FRANCIS DE GERONIMO, Saint. - Jesuit, popular missionary, b. at Grottaglie (Taranto) on 17 Dec. 1642, d. at Naples on 11 May 1716. He first embraced the ecclesiastical career and, having been ordained a priest (1666), spent four years in the care of young people at the Collegio dei nobili in Naples, earning from the pupils 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 were so fully revealed that, called 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 many times requested in vain.

His charge comprised three particular ministries: first of all the care of the oratory of the missions, a congregation of artisans for the lay apostolate. He knew so well how to enthuse them, both with his sermons and with the attentions he paid to their families and their situation, that he transformed them into valuable co-workers, who followed him everywhere, kept order, and brought sinners to him. The second work to which he devoted himself was the general Communion of the third Sunday of the month. He knew so well how to prepare it that the participants were never fewer than 12-14,000. But his principal ministry was preaching in the open air, at street corners, in the most disreputable spots, where his word, often accompanied by astounding miracles, obtained the most wonderful successes. He did not neglect works of social assistance for the sick, converted prostitutes, girls in danger, foundlings, and those confined in prisons, thus earning for himself the appellation of father of the poor, of thaumaturge, of protector of the city. His body is now preserved at Grottaglie (Taranto). Beatified by Pius VII on 2 May 1806, he was canonized by Gregory XVI on 26 May 1839. Feast day 11 May.

Bibliography6 works

BIBL.: Of the greatest importance is the Summarium de virtutibus (Rome 1751), where the Saint's writing is found: Brevi notizie delle cose di storia di Dio accadute nell'esercizio delle sante missioni di Napoli da 14 anni in qua (1678-93), as far as could be recalled to memory: reproduced by G. Boero, S. F. di G. e le sue missioni dentro a fuori di Napoli. Florence 1884 pp. 67-181. Of the lives: cf. C. Scradiotti, Della vita del p. F. di G., Naples 1719; S. Bagnati, Vita del servo di Dio p. F. di G., ibid. 1725; A. Muzanelli, Raccolto di avvenimenti sionatori e documenti autentici spettanti alla vita del b. F. di G. estratti dal processi, Rome 1806; L. degli Oddi, Vita di s. F. di G., ibid. 1839; J. Bach, Histoire de si F. de G., Metz 1867; F. M. D'Aria, Un restauratore sociale. Storia critica della vita di s. F. de G., Rome 1943 (published only vol. I). Of the very numerous notes of his sermons, the edition is being prepared.

Celestino Testore

@incollection{ec5_francesco_de_geronimo_santo, author = {Testore, Celestino}, title = {Francesco de Geronimo, santo}, booktitle = {Enciclopedia Cattolica}, volume = {V}, pages = {1592--1593}, note = {Cited by column}, publisher = {Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico}, address = {Città del Vaticano}, year = {1950}, url = {https://azioneromana.com/article/francesco-de-geronimo-santo} }

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Francis de Geronimo, Saint

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