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 divine providence, sons of, sons, divine and/or providence:
“Accept the place the divine providence has found for you, the society of your contemporaries, the connection of events.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“Who are we? And for what are we going to fight? Are we the titled slaves of George the Third? The military conscripts of Napoleon the Great? Or the frozen peasants of the Russian Czar? No—we are the free born sons of America; the citizens of the only republic now existing in the world; and the only people on earth who possess rights, liberties, and property which they dare call their own.”
—Andrew Jackson (1767–1845)
“When sons grow up, they listen not to their fathers, nor do daughters to their mothers.”
—Chinese proverb.
“There is a power in love to divine another’s destiny better than that other can, and, by heroic engagements, hold him to his task.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“No body can conceive that nature ever intended to throw away a Newton upon the occupations of a crown. It would have been a prodigality for which even the conduct of providence might have been arraigned, had he been by birth annexed to what was so far below him.”
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)