Subj : January 31st - Saint Francesco Saverio Maria Bianchi To : All From : rich Date : Tue Jan 30 2018 09:07:35 From: rich January 31st - Saint Francesco Saverio Maria Bianchi (Also known as Apostle of Naples, Francis Xavier Bianchi) d. 1815 St. FRANCIS BIANCHI was born in 1743 at Arpino, in what was then the kingdom of the Two Sicilies, and was educated as an ecclesiastical student at Naples, receiving the tonsure when he was only 14. His father, however, would not hear of his entering a religious order, and the boy had to pass through a period of great mental anguish in the conflict between duty to his parents and what seemed the call of God. Taking counsel at last with St. Alphonsus Liguori, to whom he found access during one of the saint's missions, Francis became sure of h= is vocation, and overcoming all opposition he entered the Congregation of Clerks Regular of St. Paul, commonly called Barnabites. In consequence probably of the ordeal through which he had passed, he then fell seriously ill and suffered acutely for 3 years, but he recovered eventually, and was able to make great progress in his studies, distinguishing himself particularly in literature and science. He was ordained priest in 1767, and the trust which his superiors reposed in his virtue and practical ability was shown not only by his being deputed to hear confessions at an early age, a rare concession in Italy, but also by his appointment as superior to two different colleges simultaneously, a charge which he held for 15 years. Many important offices were conferred upon him in the order, but his soul seems to have felt more and more the call to detach himself from external things, and to devote all his energies to prayer and the work of the ministry. He began to lead an extremely mortified and austere life, spending also long hours, in the confessional, where his advice was sought by thousands. His health suffered, and his infirmities became so great that he could hardly drag himself from place to place nevertheless he persisted, and his unflinching resolution in placing himself at the service of all who needed his help seems to have lent a wonderful efficacy to his words and his prayers, so that he was universally regarded as a saint, At the time when the religious orders were dispersed and driven from their houses in Naples, Father Bianchi was in a most pitiable condition. His legs were terribly swollen and covered with sores, and he had to be carried to the altar. Some advantage, however, came to him from his very afflictions, for he was allowed to retain his habit and remain in the college where, all alone, he lived a life of the strictest religious observance. There are many stories of his miraculous and prophetic powers. Two very remarkable cases of the multiplication of inadequate sums of money put aside in a drawer to meet a debt were recounted in the process of beatification, and it was also affirmed that in 1805, when Vesuvius was in eruption, Father Bianchi, at the earnest petition of his fellow townsfolk, had himself carried to the edge of the lava stream, and blessed it, with the result that the flow was stayed. Towards the end of his days the veneration he inspired in Naples was unbounded. =E2=80=9CThere may have been a Neri (black) in Rome=E2=80=9D, th= e people said, =E2=80=9Cbut we have our Bianchi (white) who is just as wonderful.=E2= =80=9D Many years previously, a penitent of his, now known as St. Mary Frances of Naples, who went to God in 1791, had promised Father Bianchi that she would appear to him 3 days before his death. The good priest was convinced that she would keep her word, and we are told that this visit actually took place 3 days before January 31, 1815, when he breathed his last. He was canonized in 1951. See P. Rudoni, Virtu e meraviglie del yen. Francesco S. M. Bianchi (1823) C. Kempf, The Holiness of the Church in the Nineteenth Century (1916), pp. 96-97 Analecta Ecclesiastica, 1893, pp. 54 seq. Saint Quote: For God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son: that whosoever believeth in him may not perish, but may have life everlasting. -- Saint John the Apostle from The Gospel of John 3:16 Bible Quote Blessed is the rich man that is found without blemish: and that hath not gone after gold, nor put his trust in money nor in treasures. (Ecclesiasticus 31:8) <><><><> IN TIME OF DEBT Almighty, everlasting God, we beg of You to help us soon to pay off our debts to our fellowmen. Give us strength and courage to persevere until the last penny is paid. Give patience to those to whom we are in debt, and let them not treat us unjustly. Help us have great confidence in You and in the workings of Your provid= ence, trusting that You will always direct things to our greatest good. Make us also fully realize that no debt to our fellowmen can begin to equal the debt that we owe You on account of our sins, to say nothing of the immense debt we owe You for the gifts of Your Divine grace. These we could never pay at all but for the coming of Your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ. To Him be all honor and thanksgiving, now and forever. Amen. --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4) .