He was forced out of the Passionist house due to anti-clerical laws from Napoleon Bonaparte but later returned when safe to do so in order to preach and spread the charism of the Child Jesus.

He was baptized in the church of San Eustachio in the names of "Lorenzo Gaetano Maria Salvi" and he received his Confirmation sometime later at Saint Peter's Basilica.

[3] He studied for the priesthood at the Jesuit-run the Collegio Romano in Rome; his classmates included Bartolomeo Alberto Cappellari – future pope – and Gaspar del Bufalo.

[3] He was made the rector of the Passionist motherhouse in Rome (Santi Giovanni e Paolo) but spent much of his time preaching missions; his vice-rector was Dominic Barberi.

on 15 December 1987; the confirmation of his life of heroic virtue allowed for Pope John Paul II to name him as Venerable on 8 February 1988.