Blessed Luigi and Maria Beltrame Quattrocchi were the first married couple to be beatified together. Since then only one other couple has had this honor: St. Louis and Zélie Martin, the parents of St. Thérèse of Lisieux.
Maria grew up in a very religious home, having a strong belief in the faith from a young age. Luigi however had a very weak faith. He was a good man, but he did not have a strong relationship with God. Even their children saw this as they mention in their writings about their parents. Through the influence of Maria, Luigi’s faith grew stronger and they ran a race to holiness together.
Luigi was a lawyer and was very successful in his field. After WWII he helped to rebuild Italy’s government. His career stalled at times because he knew that living a holy life was more important than any job position he could be given. He never preached to those who worked with him, but acted as a witness to Christ’s love and mercy in his actions. Upon his death, one of his friends shared with the family that Luigi’s actions had brought him to love God. Maria herself was highly educated and published many works in the field of education, the family, and religion.
After they married in 1905, the Quattrocchis had 4 children. During her fourth pregnancy, Maria developed a very serious medical issue which threatened both her life and that of her unborn child. The couple prayed and trusted God, and happily, both Maria and the child survived.
Maria had a tough time adjusting to life as a mother. The selflessness of motherhood, in which a woman gives up many of her previous interests to care for her children, was difficult for her to accept. Through prayer, Maria was able to thrive in her role as a mother to her children.
As a couple, they challenged each other to be the best person they could be. In their house, they made it a contest as to who could serve the other the most. They prioritized going to Mass each morning and praying the rosary together each evening. They understood that their marriage and family was a gift which could help them get to heaven.
Their approach to parenting also reflected their understanding of their vocation. Their children sensed the holiness of their parents and thrived in this environment where growing in faith and virtue was a part of everyday life. Making God the first priority in their family resulted in both of their sons and one of their daughters entering religious life. The cause of canonization of their second daughter has also been opened.
Both Luigi and Maria spent countless hours serving their Church, their communities, and anyone who sought their assistance. During WWII, Maria served as a nurse helping the wounded, and the couple opened their home to anyone who needed a safe place to stay. They also served with an organization which took the sick to visit holy sites. They helped start numerous charitable organizations and never failed to help someone in need.
We can look to this couple today as an example of living “ordinary life in an extraordinary way” (Saint John Paul the Great). It is not only priests and professed religious who enter Heaven. We gain our entry by living the vocation which God has chosen for us in a manner completely turned toward Him.