Blessed Giovanni Maria Boccardo

Priest and Founder (1848-1913)

His life

+ Giovanni was born in Ca’Bianca, Turin, Italy, and was the eldest of ten children. Three of his brothers became priests and one of them, Luigi Boccardo, has also been beatified.

+ Ordained a priest for the archdiocese of Turin in 1871, he desired to enter religious life, but was assigned to work in the diocesan seminary as an instructor and spiritual director.

+ Giovanni earned a doctorate in theology and became an honorary canon of the church of Santa Maria della Scala in Chieri. In these years, he became friends withSaint John Bosco, Saint Leonard Murialdo, and Blessed Joseph Allamano.

+ Giovanni was assigned to serve as parish priest in Pancalieri and was a beloved pastor, known for his care for the poor, children, and solicitude for prisoners. Recognizing the need for better medical care for the poor, he established a new congregation of sisters: the Poor Daughters of St. Cajetan.

+ Blessed Giovanni Maria Boccardo died on December 30, 1913, and was beatified in 1998.

Spiritual bonus

On this day the Church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.

For reflection

When a profound silence covered all things / and night was in the middle of its course,

your all-powerful Word, O Lord, / bounded from heaven’s royal throne.—Entrance Antiphon for December 30 (cf. Wisdom 18:14-15)

Prayer

Grant, we pray, almighty God,
that the newness of the Nativity in the flesh
of your Only Begotten Son may set us free,
for ancient servitude holds us bound
beneath the yoke of sin.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(from The Roman Missal: Collect for December 30)

Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.