Aloysius Domenico Ligutti, known as Luigi, was born on March 21, 1895 in Romans, Italy to Spiridione and Teresa Ariani Ligutti. After the death of his father when he was 17, he and his mother immigrated to Des Moines, Iowa to join his elder sister and her family there. Before immigrating to America, Luigi had been preparing for ordination to the Roman Catholic priesthood. He arrived in Iowa determined to continue his studies, and to this aim entered St. Ambrose College in Davenport, all the while learning to speak and write English. He graduated from St. Ambrose on June 10, 1914 and that fall began a three year sequence of study at St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore. He was ordained at 22 years of age on September 22, 1917, becoming the youngest priest in the United States of America. He continued his studies at the Catholic University of America in the Department of Greek and Latin and received a Master of Arts degree in June, 1918.
While Ligutti had hoped to continue on and receive a Doctorate in Classics, a shortage of priests in Iowa necessitated his return there for pastoral work. For two years he served as a Latin teacher, the registrar, and librarian for the newly created and diocesan run Des Moines Academy, before being appointed as the pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Woodbine and its mission church St. Brigid of Erin in Magnolia. It was at Sacred Heart that Liguitti began to develop what would become his life long concern over the problems of rural life, in all their manifestations. He stated simply, "I was interested in the problems of rural life because my people were farmers." By 1926 he had been transferred to Assumption Parish in Granger, Iowa. While working with his parishioners, many of whom lived below the poverty level, Ligutti's sensitivity to their needs, both basic needs for the support of human life and their needs as Catholics, continued to grow. In 1933 he applied for a loan from the Federal Subsistence Homesteads Division, one of the New Deal programs. With these funds he settled fifty families, who could normally depend only on income from seasonal mining work, on subsistence-size plots; within two years these families were off federal relief. The Granger Homesteads were so successful that Eleanor Roosevelt visited to inspect the New Deal project.
Ligutti had also become an active member in the National Catholic Rural Life Conference; in 1937 he became the president of the NCRLC, and on January 1, 1941 he resigned as pastor of Granger to become the full-time executive director. In this position, Ligutti effectively used the press, radio, congressional hearings, and the public platform at large to bring his message - "Christ to the Country, and the Country to Christ" - to America's rural farmers. His work in the rural areas brought him in contact with like-minded Protestants, and together with members of the Jewish community, the first ecumenical statement in the United States, "Man's Relation to the Land," was signed. Due to Ligutti's success, both in bringing to light the plight of the Catholic farmer and in improving his life, the apostolic delegate from the Holy See asked him to go to Italy and study the problem of rural life after World War II. His work on the rural life problem expanded to include the problem of displaced persons and emigration. In 1948 he was appointed as the Vatican observer to the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (UN-FAO). From 1950 to 1967 he was heavily involved in nine international rural life conferences, and in 1962 oversaw the formation of the International Catholic Rural Association.
His international profile brought him into contact with the highest members of the Catholic hierarchy and had a great influence on how the Vatican dealt with the problems of rural life all over the world. On November 21, 1960, Ligutti was appointed as a consultant to the Second Vatican Council's preparatory commission on the Apostolate of the Laity, becoming a member of the subcommittee on social action. On October 31, 1962, he was named as peritus for the council, but he always insisted that the most important work he did was behind the scenes, spreading information about rural life among the thousands of Catholic leaders present and serving the missionary priests and bishops who were unfamiliar with Vatican protocol. Because of this self-appointed role, in October 1963 he was officially appointed as assistant director of the lay auditors of the council, in order to provide them with practical assistance and to facilitate their full participation in the council.
Ligutti believed it imperative that the council pronounce on three topics: the social teaching of the church applied to the social needs of all mankind, the need for a clear-cut statement on stewardship in the church, and the need to to establish a secretariat for justice in order to fight world-wide poverty. On this last aim he worked with James J. Norris and Msgr. Joseph Gremillion in creating the Secretariat for Promoting World Justice and Development and the Commission for Justice and Peace, on which Liguitti served as a consultant for five years.
In 1960, Ligutti ceased to be the executive director of the NCRLC, after the special position of director of international affairs was created, allowing him to continue his international work on behalf of rural Catholics. In 1970 he moved to Rome and a year later founded "Agrimissio," an organization dedicated to helping Catholic organizations promote agricultural research and agricultural development in mission areas. He served as the first chairman of its board of directors until 1981.
In 1983, Luigi Ligutti died in Rome after a brief illness. As per his request, he was buried with his former parishioners in Granger, Iowa.
This collection is divided into two series. The majority of the first series reflects Ligutti's work with the preparatory commission on the Apostolate of the Laity and his work as a peritus for the commission on Schema XIII: The Church in the Modern World. The series primarily consists of mostly undated documents produced by the preparatory commission and undated and emended drafts of Schema XIII, a few of which include Ligutti's handwritten observations. While Schema XIII is present in its entirety throughout the series, the sections most heavily represented are those that dealt with Liguitti's life-long concerns: marriage and family life, social action, and the pastoral care of the clergy for the laity. The series also includes some correspondence, published versions of some Vatican II Council decrees, topically related articles and publications not directly produced by the Council press, and press releases put out by the National Catholic Welfare Conference during the Council. Two other items of interest are the visitor's book, beginning in 1962, of the N.C.W.C's Rome Office, and a photograph of a Vatican Commission.
