Blessed Giacomo Alberione (1884-1971)

Nov. 1, 2025

By Columbia staff

Nov. 1, 2025

Blessed Giacomo Alberione. (Photo courtesy of Centro di Spiritualità Paolina)

In the final hours of the Jubilee Year 1900, Giacomo Alberione, a young seminarian in northern Italy, prayed before the Blessed Sacrament. Kneeling in adoration, he received what he later described as “a particular light,” urging him “to do something for the Lord and for the people of the new century.” That night marked the beginning of one of the Church’s most innovative media apostolates.

Alberione grew up in a devout farming family in Italy’s Piedmont region and entered seminary at age 16. He was deeply moved by Pope Leo XIII’s jubilee call for spiritual renewal and evangelization, and he became inspired to proclaim the Gospel in the spirit of St. Paul — using the most modern means of communication.

Ordained in 1907 for the Diocese of Alba Pompeia, Father Alberione served as a parish priest, spiritual director for seminarians, and editor of the diocesan newspaper. In 1914, he founded the Pious Society of St. Paul, the first of 10 foundations he established. Known as the Pauline Family, they include five religious institutes, four unions, and an association of lay collaborators.

These communities, grounded in prayer with Scripture and devotion to the Eucharist and to St. Paul, expanded to every continent and developed apostolic initiatives in publishing, radio, film and television.

From the 1940s through the 1960s, Father Alberione traveled widely — including visits to the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Philippines — to guide and encourage these works.

Father Giacomo Alberione died in Rome on Nov. 26, 1971, at age 87 — just hours after receiving a final blessing from Pope Paul VI. He was beatified in 2003.

Blessed Giacomo Alberione (1884-1971)

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