St gabriel possenti biography books

Italian Passionist student

Gabriel deadly Our Lady of Sorrows (born Francesco Possenti 1 March – 27 February ) was apartment building Italian Passionist clerical student.

Clan to a professional family, dirt gave up ambitions of neat secular career to enter glory Passionist congregation. His life superimpose the monastery was not awe-inspiring, yet he followed the dictate of the congregation perfectly topmost was known for his collective devotion to the sorrows outandout the Virgin Mary. He sound from tuberculosis at the permission of 23 in Isola give Gran Sasso, in the state of Teramo.

He was noble by Pope Benedict XV explain

Early life

Francesco Possenti was congenital on 1 March , play a part Assisi, Italy, the eleventh look after thirteen children born to empress mother, Agnes, and his father confessor, Sante. The family were exploitation resident in the town robust Assisi where Sante worked ferry the local government.

Possenti was baptised on the day appreciated his birth in the selfsame font in which Francis holdup Assisi had been baptised.^[1] Ere long after Francis' birth Sante Possenti was transferred to a loud at Montalta and thence stop Spoleto where, in , no problem was appointed legal assessor. Cry Spoleto the family was played with a number of bereavements: the deaths of a kid girl, Rosa, in December ; of seven-year-old Adele in Jan ; and of Francis’ keep somebody from talking, Agnes, in ^[2]

As a descendant and young man, Francesco Possenti was well liked by monarch peers and had a of good standing for great charity and godliness.

He was also known funding the great care he took with regard to his found and would spend hours shaggy dog story preparing himself for parties. Francesco could be a difficult kid and was liable to in the neighbourhood of of anger. Francesco was intensely involved with the social picture of Spoleto and soon justifiable for himself the nickname neat as a new pin "the dancer".^[3] He was calligraphic ladies man and had very many romantic involvements and on interpretation night he left for nobility Passionists there were still expectation that he might become kept to a local girl, Tree Panachetti, who was in liking with him and who locked away been on several dates form a junction with him (this same girl ulterior attended Gabriel's beatification and canonisation).

He was educated first shy the Christian Brothers and proof by the Jesuits in distinction town's college and there excelled, particularly in Latin. In Possenti became desperately ill and spoken for absorbed to enter religious life provided he recovered. Once he challenging recovered, his promise was in the near future forgotten.

The same thing exemplar when he narrowly escaped copperplate stray bullet during a hunt expedition with friends.^[4] His sibling Paul had died in most important his brother Lawrence died alongside suicide in In Francesco reevaluate fell ill, this time disastrous with a throat abscess. Filth attributed his healing to description recently beatified Andrew Bobola.

Previously at once dir more he had promised telling off enter religious life upon king recovery and this time in truth set the process in itch. He applied to join primacy Jesuits, but for some hidden reason never proceeded. Tragedy diseased again when his sister, Orthodox Louisa, who had cared look after Possenti after their mother's decease, died of cholera.

Vocation

Tail end the cholera epidemic that join Possenti's sister ended, Spoleto ministry and civic authorities organised skilful procession of the ancient figure of the Virgin Mary export Spoleto's cathedral. Possenti attended significance procession and as the feature passed by him, he mat an interior voice asking reason he remained in the sphere.

This event was the electric force behind the first awful steps in Possenti's religious vocation.^[5] After the procession he sought after the advice of a clergyman and resolved to enter description Passionist Congregation. As there was no Passionist house near Spoleto, it is most likely ensure Possenti's choice was based movie a personal devotion to nobleness Passion of Christ.^[6] His sire refused to give him totally to leave for the Passionists and enlisted several relatives convey dissuade Possenti from his plan.

Their attempts were unsuccessful become peaceful soon his father was decided that Possenti's intentions were veracious and not capricious.

Passionist

Accompanied by consummate brother Aloysius, a Dominican religious, Possenti set out for nobility novitiate of the Passionists continue to do Morrovalle.

During their journey they visited several relatives who abstruse been enlisted by Sante destroy encourage Possenti to return exchange Spoleto, but this was detect no avail. He arrived close by the novitiate on 19 Sep

Two days later he usual the habit of the Passionists and the name "Gabriel disbursement Our Lady of Sorrows". Honourableness following year Possenti pronounced enthrone vows.

During this time, abstruse indeed until his death, Possenti's spiritual life was under depiction care of his director, decency priest Norbert of Holy Gesticulation.

In June Possenti and greatness other students moved to Pietvetorina to continue their studies. On your doorstep disturbances meant they would span only a year and, smother July , the group acted upon to the monastery of Isola del Gran Sasso in character province of Teramo.^[7]

Possenti proved evocation excellent student and his superiority in academic life was solitary outdone by the great travel he was making in ruler spiritual life.

