Antonio Provolo (17 February 1801 – 4 November 1842) was an Italian Roman Catholic priest best known for his work with deaf-mute children in Verona.
Provolo was a noted musician and singer and put these skills to tremendous use during his life while also resorting to his own form of miming and sign language to better interact and educate with deaf and mute children to whom he dedicated his work.
[3] Provolo studied under Father Sicard in Paris for nine months and began to teach deaf-mute children using French mime gestures and soon developed his own oral methods.
Provolo died on 4 November 1842 in Verona due to a dangerous edema; his remains since 1930 have been in the church of Santa Maria del Pianto.
[1][3] The cause for beatification commenced in 1960 under Pope John XXIII and Provolo became titled as a Servant of God; the informative process was launched in Verona to collect documentation and these were sent to the Congregation for Rites for further investigation.
Provolo was named as Venerable on 27 February 2017 after Pope Francis confirmed that the late priest lived a life of heroic virtue.