GIANELLI, ANTONIO, blessed. — Bishop of Bobbio, born at Cereta (La Spezia) on 12 April 1789, died at Piacenza on 7 June 1846. Coming from a poor family, he was sent to study at the Seminary of Genoa through the intervention of a benefactress. Ordained a priest in 1812, he was first curate-vicar at the abbey of S. Matteo, then professor of rhetoric for ten years at Carcare among the Piarists and in the seminary, without thereby ceasing to devote himself in an exemplary manner to works of the apostolate.
In 1826 he was appointed archpriest and vicar general of Chiavari, where in 1829 he founded the Institute of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Garden, commonly called « Gianelline », vigorous and flourishing; whereas the institution, though so useful, of the Congregation of the Missionaries of S. Alfonso de' Liguori, founded in the same year for preaching, especially popular preaching, died out ten years after the death of G. Elected bishop of Bobbio (1838), he immediately devoted himself to the reform and organization of the diocese: he drew up rules that were very prudent but firm, in order to invigorate the ecclesiastical spirit among the clergy and eliminate abuses; he reorganized the Seminary in its studies and discipline; he visited the diocese three times and held two synods. For his clergy he was an example, making himself available to preach missions, hear confessions, and teach catechism to children; nor was he sparing in alms to the poor, depriving himself even of what was necessary.
At Bobbio, too, in 1839 he sought to establish a Congregation of missionary priests, which he called the Oblates of S. Alfonso; after his death, however, it did not withstand external opposition and animosities, with the result that its various members dispersed and no longer found the courage to reunite. Cristoforo Bonavino had belonged to it; after his defection, Franchi (v.).
Death overtook G. at Piacenza, where he had gone for a brief stay to recover from the illness that had afflicted him.
He was beatified by Pius XI on 19 April 1929; feast day, 7 June.