The Martyrdom of Blessed Anthony Neyrot, XVIth century
Bienheureux Antoine
Neyrot, martyr
Natif de Rivoli, dans le
diocèse de Turin, il fit profession comme frère prêcheur. Capturé par les
Maures et amené à Tunis, il apostasia et se maria. Pris de remords, il se
convertit après quelques mois et revêtit l'habit dominicain.
Il confessa publiquement le Christ et fut lapidé à mort.
Saint Antoine Neyrot
Martyr dominicain à
Tunis (+ 1460)
Antoine Neyrot naquit à
Rivoli dans le Piémont. Entré chez les dominicains de Florence, il eut pour
frères au couvent de Saint Marc, saint
Antonin et le célèbre Fra Angelico. Mais sa ferveur n'était pas bien
grande et il obtint de partir en Sicile où il n'avait que faire sinon que de
quitter Florence. Au retour de ce voyage, sur le bateau qui le ramenait à
Naples, il fut pris en otage par des corsaires qui l'emmenèrent à Tunis. Pour
ne pas devenir esclave, il devint musulman. et contracta mariage. Mais ni
l'Islam ni son épouse ne le rendirent heureux. Ayant appris la mort de saint
Antonin qu'il vénérait, il retourna à Jésus-Christ, renvoya sa femme, reprit
l'habit dominicain et fut arrêté comme renégat. Condamné à être décapité, il
vit la foule se jeter sur lui tandis qu'il attendait à genoux l'exécution. Il
fut tué, lardé de coups de couteau, puis son corps fut traîné dans les rues.
À Tunis, en 1460, le
bienheureux Antoine Neyrot, prêtre de l’Ordre des Prêcheurs et martyr. Enlevé
par des pirates et conduit de force an Afrique, il eut la faiblesse
d’apostasier et de se marier, mais, avec le secours de la grâce divine, un
jeudi saint, il reprit en public son habit religieux et, frappé d’une grêle de
pierres, il expia sa faute.
Martyrologe romain
SOURCE : http://nominis.cef.fr/contenus/saint/946/Saint-Antoine-Neyrot.html
Antoine Neyrot
Dominicain, Bienheureux
† 1460
Le B. Antoine Neyrot
naquit à Rivoli au diocèse de Turin il était d'une des meilleures familles de
cette ville et entra tout jeune encore au couvent de Saint-Marc à Florence, dont
saint Antonin était alors prieur. Il y fit profession entre ses mains et fut
envoyé en Sicile. Or, il arriva que, quelque temps après, se rendant de Sicile
à Naples, il fut pris, pendant la traversée, par des pirates de Tunis et emmené
captif en Afrique. Son courage et bientôt sa foi déchirent sous ce malheur il
en vint même jusqu'à renier publiquement Jésus-Christ.
Il y avait quatre mois
déjà qu'il croupissait dans son apostasie, quand Dieu jeta sur lui un regard de
miséricorde et le retira de l'abîme par la puissance de sa grâce. Ayant donc
abjuré l'infâme mahométisme, Antoine se hâta de se préparer, par toutes les
rigueurs de la pénitence et par la récitation fervente de l'office divin, à une
lutte prochaine. Après quoi, deux fois lavé dans le sang de Jésus-Christ, au
saint tribunal et à la sainte table, revêtu des habits de son Ordre, il va
trouver le roi de Tunis, qui revenait alors d'une récente expédition. Eu sa
présence et au milieu d'une foule immense, Antoine déplore son impiété,
proclame seule véritable la religion chrétienne, qu'il avait abandonnée, et
parle de Jésus-Christ avec une hardiesse et une éloquence merveilleuses. Le roi
essaie de l'ébranler par tous les moyens, il promet, il caresse, mais sans nul
succès il ordonne enfin de le conduire en prison, et le remet au jugement du
chef de la secte. Trois jours entiers le perfide et artificieux musulman mit
tout en œuvre pour le vaincre le courage du serviteur de Dieu fut inébranlable.
