Luigi Biraghi

In 1838, Luigi Biraghi founded the congregation of the Sisters of St. Marcellina with Marina Videmari, opening a first college in Cernusco sul Naviglio to offer young girls a solid Christian and cultural education. At the same time, he carried out intense intellectual activity: he participated in the writing of the journal L'Amico Cattolico, became a doctor and then vice-prefect of the Ambrosian Library, and contributed to the rediscovery of the relics of Saint Ambrose in 1864. In 1862, Pope Pius IX asked him to act as a mediator in the context of Italian unification, and appointed him a domestic prelate in 1873. He passed away on August 11, 1879, in Milan.

The cause for beatification and canonization of Luigi Biraghi was officially introduced in 1966 at the request of the Marcelline Sisters. After the examination of his writings and his life, the Positio on his heroic virtues received a favorable opinion. On December 20, 2003, Pope John Paul II authorized the promulgation of the decree recognizing his heroic virtues, thereby declaring him Venerable.

The miracle accepted for his beatification is the sudden and unexplained healing, on January 8, 1994, of Sister Pasqualina (Lina) Calvi, who was paralyzed following an ischemia of the spinal cord. After intercession was requested from the founder and a relic was placed under her pillow, she regained the use of her legs. This miracle was recognized by Pope John Paul II in December 2004. Luigi Biraghi was beatified on April 30, 2006, on the parvis of the Duomo of Milan by Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi, under the pontificate of Benedict XVI.

The spirituality of Luigi Biraghi is inspired by the Church Fathers, particularly Saint Ambrose, combining science and faith to evangelize society. His maxim summarizes this thought: "The world demands science, and you, use science to conquer the world." Today, the Sisters of Saint Marcellina perpetuate his legacy through schools and healthcare works in Italy, Brazil, Canada, Switzerland, and England.