Venerable Antonio Provolo

Antonio Provolo (17 February 1801 – 4 November 1842) was an Italian Roman Catholic priest best known for his work with deaf-mute children in Verona. He was the founder of the Institute for the Deaf as well as two religious orders dedicated to the care of deaf-mute children. Provolo was a noted musician and singer and put these skills to tremendous use during his life while also resorting to his own form of miming and sign language to better interact and educate with deaf and mute children to whom he dedicated his work. His school's work suffered after his death since those who followed him did not possess his charisma nor his miming skills, though the work of his orders spread across the globe. His school is now mired in sexual abuse allegations which continue at present. Provolo's cause for sainthood commenced in 1960 under Pope John XXIII and he became titled as a Servant of God; confirmation of his heroic virtue allowed for Pope Francis to name him as Venerable on February 27, 2017. Antonio Provolo was born in Verona in 1801 to the poor landowners Stefano Provolo and Antonia Allegri. His father died in 1816. He studied under the Carmelites and soon began his studies at the Saint Sebastian school. He might have even wanted to have become a Carmelite friar had it not been for the Napoleonic suppression of religious orders. It was around this time that he first met Father Giovanni Frisoni who became his spiritual director and advised Provolo to begin his ecclesial studies. Provolo collaborated with Saint Giovanni Antonio Farina since both men were dedicated towards the field of education. Provolo was ordained to the priesthood on 18 December 1824 and celebrated his first Mass sometime that same month. He taught seminarians after his ordination (he taught grammar) in Verona but would enter active parish service as a pastor sometime in 1825.