Luigi Beltrame Quattrocchi and Maria Corsini
Saint Peter's Basilica, Vatican City by Pope John Paul II | |
---|---|
Feast | 25 November |
Attributes | elderly married couple |
Patronage | Both: Married couples and families Maria: Mothers and volunteers Luigi: Fathers and lawyers |
Luigi Beltrame Quattrocchi (12 January 1880 – 9 November 1951) and Maria Corsini-Beltrame Quattrocchi (24 June 1884 – 26 August 1965) were two married Italian Catholic laypeople who became the first couple to be beatified together in 2001.[1][2] According to Pope John Paul II, they lived "an ordinary life in an extraordinary way".[3] They are commemorated on 25 November—their wedding anniversary.[4][5]
Luigi Beltrame Quattrocchi
Luigi was born in
After his graduation, Quattrocchi took a legal position with the Intendacy of Finances and later went on to hold a number of posts on the boards of a variety of banks, including the Bank of Italy.[6]
Maria Corsini
Maria Luisa Corsini was born in
Corsini had an excellent education from a young age. Parish priests taught her literature classes, which gave her the background to write essays and books on education, religion, the family and the spiritual upbringing of children.
Married life
Corsini met Quattrocchi, the son of a family friend,
She was a highly devout person, but her husband, in the initial years, was not.[9] In the first three years of marriage, Corsini gave birth to three children: Filippo (born 1906), Stephania (born 1908) and Cesare (born 1909). Diagnosed with placenta praevia during her fourth pregnancy, and given the dangers at that time of carrying the baby to term, doctors counseled the couple to abort the pregnancy.[9] Her husband was advised that, barring a medical intervention, he should expect to be a widower with three small children to attend to. The doctors induced labour, however, and delivered the baby prematurely.[11] Corsini attributed her faith in God[8] to her and her baby's survival. Enrichetta (born 1914), along with two of her siblings, were present for their parents' beatification (in 2001).[9][12]
Maria worked for the
Children
The couple had four children:
- Filippo (October 15, 1906 - February 20, 2003), Benedictine priest, known as Don Tarcisio or Don Tar.
- Stefania (March 9, 1908 - March 1, 1993), Benedictinenun, known as Suor Cecilia.
- Cesare (November 27, 1909 - December 31, 2008), Trappist monk, known as Father Paolino.[6][13]
- Enrichetta (April 6, 1914 - June 16, 2012), whose cause of beatification opened in 2018.
Don Tarcisio and Father Paolino joined ASCI (Associazione Scouts Cattolici Italiani) as children, and after their ordinations, became scout chaplains. When it merged with AGI (Associazione Guide Italiane) to become AGESCI (Associazione Guide e Scouts Cattolici Italiani), both of them joined the new association.
Organizations
The couple were among the founders of many Catholic organizations:
- ASCI (Associazione Scouts Cattolici Italiani), the Italian Catholic scout association;
- Azione Cattolica, the biggest lay organization of Catholics in Italy;
- UNITALSI, an organization which carries infirm people on pilgrimages to Lourdes and other sanctuaries.[11]
Both were members of the
Corsini and her husband were associated with many religious institutions. Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martin noted that "they made their family an authentic domestic church, open to life, prayer, witness of the Gospel, the social apostolate, solidarity with the poor, and friendship... Intimately united in love and Christian ideals, they walked together on the path of holiness."[7] The couple also established a Scouting group in Rome.[14][7][8]
Death and burial
Luigi died 9 November 1951 in Rome. Maria died on 26 August 1965 at her La Madonnina home in Serravalle di Bibbiena, which had been built by her husband.[15] Both are buried in the crypt of the Santuario della Madonna del Divino Amore in Rome.
Legacy
The Foundation Luigi and Maria Beltrame Quattrochi, established in their honour, has the objective of helping couples to marry and to advise them on cementing their marital life.[7]
Beatification
The beatification process commenced on 18 October 1994 which would allow for the two to hold the title of
A second miracle needed for their canonization was investigated from 11 March 2014 to 17 December 2014. If declared verified, the two will be canonized as saints. Their relics are contained in a crypt at the Santuario della Madonna del Divino Amore in Rome.[8]
"Among the joys and anxieties of a normal family, they knew how to live an extraordinarily rich spiritual life. At the centre of their life was the daily Eucharist as well as devotion to the Virgin Mary, to whom they prayed every evening with the Rosary, and consultation with wise spiritual directors. In this way they could accompany their children in vocational discernment, training them to appreciate everything 'from the roof up', as they often, charmingly, liked to say."
—Pope John Paul II[1]
Selected works by Corsini
Corsini wrote several books about education:
- (1912) La madre : nel problema educativo moderno
- (1924) Voce di madre : lettere ai giovani
- (1924?) Incontro al Re d'amore : raccolta di prediche
- (1940) Il fucco à da ardere
- (1950) Il libro della giovane
- (1955) Mamma vera
- (1968) Una testimonianza: M. Amabile Damiazzi
See also
- Familiaris consortio, "On the Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World"
References
- ^ a b "Beatification Of The Servants Of God Luigi Beltrame Quattrocchi And Maria Corsini, Married Couple". Website of Vatican. 21 October 2001. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
- ^ 1951 Hagiography Circle and 1965 Hagiography Circle; News Saints lists online; Faithweb.com; accessed June 2018
- ^ a b Pope John Paul II. "Homily on the beatification of the Servants of God, Luigi Beltrame Quattrocchi and Maria Corsini", 21 October 2001, Libreria Editrice Vaticana
- ^ a b "Luigi and Maria Beltrame Quattrocchi", Saints Resource, RCL Benziger
- ISBN 978-1-58051-142-1.
- ^ a b c "Luigi Beltrame Quattrocchi and Blessed Maria Corsini", L'Osservatore Romano, 10 October 2001, p. 11
- ^ ISBN 978-1-59276-003-9.
- ^ a b c d e "Blessed Luigi Beltrame Quattrocchi 1880–1951, Blessed Maria Corsini 1884–1965". Savior.org. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4411-3077-8.
- ^ a b c Sullivan, Mary Ann. "Heroic in marriage", Marian Helper, Spring 2002
- ^ a b c Dom Antoine Marie osb. "Blessed Luigi and Maria Beltrame Quatrocchi". Abbey of Saint-Joseph de Clairval.
- ^ a b Kennedy, Carol Puccio. "Beautiful Together: Luigi Quattrocchi and Maria Corsini", Lay Witness, May/June 2002
- ^ Father Paolino; 2009
- ^ "BL. LUIGI BELTRAME QUATTROCCHI (1880–1951) and BL. MARIA CORSINI (1884–1965) L'Osservatore Romano". Eternal Word Television Network. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
- ^ "Luigi Beltrame Quattrocchi (1880–1951) e Maria Corsini vedova Beltrame Quattrocchi (1884–1965)". The Vatican. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
- ^ a b Blessed Maria Corsini Beltrame Quattrocchi; CatholicSaints. Info. Updated 14 January 2018. Web. Accessed 2 June 2018.
- ^ a b Blessed Luigi Beltrame Quattrocchi; CatholicSaints. Info. Updated 5 October 2017. Web. Accessed 2 June 2018
Further reading
- Catholic Church. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (2006). United States Catholic Catechism for Adults. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. ISBN 978-1-57455-450-2.
External links
- (in Italian) Article about Luigi and Maria Beltrame Quattrocchi from a scout magazine of AGESCI.
- (in Italian) Notice of funeral of Father Paolino Beltrame Quattrocchi, one of their sons