Accablé presque sans relâche par les barbares d'outrages et de coups, sa
patience ne se démentit pas un seul instant. Quelques chrétiens lui envoyaient
des secours il les distribuait aux pauvres, se contentait pour lui de pain et
d'eau et se préparait ainsi a la mort. Enfin, cinq jours après son
emprisonnement, le juge le fait venir une dernière fois devant lui une dernière
fois il échoue devant sa constance, et le condamne à être lapidé. On l'entraîne
au lieu du supplice. Là, le soldat de Jésus-Christ s'agenouille, lève les mains
au ciel, entre en prières et, dans une immobilité courageuse, reçoit la grêle
de pierres qui consomme son martyre. Cette mort bienheureuse arriva le 10 mars
de l'année 1460.
Les barbares livrèrent
ensuite son corps aux flammes mais les flammes le respectèrent, et il fut
racheté par des marchands génois qui mouillaient alors à Tunis. On le lava avec
respect, et on l'envoya à Gènes, exhalant l'odeur la plus suave. De cette ville
le B. Amédée IX, duc de Savoie, le fit transférer à Rivoli, l'an 1469.
Bientôt la gloire des
miracles vint rehausser sur ces saintes dépouilles la gloire du martyre grand
nombre de fidèles se déclarèrent redevables aux mérites du B. Antoine de grâces
très insignes. Le culte du martyr s'accrut et se propagea de jour en jour.
Enfin Clément X, le voyant bien établi, l'approuva et permit à l'Ordre des
Frères Prêcheurs de réciter l'office et de célébrer la messe en l'honneur du B.
Antoine.
SOURCE : P. Giry : Les petits Bollandistes : Vies des saints. T. IV.
Source : http://gallica.bnf.fr/ Bibliothèque nationale de France.
SOURCE : http://nouvl.evangelisation.free.fr/antoine_neyrot.htm
et http://nova.evangelisation.free.fr/antoine_neyrot.htm
Bienheureux Antoine
Neyrot
Martyr Dominicain
Fête le 10 avril
Rivoli, diocèse de Turin,
Piémont, v. 1423 – † Tunis, Tunisie, 10 avril 1460
Béatifié le 22 février
1767 par le pape Clément XIII
Autre graphie :
Antonio Neyrot
Natif de Rivoli, dans le
diocèse de Turin (Piémont), il fit profession comme frère prêcheur. Capturé par
des pirates Maures et amené à Tunis, il apostasia et se maria. Pris de remords,
il se convertit après quelques mois et revêtit l’habit dominicain. Il confessa
publiquement le Christ et fut lapidé à mort à Tunis. Son culte fut approuvé par
Clément XIII (1758-69).
SOURCE : http://www.martyretsaint.com/antoine-neyrot/
Bx Antonio (Antoine)
Neyrot de Rivoli
Prêtre o.p. et martyr (†
1460)
Antoine Neyrot naît en
1425 à Rivoli (province de Turin dans le Piémont, Italie).
Il entra tout jeune au
couvent Saint-Marc de Florence, dont st Antonin était alors prieur et Fra
Angelico un des frères. Antonin insistait toujours sur l’importance de l’étude,
de la prière et de la patience pour faire un bon dominicain.
Mais Antoine n’était pas
patient. Il voulait vite aller en première ligne. Ses supérieurs lui ayant dit
non, il s’adressa à Rome et finit par obtenir d’être envoyé en Sicile où il
n’avait que faire sinon que de quitter Florence.
En 1458, il quitte la Sicile et s’embarque pour Naples (ou, selon certains,
pour l’Afrique), il est pris par des pirates et emmené captif à Tunis. Lui qui
voulait évangéliser l’Afrique, il trahit ses vœux : pour ne pas devenir
esclave, il devient musulman et se marie. Il entreprit de traduire le Coran en
italien, mais n’y trouvant qu’un tissu de fables, il reconnut son erreur et son
péché, d’autant plus qu’il apprit la mort de saint Antonin (en mai 1459) qu’il
vénérait.
