Blessed Pavoni, friend of the young and of the poor

“We must conform our own life to Jesus, our Divine Master, as much as possible.” (Bl. Pavoni)

Lodovico Tomaz Maria Pavoni, was born on September 11, 1784, in Brescia Italy, in a noble and rich family. The good example of his parents encouraged him in his vocational discernment. As he grew seeing their generosity, Lodovico felt the necessity to do something for the poor children from the outskirts of his city, especially the ones whom nobody cared about. While he was very young, Lodovico Pavoni was with the poor children. He spent his free time in educating them in a Catholic faith, and sharing his own clothes with those who didn’t have enough. These were the visible signs through which God called the young Lodovico to consecrate his life by delivering himself to help the poor youth.

Certainly, his decision was not easily accepted by his family, because he was the eldest and, therefore, he had already a predetermined mission: to continue the name of the Pavoni`s Family. However, the designs of God are different from the human perspective. And Lodovico renounced a life full of privileges and the comfort of his paternal house to form a new family with the poorest children of his hometown. Those young people were orphan and poor as result of the war which had devastated the region. Lodovico decided to become a priest. He was able to make his studies for priesthood hidden from the Austrian army, because they had dominated Brescia and had closed all the seminaries. Lodovico wasn’t intimidated at all. He was able to risk his own life and do the will of his only Lord and Master, Jesus Christ.

After he concluded the studies of Philosophy and Theology, he was ordained priest in February 21, 1807. He knew well that his mission wouldn’t be easy and he would find a lot of difficulties ahead. His first activity as a priest was in the “Sunday Oratories” (Youth Centers for prayer, catechesis and recreation). Fr. Pavoni had a special way to manage his oratory. Practically, he opened the doors for the ones who could not pay. And he offered them a good education and technical preparation for work. He realized that those young people normally didn’t go to church and lived outcast for they were ashamed of their culture and also because they didn’t have appropriate clothes. In other words, they have low self-esteem.

Fr. Pavoni was very conscious that what he was doing was not enough. He wanted to make much more for his young people. Many of them suffered explorations in the work from their masters and the bad example of the adults who worked with them. Perceiving then, that his activity was insufficient for a solid education, Fr. Pavoni founded a Vocational School, which later was known as Saint Barnabas Institute. There the youth received care and a thorough education, through a human, religious and professional formation. The young found in San Barnabas Institute the spirit of family they had lost.

Fr. Pavoni’s collaborators could see how good his work was. It was clear that God has blest that project. Thus, it was developing well. Indeed, the work of Fr. Pavoni was a gift from heaven. It was our heavenly Father who gave him to us.

We can see clearly that it was God who supported Fr. Pavoni’s project. Indeed, for several times, he has no money to support the necessities of his children and, mysteriously graces came. He had a strong confidence in the Divine Providence. This was an impressive characteristic of his spirituality and helped him to be perseverant until the end of his earthly life.

Fr. Lodovico Pavoni died in Saiano, a village near of Brescia, on April 1, 1849 with the sickness of pneumonia. He got this illness during his flight together with the children to escape from the Brescian war. Practically, he gave his own life to safeguard his beloved ones.

In 1947, the Catholic Church officially recognized the heroism of his virtues, and, on April 14, 2002, he was proclaimed “Blessed” by the Pope John Paul II. We celebrate his memorial on May 28.

However, His death is not the end, but the beginning. The history of this man does not stop there, but it continues through the hands and the lives of many young men and women who were attracted passionately for His holy life: the religious and lay people who continue the Pavonian Family. They are spread throughout the world to serve God through the charism of Bl. Pavoni for the young people. And we see that Pavoni`s life bears much fruit.