VITALI, LUIGI. - Priest and writer, b. at Bellano (Como) in 1836, d. at Colico on 6 Nov. 1919.
He celebrated his first Mass on 23 June 1859, on the eve of the battle of Solferino—as he himself recalls (preface to Patria e religione, Milan 1903, p. IX)—and he devoted all his long activity as orator and writer to reconciling faith with patriotism. A follower of Rosmini’s philosophy and an ideal disciple of Manzoni in literature, he contributed assiduously to the Carroccio and the Conciliatore, succeeded in promoting the culture of the clergy and reconciliation between State and Church, and published numerous literary and pedagogical works, biographies, and verses. In the volume cited above he collected the speeches and funeral eulogies that he delivered, warm with Christian piety and fervent love of country (for those fallen at Dogali, Adwa, and in China; for King Umberto; for A. Manzoni; for G. Verdi; etc.). Yet he gave the best of himself to the education of the blind: from 1876 until his death, for about forty years, he directed their Institute in Milan with apostolic charity and profound innovative competence. For this activity, the Municipality of Milan awarded him the gold medal for civic merit.
BHL: La Messa d'oro di mons. L. V., Milano 1909; Necrologio, in the Corriere della sera, 7 Nov. 1919. Renzo U. Montini