Il retourna à Jésus-Christ, renvoya sa femme, reprit l’habit dominicain le 10 avril 1460, Jeudi Saint, et alla trouver le dey pour lui dire qu’il regrettait son apostasie : il fut aussitôt lapidé. Racheté par des marchands génois, son corps fut enterré à Gênes, puis transféré à Rivoli.
Des miracles eurent lieu sur sa tombe. Un grand nombre de fidèles se déclarèrent redevables aux mérites du Bx Antoine de grâces très insignes.
Le culte du martyr s'accrut et se propagea de jour en jour, et fut autorisé en
1767 par Clément XIII (Carlo Rezzonico, 1758-1769).
Source principale :
docteurangelique.com/ (« Rév. x gpm »).
©Evangelizo.org 2001-2015
SOURCE : https://docteurangelique.forumactif.com/t13571-les-saints-dominicains
Also
known as
Antoine Neirotti
Antonio…
Anthony…
Profile
Joined the Dominicans at
the convent of
San Marco in Florence, Italy as
a young man. While travelling to preach in Naples, Italy,
he was captured by
Moorish pirates, he was taken to Tunis, Tunisia. He was initially treated
pretty well, but his captors perceived him as arrogant for being sure of
his faith and imprisoned him
and gave him only bread and water. To escape, he renounced Christianity,
began to study Islam, worked on a translation of
the Koran, and even married.
However, he apparently never completely lost his faith,
was overcome with remorse, and after a few months he resumed his Dominican habit,
found a priest,
came back to the Church and
publicly proclaimed himself a Christian. Martyr.
Born
c.1425 at Rivoli, diocese of Turin, Italy
stoned to
death on 10 April 1460 in
Tunis, Tunisia
body returned to Rivoli, Italy by merchants travelling through
the region
22
February 1767 by Pope Clement
XIII (cultus
confirmation)
Additional
Information
Calendar of the Order of
Preachers
Roman Martyrology
Saints
of the Day, by Katherine Rabenstein
books
Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
other
sites in english
sitios
en español
Martirologio Romano, 2001 edición
sites
en français
situs
di indonesia
fonti
in italiano
Martirologio Romano, 2005 edition
Readings
O God, you mercifully
called blessed Anthony back to the light of the truth and received him as a
glorious martyr; grant, we beseech you, that we may deny ourselves, taught by
his bitter experience, and with him love you above all things. Through our
Lord. – Dominicans
MLA
Citation
“Blessed Antoine
Neyrot“. CatholicSaints.Info. 9 April 2024. Web. 10 April 2025.
<https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-antoine-neyrot/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-antoine-neyrot/
Bl. Anthony Neyrot
Feastday: April 10
Birth: 1425
Death: 1460
A Dominican martyr. He
was born in Rivoli, in Piedmont, Italy, and entered the Dominicans. Captured by
Moorish pirates, Anthony became a Muslim and married. After a few months, he
repented and put on his Dominican habit to
preach Christ's message. As a result, Anthony was stoned to death in Tunis, in
modem Tunisia.
SOURCE : https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=1458
April 10 : Blessed Anthony
Neyrot
Anthony was born in
northern Italy in the fifteenth century. He joined the Dominican order in
Florence, Italy. The prior at that time was another saint, Antoninus. We
celebrate his feast on May 10. This saint was to have a great influence on
Blessed Anthony.
Brother Anthony was
sailing from Naples to Sicily when pirates captured the ship. Anthony was taken
to Tunis and sold as a slave. He was able to win his freedom, but fell away
from the Church. He denied his faith in Jesus and abandoned his religious vocation.
He accepted the Koran, the sacred book of the Muslims. For several months, he
practiced the Muslim religion. He also married.
In the meantime, his
former Dominican prior, the saintly Antoninus, died. This led Anthony to have a
shocking experience. It seems that one night, Anthony had something like a
dream. St. Antoninus appeared to him. The conversation between the two men was
to lead to a radical change in Anthony. He became truly sorry for having
betrayed the Lord. He knew that in his heart he could never give up his faith
in Jesus. He knew that he could only be a Catholic. And he realized that he
still wanted very much to be a Dominican brother.
