From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
13 January =E2=80=93 Blessed Francesco Maria Greco
Priest and Founder with Servant of God Raffaela De Vincentis (Sr Maria
Teresa De Vincenti (1872-1936) of the Little Workers of the Sacred
Hearts, Professor of Dogmatic Theology and Sacred Scripture, Apostle
of Charity, devotee of Eucharistic Adoration, the Blessed Virgin and
the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts. Born on 26 July 1857 in Acri,
Cosenza, Italy and died on 13 Jan. 1931 in Acri, Cosenza, Italy of
bronchitis. Patronages =E2=80=93 the Little Workers of the Sacred Hearts an=
d
Acri.
Francesco Maria Greco, was born on 27 July 1857 in Acri, in what was
then the Diocese of San Marco e Bisignano. Preparing for his father=E2=80=
=99s
profession, pharmacist, while still a student in Naples he felt a call
to the priesthood. At that time, while visiting the Shrine of the
Blessed Virgin of the Rosary of Pompeii, still under construction, he
asked for the grace of becoming =E2=80=9Ca learned priest for doing good ministry.=E2=80=9D He conquered the resistances of his parents and was
ordained a priest in 1881. In Acri he became arch-priest-pastor of the
Church of St Nicholas, from 1888 to his death.
In the light of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, for whom he had a
special devotion, he carried out intense and fruitful pastoral work.
Living and working in Acri in the late 1800s, Fr Francesco realised
that religious ignorance was the greatest problem his parishioners and townspeople face =E2=80=93 for the less they knew about God, the further fr=
om
Him they remained. Together with his sister, Maria Teresa, he began a catechetical program to teach children, young people and adults about
the Catholic faith. The most dedicated catechist was Raffaella De
Vincenti, who later became the faithful collaborator of Blessed
Francisco, in the Institute's foundation, on 21 Nov. 1894, through =
her
profession of the vows, of chastity, poverty and obedience, through
which she received her religious name of Sister Maria Teresa of the
Sacred Hearts.
Others soon followed as young women from Acri and nearby towns heard
of the catechetical work to which she and Fr Francesco had devoted all
their energies. The Institute =E2=80=9C=E2=80=A6 founded out of a spirit of=
charity,
namely the love of God=E2=80=9D, has as =E2=80=9Cits principal purpose cate= chetical
instruction in parishes .=E2=80=9D Through its apostolic works, this Instit= ute
gives witness to the charity of the Sacred Hearts directed in a
special way to children and young people who are in need of human and
Christian formation.
Always full of priestly concern for others, this blessed man founded
the Caritas hospital which he entrusted to his sisters.
He also co-operated to the good performance of his diocese, making
himself available to requests from Bishops, who held him in high
esteem. He taught Dogmatic Theology and Sacred Scripture in the
Seminary of Bisignano and was its Rector for three years, while at the
same time the fulfilling his role as pastor. Surrounded by wide fame
of holiness he fell asleep in the Lord on 13 January 1931.
The cause of beatification began in 1960, was given in 1999 to Fr P
Luca De Rosa, OFM, general Postulator. The servant of God was declared Venerable on 19 April 2004. On 21 Jan. 2016, Pope Francis authorised
the Congregation for the causes of Saints to promulgate the Decree of recognition of a miracle attributed to his intercession, thus allowing
for his Beatification which took place on 21 May 2016. The
Beatification recognition was celebrated at Cosenza, Italy, with
Cardinal Angelo Amato as the chief celebrant. The beatification
miracle involved bringing Nina Pancaro out of a coma in which she had
lapsed following a severe illness and surgery. While comatose, she was
visited by a dream of Father Francesco who healed her and woke her up.
By Anastpaul 2019
Saint Quote:
=E2=80=9CIn solitude,
in the presence
of the Blessed Sacrament,
I learned the love of Jesus
and the power of this love.=E2=80=9D
--Blessed Francesco Maria Greco (1857-1931)
Bible Quote:
And thou shalt say in that day: I will give thanks to thee, O Lord,
for thou wast angry with me: thy wrath is turned away, and thou hast
comforted me. Behold, God is my saviour, I will deal confidently, and
will not fear: because the Lord is my strength, and my praise, and he
is become my salvation.=C2 (Isaiah 12:1-2)DRB
<><><><>
=E2=80=9CMy soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoice=
s
in God my savior.=E2=80=9D With these words Mary first acknowledges the
special gifts she has been given. Above all other saints, she alone
could truly rejoice in Jesus, her savior, for she knew that he who was
the source of eternal salvation would be born in time in her body, in
one person both her own son and her Lord. =E2=80=9CFor the Almighty has don=
e
great things for me, and holy is his name.=E2=80=9D Mary attributes nothing=
to
her own merits. She refers all her greatness to the gift of one whose
essence is power and whose nature is greatness, for he fills with
greatness and strength the small and the weak who believe in him.
=E2=80=93 Saint Bede the Venerable from a homily
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)