Saints of the Month
Bl. Maria Corsini and Bl. Luigi Beltrame Quattrocchi
November 25
Bl. Maria Corsini and Luigi Beltrame Quattrocchi
Maria Corsini and Luigi Beltrame Quattrocchi are among the few examples of beatification of a married couple in the history of the Church. Luigi was born on January 12, 1880 in Catania, Sicily. From the age of nine, he was raised by his childless uncle. He was still a child when they moved to Rome. He entered the law department at the best state university in the city, La Sapienza, and completed the studies in 1902. At the university he met Maria Corsini and married her on November 25, 1905. Maria was born on June 24, 1884 in Florence. In 1893 her family moved to Rome. She studied in the college of commerce for women.
The couple has four children; of them, two sons became priests and one of the daughters a nun. Luigi performed many responsible functions in state institutions. Despite work and family obligations, he still found time for educational and apostolic activities in scouting and the Catholic Action. He died on November 9, 1951 of a heart attack.
Maria was also involved in community and religious work. She worked as a volunteer on trains carrying disabled and sick persons to Lourdes . She was also very active in the religious movement A Better World. She wrote articles for Catholic magazines, and later published books on education and family. Although the death of her husband was a painful experience for her, she did not abandon her writing. She remained in constant contact with her children. She died on August 25, 1965 during her summer vacation.
The couple was beatified on October 21, 2001.
Jesus,
You sanctified the marriage
Granting it the status of sacrament.
Let the example of the blessed couple of Maria and Luigi
Strengthen all the marriages concluded in Your name.
You live and reign for ages and ages.
Amen.
From Ordinary People, Extraordinary Lives