Blessed Anthony sent his
wife back to her family. He then put on his white Dominican habit. In spite of
his fear, he went to see the ruler of Tunis. A large crowd gathered and the
ruler came out to the courtyard. Brother Anthony publicly admitted he had made
a terrible mistake. He was a Catholic. He believed in and loved Jesus. He was a
Dominican and wanted to be so for all his life. The ruler was angry. He
threatened and then made promises of rewards if only Anthony would take back
what he was saying. But Anthony would not. He knew this meant his death.
Anthony knelt and began
to pray for the courage to give his life for Jesus. Suddenly he felt the large
stones pounding him. He just kept praying for the strength to remain true to
the Lord. Then he lost consciousness. Anthony died a martyr in 1460. Some
merchants from Genoa, Italy, took his remains back to his own country.
Reflection: Could I
make the Sacrament of Reconciliation more a part of my life? What difference
would this make?
Blessed Antony Neyrot, OP
M (AC)
Born in Rivoli, Piedmont,
Italy; died in Tunis, 1460; cultus approved by Clement XIII. Blessed Antony
renounced his faith. He expiated his sin with an act of heroism that merited
heaven, washing away in his own blood the denial that might have cost him his
soul.
Little is known of
Antony's childhood. He became a Dominican at Saint Antoninus. After completing
his studies, Antony was ordained and lived for a time at San Marco, the famous
Dominican monastery in Florence. Becoming restless, he asked for a change of
mission and was sent to Sicily. He didn't like this either, so he set out for
Naples. On this voyage, his ship was captured by pirates, and Antony, along
with the other passengers, was taken, bound, to Africa. Here the passengers
were led through the streets for all to see.
The battle of Lepanto was
still 100 years in the future, but Turkish aggression, which was to bring about
this great battle, was commonplace in Antony's time. Some captives were treated
leniently, others very cruelly. The Islamic king of Tunis seems to have liked young
Antony because he ordered that kindness should be shown to him. Antony was not
even confined, until his arrogance angered his captors into more severe
restrictions, but Antony was impatient and resented the very idea of captivity.
Being placed in prison, living on a diet of bread and water, he soon collapsed.
Then, as the Islamics had hoped, he denied his faith in order to buy his
freedom.
Disaster followed
disaster. He lost all faith in Christianity and began to translate the Koran.
He was adopted by the king, married a Turkish lady of high rank, and was given
the freedom of the city.
Into the false paradise
came the news of the death of Saint Antoninus. Love for his old master stirred
in Antony a yearning for the Truth he had abandoned. He resolved to return to
the Christian faith, although it meant certain death.
In order that his return
might be as public as his denial had been, he waited until the king returning
in triumph from a victory over the Christians, had a public procession. Having
confessed and made his private reconciliation with God, Antony, clothed in a
Dominican habit, at that moment mounted the palace steps where all could see
him.
In a loud voice he
proclaimed his faith, and his sorrow at having denied it. The king at first disbelieved
his ears, then he became angry. Failing to change the mind of the young man, he
commanded that he be stoned to death.
Antony died under a
shower of stones, proclaiming to the last his faith and his sorrow. It was Holy
Thursday, 1460. His body was recovered at great expense from the Islamics and
returned to Rivoli, where his tomb soon became a place of pilgrimage. Many
miracles were performed there, and, until very recently, an annual procession
was held at his shrine. In the procession, all the present-day members of his
family, dressed in black, walked proudly behind the statue of Blessed Antony
(Benedictines, Dorcy, Encyclopedia).
