Luigi Beltrame Quattrocchi (12 January 1880 – 9 November 1951) and Maria Corsini-Beltrame Quattrocchi (24 June 1884 – 26 August 1965) were two married Italian Catholic laypeople who became the first couple to be

beatified Beatification (from Latin , "blessed" and , "to make") is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a deceased person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in their name. ''Beati'' is the ...

together in 2001.''1951 Hagiography Circle''
an

News Saints lists online; Faithweb.com; accessed June 2018 According to

Pope John Paul II Pope John Paul II (born Karol Józef Wojtyła; 18 May 19202 April 2005) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 16 October 1978 until Death and funeral of Pope John Paul II, his death in 2005. In his you ...

, they lived "an ordinary life in an extraordinary way". They are commemorated on 25 November—their wedding anniversary."Luigi and Maria Beltrame Quattrocchi", ''Saints Resource'', RCL Benziger
/ref>

Luigi Beltrame Quattrocchi

Luigi was born in

Catania Catania (, , , Sicilian and ) is the second-largest municipality on Sicily, after Palermo, both by area and by population. Despite being the second city of the island, Catania is the center of the most densely populated Sicilian conurbation, wh ...

in 1880 to Carlo and Francesca Beltrame Vita. The second surname was added when Luigi was raised and then adopted by his childless aunt and uncle, Stefania and Luigi Quattrocchi, but maintained a close relationship with his birth parents. He attended school at

Ancona Ancona (, also ; ) is a city and a seaport in the Marche region of central Italy, with a population of around 101,997 . Ancona is the capital of the province of Ancona, homonymous province and of the region. The city is located northeast of Ro ...

and then moved to

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

, where he lived in the area of

Esquiline The Esquiline Hill (; ; ) is one of the Seven Hills of Rome. Its southernmost cusp is the ''Oppius'' ( Oppian Hill). Etymology The origin of the name ''Esquiline'' is still under much debate. One view is that the hill was named after the ...

. He studied

jurisprudence Jurisprudence, also known as theory of law or philosophy of law, is the examination in a general perspective of what law is and what it ought to be. It investigates issues such as the definition of law; legal validity; legal norms and values ...

Sapienza University of Rome The Sapienza University of Rome (), formally the Università degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza", abbreviated simply as Sapienza ('Wisdom'), is a Public university, public research university located in Rome, Italy. It was founded in 1303 and is ...

and graduated in 1902 with a degree in law. After his graduation, Quattrocchi took a legal position with the Intendacy of Finances and later went on to hold a number of posts on the boards of a variety of banks, including the

Bank of Italy The Bank of Italy (Italian language, Italian: ''Banca d'Italia'', , informally referred to as ''Bankitalia'') is the National central bank (Eurosystem), national central bank for Italy within the Eurosystem. It was the Italian central bank from ...

Maria Corina

Maria Luisa Corsini was born in

Florence Florence ( ; ) is the capital city of the Italy, Italian region of Tuscany. It is also the most populated city in Tuscany, with 362,353 inhabitants, and 989,460 in Metropolitan City of Florence, its metropolitan province as of 2025. Florence ...

in 1884, a member of the noble

Corsini family The House of Corsini is the name of an old and influential Italian nobility, Italian princely family, originally from Florence, whose members were elected to many important political and Ecclesiology, ecclesiastical positions, including that of ...

. Her father, Angeiolo Corsini, was a Royal Army captain of

grenadiers A grenadier ( , ; derived from the word ''grenade'') was historically an assault-specialist soldier who threw hand grenades in siege operation battles. The distinct combat function of the grenadier was established in the mid-17th century, when ...

. Her mother was Julia Salvi. Because of her father's frequent military transfers, the family lived in

Pistoia Pistoia (; ) is a city and ''comune'' in the Italian region of Tuscany, the capital of a province of the same name, located about north-west of Florence and is crossed by the Ombrone Pistoiese, a tributary of the River Arno. It is a typic ...

Arezzo Arezzo ( , ; ) is a city and ''comune'' in Italy and the capital of the Province of Arezzo, province of the same name located in Tuscany. Arezzo is about southeast of Florence at an elevation of Above mean sea level, above sea level. As of 2 ...

and

. Corsini had an excellent education from a young age. Parish priests taught her literature classes, which gave her the background to write essays and books on education, religion, the family and the spiritual upbringing of children. She followed a strict religious life, which included religious counseling, attending mass, receiving daily Communion, and reciting prayers. Although she had been enrolled at a parish school in Rome run by nuns, when one of the nuns talked ill of the King, Corsini transferred to a state-run school. After her graduation, she became a professor of education and lecturer.

Married life

Corsini met Quattrocchi, the son of a family friend, at her family's home in Florence. The two married on 25 November 1905 in the Cappella Corsini in the

Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore Santa Maria Maggiore (), also known as the Basilica of Saint Mary Major or the Basilica of Saint Mary the Great, is one of the four major papal basilicas and one of the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome. The largest Marian church in Rome, it is ...

