Blessed Antonio Rosmini

Life story

Antonio Rosmini was born on 24 March 1797 in Rovereto, then part of the Austrian Empire (one source gives 25 March). He was ordained a priest at Chioggia on 21 April 1821 and took a doctorate in theology and canon law in 1822. He wrote the constitutions of the Institute of Charity on Ash Wednesday, 20 February 1828, at Monte Calvario near Domodossola; Pope Gregory XVI approved them on 20 December 1838.

On 15 May 1829 Pope Pius VIII received him and encouraged his twofold work as philosopher and founder. He left many writings, among them the book on the Five Wounds of the Holy Church (Delle cinque piaghe della santa Chiesa). In 1849 two of his works were placed on the Index of Forbidden Books. On 3 July 1854 the Congregation of the Index issued a decree of dimittantur, dismissing the works it had examined, and stated that this did not diminish his good name, the Institute's, or his merits to the Church.

He died on 1 July 1855 at Stresa on Lake Maggiore, aged 58. In 1887 Pope Leo XIII condemned forty propositions drawn from his works; in 2001 the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith stated that those propositions do not represent Rosmini's authentic position. Benedict XVI declared him Venerable in 2006, and he was beatified at Novara on 18 November 2007.

Works and witness

• Ordained on 21 April 1821 and wrote the Institute of Charity's constitutions in 1828
• Constitutions approved by Gregory XVI on 20 December 1838
• Works placed on the Index in 1849 and dismissed by a decree of 1854
• Died at Stresa on 1 July 1855
• Beatified at Novara on 18 November 2007

Saints from the same country

Saint Agnes, Saint Lawrence, Saint Cecilia, Saint Sebastian

References

• Vatican, biography for the beatification of Antonio Rosmini, 18 November 2007

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