SOURCE : http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0410.shtml
Blessed Anthony Neyrot
Submitted by Br. Ambrose Sigman, O.P. on Wed,
03/30/2011 - 5:43pm
Very soon now, April 10th in
fact, we Dominicans will celebrate one of the more unusual blesseds on our
calendar, Blessed Anthony Neyrot (d. 1460). Bl. Anthony was the only Dominican
blessed ever to renounce his faith, and yet in the end return to the faith and
die a martyr’s death. Bl. Anthony is a reminder to us that nothing is lost
which cannot be found again, and no one can stray so far that the Good Shepherd
cannot bring him or her home.
Not much is known about
the youth of Bl. Anthony, only that he was from Rivoli in Italy. He was
received into the Order by the great Dominican, Saint Antoninus. After his
studies and ordination, Anthony was assigned to the convent of San Marco in
Florence. Being somewhat wayward and impatient, Anthony quickly grew tired of
this and asked for a change of scenery. He was sent first to Sicily, about
which he was not thrilled, and then to Naples. While sailing to Naples,
Anthony’s ship was captured by pirates, and he and the other passengers were
taken to the city of Tunis in North Africa.
At first, Anthony was
well-liked by the emir in Tunis and was allowed a measure of freedom. His
continuing arrogance, though, quickly brought the wrath of his captors and
Anthony was put in prison and given only bread and water. Anthony eventually
gave in, denying his faith in order to obtain his freedom. Anthony quickly
embraced his new faith, even going so far as to attempt a translation of the
Qur’an. Soon, he was adopted by the emir and married a high-born Turkish lady.
Anthony’s newfound
complacency, though, was quickly shattered. Into his life came the news that
his beloved teacher and mentor, Saint Antoninus, had died. Love for his old
master stirred in Anthony’s heart a desire for the Truth which he had
abandoned. He resolved very quickly to return to the Christian faith. Anthony
decided to make his return publicly. In private, he confessed and was
reconciled to God. Then, during one of the emir’s public processions, Anthony
appeared on the palace steps wearing again his Dominican habit, and proclaiming
his faith in a loud voice, and his sorrow at ever having abandoned it. Failing
to change Anthony’s mind, the emir ordered his death. Anthony died under a
shower of stones, proclaiming his faith and his sorrow on Holy Thursday, 1460.
His body was eventually returned to Rivoli, where it still rests.
Holy Mary, Searcher for
the Lost, pray for us.
Blessed Anthony Neyrot,
pray for us.
SOURCE : http://students.opwest.org/blog/articles/blessed-anthony-neyrot
The death of Blessed
Anthony Neyrot
Blessed Anthony Neyrot,
M.O.P.
Memorial Day: April 10th
Profile
Blessed Anthony Neyrot occupies a unique place in Dominican history, as he is
the only one among the beautified who ever renounced the faith. He expiated his
sin with an act of heroism that merited heaven, washing away in his own blood
the denial that might have cost him his soul.
Of the childhood of
Blessed Anthony, we know nothing that he was born at Rivoli, in Italy. He was
accepted into the Order by Saint Antoninus, who must have been particularly
fond of the young man, since he gave him his own name. Completing his studies,
Anthony was ordained and lived for a time at San Marco, the famous Dominican
convent in Florence. Then, becoming restless and dissatisfied, he asked for a
change of mission. He was sent to Sicily, but this did not prove to his liking
either so he set out for Naples.
Brother Anthony was
sailing from Sicily to Naples when pirates captured the ship. Anthony was taken
to Tunis and sold as a slave. He was able to win his freedom, but fell away
from the Church. He denied his faith in Jesus and abandoned his religious
vocation. He accepted the Koran, the diabolical book of the Muslims. For
several months, he practiced the Muslim religion. He also married.
In the meantime, his
former Dominican prior, the saintly Antoninus, died. This led Anthony to have a
shocking experience. It seems that one night, Anthony had something like a
dream. St. Antoninus appeared to him. The conversation between the two men was
to lead to a radical change in Anthony. He became truly sorry for having
betrayed the Lord. He knew that in his heart he could never give up his faith
in Jesus. He knew that he could only be a Catholic. And he realized that he
still wanted very much to be a Dominican brother.
