Vincenzo Grossi

Saint Vincenzo Grossi
Canonization portrait.
Priest
Born	9 March 1845 Pizzighettone, Cremona, Italy
Died	7 November 1917 (aged 72) Vicobellignano, Cremona, Kingdom of Italy
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church
Beatified	1 November 1975, Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City by Pope Paul VI
Canonized	18 October 2015, Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City by Pope Francis
Feast	7 November
Attributes	Cassock
Patronage	Daughters of the Oratory

Saint Vincenzo Grossi (9 March 1845 – 7 November 1917) was an Italian Roman Catholic priest and the founder of the Daughters of the Oratory.

Pope Paul VI beatified Grossi on 1 November 1975 and a second miracle that Pope Francis approved in 2015 paved the path for his eventual canonization. He was canonized as a saint of the Roman Catholic Church on 18 October 2015.

Vincenzo Grossi was born on 9 March 1845 in Cremona as the last of seven brothers to Baldassare Grossi and Maddalena Capellini; he was baptized on the same day. As a child, he learned how to pray from his mother and learned about the seriousness of work from his father.

After the reception of his First Communion, he announced to his family his desire to join the priesthood. When he wanted to enter the seminary to become a priest, his father wanted him to stay with the family, but ultimately relented to his son's wishes. Despite this, he was forced to postpone his plans due to family reasons, so worked in his father's mill for a brief period of time. He entered the seminary on November 4, 1864 and commenced his studies for the priesthood in Cremona. Grossi was ordained as a priest on 22 May 1869. He was stationed as a parish priest in Regona and Vicobellignano in 1873 and 1883 respectively, where he dedicated himself to the poor.

He founded the Daughters of the Oratory in 1885 and ensured that the order was guided by the rules of Saint Philip Neri. Grossi focused on youth outreach and he would help young people realize their vocations. The Oratory devoted itself to the youth, in particular. He chose a life of poverty, and became well known for his work with children as well as for his preaching abilities.

He died on 7 November 1917 at the age of 72, uttering the words: "the way is open, we must go".