Ancina, Giovanni Giovenale, Blessed

ANCINA, GIOVANNI GIOVENALE, beato. - Born on 19 Oct. 1545 at Fossano, died at Saluzzo on 31 Aug. 1604. Having taken his degree in philosophy and medicine, he practiced this science with great enthusiasm, holding a chair at the University of Turin. Having come to Rome in 1575, he there met St. Philip Neri, whose fervent disciple he became and by whom, at the age of 33, he was received into the Congregation of the Oratory on 1 Oct. 1578. Ordained a priest in 1582, in 1586 he moved to Naples, where he remained about ten years, exerting himself for the development of that nascent house of the Congregation. Having returned to Rome in 1596, he was elected by Clement VIII bishop of Saluzzo in March 1603. An effective champion of songs turned to a moral purpose, he widely spread their use by disguising their words, often modifying the text and substituting Christian names for pagan ones. He is the author of theological writings, of poems, of music, but above all he owes his fame to the collection entitled Tempio Armonico della Beatissima Vergine N. S. (Rome 1599), which contains spiritual songs for 3 voices, in the lauda style, composed by some thirty authors (G. G. A., G. Animuccia, D. Isorelli, etc.). His greater and better labors, however, he wished to lavish on the reform of the clergy, of the convents and on the spread of Christian practices among the people. He won for himself the love of the good and the hatred of the wicked; this was the cause of his early death by poisoning. He was beatified on 9 Febr. 1890. Feast on 31 August.

Luisa Cervelli