Today is the feast day of Blessed Luigi and Maria Beltrame Quattrocchi. They are a model of virtuous married love and unwavering commitment to the faith. Their inspiring example is a source of encouragement for all married couples.

Blessed Luigi and Maria were beatified by Pope John Paul II on October 21, 2001. This fulfilled a lifelong desire of the future St. John Paul II when, for the first time in the history of the Church, he beatified a husband and wife together. The beatification was part of celebrations marking the 20th anniversary of the publication of John Paul II’s seminal apostolic exhortation Familiaris Consortio (The Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World).

Blessed Luigi (1880-1951) and Maria (1884-1965) Beltrame Quattrocchi were married for 50 years and had four children. Luigi was a lawyer and at the time of his retirement, he was the Attorney General of Italy. After World War II he worked tirelessly to rebuild Italy.

Maria Corsini was born into a noble family. Because of her family status, Maria had countless educational and cultural experiences. Maria was a professor, wrote about educational issues, loved music and volunteered in a number of Catholic and social organizations like the Red Cross.

Three of their children were in attendance at the beatification: sons, Filippo and Cesare, were among the priests who concelebrated the beatification Mass with the Pope John Paul II and daughter Enrichetta.

In his homily, John Paul II underscored that holiness is not restricted to religious and priests. In speaking of Blessed Luigi and Maria, the Pope said that they “lived an ordinary life in an extraordinary way.” Emphasizing their “extraordinarily rich spiritual life,” the Pope said “daily Communion was at the center, to which was added filial devotion to the Virgin Mary, invoked by praying the rosary every night.”

The complete text of St. John Paul II’s homily on the occasion of the beatification of the Servants of God Luigi and Maria Beltrame Quattrocchi can be found here. We highly recommend that you read his homily. It is a great encouragement to married couples.

Blessed Luigi and Maria Beltrame Quattrocchi, pray for the sanctity of marriages lived in joyfully service to the Gospel.