Father Costantino Ruggeri, born in Adro (Brescia) in 1925, completed his classical studies at the Franciscan monasteries of Saiano and Sabbioncello and his theological studies at the monastery of Busto Arsizio, where he created a cycle of frescoes.
He devoted his youth to painting, under the guidance and esteem of Mario Sironi, who recognized his talent and admired his dedication.
In 1951, after completing his theological studies, he was ordained a priest in the Milan Cathedral by Cardinal Schuster. That same year, his first painting exhibition took place at the “S. Fedele” Gallery in Milan, presented by Mario Sironi.
He carried out his priestly ministry at the Convent of S. Antonio in Milan and devoted himself to painting.
In 1954, he received the 1st “S. Fedele” Painting Prize and the 3rd “Marzotto” Prize.
He began his career in sculpture in the late 1950s.
From 1958 to 1962, he attended the Brera Academy and received a diploma in sculpture with a thesis on Christian epigraphic symbols from the catacombs, supervised by Luciano Minguzzi.
He cultivated encounters with artists and architects, including Fontana, Dova, Capogrossi, Crippa, Le Corbusier, and Alvar Aalto.
In 1959, he left Milan and established his art studio in the Canepanova Convent in Pavia, where he continued his work as a painter and sculptor, creating terracotta and ceramic pieces. He later devoted himself to the study of sacred spaces, designing chapels and exploring new forms for sacred furnishings and furnishings, as well as vestments.
In the 1960s, he experimented with stained glass windows featuring colored Murano crystals set in concrete panels, and in 1966 he began his series of artistic stained glass windows in antique blown glass bound in lead.
He collaborated with several Italian architects, including Figini and Pollini, Giò Ponti, Gardella, Vaccaro, Gresleri, Trebbi, and Nervi, on the construction of new churches. Passionate about the subject, he embarked, together with architect Luigi Leoni, on his own sacred architecture projects: churches and parish complexes, sanctuaries, chapels, and prayer rooms for religious institutes.

In 1977, he completed the first church, Santa Maria della Gioia in Varese, followed by the churches of the Tabernacle and Madonna della Provvidenza in Genoa, the church of San Paolo in Rho, Santo Spirito in Pavia, San Bernardo in Rome, and three churches in Burundi.
In 1986, he was commissioned to work on the Feriale Chapel in Milan Cathedral, crafting all the elements of the new liturgical space in patinated bronze.
In 1987, he received the commission to build the new Sanctuary of Our Lady of Divine Love in Rome, which was consecrated on July 4, 1999, by Pope John Paul II.
In 1993, after several study trips to Japan, he designed the new Sanctuary of Saint Francis Xavier for the city of Yamaguchi, which was solemnly inaugurated on April 29, 1998.
Since 1993, through the Frate Sole Foundation he created, he has promoted the promotion of sacred art by establishing the four-yearly “Frate Sole” award.
From 1993 to 2004, he awarded international prizes to Tadao Ando, ​​Alvaro Siza, and Richard Meier.
At the end of 2006, the new chapel of the Theotokos, Mother of God, was consecrated in Bethlehem, next to the Sanctuary of the Milk Grotto, which was being restored.
On June 24, 2007, his latest sculptural work, depicting the “face of Franciacorta,” was inaugurated in Adro, his hometown.
The following day, June 25, 2007, Father Costantino passed away at the hospital in Merate, near the Convent of Sabbioncello, where he spent his last weeks of life.