, in Rome. In the early years after their marriage, they lived together with parents and grandparents. She was a highly devout person, but her husband, in the initial years, was not. In the first three years of marriage, Corsini gave birth to three children: Filippo (born 1906), Stephania (born 1908) and Cesare (born 1909). Diagnosed with placenta praevia during her fourth pregnancy, and given the dangers at that time of carrying the baby to term, doctors counseled the couple to abort the pregnancy. Her husband was advised that, barring a medical intervention, he should expect to be a widower with three small children to attend to. The doctors induced labour, however, and delivered the baby prematurely. Corsini attributed her faith in God to her and her baby's survival. Enrichetta (born 1914), along with two of her siblings, were present for their parents' beatification (in 2001). Maria worked for the

Red Cross The organized International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is a Humanitarianism, humanitarian movement with approximately 16million volunteering, volunteers, members, and staff worldwide. It was founded to protect human life and health, to ...

during the

Second Italo-Ethiopian War The Second Italo-Ethiopian War, also referred to as the Second Italo-Abyssinian War, was a war of aggression waged by Fascist Italy, Italy against Ethiopian Empire, Ethiopia, which lasted from October 1935 to February 1937. In Ethiopia it is oft ...

and served as a voluntary nurse in the Italian Red Cross during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. The couple's home was open for those in need during wartime. Corsini was active with women's causes in the St. Vitale Parish and the women's division of

Catholic Action Catholic Action is a movement of Catholic laity, lay people within the Catholic Church which advocates for increased Catholic influence on society. Catholic Action groups were especially active in the nineteenth century in historically Catholic cou ...

Children

The couple had four children: * Filippo (October 15, 1906–February 20, 2003), Benedictine priest, known as Don Tarcisio or ''Don Tar''. * Stefania (March 9, 1908–March 1, 1993),

Benedictine The Benedictines, officially the Order of Saint Benedict (, abbreviated as O.S.B. or OSB), are a mainly contemplative monastic order of the Catholic Church for men and for women who follow the Rule of Saint Benedict. Initiated in 529, th ...

nun, known as Suor Cecilia. * Cesare (November 27, 1909–December 31, 2008), Trappist monk, known as Father Paolino.''Father Paolino''
2009 * Enrichetta (April 6, 1914–June 16, 2012), whose cause of beatification opened in 2018. Don Tarcisio and Father Paolino joined ASCI (''Associazione Scouts Cattolici Italiani'') as children, and after their ordinations, became scout chaplains. When it merged with AGI (''Associazione Guide Italiane'') to become AGESCI (''

Associazione Guide e Scouts Cattolici Italiani The ''Associazione Guide e Scouts Cattolici Italiani'' (, AGESCI) is a Catholic Scouting and Guiding association in Italy. It is coeducational and, as of 2024, has 182,000 members, including 33,454 leaders (of whom 1,947 priests), 1,885 local ...

''), both of them joined the new association.

Organizations

The couple were among the founders of many Catholic organizations: * ASCI (

Associazione Scouts Cattolici Italiani The ''Associazione Scouts Cattolici Italiani'' (Association of Italian Catholic Scouts, ASCI) was a Catholic Scouting association active in Italy from 1916 to 1974, while being suspended under Fascism. In 1974, after a long debate, ASCI was merg ...

), the Italian Catholic

scout Scout may refer to: Youth movement *Scout (Scouting), a child, usually 10–18 years of age, participating in the worldwide Scouting movement ** Scouts (The Scout Association), section for 10-14 year olds in the United Kingdom ** Scouts BSA, sect ...

association; *

Azione Cattolica The Azione Cattolica Italiana, or Azione Cattolica (English: Catholic Action) for short, is a widespread Roman Catholic lay association in Italy. Members believe that priests have an ethical and religious duty to support the rights of the oppress ...

, the biggest lay organization of Catholics in Italy; * UNITALSI, an organization which carries infirm people on pilgrimages to

Lourdes Lourdes (, also , ; ) is a market town situated in the Pyrenees. It is part of the Hautes-Pyrénées department in the Occitanie region in southwestern France. Prior to the mid-19th century, the town was best known for its Château fort, a ...

and other sanctuaries. Both were members of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis of Penance. They started

scouting Scouting or the Scout Movement is a youth social movement, movement which became popularly established in the first decade of the twentieth century. It follows the Scout method of informal education with an emphasis on practical outdoor activi ...

groups for children in the poorer neighborhoods of Rome. Although initially supportive, they soon became disenchanted with fascism. During the Second World War, their home on Via Depretis became a shelter for

Jews Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...

and other refugees.Sullivan, Mary Ann. "Heroic in marriage", ''Marian Helper'', Spring 2002
/ref> Corsini and her husband were associated with many religious institutions. Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martin noted that "they made their family an authentic domestic church, open to life, prayer, witness of the Gospel, the social apostolate, solidarity with the poor, and friendship... Intimately united in love and Christian ideals, they walked together on the path of holiness." The couple also established a

Scouting Scouting or the Scout Movement is a youth social movement, movement which became popularly established in the first decade of the twentieth century. It follows the Scout method of informal education with an emphasis on practical outdoor activi ...

group in Rome.

