Giovanni Battista Piamarta

Giovanni Battista Piamarta FN (* November 26, 1841 in Brescia, Italy, † April 25, 1913 in Remedello ) was an Italian priest of the Roman Catholic Church, educator and founder of the Congregation of the Holy Family of Nazareth. He was beatified in 1997. On 21 October 2012, he was called by Pope Benedict XVI. canonized.

Life

Giovanni Battista was the son of Giovanni Piamara and Regina Ferrari and grew up in a poor family. Here he received a Christian education. His youth was not always easy; In 1860, he began his theological education in the Episcopal seminary. Despite some difficulties in the course of his studies, he was ordained priest on 24 December 1855 at the age of 24 years.

His first pastorate he took over in Carzag Reviera, then he moved to Bedizzole and then became pastor in the parish Sain'Alessandro in Brescia. Here began his care for the young, he offered them a youth center and promoted the Christian education. In 13 years, he made fruitful work and gained a high reputation among young people. In 1883 he took over the parish in Pavone del Mella. In 1887 he returned to Brescia and was a chaplain in Sain'Alessandro. Here he met the priest Pietro Capretti, which he calls the " Instituto Artigianelli " opened on December 3, 1886. Corna Pellegrini Maria Bishop of Brescia gave him the post of director.

Here he met Father Giovanni Bonsignori, with whom he founded in 1895 an agricultural school in Remedello. In this Agricultural Institute were young Italians who wanted to emigrate to the United States, trained in agriculture.

To strengthen the continuity of its work and to promote, he founded in 1900 the " Congregation of the Holy Family of Nazareth ." He wrote the first rules of the order and received on 25 May 1902, the bishop's approval. Together with Elisa Baldo he laid the foundation for the establishment of the " Congregation of the humble servants of the Lord" (it.: Umili Serve del Signore ).

With the beginning of the 1910 disorder Giovanni began his successor regulate and gave appropriate testamentary instructions. At the age of 71 years he died on 25 April 1913 in the arms of Father Bonsignori and in the presence of his brothers. He was buried in the cemetery Vantiniano in Brescia. On October 12, 1997 he was beatified by Pope John Paul II, his liturgical commemoration was on April 25, anniversary of his death, set. On 21 October 2012, he was beatified by Benedict XVI. canonized.