Guido Maria Conforti

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Saint Guido Maria Conforti (Archbishop and founder of the Xaverian Order)

Guido Maria Conforti SX (born March 30, 1865 in Casalora di Ravades near Parma ( Italy ), † November 5, 1931 in Parma) was a Roman Catholic bishop in Italy and founder of the Xaverian missionaries . He was beatified in 1996 and canonized in 2011 .

history

Guido was the eighth of ten children of the married couple Rinaldo Conforti and Antonia, née Adorni, and his father was a wealthy farmer . Between 1872 and 1876 he attended the primary school in Parma, which was run by the school brothers . It was here that he had his first Christian encounter with the cross , the cross was to accompany him as a special sanctuary .

At the age of 14 he read the biography of St. Francis Xaviers and has since venerated the great Jesuit missionary . In 1876 he started at the Episcopal seminary in Parma with the study and received on 22 September 1888 in Fontanellato in the province of Parma by Bishop Giovanni Andrea Miotti the priesthood . Already at that time a neurological disease made itself felt, he suffered from epilepsy and somnambulism . As a young priest he was in close contact with the Jesuits and Salesians . After his ordination, he took over the office of Vice Rector in the seminary and was a priest in the Cathedral of Parma . As vicar general of the Diocese of Parma , to which he had been appointed in 1895, he was involved in the founding of the "Seminary for Foreign Missions" and founded on December 13, 1895, the feast day of St. Francis Xavier, along with seventeen seminarians the Congregation of " Xaverian Missionaries " ( Pia Societas Sancti Francisci Xaverii pro Exteris Missionibus - SX).

He died on November 5, 1931 at the age of 66. The whole city of Parma, the faithful and many foreigners mourned him. A large number of mourners attended the funeral. Already at this point the veneration of this bishop and pastor began . He found his final resting place in the chapel of the seminary for foreign missions in Parma.

Episcopal offices

On June 11, 1902, Conforti made his perpetual vows . In the same year he was appointed by Pope Leo XIII. (1878–1903) appointed Archbishop of Ravenna . His poor health, which affected him as a young priest, meant that he had to give up this office in October 1904. He retired to the seminary in Parma, where he worked as a professor and teacher for the young missionary priests .

Cathedral in Parma

1906 Pope called him Pius X at the same time appointed Titular Archbishop of Stauropolis to Koadjutorerzbischof of Parma. On December 12, 1907, as Archbishop personally appointed by the Pope, he took over the episcopal office in Parma and was able to perform his episcopal service there for 25 years. His great spirituality and strong devotion to Jesus Christ developed a great attraction for the believers. He was considered a people's and missionary bishop, on his pastoral trips he visited parishes in his diocese. He campaigned for the mission of non-Christians and prepared two synods of bishops .

On April 21, 1912, he consecrated Luigi Calza as the first missionary bishop to emerge from the order of the Xaverian Missionaries, and sent him to China as Vicar Apostolic . During his bishopric in Parma, he fought against the First World War and became known as a peacemaker . On August 15, 1921, he presented his testamentary letter in which he had laid down the final rules of the order for the Xaverian missionaries. The Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for the Propaganda Fide (Propaganda Fide) Wilhelmus Marinus Cardinal van Rossum CSsR then appointed him on December 21, 1921 as the superior general of the Xaverian missionaries for life. From September to December 1928, despite his poor health, he went on a missionary trip to China.

beatification

On February 11, 1982, he was recognized and distinguished as a Venerable Servant of God . On 6 April 1995 signed Pope John Paul II. The decree of approval of a miracle . On March 17, 1996, Guido Maria Conforti was beatified together with Daniele Comboni in Rome . His feast day was set for November 5th, the day he died.

Canonization (process)

In the consistory on February 21, 2011, the College of Cardinals confirmed the completion of the canonization process for Bishop Guido Maria Conforti. His canonization took place on October 23, 2011 in St. Peter's Square.

gallery

  • Statue of Bishop Conforti on the Shrine of the Virgin of the Rosary square in Fontanellato

  • Sarcophagus of Guido Maria Conforti in the mother house of the Xaverian missionaries

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ See entry on Giovanni Andrea Miotti on catholic-hierarchy.org
  2. ↑ See entry on Luigi Calza on catholic-hierarchy.org
  3. ↑ Vatican: Three New Saints in: Vatican Radio of February 16, 2011
predecessor Office successor
Francesco Magani Bishop of Parma
1907–1931 		Evasio Colli
Agostino Gaetano Cardinal Riboldi Archbishop of Ravenna
1902–1904 		Pasquale Morganti
personal data
SURNAME Conforti, Guido Maria
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Italian clergyman Roman Catholic bishop
DATE OF BIRTH March 30, 1865
PLACE OF BIRTH Casalora di Ravades , Parma
DATE OF DEATH November 5, 1931
Place of death Parma