Blessed Anthony sent his
wife back to her family. He then put on his white Dominican habit. In spite of
his fear, he went to see the ruler of Tunis. A large crowd gathered and the
ruler came out to the courtyard. Brother Anthony publicly admitted he had made
a terrible mistake becoming a Muslim. He was a Catholic. He believed in and
loved Jesus. He was a Dominican and wanted to be so for all his life. The ruler
was angry. He threatened and then made promises of rewards if only Anthony
would take back what he was saying. But Anthony would not. He knew this meant
his death.
Anthony knelt and began
to pray for the courage to give his life for Jesus. Suddenly he felt the large
stones pounding him. He just kept praying for the strength to remain true to
the Lord. Then he lost consciousness. Anthony died a martyr in 1460. Some
merchants from Genoa, Italy, took his remains back to his own country.
Born: 1420
Died: Martyred on
Holy Thursday, 1460
SOURCE : http://www.willingshepherds.org/Dominican%20Saint%20III.html
Saints and
Saintly Dominicans – 10 April
Blessed Antony
Neyrot, Martyrs, O.P.
Although outwardly a
religious, Blessed Antony was living in a state of great tepidity, when he set
out on a sea voyage against the will of his superiors. “To quit obedience is to
fly in the face of Providence.” He fell into the hands of the Tunisian Corsair,
Nardus Anequint, who succeeded in making him deny the faith. At the end of four
months, hearing of the death of Saint Antoninus, whose disciple he had been at
Saint Mark’s without paying much heed to his teaching, he entered into himself,
publicly abjured his errors and distributed among the poor the money sent him
by Christians and resolved to prepare for his final combat by fasting on bread
and water. After two months, during which the tyrant, disappointed, humiliated
and irritated, tried by every means to shake his constancy Blessed Antony was
condemned to be stoned. The showers of stones rained upon him could draw from
him no cry of pain; although free and unchained, he remained with his body
upright and firm as if fixed by nails, his eyes raised to Heaven; he seemed
like another Saint Stephen. This took place not far from the spot where Saint
Cyprian was beheaded. The Mahomedans could not succeed in burning his corpse,
which was reverently taken away by some Genoese merchants; even his hair
remained unsinged. (1460)
Prayer
Do not trust me, O my
God, for at any moment, and even today, I am capable of shamefully denying
Thee.
Practice
Undertake nothing but in
reliance on the grace of God, and then only under obedience.
– taken from the
book Saints
and Saintly Dominicans, by Blessed Hyacinthe-Marie
Cormier, O.P.
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/saints-and-saintly-dominicans-10-april/
Bl. Anthony Neyrot Was
Catholic, Then Muslim, Then Catholic, Then Martyred
Angelo Stagnaro BlogsMay 6, 2016
There are approximately
17,000 saints and beati in the Church's roll. In addition, there are
45 million martyrs mostly due to 20th century secularist and jihadist violence.
Of course, to this number, we might also add all of our grandparents, as surely
God loves them as much as we do. I think mine are saints.
To give an idea of what
this number means, imagine starting a road trip in Boston and driving though
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut down to New York City and its
environs, New Jersey, Philadelphia and all the way down to Washington, DC. This
is what professional geographers refer to as "Bos-Wash"―the Northeast
megalopolis stretching from Boston to Washington.
Now, imagine that
was at least as many souls sojourning in Heaven.
That's a lot of
people enjoying the Beatific Vision.
Of course, these aren't
the only people in Heaven. Considering there have been 120 billion human beings
so far, I'd be happier hoping there are many billions in Heaven now.
To this number, we might
also add our dogs.
And each one of these
blessed souls is unique but what they all have in common is a self-recognition
of their sinful nature and an acceptance of God's forgiveness and
all-encompassing and healing love.
Some recognize and accept
their commitment to God at a very young age such as the Prophet Samuel, St.
Domenico Savio and St. Maria Goretti. Others have to live hard lives before
they come to choose God such as St. Ignatius Loyola, St. Edith Stein and Bl.
