ALL SAINTS: ⛪ Saint John Baptist Scalabrini

Saint John Baptist Scalabrini

Apostle to Migrants | Founder | Bishop of Piacenza

Early Life and Vocation

Saint John Baptist Scalabrini was born on July 8, 1839, in Fino Mornasco, a small town in the Lombardy region of northern Italy. The son of a modest but deeply Christian family, he was the third of eight children. From a young age, he exhibited a remarkable devotion to prayer, a strong intellect, and a heart sensitive to the suffering of others.

Scalabrini entered the seminary at Como, where he distinguished himself through his studies, especially in theology and classical languages. He was ordained a priest in 1863, at the age of 24. Soon afterward, he was appointed professor and later rector of the diocesan seminary. His excellence as a teacher and pastor earned him admiration and responsibility.

Bishop of Piacenza

In 1876, at just 36 years old, Pope Pius IX appointed him Bishop of Piacenza, a diocese in northern Italy. His episcopal motto, “Inflammatus caritate” (Burning with Charity), would define his ministry. Despite the challenges of the time—anticlericalism, poverty, and cultural upheaval—Bishop Scalabrini was tireless in his service.

He visited every parish of his diocese, even in remote rural areas, preaching, listening to confessions, and strengthening the faith of the people. He founded schools, promoted the role of the laity, and emphasized the importance of the Eucharist and catechesis. His five pastoral visits across the vast diocese reflected his shepherd’s heart and missionary zeal.

Apostle to Migrants

One of the most significant and prophetic aspects of his ministry emerged as he witnessed the mass migration of Italians to the Americas in the late 19th century. Millions of Italian families were leaving their homeland due to poverty, war, and lack of opportunity. Often, they suffered spiritually and socially in their new countries—without priests, churches, or support.

Scalabrini saw in this human movement not just an economic or social phenomenon, but a profound pastoral crisis. “The emigrant,” he said, “is a pilgrim of humanity and of the faith.”

In response, in 1887, he founded the Missionaries of St. Charles Borromeo—known today as the Scalabrinian Fathers—to accompany and minister to migrants wherever they were scattered. In 1895, he founded a female branch, the Scalabrinian Sisters, to further extend the Church’s maternal care.

Through his efforts, priests and religious accompanied migrants on ships, settled with them in new lands, and built parishes, schools, and communities of faith abroad—especially in Brazil, the United States, Argentina, and Canada.

Service to the Universal Church

Bishop Scalabrini also played a vital role in the life of the universal Church. He participated in the First Vatican Council, defended the rights of the poor and laborers, and advocated for just treatment of immigrants. Pope Pius X once said of him:

“Scalabrini is truly the Apostle of the Catechism and Father to Migrants.”

He proposed a more organized and widespread catechetical structure and helped shape Church teaching on migration and human dignity, ideas that would later be echoed in modern Catholic social doctrine.

Death and Canonization

Saint John Baptist Scalabrini died in Piacenza on June 1, 1905, at the age of 65. The news of his death was met with grief from his diocese and from Italian migrant communities around the world.

His beatification took place in 1997, by Pope Saint John Paul II. On October 9, 2022, Pope Francis canonized him as a saint, recognizing his enduring legacy as a prophet of migration, a shepherd of souls, and a visionary of a global Church.

Legacy and Relevance Today

Today, the Scalabrinian family continues to serve migrants and refugees across the world, embodying the charism of their founder: to be the compassionate face of the Church for those forced to leave their homeland.

In an era of mass displacement, political turmoil, and migration crises, the life and vision of Saint John Baptist Scalabrini remain profoundly relevant. He reminds the Church and the world that every migrant is a child of God, worthy of dignity, care, and communion.

Prayer to Saint John Baptist Scalabrini

O Saint John Baptist Scalabrini,
Apostle of the Catechism, Father of Migrants,
inflamed with love for Christ and His Church,
you saw in the migrant not just a traveler,
but a brother in need of a home for body and soul.
Intercede for all displaced persons today—
for safety, justice, and welcome.
Help us see Christ in the stranger,
and walk with all those who seek a place to belong.
Amen.

SAINT OF THE DAY

Saints in June

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Jun 1, 2018

⛪ Saint John Baptist Scalabrini