IGNAZIO DA LACONI, BEATO

IGNatius of LACONI, Blessed. — Capuchin lay brother of the Sardinian province, born at Làconi (Nuoro) on 17 (or 10?) December 1701. During a serious illness he vowed to become a religious and donned the novice’s habit on 10 November 1721 in the convent of St Benedict (Cagliari). Died at Cagliari on 11 May 1781.

Initially assigned to domestic duties in the convents of Buoncammino (Cagliari) and Iglesias, from 1741 until his death he served as questor for the aforesaid convent of Cagliari, perfecting himself in the traditional virtues of the Capuchin questors: prayer, penance, charity toward all who were in need, whether of body or spirit. The supernatural gifts with which he was favoured made him beloved and revered by every class of person. He was beatified by Pius XII on 16 June 1940. The process of canonization is now under way.

BIBL.: Sacra Rituum Congregatio, Positiones super causa beatificationis et canonizationis servi Dei I. a L., Rome 1854–69; Giorgio De Dominicis da Riano, Vita del ven. I. da L., Cagliari 1920; Arcangelo da Castiglion Fiorentino, Compendio della vita del beato I. da L., Rome 1940; Samuele Cultrera da Chiaramonte, Il beato I. da L., ibid. 1940; Ilirano of Milan.