Ludovico (Vico) NECCHI. — Physician, b. in Milan on 19 Nov. 1876, d. there on 11 Jan. 1930.
In Nov. 1889, he began attending the second year of the gymnasium at the Parini School, an environment religiously hazardous; yet beside him was the Jesuit G. Mattiussi, who remained his counsellor and spiritual father for over thirty years.
At the “Parini” he met as a schoolfellow Edoardo Gemelli, who, converted from atheism and made a Franciscan, always wished him to remain at his side as counsellor. Having graduated in medicine and surgery at Pavia in 1902, he attended the University of Berlin in Jan.–Aug. 1904; then, refusing the offer of a newly established chair of anatomy at Freiburg, he devoted most of his time to the care of the sick, particularly in the field of neuropsychiatry, which he had chosen on the advice and encouragement of his friend Fr A. Gemelli, both in private consultations and at the outpatient clinic of the S. Vincenzo Institute in Milan for the education of mentally abnormal children. Beyond strictly medical means, with exquisite charity, delicacy and prudence he paired to his nervous patients a true supernatural treatment, awakening in them a sense of fullest trust in God’s Providence. Thus, often the cure was the fruit of conversion or this followed the recovery of physical health.
In his social apostolate, he placed his work in that sector of activity which stretches and serves as a bridge between the ecclesiastical hierarchy and lay society, often hostile and closed to the priest’s work. Living in the world, he became its apostle through action and word, availing himself of his profound philosophical, religious and medical-scientific preparation. Still a high-school student, he founded a Catholic association; at university, he was president of the Catholic circle S. Severino Boezio. Later, he took part in the country’s administrative life and in the Church’s religious-social action, from the days of the Democratic Christian Fascio to those of the Popular Union and finally Catholic Action; he was a municipal councillor in Milan in 1908, distinguishing himself by his intelligent and strenuous defence against the socialist attack on religious instruction in schools; in 1923 he was provincial councillor of the 5th District of Milan.
He had the joy of seeing the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart arise, of which he was a professor and may well be considered a “co-founder,” given the continuous precious work of counsellor he performed in every circumstance during the years of its preparation.
The cause of beatification was introduced on 7 Jan. 1951.
Gaetano M. Apolloni