Blessed Giuseppe Antonio Tovini

Biography

Blessed Giuseppe Antonio Tovini, born on 14 March 1841 in Cividate Camuno, Brescia, Italy, was the eldest of seven children born to Moses and Rosa Malaguzzi. He was also the uncle and god-father of Blessed Mose Tovini. After completing his studies in law at the University of Padua, Giuseppe worked at a firm in Lovere, Italy.

Giuseppe Tovini initially pursued a career in academia, becoming a teacher and later deputy director of a local college. However, his deep faith and commitment to serving others led him to a different path. In 1864, he relocated to the diocese of Brescia, Italy. During this time, he also served as the Mayor of Cividate Camuno from 1871 to 1874, where he dedicated his efforts to improving public construction.

On 6 January 1875, Giuseppe Tovini married Emilia Corbolani in the church of Saint Agatha in Brescia. They were blessed with ten children, two of whom became nuns, and one a Jesuit. Giuseppe was an active member of the Secular Franciscans and deeply committed to his Catholic faith.

In 1878, Giuseppe Tovini founded the Catholic newspaper, Il Cittadino di Brescia (The City of Brescia), which served as a medium to promote Catholic values and provide information to the local Catholic community. He also took on various leadership roles within the Church, such as serving as the president of the diocesan Committee of the Opera dei Congressi, and he actively participated as a municipal and provincial councilor in Brescia.

Giuseppe Tovini's philanthropic initiatives were extensive. In 1882, he founded the Saint Joseph Kindergarten and the College of Venerable A Luzzago, institutions dedicated to the education and well-being of young people. In 1888, he established both the Banco Ambrosiano in Milan and the Banca Santa Paolo in Brescia, financial institutions that aimed to support the Catholic community in their financial endeavors.

Deeply concerned with the preservation of the Catholic faith among Italian youth, Giuseppe founded the Society for the Preservation of the Faith in Italian Schools in 1890. To further this mission, he also founded the journal Faith and School in 1891. Additionally, he played a key role in the establishment of the Union Leone XIII, which aimed to support the faith of university students in Brescia, and worked to establish similar groups in other schools.

In 1893, Giuseppe Tovini founded the magazine Modern Italian School and the weekly journal La Voce del Popolo. He actively supported the Canossian sisters in their effort to establish a teaching college in Cividate Camuno in 1894. Furthermore, he lent his support to the Catholic University Federation and played a pivotal role in the creation of Catholic universities throughout Italy.

Throughout his life, Blessed Giuseppe Antonio Tovini was known for his unwavering dedication to defending and helping the poor and marginalized. His numerous initiatives aimed at supporting the Catholic community, promoting education, and preserving the faith among Italian youth, made him a beloved figure among the faithful.

Giuseppe Tovini passed away on 16 January 1897 in Brescia, Italy, due to natural causes. His remains were re-interred in the Church of Saint Luke in Brescia on 10 September 1922. Recognizing his exemplary virtues, Pope John Paul II declared him venerable on 6 April 1995. Furthermore, on 20 September 1998, Pope John Paul II beatified him. The beatification miracle involved the healing of a nun in the monastery of the Visitation of Holy Mary of Massa and Cozzile in Potenza, Italy. Blessed Giuseppe Antonio Tovini continues to be venerated by the Catholic faithful and serves as a role model for his selfless dedication to the Church and society.