Giovanni Battista Rubino

Upon returning to La Morra, Don Giovanni Battista Rubino dedicated himself fully to the education of youth and to pastoral ministry. For nearly forty years, he taught as a master in the elementary schools of his commune, striving to provide a solid human and Christian formation to the children. In 1823, he obtained his qualification from the University of Turin and, after 1826, he was appointed delegate of school reform for the district of La Morra. Deeply influenced by the figure of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, he founded the "Company of San Luigi Gonzaga" in La Morra to propagate this devotion among the youth. During the period of the French occupation, Don Rubino was actively involved alongside the Venerable Pio Brunone Lanteri. Together, they supported the captive Sovereign Pontiff by sending him aid in Liguria, strove to revive the zeal of the clergy, and fought against the spread of revolutionary and heretical ideas. Don Rubino became an "aggregated Oblate" of Lanteri's congregation. On October 15, 1815, Don Rubino founded the Congregation of the Oblate Sisters of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga (the "Luigine") in La Morra, assisted by Maria Teresa Moscone and Maria Luisa Caminale (or Maddalena Carminale). The institute's purpose was to offer continuous prayers for universal peace, to educate and instruct poor and orphaned young girls, and to care for the sick.

The life of Don Giovanni Battista Rubino is characterized by a deep faith, an ardent charity towards the poor, and an absolute obedience to the Church and the Pope. After a whole life dedicated to the service of God, education, and his congregation, he died on February 11, 1853, in La Morra, at the age of 76. His mortal remains rest today in the chapel of the founding house of the Luigine Sisters in La Morra.

The cause for the beatification and canonization of Father Giovanni Battista Rubino was opened at the beginning of the 20th century at the diocesan level in Alba. After the examination of his writings and his life, the process was transmitted to Rome. On June 13, 1992, Pope John Paul II signed the decree recognizing the heroic nature of his virtues, thereby declaring him venerable.

The spirituality of Father Rubino is based on total trust in divine grace, a deep Eucharistic and Marian devotion, and the imitation of the purity and humility of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga. The institute he founded received the approval of the Bishop of Alba, Msgr. Giovanni Antonio Nicola, on July 30, 1819 (or November 26, 1819), and then the definitive approval of Msgr. Costanza Michele Fea in 1827. It obtained civil recognition from King Charles Felix of Sardinia on July 30, 1826. On January 29, 1958, the congregation was recognized as being of pontifical right by a decree of Pope Pius XII. Today, the Luigine Sisters continue their educational and charitable mission not only in Italy (notably in Piedmont and Liguria), but also internationally, having established themselves in Bangladesh (since 1956), India (since 1971), Brazil, and Germany.