Giovanni Battista Zuaboni

It was in the heart of his parish of San Giovanni Evangelista in Brescia that Father Zuaboni developed his major work, inspired by the observation of the ravages of war on homes and the progressive de-Christianization of families. He acquired the deep conviction that the solidity of society and the Church rests on serious and Christian preparation for marriage and family life. On April 25, 1918, in the oratory of San Rocco in Brescia, he founded the first "School of the Good Housewife" (Scuola della Buona Massaia), which would later become the "School of Family Life" (Scuola di Vita Familiare). This innovative structure aimed to prepare young women for their future mission as wives and mothers, by teaching them not only domestic and practical arts, but also by offering them a solid moral, cultural, and spiritual formation. The initiative met with great success and spread rapidly in many parishes of the diocese of Brescia and beyond. To give a stable and organic structure to his pastoral action, Father Zuaboni founded the Istituto Pro Familia on December 8, 1930. This institute received the official approval of the Bishop of Brescia in July 1931. At the same time, he laid the foundations for the Compagnia della Sacra Famiglia (Company of the Holy Family), designed to bring together consecrated persons (the Missionaries of the Family) and married couples (the Apostles of the Hearth) totally devoted to the evangelization and support of families. In 1937, in order to devote himself fully to the development of his work, he asked the bishop to be appointed chaplain of the sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Brescia. He passed away peacefully on December 12, 1939, in Brescia, offering his life for the continuity of his work, which he entrusted to the leadership of Teresa Cirimbelli. He is buried in the church of San Giovanni Evangelista in Brescia.

After his death, the reputation of holiness of Father Giovanni Battista Zuaboni continued to grow, supported by the members of the Istituto Pro Familia and the many faithful who had benefited from his family apostolate. The cause for beatification and canonization was officially opened at the diocesan level in Brescia, gathering testimonies regarding his life, his writings, and his virtues.

The diocesan process having been validated by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome, the Positio on his heroic virtues is examined by the theological consultants and the cardinals. The 12 February 2019, Pope Francis received in audience Cardinal Angelo Becciu, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, and authorized the promulgation of the decree recognizing the heroic virtues of the Servant of God Giovanni Battista Zuaboni. By this act, Father Zuaboni is officially declared Venerable. For his beatification to be pronounced, the official recognition of a miracle attributed to his intercession is now required.

The spirituality of Father Giovanni Battista Zuaboni is characterized by a profound union with the crucified Christ, an intense Eucharistic piety, and a filial devotion to the Virgin Mary. His ideal of spiritual life was contained in this maxim that he had set for himself from his youth: "Nothing extraordinary or singular, but to accomplish with singular judgment, discretion, precision, diligence, naturalness, and good taste every action, even the smallest, of the day."

His legacy remains alive through the Istituto Pro Familia and the Istituto Secolare Compagnia della Sacra Famiglia (officially recognized as a secular institute of diocesan right on October 11, 1962). Even today, the Missionaries of the Family (consecrated laywomen) and the Apostles of the Family (married couples) continue his work through marriage preparation courses, family life schools for adolescents, spiritual retreats, and pastoral accompaniment of couples.