April 4, 1884
The “twofold story” begins in San Lorenzo di Fossano (Cuneo), where James Alberione is born. The Alberione family is guided by his father Michele and lovingly cared for by his mother Teresa Allocco. He has three elder brothers: Giovenale, Francesco, and Giovanni; after James, a sister is born who will die within the year, then comes the youngest brother Tommaso. They are a family of poor peasants, deeply Christian and hard-working. Both parents transmit the faith to their children along with a strong work ethic and an unshakeable trust in Providence.
On April 5, a day after his birth, James is baptized in the chapel dedicated to St. Lawrence.
1890
God's plan for James begins to unfold very early on. In first grade, when asked by his teacher Rosa Cardona what he would like to be when he grows up, he responds clearly: “I will become a priest!”
The childhood years that follow are oriented toward this direction.
October 1900
At the age of 16 James enters the Seminary of Alba and immediately meets the man who will be his father, guide, friend, and counsellor for 46 years: Canon Francis Chiesa, professor of philosophy and of dogmatic and moral theology.
December 31, 1900-January 1, 1901
At the end of the Holy Year 1900, already strongly challenged by Pope Leo XIII's encyclical “Tametsi futura”, James heeds the powerful invitation of divine grace: on the night of December 31, 1900, which divides the two centuries, he remains in adoration for four hours before the Blessed Sacrament solemnly exposed in the Cathedral of Alba. A “particular light,” as he himself testifies, comes to him from the Host, and from that day on he feels “deeply obliged to do something for the Lord and for the men and women of the new century,” “obliged to serve the Church,” with the new means offered by human ingenuity.
As a result of this experience, Fr. Alberione will remind his future sons and daughters without end: “You were born from the Host, from the Tabernacle!”
1902-1906
The itinerary of the young Alberione proceeds intensely during the scholastic years of philosophy and theology;
December 8, 1902 marks the date of his clerical vestition.
June 29, 1907
On a Saturday, the Feast of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, James Alberione is ordained a priest, with the sacred order of the Presbyterate at the hands of Bishop Joseph Francis Re.
September 8, 1913
On the Feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, the bishop of Alba, Most Rev. J. Francis Re, commissions the priest James Alberione to manage the weekly newspaper of the diocese, the Gazzetta d’Alba.
August 20, 1914
The Small Worker's Typographic School is born, nucleus or seed of the future Pious Society of St. Paul , for the apostolate of the press. On March 12, 1927 it will be erected by Bishop Re as a religious congregation of diocesan right.
June 15, 1915
With the contribution of Teresa Merlo, Alberione begins the first female community of the future Pious Society of the Daughters of St. Paul .
February 10, 1924
The second female congregation comes to life: the Pious Disciples of the Divine Master, for the Eucharistic, priestly and liturgical apostolate. Fr. Alberione invites the young Orsola Rivata to guide the young women in their new vocation.
January 1926
The foundation of the first “branch” house in Rome takes place, followed by many foundations in Italy and abroad in the succeeding years.
Fr. Alberione, always aflame with “zeal” for souls, identifies the quickest ways to reach every person with the Gospel message, especially persons far away and the masses of people.
Sensing that, in addition to books, the publication of periodicals could be a very effective means, he throws himself extensively into this form of apostolate.
• In 1912, the magazine Vita Pastorale is published for pastors, so that “every pastor may be a Good Shepherd, modeled on Jesus Christ...”;
• Famiglia Cristiana is born in 1932, as a weekly magazine with the aim of nourishing the Christian life of families.
• La Madre di Dio is started in 1932 “to reveal to souls the beauty and grandeur of Mary”;
• Pastor bonus (1937) comes into being as a monthly magazine in Latin, in which Alberione reflects on problems of pastoral care and also offers profound biblical-theological meditation;
• Via, Verità e Vita (1952), is a monthly magazine for the knowledge and instruction of Christian doctrine;
• La Vita in Cristo e nella Chiesa (1952) is a periodical whose purpose is to “make known the treasures of the Liturgy, to promote all that is needed for the Liturgy, to live the Liturgy according to the Church...”.
• Fr. Alberione also considers young people: for them he publishes Il Giornalino in 1924.
1934-1935
The second expansion of the Pious Society of St. Paul takes place, with foundations in Spain, Poland, and the Far East of Asia: China, Japan, India and the Philippines.
October 7, 1938
In October 1938 Fr. Alberione founds the third female congregation: the Sisters of Jesus the Good Shepherd or “Pastorelle,” destined for the direct pastoral apostolate in support of pastors.
December 27, 1945
Fr. Alberione makes his first trip to the United States; on his second trip, in 1949, he passes through India, the Philippines and Japan; in the summer of 1949 he travels to the USA, Mexico, and Canada; in Spring 1952, to the Americas; in Spring 1953 again to the East, as in 1949; in Autumn 1955 back to the East. In 1963–64 he visits Pauline communities in all the continents (including Africa), with the evident intention of giving everyone a final greeting.
December 1948
The first experimental radio broadcast is made on Christmas Day 1948; at 8:00 a.m. “Radio San Paolo” begins to call listeners previously notified; at 8:10 a.m., a very excited Fr. Alberione sits in front of the microphone and begins to speak.
January 15, 1953
Definitive pontifical approval of the Pious Society of the Daughters of St. Paul is granted.
8 dicembre 1954
The official date of the dedication of the church built in honor of Mary Most Holy, Queen of the Apostles, in fulfilment of the vow made by Fr. James Alberione during the war of 1939–1940.
April 1957
The First General Chapter of the Pious Society of St. Paul is held. Fr. Alberione is present at the Chapter and personally directs all the Chapter works.
September 8, 1959
The Sisters of the Queen of the Apostles , called “Apostoline”, is the last religious Congregation founded by Fr. James Alberione. To them is entrusted a very important mission, especially today, namely, that of focusing on religious, priestly and apostolic vocations.
April 8, 1960
Pontifical approval for the three Aggregate Institutes (founded in 1958):
1) Institute of Jesus the Priest, for diocesan priests;
2) Institute of St. Gabriel Archangel, for lay men;
3) Institute of Mary Most Holy of the Annunciation, for lay women.
1962-1965
The Second Vatican Council takes place. Primo Maestro is a silent but very attentive protagonist during the four “sessions” in which he participates daily with lively commitment. December 4, 1963 is a day of particular jubilation, when the Council Decree Inter Mirifica is issued, with the pronouncement to assume the instruments of social communication as a means of evangelization.
He comments: “Now you can no longer have doubts. The Church has spoken.” And again: “I have given you the best. If I had found something better, I would give it to you now, but I haven’t found anything better.”
May 3, 1965
Fr. Alberione visits Padre Pio of Pietrelcina in San Giovanni Rotondo (Foggia).
June 28, 1969
Paul VI receives Fr. James Alberione in the Clementine Hall of the Vatican for a special audience. He is accompanied by the Capitulars of the Pious Society of St. Paul and a large representation of the other Congregations and Institutes of the Pauline Family.
November 26, 1971
Fr. James Alberione dies in the early hours of the evening, at 6:25 p.m. An hour earlier the Holy Father Paul VI visits him in his room in Via Alessandro Severo 58, Rome, kneeling in front of his bed in prayer.
