Venerable Joseph Marello

Giuseppe Marello (known as Joseph Marello in English; 26 December 1844 – 30 May 1895) was an Italian Roman Catholic prelate who served as the Bishop of Acqui from 1889 until his death and was also the founder of the Oblates of Saint Joseph. Marello served as an aide to the Bishop of Asti prior to his episcopal appointment after Pope Leo XIII named him to head the Acqui diocese; the pope had known Marello while a cardinal when the pair participated in the First Vatican Council more than a decade before. He became a proponent for the poor and destitute and never stopped rendering his assistance to those who needed it the most; this was something he undertook even in his childhood. Bishop Marello issued several pastoral letters that dealt with a range of issues such as catechism and organized one big pastoral visitation to visit all parishes in his diocese. Marello's cause for sainthood resulted in his beatification on 26 September 1993 in Asti and his canonization less than a decade later on 25 November 2001 in Saint Peter's Square. Giuseppe Marello was born on 26 December 1844 on Bakers' Street in Turin to Vincenzo Marello and Anna Maria Viale, and he was baptized just hours later in the Corpus Domini church. He had a younger brother named Vittorio. His godparents were Chiaffredo Viale and Teresa Secco. He received his Confirmation on 15 August 1855 from the Bishop of Asti Filippo Artico. He was an altar server in his childhood, and he often invited the homeless to his home for food. His father was a friend of Giuseppe Benedetto Cottolengo. Marello's mother died on 5 April 1848, and in 1852 his father decided to relocate with his children to San Martino Alfieri, where his paternal grandparents resided. Marello began his studies for the priesthood on 31 October 1856, but his father wished him to continue with his education and take up a career in business.