Tuesday, December 10, 2019

SAINT LEONARD MURAILDO

St. Leonard Muraildo

Feast day: March 30
Born in Turin, Italy, in 1828

Death: 1890/1900
Beatified in 1963;
Canonized in 1970 by Paul VI
Founder of the Congregation of St. Joseph. He was born in Turin, Italy, and was a leader in Catholic social work. Leonard


The Salesians celebrate his feast on May 18. Saint Leonard was a prophet: Conservative Catholics in his time condemned him as a "socialist" because he advocated for an eight-hour workday in 1885. His work for social justice placed him squarely in line with other luminaries of his time: Saints John Bosco, Joseph Cafasso, and Joseph Cottolengo. Saint Leonard was ordained in 1851, and then devoted himself to the education of working-class boys at the Oratory of Saint Louis, fostered by John Bosco. After a short time at Saint-Sulpice in Paris in 1865, he was rector of a Christian college of further education and technical training in Turin.

He founded the Congregation of Saint Joseph to ensure the continuation of his work with young apprentices. He also promoted the Catholic Workers' Movement through the newspaper La voce dell'Operaio and the monthly La buona Stampa. He also established a national federation to improve the standards of the press in Italy.

At a goodly age, he died peacefully in his hometown and was buried in the Church of Santa Barbara there. At his canonization, the pope stressed that he was honored both for his personal holiness and for the social activities inspired by his virtu

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