“Without faith our children will never be rich, with faith they will never be poor.”

Giuseppe was born in 1841 to a devout family in Cividate Camuno, Italy. He was the eldest of 7 children. He received a good education, and progressed to a university where he chose to study law. Before he could graduate, his father and then mother died, leaving him to support his younger brothers and sisters.

He had a strong personality and his 1st job was as a teacher and assistant principal at a technical school, where he gained a special interest in education. At the same time, he also began a career of public service, as head of the city government in his hometown. He treated his political duties as a form of stewardship, paying off the town’s debts and improving roads and bridges.

After his civil term, he moved to nearby Brescia in order to increase his law practice. He met Emilia Corbolani, a daughter of one of the partners in his firm, and they were later wed when he was 34 years old.

Although Giuseppe was busy with work and further additional public activities, he and Emilia had a happy domestic life. Their family grew and they ran a strict but loving household. They believed it was important to teach their children the faith and to pass on a strong work ethic. He had high expectations but was a patient and gentle father.

Education was his priority and he defended the schools and freedom of teaching. Fervent, honest, and active, Giuseppe proclaimed the Christian message, always in fidelity to the guidance of the Church’s Magisterium. His constant concern was to defend the faith.

They welcomed a total of 10 children while Giuseppe’s work load increased. He continued to hold public office and became very active in Catholic Action, serving for many years as an organizer for, and participant in, the Catholic Congresses. He also founded a Catholic daily newspaper for the town. This took much courage as the Anti-Catholic sentiment was strong during the period of Italy’s unification. He fought to preserve the Church’s role in public life for Italy, despite false accusations. With his legal skills and rigorous professionalism, he held political office with the desire to make Christian doctrine and morality present among the people.

Among his many other endeavors, he founded 2 banks in order to provide low-interest funding to charitable organizations.

He died suddenly and peacefully at home on January 16, 1897, at the age of 56.

Father Antonio Cistellini wrote of him, “The impression he left on those I first knew and esteemed was so vivid and so real that I frequently heard comments and praise of his extraordinary personality and his many varied activities – astonished, I heard admiring expressions of his virtue and sorrowful regrets at his early death.”

For God’s Glory.