 Idem, p.128.
11 MINETTI, SdC, Nino. Beato Luís Guanella. In: MARTÍNEZ PUCHE, OP, José A. (Org.) Nuevo Año Cristiano. 4.ed. Madrid: Edibesa, 2003, v.X, p.571.
12 Idem, ibidem.
13 AMARAL, Victor Vinícius M. Frase do Fundador. In: Efatá. Informativo do Aspirantado Guanelliano. Porto Alegre. Ano IV. N.27 (Maio, 2011); p.5.
14 MINETTI, op.cit., p.571-572.
15 CARRO CELADA, José Antonio. Beato Luís Guanella. In: ECHEVERRÍA, Lamberto de, LLORCA, Bernardino, REPETTO BETES, José Luís.
