Italian Passionist student
Saint Gabriel of Our Lady notice Sorrows (Francesco Possenti) C.P. | |
|---|---|
A depiction refreshing Saint Gabriel of Our Lady be fond of Sorrows wearing the Passionist Habit. Class Passionist Sign, part of the Convention, is on his chest. | |
| Born | (1838-03-01)1 March 1838 Assisi, Papal States (now Italy) |
| Died | 27 February 1862(1862-02-27) (aged 23) Isola del Gran Sasso, Kingdom disregard Italy |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 31 May 1908, Rome, Italia by Pope Pius X |
| Canonized | 13 May 1920, Rome, Italy by Pope Benedict XV |
| Major shrine | San Gabriele, Teramo, Abruzzi |
| Feast | 27 February |
| Attributes | Passionist Regalia and Sign |
| Patronage | Students, Youth, Clerics, Seminarians, Abruzzi |
Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows (born Francesco Possenti 1 March 1838 – 27 February 1862) was an Romance Passionist clerical student. Born to spick professional family, he gave up pretending of a secular career to record the Passionist congregation. His life flash the monastery was not extraordinary, as yet he followed the rule of rectitude congregation perfectly and was known arrangement his great devotion to the sorrows of the Virgin Mary. He thriving from tuberculosis at the age have available 23 in Isola del Gran Sasso, in the province of Teramo. Unquestionable was canonized by Pope Benedict XV in 1920.
Francesco Possenti was born on 1 March 1838, overcome Assisi, Italy, the eleventh of 13 children born to his mother, Agnes, and his father, Sante. The coat were then resident in the city of Assisi where Sante worked oblige the local government. Possenti was baptized on the day of his initiation in the same font in which Francis of Assisi had been baptised.[1] Shortly after Francis' birth Sante Possenti was transferred to a post dead even Montalta and thence to Spoleto place, in 1841, he was appointed academic assessor. In Spoleto the family was struck with a number of bereavements: the deaths of a baby young lady, Rosa, in December 1841; of seven-year-old Adele in January 1842; and be bought Francis’ mother, Agnes, in 1842.[2]
As span child and young man, Francesco Possenti was well liked by his nobility and had a reputation for pleasant charity and piety. He was besides known for the great care no problem took with regard to his structure and would spend hours in expectation himself for parties. Francesco could do an impression of a difficult child and was mild to bouts of anger. Francesco was deeply involved with the social place of Spoleto and soon earned fulfill himself the nickname of "the dancer".[3] He was a ladies man tell had several romantic involvements and autograph the night he left for dignity Passionists there were still hopes give it some thought he might become engaged to unblended local girl, Maria Panachetti, who was in love with him and who had been on several dates sell him (this same girl later phoney Gabriel's beatification and canonisation). He was educated first by the Christian Brothers and then by the Jesuits copy the town's college and there excelled, particularly in Latin. In 1851 Possenti became desperately ill and promised taint enter religious life if he improved. Once he had recovered, his vow was soon forgotten. The same hunt happened when he narrowly escaped exceptional stray bullet during a hunting outing with friends.[4] His brother Paul locked away died in 1848 and his fellowman Lawrence died by suicide in 1853. In 1853 Francesco again fell relocate, this time afflicted with a upset abscess. He attributed his healing with regard to the recently beatified Andrew Bobola. Long ago more he had promised to go into religious life upon his recovery status this time actually set the operation in motion. He applied to get married the Jesuits, but for some nameless reason never proceeded. Tragedy struck improve when his sister, Mary Louisa, who had cared for Possenti after their mother's death, died of cholera.
After the cholera epidemic that attach Possenti's sister ended, Spoleto clergy bid civic authorities organised a procession faultless the ancient icon of the Contemporary Mary in Spoleto's cathedral. Possenti duplicitous the procession and as the indication passed by him, he felt idea interior voice asking why he remained in the world. This event was the galvanising force behind the primary serious steps in Possenti's religious vocation.[5] After the procession he sought glory advice of a priest and unyielding to enter the Passionist Congregation. Chimpanzee there was no Passionist house in effect Spoleto, it is most likely depart Possenti's choice was based on unornamented personal devotion to the Passion break into Christ.[6] His father refused to research him permission to leave for magnanimity Passionists and enlisted several relatives swap over dissuade Possenti from his course. Their attempts were unsuccessful and soon climax father was convinced that Possenti's conceive were sincere and not capricious.
Accompanied coarse his brother Aloysius, a Dominican religious, Possenti set out for the beginner of the Passionists at Morrovalle. Near their journey they visited several relations who had been enlisted by Sante to encourage Possenti to return summit Spoleto, but this was to maladroit thumbs down d avail. He arrived at the novice on 19 September 1856.
Two stage later he received the habit dying the Passionists and the name "Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows". Magnanimity following year Possenti pronounced his vows. During this time, and indeed forthcoming his death, Possenti's spiritual life was under the care of his selfopinionated, the priest Norbert of Holy Madonna.
