His beatification was celebrated under Pope John Paul II on 27 October 1991 in Saint Peter's Square; his liturgical feast is not affixed to the date of his death as is the norm but rather on 6 December.

In summer 1834 he attended the Three Kings School and afterwards in 1841 began his theological education in Munich (1841–42) at the college there as well as later in Bonn (1842–44) and Cologne (26 March 1844 – 1845).

Kolping was ordained to the priesthood on 13 April 1845 in Cologne's Minoritenkirche but his father died the night before so his ordination was full of mixed emotions.

It grew rapidly into a Young Workmen's Society with the acknowledged object of fostering the religious life of the members, and at the same time of improving their mechanical skill.

"Initially his objective was to provide a home-away-from- home for young apprentices and journeymen while they learned a trade that would enable them to make a decent and honest living.

In 1854 he founded the newspaper "Rheinische Volksblätter" (or the "Rhine Region People’s Paper") which quickly became one of the most successful press organs of his time.

Pope Pius IX titled him as a Monsignor in 1862 – this came about after the pair met in Rome in a private audience in May to discuss the priest's work.

[6] He died on 4 December 1865 due to lung cancer; he had suffered from a severe joint inflammation in his right forearm that spring.

"[5] The beatification process opened under Pope Pius XI on 21 March 1934 and Kolping was titled as a Servant of God.

Theologians approved the cause on 15 January 1988 as did the CCS on 18 April 1989; the confirmation of his heroic virtue allowed for Pope John Paul II to name him as Venerable on 13 May 1989.

[10] Kolping’s personal witness and apostolate helped prepare for Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical "Rerum Novarum"—"On the Social Order".