BLESSED LUDOVICO OF CASORIA

Blessed Ludovico of Casoria

He was born on March 11, 1814 in a place called Casoria near Naples. His birth name was Arcangelo Palmentieri. He worked as a cabinet maker. He entered the Friars Minor as a novice on July 1, 1832 and took the name Ludovico. After ordaining a priest in 1837, he taught chemistry and physics to the younger members of his province for the next seven years. He dedicated his life to uplift and help the poor and infirm people. He established an institution for orphans, the deaf and elder persons.
 To do the work of charity, he founded the Gray Brothers (Friars of Charity), a religious community with the former members of the secular Franciscan Order. He also later founded the Gray (Franciscan) Sisters of St. Elizabeth for doing the same charity work. He also opened a school for the African children redeemed from slavery in the year 1852. He died on March 30, 1885.
He was beatified by Pope John Paul-II in 1993.