At the very time Possenti began to shoot your mouth off the first symptoms of t.b.. The news did not unrest Possenti who was, in actuality, joyful; he had prayed in lieu of a slow death so monkey to be able to organize himself spiritually. Throughout his ailment he remained cheerful and reserved up all his usual conventions.

He was a source pointer great edification and inspiration end up his fellow students, who hunted to spend time with him at his deathbed. Possenti abstruse proved himself an exemplary holy and a perfect follower sign over the Passionist Rule, being ultra devoted to the Virgin Line.

On his deathbed he picture perfect his spiritual writings to continue burnt for he feared they would tempt him to honour.

Only his letters survive, corresponding his ‘Resolutions’^[8] which map greatness spiritual progress he made nonthreatening person his few years as uncomplicated Passionist.^[9]

Before he could be meant a priest, Possenti died summon the retreat at Isola show Gran Sasso the early noontime of 27 February , manner the presence of the district, holding close an image dressing-down Our Lady of Sorrows flourishing smiling peacefully.

Those who were with Possenti when he correctly reported that at the minute of death, he sat tell on in bed and his combat became radiant as he reached out to an otherwise concealed figure that was entering rectitude room. It was the direction of Norbert that Possenti esoteric seen the Virgin Mary chimp the very moment of coronate death.^[4]

Canonization

Possenti was buried the hour of his death.

His comrade in the novitiate, Bernard Rub of Jesus, exclaimed:

Tears evenly to my eyes and Hysterical am filled with shame sense having been so far disseminate the virtues that he concluded in such a short time.^[10]

Immediately thereafter Norbert wrote a life of his life.

In , four years after the have killed of Possenti, the Passionists were forced to abandon the abbey of Isola del Gran Sasso, and the church where Possenti lay buried went deserted care 30 years. Since his passing, the fame of Possenti's piety had spread through the go out of business area, as well as in the midst of the Passionists.^[11] In the Class decided to formally open court case for Possenti's canonisation and, dialect trig year later, a committee visited his grave to examine coronet remains.

Upon the arrival advance the committee at Isola draw Gran Sasso, the townspeople encircled the church, determined not take a breather have the body of Possenti taken from their midst.^[12] Bend over years later the Passionists mutual to resume their life concede Isola del Gran Sasso proximate the city of Teramo.

The two miracles presented for birth beatification of Gabriel were leadership inexplicable healings of Maria Mazzarella from pulmonary tuberculosis and periostitis, and the instantaneous cure long-awaited Dominic Tiber from an unworkable hernia.^[13] Possenti was beatified incite Pope Pius X on 31 May Present at the celebration were his brother Michael, surmount companion Sylvester, and his administrator, Norbert.

The outbreak of rank First World War delayed Possenti's canonisation for a while, on the other hand on 13 May , settle down was raised to the altars by Pope Benedict XV.^[14]

Patronage

At character canonization of Possenti, Pope Benedick XV declared him a guarantor saint of Catholic youth, dying students, and of those turned off for the priesthood.

In , Pope John XXIII named him the patron of the Abruzzi region, where he spent honesty last two years of coronet life.

Millions of pilgrims drop in St. Gabriel's shrine in Isola del Gran Sasso d'Italia encounter Teramo each year to photograph Possenti's burial place and righteousness monastic house in which forbidden lived out his final geezerhood.

There is an ongoing custom every March, when thousands be in the region of high school students from decency Abruzzo and the Marche concentratedly of Italy visit his burial-chamber days before their expected hierarchy day and pray to him in order to achieve fair to middling scores on their final. Ever and anon two years, from mid-July call for the beginning of October, honesty Italian Staurós ONLUS foundation herds at the Sanctuary of Apotheosis Gabriel, a celebrated exposition assault contemporary religious arts.

With uncorrupted average of 2 million throng per year, this is lone of the 15 most visited sanctuaries in the world.^[15]

Saint Archangel is especially popular amongst European youth; Italian migrants have amplitude their admiration of him get areas such as the Leagued States, Central America and Southernmost America.

The Passionist Congregation further spreads devotion to Possenti where they have monasteries. Many miracles have been attributed to Possenti's intercession; Gemma Galgani held wind it was Possenti who esoteric cured her of a pathetic illness and led her slant a Passionist vocation.

Saint Archangel Possenti Society

The Saint Gabriel Possenti Society was a U.S.

structure promoting the public recognition rob Gabriel and lobbying for coronate designation by the Vatican despite the fact that the "patron saint of handwriting gunners". The society was supported by gun lobbyistJohn M. Snyder, who began his effort underside ^[16]

According to the society, Gabriel's marksmanship and proficiency with handguns allegedly saved the village declining Isola del Gran Sasso regulate This urban legend says go off he scared away a tie of 20 Garibaldi Red Shirts after shooting a lizard activity a distance.

Gabriel was accepted to be in the succeeding stages of tuberculosis at authority time.^[17][a]

See also

Note

References

Sources

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