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Join us on his eighth day of the Novena to Our Lady of Good Help, Queen of Families, in praying for the Gift of Knowledge.
Gift of Knowledge
By all appearances, Luigi and Maria Quattrocchi lived an ordinary, simple life. Yet beneath this humble exterior, their deep faith enabled them to follow God’s will in extraordinary ways. The Quattrocchis were well-educated and lived in Rome. Luigi was a lawyer and Maria a teacher and writer. Throughout their married life, they dedicated themselves to many apostolates that supported marriage and the family. They were strengthened by daily Mass, the rosary and devotion to the Sacred Heart.
With joy, they welcomed four children and poured themselves into their little “domestic church.” When Maria was pregnant with their fourth child, doctors diagnosed her with placenta previa, giving her a five percent chance of survival unless she aborted the child. Maria refused, trusting instead in God’s Providence. For the remainder of her pregnancy, both she and Luigi drew courage from Christ’s cross. To their great relief and gratitude, their daughter Enrichetta was born without complications.
Despite their work and apostolates, they never sacrificed time with their own children. Instead, their devotion and actions served as a living example of how to “appreciate everything from the roof up,” as Maria would often say. When the Nazis invaded Italy, the Quattrocchis opened their home to Jews and others desperate for shelter. After twenty years of marriage, Luigi and Maria took the unique vow of living together as brother and sister, humbly sacrificing marital love for the sake of the kingdom.
Placing themselves close to Christ’s Sacred Heart they tasted joy, suffering and self-sacrifice. This example was richly rewarded. Their two sons became priests, one daughter became a nun and Enrichetta dutifully cared for them in their old age until their deaths.
Our Struggles Today
We are tempted to place our careers and possessions before the practice of our faith and time with family. As a result, our relationships with our spouse, children, elderly parents and even God deteriorate. Across the nation and throughout the world, these fractured relationships lead to isolation, distrust and fear. Rather than reaching out to others, we withdraw, anxious of what the future holds for us and for our children.
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