BORGIA, LUIGI OBESTE. – Priest, described by Benedict XV as “the gem of the Roman clergy,” born in Rome on 28 March 1840, and died there on 14 January 1914. Having completed his studies at the Roman Seminary at S. Apollinare, he was ordained a priest in 1863, appointed archivist of the S. Congregation of Propaganda Fide in 1867, canon of the basilica of S. Marco in 1869, spiritual director of the Roman Seminary in 1875, and director of the Visitandine nuns in 1880.
He carried out these offices simultaneously, with complete dedication, always serene and industrious. The fruit of his archival work was the Collectanea S. C. de Propaganda Fide seu decreta, instructiones, praescripta pro apostolicis missionibus ex tabulario eiusdem S. C. deprompta (Rome 1893; new ed. in 2 vols., there 1907). As spiritual director, he belongs to the luminous succession of those formers of priestly souls who are the glory of the Roman Seminary of the nineteenth century: the venerable V. Pallotti (d. 1850), Don Randanini (d. 1875), and Mgr. Piazza (d. 1893). Heir to their spirit, he preserved and developed their work. A man of “Salesian” gentleness toward others, he imposed harsh mortifications upon himself, and after his death three crosses engraved with iron were found on his chest. In 1916 his venerated remains were solemnly transferred to the basilica of S. Marco and placed in a marble funerary monument, executed LEONZIO (v.). In 1923 the informational process concerning his reputation for holiness was begun.