Bertoni, Gaspar, Venerable

BERTONI, GASPAR, venerabile. - Founder of the Stigmatines, born in Verona on 9 October 1777, died there on 12 June 1853. As a young priest, he introduced the Marian oratories into his city (1802); and around the first institute in his native parish of St. Paul of Campo Marzio, he established classes in Christian doctrine and elementary instruction, small exhibitions of arts and crafts, a recreation center and a patronage with vocal and instrumental music. In 1807 the French government suppressed the oratories, but seven years later, with a change of government, they rose again, in a simpler but no less effective form, for male and female youth; and they then spread through the city and diocese. B. also maintained, for nearly thirty years, a free gymnasium. He was, moreover, an apostle of the clergy, through the spiritual direction of the seminary and the office of examiner of ecclesiastical vocations; a zealous missionary, from the pulpit and the confessional; for half a century, the secret animator of nearly all the religious and charitable works of Verona. Rosmini too received counsel and comfort from him. In adverse times, B. gave an example of profound attachment to the Holy See. He bore with fortitude very long illnesses and numerous surgical operations. The introduction of his cause was recorded in 1906.

Giuseppe Stofella