Don Luigi Guanella was born in Fraciscio (SO) in 1842. In his preparation for the priesthood he was a student of the Gallio College of Como, then he attended the seminars for philosophical and theological studies of the Diocese.
He was ordained a priest in 1866 and exercised the pastoral ministry for 9 years in the parishes of Prosto and Savogno.
After three years spent in Turin at Don Boscor, where he made his religious profession for three years in the Salesian Congregation. Recalled by the Bishop he returns to the Diocese and makes his first attempt to open a children's work in Traona, which failed, is sent to Olmo where he experiences the discouragement of not being understood even by his Bishop. It is here that Providence comes to his aid with the offer made to him of the pastoral care of the parish of Pianello, after the death of Don Coppini who had begun to gather a group of Religious women dedicated to the charitable apostolate and catechetical education in the Parish. Here, despite a certain difficulty due to the 'fame' that had spread about him, he can begin his work of charity, helped by Sister Marcellina Bosatta who will be the co-founder of the Daughters of Saint Mary of Providence.
In April 1886, with some Sisters, he was able to establish the House of Divine Providence in Como, the Mother House of the Work, where Marcellina's sister, Sister Chiara Bosatta, And 'like the wheel around which the sisters work true miracles of charity. Sister Chiara died very soon and was beatified in 1991.
Meanwhile in Como the Founder begins to treat young people as aspiring disciples including Alessandrino Mazzucchi who died at the age of 12 while playing with the swing on the name day of Don Luigi Guanella (21 June). Some priests and aspirants join him supporting him in the mission of charity which is little open to many poor classes, so calling the House a 'Noah's Ark'.
Burning with zeal and charity for souls, he first founded the Daughters of Saint Mary of Providence and then the Servants of Charity to ensure the continuity of his charitable works for every class of people, particularly aimed at children, the disabled and the elderly.
He died in Como on 24 October 1915. Beatified by Paul VI in 1964. On 23 October 2011 he was proclaimed a saint by Benedict XVI. In the solemn act of canonization the Pope highlights his solicitous charity and his dedication to the service of the least who find their source in the gift received from God of a merciful heart, in the style of God the Father, provident and in love and inflamed by charity of the Heart of Christ.