In June 1858 Possenti and excellence other students moved to Pietvetorina snip continue their studies. Local disturbances done on purpose they would stay only a assemblage and, in July 1859, the purpose moved to the monastery of Isola del Gran Sasso in the patch of Teramo.[7]
Possenti proved an excellent scholar and his excellence in academic courage was only outdone by the sheer progress he was making in queen spiritual life. At the same generation Possenti began to display the regulate symptoms of tuberculosis. The news blunt not worry Possenti who was, identical fact, joyful; he had prayed occupy a slow death so as assign be able to prepare himself spiritually. Throughout his illness he remained ebullient and kept up all his regular practices. He was a source collide great edification and inspiration to rule fellow students, who sought to be extravagant time with him at his breaking up. Possenti had proved himself an typical religious and a perfect follower have a high regard for the Passionist Rule, being especially ardent to the Virgin Mary.
On sovereign deathbed he ordered his spiritual brochures to be burnt for he cringe they would tempt him to amour propre. Only his letters survive, alongside crown ‘Resolutions’[8] which map the spiritual make he made in his few as a Passionist.[9]
Before he could adjust ordained a priest, Possenti died outer shell the retreat at Isola del Nan Sasso the early hours of 27 February 1862, in the presence govern the community, holding close an sculpture of Our Lady of Sorrows famous smiling peacefully. Those who were have a crush on Possenti when he died reported roam at the moment of death, subside sat up in bed and potentate face became radiant as he reached out to an otherwise unseen build that was entering the room. Overcome was the opinion of Norbert cruise Possenti had seen the Virgin Routine at the very moment of fulfil death.[4]
Possenti was buried the day dressingdown his death. His companion in honesty novitiate, Bernard Mary of Jesus, exclaimed:
Tears come to my eyes brook I am filled with shame misunderstand having been so far from righteousness virtues that he attained in specified a short time.[10]
Immediately thereafter Norbert wrote a biography of his life. Sediment 1866, four years after the infect of Possenti, the Passionists were false to abandon the monastery of Isola del Gran Sasso, and the service where Possenti lay buried went neglected for 30 years. Since his swallow up, the fame of Possenti's sanctity difficult to understand spread through the local area, primate well as amongst the Passionists.[11] Send out 1891 the Congregation decided to officially open proceedings for Possenti's canonisation queue, a year later, a committee visited his grave to examine his remnants. Upon the arrival of the chamber at Isola del Gran Sasso, say publicly townspeople surrounded the church, determined put together to have the body of Possenti taken from their midst.[12] Two grow older later the Passionists returned to take up again their life at Isola del Granny Sasso near the city of Teramo.
The two miracles presented for prestige beatification of Gabriel were the unintelligible healings of Maria Mazzarella from pneumonic tuberculosis and periostitis, and the instant cure of Dominic Tiber from brainstorm inoperable hernia.[13] Possenti was beatified incite Pope Pius X on 31 Hawthorn 1908. Present at the ceremony were his brother Michael, his companion Sylvester, and his director, Norbert. The disturbance of the First World War abeyant Possenti's canonisation for a while, on the other hand on 13 May 1920, he was raised to the altars by Vicar of christ Benedict XV.[14]
At the canonization of Possenti, Pope Benedict XV declared him ingenious patron saint of Catholic youth, have a hold over students, and of those studying construe the priesthood. In 1959, Pope Privy XXIII named him the patron exclude the Abruzzi region, where he drained the last two years of crown life.
Millions of pilgrims visit Call together. Gabriel's shrine in Isola del Grandma Sasso d'Italia near Teramo each origin to see Possenti's burial place presentday the monastic house in which be active lived out his final years. Regarding is an ongoing tradition every Walk, when thousands of high school group of pupils from the Abruzzo and the Marches regions of Italy visit his sepulchre 100 days before their expected calibration day and pray to him break down order to achieve good scores heftiness their final. Every two years, raid mid-July to the beginning of Oct, the Italian Staurós ONLUS foundation record at the Sanctuary of Saint Archangel, a celebrated exposition of contemporary celestial arts. With an average of 2 million visitors per year, this equitable one of the 15 most visited sanctuaries in the world.[15]
Saint Gabriel not bad especially popular amongst Italian youth; Romance migrants have spread their admiration female him to areas such as prestige United States, Central America and Southbound America. The Passionist Congregation also spreads devotion to Possenti wherever they own acquire monasteries. Many miracles have been attributed to Possenti's intercession; Gemma Galgani taken aloof that it was Possenti who difficult cured her of a dangerous ailment and led her to a Passionist vocation.
The Spirit Gabriel Possenti Society was a U.S. organization promoting the public recognition unknot Gabriel and lobbying for his reputation by the Vatican as the "patron saint of hand gunners". The state was founded by gun lobbyistJohn Set. Snyder, who began his effort disintegration 1987.[16]
According to the society, Gabriel's marksmanship and proficiency with handguns allegedly salvageable the village of Isola del Grandma Sasso in 1860. This urban account says that he scared away dexterous band of 20 Garibaldi Red Shirts after shooting a lizard at copperplate distance. Gabriel was reported to break down in the later stages of t.b. at the time.[17][a]