Bartolo Longo.
Bl. Anthony Neyrot was
one of the latter.
Perhaps his road was
rougher than most.
Bl. Anthony Neyrot was a
15th century Dominican friar from Rivoli, in northern Italy. His was a restless
soul.
After completing his
theological studies, Bl. Anthony was ordained and ministered at Florence's San
Marco Church. It was here where he came under the tutelage of St. Antoninus of
Florence, the archbishop of the city―one of the era's foremost minds, a man of
great sanctity and was also an early contributor the distributivist theory.[1] St.
Antoninus, in turn, had been a student of Bl. John Dominici, a great reformer
of the Dominican order.
Though he enjoyed St.
Antoninus' friendship, Bl. Anthony grew dissatisfied with his apostolate and
asked for a transfer to Sicily. En route there, his ship was captured by
Moorish (ie, Northern African Muslim) pirates, and along with his fellow
passengers, was taken to Tunis.[2]
Apparently, for some
unknown reason, the caliph of Tunis took a liking to Bl. Anthony and treated
him with relative respect and kindness. For one reason or another, perhaps
because of Bl. Anthony's public preaching, he was ultimately put into prison
and put on bread and water. Weakened by this diet, he soon collapsed. In order
to save his life, he chose to renounce Christ and become Muslim.[3]
His transformation to
Islam was total and complete. In fact, he publically and wholehearted gave
himself over to translating the Koran into Latin. The caliph adopted Bl.
Anthony who arranged for his marriage to a Turkish noblewoman.[4]
International news might
travel at the speed of light now in the 21st century but, back in the 15th century,
people were dependent upon visiting sailors for news about the world.
On one such visit by some
Italian sailors, Bl. Anthony came to learn of the death of his beloved mentor,
St. Antoninus (d. May 2, 1459). As the shock of this news seeped into Bl.
Anthony, he came to repent of his decision to abandon the Church.
That night, he had a
dream in which St. Antoninus appeared to him. As a result of that mystical
conversation, Bl. Anthony decided to repent of his choices and to return to
Christ even though he knew Muslims would murder him for his apostasy.[5]
Anthony sought out a
Dominican priest ministering to Christians in Tunis and tearfully confessed his
sins. On Palm Sunday of AD 1460, the revert publicly asked his fellow Catholics
there in Tunis for their forgiveness. They gladly gave it and Bl. Anthony was
immediately readmitted to the Dominican order.
Wanting to witness to
Christ more fully, he waited for the caliph to hold a public procession through
the city. At that, Bl. Anthony fearlessly took up a place before the caliph's
palace proudly dressed in his black and white Dominican habit and loudly
proclaimed his faith. The furious caliph immediately ordered Bl. Anthony be
stoned to death.
Four days later, on Holy
Thursday, in the Year of Our Lord, 1460, Bl. Anthony was murdered.
Catholic Genovese
merchants sojourning in Tunis at that time, understanding the importance of Bl.
Anthony's martyrdom, paid an outrageous amount of money to the caliph to
recover his body and returned it to his hometown of Rivoli.
Word of the martyr's
heroic deeds spread far and wide throughout Christendom. Pilgrims flocked to
his tomb and great miracles were reported through the friar's intercession.
Pope Clement XIII
beatified Bl. Anthony on February 22, 1767.
Every year on the
anniversary of Bl. Anthony's martyrdom, a great procession is held at his
shrine.
Some saints have
greatness thrust upon them while others are thrust into greatness. Bl. Anthony
Neyrot was of the later sort of saint. But, either way, he came to understand
the measure of a man. As Aeschylus reminds us:
God, whose law it is
that he who learns must suffer.
And even in our sleep, pain that cannot
forget
falls, drop-by-drop, upon the heart,
and in our own despite, against
our will,
comes wisdom to us by the awful grace of God.
For all of his pain, resentment and fear, Bl. Anthony experienced God's perfect healing at his martyrdom.
