September 26 | Blessed Santiago Alberione

Welcome, young history buffs and curious minds, to My Daily Saint, the podcast that digs deep into the incredible lives of the saints, those remarkable people who shaped history and continue to inspire us today. Forget dusty old portraits and boring stories. Today, we have an absolutely fascinating episode about a man who saw the future. The year is 1901. The world is standing right on the edge of a massive technological explosion. Cars are just starting to appear on roads, early radios are being tested, and motion pictures are about to change entertainment forever.

Now, imagine a young teenager kneeling in a quiet, dimly lit church in Alba, Italy. His name is Santiago Alberione, a young seminarian who was born in 1884 into a devout, working-class Italian family. Santiago had known from a very young age that he was called to be a priest. But on this particular night, as the century turned, something dramatic happened. During a grueling but powerful four-hour period of Eucharistic adoration, Santiago felt an overwhelming realization. In the absolute silence of that church, he knew without a doubt that God was calling him to do something incredibly significant for the people of this brand-new century.

He realized that the world was changing rapidly, and the church needed to change how it reached people. Santiago was ordained as a priest in 1907 and began his work serving as a spiritual director. But that powerful vision from 1901 never left him. He looked at the great missionaries of the past, especially St. Paul the Apostle, and realized what his specific mission was. Back in ancient times, St. Paul wrote letters to spread his message, but Father Santiago knew he had to follow in those missionary footsteps because he had to follow in the footsteps of St.

Paul the Apostle. Father Santiago didn't just have an idea. He built an empire of faith. In 1914, he founded the Society of St. Paul. He didn't stop there. Just one year later, in 1915, he founded the Daughters of St. Paul. Over the next few decades, his incredible drive led him to found the Sisters Disciples of the Divine Master in 1924 and the Sisters of Jesus the Good Shepherd in Rome in 1936.

Instead of hiding away from the modern world, these newly formed congregations hit the ground running. They began publishing books, printing magazines, and creating all sorts of media materials aimed directly at evangelization. Because Father Santiago had such a strong conviction to utilize new technology and media, these Pauline communities began to flourish and attracted many new vocations of both men and women. They proved that faith and modern media could be an unstoppable team for education and evangelization.

Father Santiago Alberione's work was so revolutionary that at an audience with the Pauline communities in 1969, Pope Paul VI greatly admired his work and directly praised him. The Pope pointed right at him and said, There he is, humble, silent, tireless, always vigilant.

Our Father Alberione has given the Church new instruments with which to express herself. New means to give vigor and breadth to her apostolate, new capacities, and a new awareness of the validity and possibilities of his mission in the modern world with modern means.

Father Santiago Alberione passed away in Rome in 1971. He was beatified in 2003 by Pope Saint John Paul II. In classical art and imagery, his unique attributes include him holding the Bible, symbolizing how he brought the eternal Word of God into the modern age. Because of his pioneering work, he is considered a spiritual patron for anyone who uses technology, journalism, and modern media to spread goodness.

Think about the device you are using to listen to this podcast right now. You probably have a smartphone, a tablet, or a computer. You have access to YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and texting. Blessed Santiago looked at the printing presses and magazines of his time and asked, how can I use this to share God's love?

Today, instead of just scrolling endlessly or posting something negative, send an encouraging text message to a friend who is having a hard time. Share a positive, uplifting quote or a Bible verse on your social media story. Create a short video that makes someone smile or teaches them something good. Blessed Santiago knew that the media isn't bad. It is a powerful tool. It's all about how you use it. Let's follow in his footsteps and use our modern tools to be a light in the modern world. Thank you for joining us on My Daily Saint. We look forward to sharing another incredible story of faith and courage with you tomorrow.