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Saint Annibale Maria Di Francia
Image: Jaimito555 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Saint Annibale Maria Di Francia

Messina priest who founded orphanages and orders devoted to prayer for vocations

Rank
Saint
Kind
Priest, Founder
Life
1851 – 1927
Era
20th century
Feast
1 June
Countries
Italy
Italy

Life story

Annibale Maria Di Francia was born on 5 July 1851 in Messina, Italy, into a noble family; his father was Francesco, Marquis and papal vice-consul, and his mother was Anna Toscano. His father died when he was about fifteen months old. The Holy See's biography says that at seventeen, while praying before the Blessed Sacrament, he became convinced of the importance of Jesus' words: “Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers” (Mt 9:38; Lk 10:2).

He was ordained a priest on 16 March 1878. A few months before his ordination he met a beggar, Francesco Zancone, who led him to the Case Avignone, a slum on the outskirts of Messina. With the bishop's permission he made the quarter his home. In 1882 he opened the first of the Anthonian Orphanages, placed under the patronage of Saint Anthony of Padua. In 1887 he founded the Daughters of Divine Zeal, and about ten years later, in 1897, the Rogationist Fathers. He also published the periodical “God and Neighbour” and built the Shrine of the Evangelical Rogation in Messina.

Both congregations received canonical approval on 6 August 1926. Father Annibale died in Messina on 1 June 1927 and was buried in that shrine. Pope John Paul II beatified him on 7 October 1990 and canonized him on 16 May 2004.

Works and witness

  • Made his home in the Case Avignone slum of Messina
  • Opened the first Anthonian Orphanage in 1882
  • Founded the Daughters of Divine Zeal in 1887
  • Founded the Rogationist Fathers in 1897 to pray for vocations
  • Canonized on 16 May 2004

Saints from the same country

Saint Agnes, Saint Lawrence, Saint Cecilia, Saint Sebastian

References

  • Holy See, biography for the beatification/canonization of Annibale Maria Di Francia (vatican.va, ns_lit_doc_20040516_di-francia_en), read in full – birth, ordination 1878, Zancone, orphanages 1882, Daughters of Divine Zeal 1887, approval 1926, death, beatification 1990
  • Wikipedia (English), “Annibale Maria di Francia” – 1897 Rogationists and canonization on 16 May 2004

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.