MISSIONARIES OF THE MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD. - Religious congregation founded by the blessed Gaspare Del Bufalo (v.) in 1815, at Giano dell'Umbria; Gregory XVI approved its Rule on 17 Dec. 1841. Its purpose is the spread of devotion to the Most Precious Blood through preaching, especially of missions, both among Christians and among unbelievers. It also embraces the most modern forms of the apostolate.
The M. live in community, not bound by vows, but by a promise of fidelity, in the observance of the Constitutions, free of austerity, modeled on the sacred canons. They dress like the secular clergy and during preaching they wear on their breast a crucifix hanging from the neck on a chain.
The Congregation, even amid the inevitable difficulties, immediately met with wide favor, revealing itself an effective instrument of Providence for healing society from all that ferment of revolutions, struggles and sects that characterizes the 19th century. Pius VII found in it a valid means for eradicating the brigandage that had developed in the Papal State during the Napoleonic period. Zealous priests, illustrious prelates, bishops, among them St. Vincent Strambi, Msgr. Mastai Ferretti (later Pius IX) and cardinals, attracted by the great ideal of the blessed Del Bufalo, joined him devotion to Mary Immaculate, by means of missions, exercises, and other works of the sacred ministry. There was added later also teaching in colleges and seminaries. Furthermore the M. devote themselves to the cult of the shrines of Our Lady and to promoting pilgrimages, especially to Lourdes.
The general house, following the Combes laws in France, was transferred to Buenos Aires, but then was brought back to Gaison near Tarbes. In 1947 the M. as auxiliaries, taking part in its missions. Thus there arose alongside the effective M. an institution of auxiliary M. that wrote glorious pages of apostolate and contributed much to the establishment of the nascent work. The Congregation spread rapidly in Italy and immediately after the founder's death also abroad. Today, besides in Italy, it counts its numerous centers in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, the United States of America, Chile and Brazil, where it conducts a vast Mission among the natives of the Amazon. Men distinguished for holiness and learning, among them the servant of God d. Giovanni Merlini, d. Biagio Valentini, d. Vincenzo Tani and d. Enrico Rizzoli, bishops and writers have honored its ranks.
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Giuseppe Quattrino