APPIANI, LUIGI ANTONIO

APPIANI, LUIGI ANTONIO. - Lazarist missionary, b. at Dogliani (Cuneo) in 1663, d. at Canton

in 1732. Having entered the Congregation of the Mission already a priest (1687), he was appointed professor at the house in Rome and spiritual director at the College of Propaganda. Reduced to death's door by illness, he made a vow to go on the missions and, upon recovering, went to China with 32 religious and two secular priests. He was commissioned by Propaganda to found a seminary for the native clergy (1697). He began his ministry in the vicariate of Szechwan, and in 1705 was chosen as an interpreter by Msgr. de Tournon, the papal legate and his relative, who was to handle the difficult question of the Chinese rites. Shortly thereafter (1706) he was arrested and remained in harsh imprisonment for about twenty years. The reason for his capture seems to be sought in the aversion of the Chinese authorities to the Pope's attitude on the question of the rites. Clement XI addressed a brief to the prisoner (1711) praising his fidelity and fortitude and appointing him apostolic protonotary. He also offered him the episcopate, which A. declined, begging that it be given instead to his confrere Müllener. The same Pope requested grace for him from the emperor, who refused it; Benedict XIII renewed the petition and A. was released (1726). He continued to work eagerly in Canton until his death.