Giovanni Maria Boccardo

In 1882, the life of Giovanni Maria Boccardo took a new turn when he was appointed parish priest (pievano) of the parish of Pancalieri, a small town in Piedmont. He dedicated himself fully to evangelization, catechesis, the distribution of good press, and visiting the prisoners of Saluzzo. At the end of the summer of 1884, a terrible cholera epidemic struck Pancalieri hard. Don Boccardo spent himself without counting the cost for the sick, risking his life daily to bring them material and spiritual relief. Once the epidemic was contained, observing the distress of the many orphans, widows, and elderly left without resources, he decided to act. After seeking advice from Don Bosco, he founded a charity hospice in Pancalieri on November 6, 1884. To ensure the operation of this hospice and the care of the most destitute, he gathered a few young women from the parish. Thus was born a new female religious congregation, which officially took the name of Poor Daughters of Saint Cajetan (Povere Figlie di San Gaetano) in May 1886. Don Boccardo placed the institute under the patronage of Saint Cajetan of Thiene, whose total abandonment to Providence and charity toward the suffering he wished the sisters to imitate. The congregation developed rapidly, opening numerous houses in Piedmont and other regions of Italy to care for the sick, the elderly, and the education of youth. In 1911, severely stricken by illness and paralyzed, he was forced to abandon his active pastoral duties. He spent the last two years of his life bedridden, offering his sufferings in prayer. He passed away holily in Pancalieri on December 30, 1913.

The reputation of holiness of Giovanni Maria Boccardo, already firmly established during his lifetime among his parishioners and the members of his institute, continued to grow after his death. In 1924, his remains were transferred to the motherhouse of the Poor Daughters of Saint Cajetan in Pancalieri. The cause for beatification was officially introduced in the Archdiocese of Turin. After a meticulous examination of his life, his virtues, and his numerous spiritual writings (which number no fewer than 44 volumes), Pope John Paul II signed the decree recognizing the heroic nature of his virtues on April 6, 1998, thereby conferring upon him the title of Venerable.

To pave the way for beatification, a miracle attributed to his intercession is required. The Church examines and validates the scientifically inexplicable healing of a patient that occurred in Brazil. This miracle is officially recognized by a decree of the Holy See. On May 24, 1998, during his pastoral visit to Turin, Pope John Paul II solemnly proclaimed Giovanni Maria Boccardo blessed, along with Teresa Bracco and Teresa Grillo Michel. In his homily, the Sovereign Pontiff hailed him as a man of deep spirituality and a dynamic apostle of charity.

The spirituality of Giovanni Maria Boccardo rests on an absolute trust in Divine Providence and on active charity, inspired by Saint Gaetano of Thiene. His motto, taken from the Gospel, was: "Seek first the Kingdom of God and his justice" (Mt 6:33). He left a monumental written legacy of 44 volumes, including spiritual reflections, sermons, and letters, testifying to his theological and mystical depth. After his death, his work was continued and consolidated by his younger brother, Blessed Luigi Boccardo, who took over the leadership of the congregation of the Poor Daughters of Saint Gaetano. In 1932, Luigi also founded a contemplative branch attached to the institute, the Daughters of Jesus King (Figlie di Gesù Re), specifically dedicated to blind sisters. Today, the Poor Daughters of Saint Gaetano continue their mission of charity toward the sick, the elderly, and children, not only in Italy but also in several countries in Latin America and Africa.