St Ludovico of Casoria, Italian Franciscan Friar
(Mar 11, 1814 - Mar 30, 1885 Italy)

An apprentice cabinet maker as a youth, Arcangelo joined the Franciscan Friars Minor in 1832, taking the name Ludovico. Around 1852 he opened a school dedicated to educating young Africans who had been ransomed from slavery. Founded a school for the deaf and the mute. Established centers for the care of elderly friars. In 1859 he founded the Frati Bigi della Carita (Gray Friars of Charity) to take over work at the institutions he founded. In 1862 Ludovico founded the female equivalent, the Suore Elisabettiane Bigie (Franciscan Sisters of Saint Elizabeth; Gray Sisters of Saint Elizabeth). He was canonized on 23 November 2014 by Pope Francis.

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