FRANCESCO de GERONIMO, saint. — Jesuit, popular missionary, born at Grottaglie (Taranto) on 17 December 1642, died at Naples on 11 May 1716. He initially embraced the ecclesiastical career and, after being ordained a priest (1666), spent four years assisting the young men at the Collegio dei nobili in Naples, earning from the students the title of “holy prefect.” Having entered the Society of Jesus (1670), he was almost immediately assigned to popular missions in the diocese of Otranto (1671–74), where his gifts as an effective preacher became so fully apparent that, when summoned to Naples, he remained there until the end of his life, devoted to his beloved “Neapolitan mission,” which was to take the place of the missions among the pagans that he had so often requested in vain.
His assignment comprised three particular ministries: first of all, the care of the oratory of the missions, a congregation of artisans devoted to the lay apostolate. Through his preaching and the concern he showed for their families and their circumstances, he knew how to inspire them so greatly that he transformed them into able co-workers, who followed him everywhere, maintained order, and brought sinners to him. The second work to which he devoted himself was the General Communion on the third Sunday of each month. He knew how to prepare it so well that the participants never numbered fewer than 12,000–14,000. But his principal ministry was preaching in the open air, at street corners and in the most disreputable areas, where his word, often accompanied by astonishing miracles, achieved the most remarkable successes. He did not neglect works of social assistance for the sick, converted prostitutes, girls in danger,
foundlings, and prisoners, thereby earning the titles of father of the poor, wonderworker, and protector of the city. His body is now preserved at Grottaglie (Taranto). He was beatified by Pius VII on 2 May 1806 and canonized by Gregory XVI on 26 May 1839. Feast day: 11 May.