The Sons of Divine Providence (Figli della Divina Provvidenza), or Orionine Fathers, was founded in 1893 by Saint Luigi Orione (1872-1940) in Turin, Italy. Over a century later, this Roman Catholic organization dedicated to helping the poor is still active in 23 nations throughout the world.
Saint Luigi Orione's motto, and that of the SDP, is: "Fare del bene a tutti, fare del bene sempre, del male mai a nessuno." ("Do good to all, help everyone, harm no one.")
Currently, the Sons of Divine Providence number 1023: 3 bishops, 728 priests, 82 brothers, 8 monks. In formation there are 201 clerics and 19 brothers of temporary vows, 45 novices. The SDP have centers in 296 localities in 28 nations. In the United States, the headquarters of the congregation is at the National Shrine of the Madonna, located on a historic hill in East Boston, Massachusetts, known as Orient Heights.
Famous quotes containing the words sons, divine and/or providence:
“Is a man too strong and fierce for society, and by temper and position a bad citizen,—a morose ruffian, with a dash of the pirate in him;Mnature sends him a troop of pretty sons and daughters, who are getting along in the dame’s classes at the village school, and love and fear for them smooths his grim scowl to courtesy. Thus she contrives to intenerate the granite and the feldspar, takes the boar out and puts the lamb in, and keeps her balance true.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“Foul whisp’rings are abroad. Unnatural deeds
Do breed unnatural troubles. Infected minds
To their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets.
More needs she the divine than the physician.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“They have their belief, these poor Tibet people, that Providence sends down always an Incarnation of Himself into every generation. At bottom some belief in a kind of pope! At bottom still better, a belief that there is a Greatest Man; that he is discoverable; that, once discovered, we ought to treat him with an obedience which knows no bounds. This is the truth of Grand Lamaism; the “discoverability” is the only error here.”
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881)