"He was a shepherd boy working on Count San-Felice's farm, located between two small towns east of Rome. He was born in a little village called Pampinara and started working for the count when he was just five years old. His father was also a shepherd who owned a small flock and made his living selling wool and milk in Rome.
Even as a small child, Luigi showed unusual intelligence. When he was seven, he went to the local priest and asked to be taught to read. It was complicated since he couldn't leave his flock, but the good priest had to walk through the area daily anyway to say mass at a tiny village too poor to afford its own church. The priest told Luigi he could meet him on his route and they'd have lessons, though they'd be short, so he'd need to pay close attention.
