Saint of the Day: Bl. Francesco Maria Greco

Priest and Founder (1857-1931)

His life

+ Francesco, the son of a pharmacist, was born in Acri, Italy. Although his father hoped he would take over the family business, the young Francesco felt called to the priesthood.

+ Ordained in 1881, he served as a parish priest and oversaw the construction a new hospital in his hometown.

+ Francesco eventually became a seminary professor and came to believe that anyone who really understood the faith would be a faithful person. To that end, he dedicated the remainder of his life to catechizing the young.

+ In 1893, with Sister Maria Tersa de Vincenti, he established a new religious community: the Little Workers of the Sacred Hearts.

+ Blessed Francesco Maria Greco died in Acri on January 13, 1931, and was beatified in 2016.

For prayer and reflection

“It is before the Most Blessed Sacrament that I found the love of Jesus and the power of his love.”—Blessed Francesco Maria Greco

Prayer

O God, light of the faithful and shepherd of souls,
who set blessed Francesco in the Church
to feed your sheep by his words and form them by his example,
grant that through his intercession
we may keep the faith he taught by his words
and follow the way he showed by his example.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever Amen.

(from The Roman Missal: Common of Pastors—For One Pastor)
Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.