Verri, Biagio

VERRI, BIAGIO. - Apostolic missionary, b. at Barni, in Vallassina, on 2 Oct. 1819, d. at Turin, on 26 Oct. 1884, associated in the Work of the Ransom of little African slave girls with Fr. Niccolò Olivieri.

The latter, b. at Voltaggio (Genoa) on 21 Feb. 1792, was the great-nephew of St. G. B. De Rossi (v.); an esteemed director of the Shelter of Penitents of Genoa, in 1838 he began to extend his activity to the ransom of little Moorish girls. He bought them in the Egyptian markets and placed them for their education in numerous religious institutes in Europe. The initiative, begun without a pre-established plan, in a few years was transformed into the skillfully organized activity that took the name of the Work of the Ransom. The Work absorbed almost the whole of Olivieri's activity, so that in 1848 he renounced his own office and devoted himself completely to it. In Aug. 1859 he met Fr. B. V. in Milan who, perfectly understanding the importance of the Work, became its promoter for the collection of the necessary funds. Subsequently he felt arising in himself the desire for a more direct and complete collaboration. In 1857, wishing to know the will of God regarding him, he made the Ignatian month of spiritual exercises in the House of the Jesuits at Verderio (Milan); he then went to Turin to consult with Fr. Bosco, whom he had known for some years. On 9 Dec. he set out from Milan for Egypt in the company of Fr. Olivieri. That was the first of numerous journeys, arduous and dangerous. He bought little Moorish girls and brought them to Europe, placed them in institutes and collected the huge sums indispensable for the Work. On his advice, the Franciscan Missionaries of Egypt founded in Cairo the College of the Little Moorish Girls, which was of valid help for the work of the Ransom. On 25 Oct. 1864 Fr. Olivieri died. Fr. V. continued alone the immense task of the Ransom. Contrary to the advice of many he did not wish to build houses, because many institutes already provided for the education of the little Moorish girls and because that was then the era of the confiscation of religious property. Moreover he did not want to spend on buildings sums that could have served to ransom more numerous little Moorish girls. At Naples he formed a friendship with the ven. Ludovico da Casoria, who founded the College of the little Moorish boys, to direct them toward the priesthood according to his celebrated saying: «Africa must save Africa!». In 1884 he died at the Cottolengo of Turin. Three years after, his body was triumphantly transported to Barni. His cause of beatification is in progress. The fruits of the tireless activity of the two missionaries were very notable. Of the very many little Moorish girls ransomed the majority turned out very well both in the world and in the cloister. Some rose to high degrees of holiness.

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