The second series consists almost entirely of publications from the Vatican Press of various drafts of the Constitutions and Decrees of the Second Vatican Council. The majority of these publications are labeled as Msgr. Ligutti's own copies.
The Monsignor Luigi Ligutti - Vatican Council II Collection consists of 2 series:
None.
The American Catholic History Research Center and University Archives also contains:
At Marquette University Archives:
This record series is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.
Shortly before the end of the Second Vatican Council in December 1965, the Board of Trustees of The Catholic University of America approved the proposal of Bishop Ernest Primeau and then-CUA archivist Reverend Dr. Trisco for the establishment of a collection that would contain the papers and other documents pertaining to Vatican II of American participants for the use of qualified students and scholars. Sometime after, Msgr. Ligutti gave his papers into the care of the CUA archives
Processing completed in 2011 by Mary Zito, with contributions by Joshua Sakolsky in 1996-1997. EAD markup completed in 2011 by Mary Zito.
Includes preparatory materials that Ligutti compiled for his work with the Apostolate of the Laity, different drafts of Schema XIII, some that reflect his personal involvement in its formation, as well as correspondence, articles, and publications pertaining to the work of the council.
Documents in Latin.
Documents in Latin.
Documents in Latin.
Documents in Latin.
Documents in Latin.
Documents in Latin.
Documents in Latin.
Documents in Latin.
Documents in English, French, Italian, and Latin.
Documents in English.
Documents in English and Italian. Includes calling cards from Mons. Pericle Felici, Secretary General for Preparatory Commission for the Second Vatical Council.
Documents in English and Latin.
Documents in English.
Documents in French, Italian, and Latin.
Documents in English.
Documents in English.
Documents in English.
Documents in English.
Documents in English and Latin.
Documents in Italian and Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Documents in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in English.
Documents in Latin.
Documents in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Italian.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in English.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Documents in English.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Documents in French.
Document in Latin.
Documents in French and Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Documents in French and Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Documents in Latin.
Documents in French.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Documents in Latin.
Documents in English, French, and Latin.
Documents in French, Italian, and Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Documents in Latin.
Documents in French, Italian, and Latin.
Documents in English and Latin.
Documents in Latin.
Documents in French and Latin.
Documents in Latin and French.
Documents in French, Italian, and Latin.
Document in English.
Documents in Latin.
Documents in Latin.
Documents in Spanish and Latin.
Documents in French and Latin.
Document in French. Annotations by Msgr. Ligutti.
Documents in French and Latin.
Documents in Latin.
Documents in Latin.
Documents in Latin.
Documents in Latin.
Documents in French and Latin.
Document in Latin.
Documents in Latin.
Documents in Italian and Latin.
Documents in Latin.
Documents in Latin.
Documents in Latin.
Documents in Latin.
Documents in Latin.
Documents in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Documents in Latin.
Document in French.
Document in Latin.
Document in English.
Documents in Latin.
Documents in French, German, Italian, and Latin.
Documents in English and Latin.
Documents in English, French, and Latin.
Documents in French, Italian, and Latin.
English, Italian, and Latin.
Documents in French and Italian.
Documents in French, Italian, and Latin.
Documents in Latin.
Documents in French and Latin.
Documents in English and Latin.
Documents in Latin.
Documents in Latin.
Documents in English and Italian.
Documents in Latin.
Documents in Latin.
Documents in Latin.
Documents in English.
Document in Latin. Handwritten "Archbishop O'Boyle" on cover.
Document in Latin. Handwritten "Ligutti Vaticane" on cover.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Documents in English and Latin.
Documents in English and Latin.
Documents in English and Latin.
Documents in Latin.
Documents in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Autographs of bishops from all over the world who visited office.
Documents in Italian and Latin.
Documents in English and Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Articles in Italian. Picture is placed between pages of the magazine.
Includes publications from the Vatican Press of various drafts of the Constitution and decrees of the Second Vatican Council. The majority of these publications are labeled as Msgr. Ligutti's own copies.
Documents in Italian and Latin.
Documents in Latin. Latter documents within the cover of Schema on the Font of Revelation.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin. Two copies.
Documents in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin. Two copies.
Document in Latin. Two copies.
Document in Latin. Two copies.
Document in Latin. Two copies.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin. Two copies.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Documents in Latin.
Document in Latin. Three copies.
Document in Latin. Two copies.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin. Three copies.
Document in Latin. Three copies.
Document in Latin. Two copies.
Document in Latin. Two copies.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin. Two copies.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin. Two copies.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin. Two copies.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin. Two copies.
Document in Latin. Two copies.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin. Two copies.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin. Two copies.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin. Three copies.
Document in Latin. Two copies.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin. Two copies.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin. Two copies.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin. Two copies.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin. Two copies.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin. Two copies.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin. Annotated 'old text.'
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin. Annotated 'old text.'
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin. Annotated 'old text.'
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin. Two copies.
Documents in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Marked 'Confidential'; copy English and Italian.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin; two copies.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin, two copies.
Document in Latin, two copies.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin, three copies.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin, two copies.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin, two copies.
Document in Latin. Notes in Msgr. Ligutti's hand.
Document in Latin, two copies.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in French.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Two copies.
Document in Latin; Italian insert included.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin, two copies.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin, handwritten 'Textus Recognitus' below title.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Latin.
Document in Italian.
Document in Italian.
Document in Italian.