Borgia, Luigi Obeste

BORGIA, LUIGI OBESTE. - Priest, described by Benedict XV as a "gem of the Roman clergy," b. in Rome on 28 March 1840, d. there on 14 Jan. 1914. After completing 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 father 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., ibid. 1907). As a spiritual father he belongs to the luminous line of those formers of priestly souls who are the glory of the Roman seminary of the 19th century: the ven. V. Pallotti (d. 1850), don Randanini (d. 1875), mons. Piazza (d. 1893). Heir to their spirit, he preserved and developed their work. A man of "Salesian" gentleness toward his neighbor, he imposed harsh mortifications on himself, and at his death three crosses were found cut with iron into his chest. In 1916 his venerated remains were solemnly transferred to the basilica of S. Marco and laid in a marble funeral monument, executed after a design by Aristide Leonori (v.). In 1923 the informative process on his reputation for holiness was begun.

Antonio Piolanti