FACCHINI, ELIA, Blessed. — Born at Reno Centesc (Ferrara) on 2 July 1839; died in China at Tai-Yuan-fu (Shansi) on 9 July 1900, a victim of the Boxer persecution. He donned the Franciscan habit in 1854 and in 1868 left as a missionary for Shansi (China).
He first exercised his ministry at Ta-tong-fu, but was soon recalled as rector of the native Seminary of Tai-yuan-fu. His mission was that of educating in the Seminary where, after a period at Tong-eul-kon as first superior of the Franciscan convent erected there by mons. Grassi, he spent the thirty years of his missionary life, a model rather than a teacher to his young men, five of whom were his companions in martyrdom. He was beatified by Pius XII on 21 Nov. 1946.
BIBL.: G. Ricci, Barberie e trimoli, 2nd ed., Florence 1909, pp. 427–518; id., Acta Martyrum Sinensium, Quaracchi 1911, passim (v. indice); C. Silvestri, La testimonianza del sangue, Rome 1943, pp. 107–34 and 415–514. Alberto Ghinato