ORIONE, LUIGI. — Priest, founder of the Little Work of Divine Providence, born at Pontecurone (Alessandria) on 23 June 1872, died at S. Remo on 12 March 1940. Having entered the Friars Minor of Voghera as a boy and been dismissed because of poor health, he was received into the Salesian Oratory of Turin, where he met d. Bosco and witnessed his holy death. At the age of eighteen he returned to the diocese: serving as caretaker of the cathedral of Tortona, he was able to complete his studies in the seminary and was ordained a priest in 1895.
While still a cleric, he established the first Sunday Oratory and laid the foundations of the «Little Work of Divine Providence» (v.) by devoting himself entirely to the cause of the Church, the poor, the abandoned, and those in need. For this purpose he founded the Sons of Divine Providence, the Little Missionary Sisters of Charity, the Hermits of Divine Providence, both blind and sighted, and the Blind Sacramentine Sisters. During the Calabrian-Sicilian and Marsican earthquakes, he devoted himself heroically to the rescue of orphans. He went twice to Latin America (1921 and 1934), everywhere inspiring initiatives for
good. Always strengthened by the blessing of the pontiffs, he enjoyed the particular favor of Pius X, who received his perpetual vows and entrusted him with missions of confidence, appointing him, among other things, vicar general of Messina in the years following the earthquake. With an ultimate message of love for the Pope, he ended his life, wholly consecrated to the practice of charity. At his death he received triumphant honors.
His remains rest in the sanctuary of Our Lady of the Guard at Tortona. The cause of beatification has been opened before the Congregation of Rites.