Teodoreto Garberoglio

The work of Brother Théodoret is deeply linked to his desire to accompany young people after their schooling to help them persevere in the Christian faith. In 1906, during his second novitiate, he conceived the idea of an association of former students. In November 1911, he discovered the prayer of Adoration of Jesus Crucified. In 1912, he had a decisive meeting with the Franciscan friar Leopoldo Maria Musso (from the convent of San Tommaso in Turin), renowned for his holiness. The latter strongly encouraged him in his projects and entrusted him with the spread of the devotion to Jesus Crucified. On May 9, 1914, Brother Théodoret founded the Pia Unione del SS. Crocifisso e di Maria SS. Immacolata, which would later become the Union of Catechists of Jesus Crucified and Mary Immaculate (Unione Catechisti). This secular institute is intended for laypeople of all social conditions who commit to living the evangelical counsels (poverty, chastity, obedience) while remaining in their families and exercising their profession in the world. To meet the needs of young workers in Turin, Brother Théodoret also promoted and founded the "Charity House of Arts and Trades" (Casa di Carità Arti e Mestieri). This work, which began modestly as a festive and evening school, developed rapidly to offer high-quality technical and human professional training to young workers, relying on Providence.

Brother Théodoret spent the final years of his life in prayer, humility, and the acceptance of suffering. Struck by an initial cerebral hemorrhage that deprived him of the use of speech, he was forced to abandon the direction of his works. He suffered a second attack and passed away peacefully in Turin on May 13, 1954, at the age of 83. Due to his great reputation for holiness, the mayor of Turin, Amedeo Peyron, decided that his funeral would be celebrated at the municipality's expense. On February 27, 1959, his remains were transferred from the Turin cemetery to the chapel of the Casa di Carità Arti e Mestieri (Corso Benedetto Brin). In October 2022, his mortal remains were transferred and his new tomb was blessed in the church of San Tommaso in Turin.

The cause for the beatification and canonization of Brother Theodoret opened at the diocesan level in Turin on January 11, 1961. The diocesan informative process concluded on January 31, 1977, and the file was officially transferred to Rome, to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, on February 2, 1977. On March 3, 1990, Pope John Paul II promulgated the decree recognizing the heroic nature of his virtues, thus conferring upon him the title of Venerable. For his beatification to be pronounced, the official recognition of a miracle attributed to his intercession is required by the Church. To this day, no miracle has yet been the subject of a decree of approval.

Brother Théodoret's spirituality is centered on the love of Jesus Crucified and the Immaculate Virgin Mary. He knew how to combine the contemplation of Christ's sufferings with a concrete apostolic and social commitment to young people and the working world. His legacy lives on today through the Union of Catechists, present in Italy and abroad (notably in Peru), as well as through the vocational training centers of the Casa di Carità Arti e Mestieri, which continue to train thousands of young people in the Lasallian spirit of excellence and Christian charity.