Roman Catholic Saint. Founder of the Pia Società di San Giuseppe, Turin born Leonardo Murialdo was the eighth child of a well-to-do family. In spite of loosing his father at just four years of age, he received an excellent education at the Scolopian College of Savona. Going through a profound spiritual crisis in his adolescence, from which he eventually converted, discovering his priestly vocation, he entered seminary in his native Turin. Serving at the Guardian Angels Oratory, then run by a cousin of his, Father Roberto Murialdo, through this collaboration he came directly in touch with the various difficulties faced by Turinese youngsters, which led him, following his ordination to the priesthood in 1851, to start working in strict collaboration with Saints Giuseppe Cafasso and Giovanni Bosco, taking on the administration of the Saint Aloysius Oratory on Don Bosco's request. Accepting administration of the Artigianelli College in Turin in 1866, dedicated to taking in and providing a Catholic and technical education for poor and abandoned boys, he journeyed throughout Italy, France and England, visiting educational and welfare institutions, in order to learn, address and improve the educational system back in his city. Being among those fostering the first popular Catholic libraries and workers' unions, of which he served as ecclesiastical assistant for many years, in 1873, with the support of some assistants, he founded the Congregation of Saint Joseph, popularly known as the Giuseppini del Murialdo, with their purpose being that of educating the youth, especially those belonging to poor families along with the abandoned ones. Opening oratories, a technical school and family homes for young workers including farmers, he took on further commitment in the field of technical formation of the young and printing works. Struck down by multiple attacks of bronchial pneumonia in 1884, Don Bosco went to give him his blessing but despite some relapses went on to live until 1900. A model for Christian social workers, Murialdo was called a socialist for having advocated an eight hour work day in 1885. Paul VI beatified him on November 3, 1963 and canonized him on May 3, 1970. His liturgical feast day is held on March 30.