Death and burial

Luigi died 9 November 1951 in

. Maria died on 26 August 1965 at her ''La Madonnina'' home in Serravalle di

Bibbiena Bibbiena () is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Arezzo, Tuscany (Italy), the largest town in the valley of Casentino. It is located from Florence, from Arezzo, from Siena, and from the Sanctuary of La Verna. There are approximately 11, ...

, which had been built by her husband. Both are buried in the crypt of the Santuario della Madonna del Divino Amore in Rome.

Legacy

The Foundation Luigi and Maria Beltrame Quattrochi, established in their honour, has the objective of helping couples to marry and to advise them on cementing their marital life.

Beatification

The beatification process commenced on 18 October 1994 which would allow for the two to hold the title of

Servant of God Servant of God () is a title used in the Catholic Church to indicate that an individual is on the first step toward possible canonization as a saint. Terminology The expression ''Servant of God'' appears nine times in the Bible, the first five in ...

. A local process was held from 25 November 1994 to 4 December 1996 in order to collect documentation and testimonies. The process was validated on 20 June 1997 with the

Positio A ''positio'' (short for the Latin ''positio super virtutibus'': "position on the virtues") is a document or collection of documents used in the process by which a Catholic person is declared Venerable, the second of four steps on the path to can ...

submitted to the

Congregation for the Causes of Saints In the Catholic Church, the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, previously named the Congregation for the Causes of Saints (), is the dicastery of the Roman Curia that oversees the complex process that leads to the canonization of saints, passi ...

in 1999. Cardinal José Saraiva Martins, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, said that they "made a true domestic church of their family, which was open to life, to prayer, to the social apostolate, to solidarity with the poor and to friendship"."Luigi Beltrame Quattrocchi and Blessed Maria Corsini", ''L'Osservatore Romano'', 10 October 2001, p. 11
/ref>''Blessed Maria Corsini Beltrame Quattrocchi''
CatholicSaints. Info. Updated 14 January 2018. Web. Accessed 2 June 2018.''Blessed Luigi Beltrame Quattrocchi''
CatholicSaints. Info. Updated 5 October 2017. Web. Accessed 2 June 2018

approved their lives of

heroic virtue Heroic virtue is the translation of a phrase coined by Augustine of Hippo to describe the virtue of early Christian martyrs. The phrase is used by the Roman Catholic Church. The Greek pagan term hero described a person with possibly superhuman a ...

and proclaimed them to be

Venerable ''The Venerable'' often shortened to Venerable is a style, title, or epithet used in some Christianity, Christian churches. The title is often accorded to holy persons for their spiritual perfection and wisdom. Catholic In the Catholic Churc ...

on 7 July 2001. In that same decree, he also recognized a miracle that had been attributed to their intercession. He beatified them both on 21 October 2001.Pope John Paul II. "Homily on the beatification of the Servants of God, Luigi Beltrame Quattrocchi and Maria Corsini", 21 October 2001, Libreria Editrice Vaticana
/ref> in the presence of three of their four children. Their sons concelebrated the Mass with the Pope.Kennedy, Carol Puccio. "Beautiful Together: Luigi Quattrocchi and Maria Corsini", ''Lay Witness'', May/June 2002
/ref> The day of the beatification was special, as it marked the 20th anniversary since the publication of the ''Familiari Consortia'' an Apostolic Exhortation. A second miracle needed for their canonization was investigated from 11 March 2014 to 17 December 2014. If declared verified, the two will be canonized as saints. Their relics are contained in a crypt at the Santuario della Madonna del Divino Amore in Rome.

Selected works by Corsini

Corsini wrote several books about education: * (1912) ''La madre : nel problema educativo moderno'' * (1924) ''Voce di madre : lettere ai giovani'' * (1924?) ''Incontro al Re d'amore : raccolta di prediche'' * (1940) ''Il fucco à da ardere'' * (1950) ''Il libro della giovane'' * (1955) ''Mamma vera'' * (1968) ''Una testimonianza: M. Amabile Damiazzi''

References

External links

*
Article about Luigi and Maria Beltrame Quattrocchi
from a scout magazine of AGESCI. *
Notice of funeral of Father Paolino Beltrame Quattrocchi, one of their sons
{{DEFAULTSORT:Quatrocchi, Luigi Beltrame and Maria Corsini Italian beatified people Religious leaders from Florence Religious leaders from Catania Married couples 1880 births 1884 births 1951 deaths 1965 deaths Beatifications by Pope John Paul II Venerated Catholics by Pope John Paul II 20th-century Italian lawyers Italian nurses Italian women nurses Italian women writers Italian writers Italian Franciscans Secular Franciscans