François Antoine Fasani

François Antoine Fasani (Francesco Antonio Fasani) - (1681 - 1742) - Priest - Large preacher, confessor and theologist.

Its life

François Antoine Fasani was born on August 6th 1681 with Lucera in the area from the Pouilles in Italy in a very modest but very Christian family. His/her parents were accustomed to reciting the chain every evening, in front of an image of the Blessed Virgin.

For its education, he is entrusted to the conventual minor brothers franciscains of Old the Saint convent of Assembles Gargano. He enters there like beginner in 1695, and the following year, he pronounces his wishes there.

It is ordered priest on September 11th 1705. It also continues and completes its studies of philosophy to Assise and obtains the rank of Maître . This title will remain to him, since it will be called from now on It Padre Maestro .

He dies in Lucera on November 29th 1742. All the city will take part in funerals by crying “ Our Main Père saint died! ”

The preacher

He starts to preach at the time of the Lent of 1707. He speaks clearly and simplicity, multiplying the examples drawn from the Writing. He invites his listeners with conversion highly, and its vehemence is often disputed by the rationalists of this century especially when he gets busy to fustigate the defects or the social injustices. A witness tells: “ It preached with a significant enthusiasm, so that it printed in the heart of its listeners the truths which it announced… He spoke about the Holy Mother of God with such a transport of devotion, such a tenderness and a so affectionate expression of the face, that it seemed that he had had a conference face to face with It ”.

The confessor

François Antoine devotes many hours to the confession of the faithful ones. He accommodates with benevolence much the penitent ones of the area of the Pouilles and Molise.

The sinner of the Immaculate

Since his childhood where the recitation of the rosary was practical permanent in its family, François Antoine always had a provonde devotion for the Immaculée. He was accustomed to distributing to those which listened to it holy pictures of the Blessed Virgin while explaining: “ If the Mother of God is immaculate, it is to be the refuge of the sinners ”. He repeats inlassablement that Marie, enemy sin, is at the same time the Mother of mercy and the “ carries Sky ”, that she encourages to request, to attend the sacraments of penitence and Eucharistie, to listen to his/her Son and to follow It.

The brother of the poor

François Antoine saw very simply, being satisfied with a simple straw mattress, offering his clothing to the paupers who need some. For them, it searches money and clothing.

In 1721, the Pope Clément XI entrusts the administration of the province to him franciscaine of Saint-Angel. He is spent without hoping to protect poorest, creating a banks of credit within the convent in order to allow neediest to be able to eat and dress themselves. It will be known as of him “ At one time characterized by a so great insensitivity of powerful with regard to the social problems, our saint is spent with an inexhaustible charity for the spiritual and material rise in his people. Its preferences go to the most scorned social layers and most exploited, especially the humble workers of the fields, the patients, the prisoners. He shows brilliant initiatives, requesting the co-operation of the easier classes, thus carrying out forms of assistance concrete and capillary, which appeared to anticipate and announce the modern forms of social assistance ”.

Miracles

Several were observed of alive sound:

• In front of defending oneself against an untrue charge in front of the Pope, it does not say anything, and is satisfied to kiss humbly the foot of sovereign pontiff. This one which suffered from the drop, is seen at the cured moment of sound badly. He recognizes immediately the innocence of François Antoine.

• One day that it was in pulpit, preaching, its bishop requires him to be keep silent, which it does at once. Some time later, the bishop feels very sick and claims the presence of the priest franciscain. This one does not go there, being satisfied to answer those which came to seek it: “ Useless, it already received its cure of Marie Immaculée ”

Beatification - Canonization

• François Antoine Fasani was béatifié on April 15th 1951 by the Pope Pie XII.

• It was canonized on April 13rd 1986 by the Pope Jean-Paul II. This last said of him: “untiring Preacher, holy Fasani the men never attenuated the requirements of the Message evangelic in the desire to like ”.