[1] "Antoninus,
Saint". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
[2] Bl. Anthony
Neyrot, Priest and Martyr, Manual of the Dominican Laity. Province of the
Assumption, p. 26-27.
[3] Bl. Anthony
Neyrot, Priest and Martyr, Manual of the Dominican Laity. Province of the
Assumption, p. 26-27.
[4] Rabenstein,
Katherine (April 1999). "Blessed Antony Neyrot, OP." Saints O' the
Day for April 10.
[5] Oakes, Edward
T., sj, "Islam and Conversion." First Things.
Angelo Stagnaro Angelo
Stagnaro ("Erasmus") performs as a stage magician and mentalist and
divides his time between Europe and North America. He is the editor of “Smoke
& Mirrors,” the Net's largest e-zine for professional magicians. He’s also
the Guildmaster of the Catholic Magicians’ Guild and a professed member of the
Secular Franciscans (Third Order Franciscans). Angelo has published articles in
most of the major Catholic journals in the United States and Great Britain and
had worked as a correspondent for the Catholic News Service having served as
principle liaison for the wire service to the United Nations and to the Holy
See's Office to the United Nations. Angelo has written six books on
mentalism/cold reading including Conspiracy, Something from Nothing, The
Other Side, Shibboleth and his upcoming Spur of the Moment. In
addition, he’s written an instructional book for catechists which uses stage
magic as a teaching tool for children and young adults entitled The
Catechist's Magic Kit (Crossroad). His other books include How to
Pray the Dominican Way (Paraclete) and The Christian Book of the Dead (Crossroad).
His most recent book was released through Tau Publishing and is entitled A
Lenten Cookbook for Catholics.
Beato Antonio Neyrot da
Rivoli Sacerdote domenicano, martire
Rivoli, Torino, 1423 c. -
Tunisi, 1460
Nato a Rivoli (Torino)
intorno al 1423, Antonio Neyrot entrò tra i Domenicani, ricevendo l'abito, nel
convento di San Marco a Firenze, da sant'Antonino, il futuro arcivescovo della
città. Si imbarcò per un pericoloso viaggio in Sicilia. La rotta era, infatti,
battuta dai pirati: e se la prima volta gli andò bene, di ritorno dalla Sicilia
per Napoli il nostro fu catturato. Era il 1458 e il religioso venne condotto
come schiavo a Tunisi. Qui, sotto le pressioni dei saraceni, abiurò la fede e
si sposò. Ma gli apparve in sogno Antonino, nel frattempo morto, che lo invitò
a pentirsi. Nel Giovedì Santo del 1460 rimise l'abito e professò pubblicamente
la sua fede davanti al sultano. Un gesto che gli costò la vita. In seguito il
corpo fu acquistato da mercanti genovesi e, nel 1469, Amedeo di Savoia lo fece
portare a Rivoli, dove riposa. (Avvenire)
Emblema: Palma
Martirologio
Romano: A Tunisi sulla costa dell’Africa settentrionale, beato Antonio
Neyrot, sacerdote dell’Ordine dei Predicatori e martire, che, condotto con la
forza in Africa dai pirati, rinnegò la fede, ma, con l’aiuto della grazia
divina, il Giovedì Santo riprese pubblicamente l’abito religioso, espiando la
precedente colpa con la lapidazione.
Per nascita è piemontese, ma non abbiamo notizie certe sulla sua origine. Incominciamo a conoscerlo quando chiede di essere accolto nel convento dei Domenicani a Firenze. Il convento è quello già appartenente ai Silvestrini, così chiamati da san Silvestro Guzzolini, che li fondò nel Duecento: ora è affidato ai Domenicani, che l’hanno fatto rimettere a nuovo con l’aiuto di Cosimo de’ Medici il Vecchio, che in Firenze è sovrano senza corona né trono né titoli. E proprio in quest’epoca lo sta affrescando frate Giovanni da Fiesole, che il mondo conoscerà come Beato Angelico. Priore di questa comunità è Antonino Pierozzi, che ha già guidato altre comunità a Cortona, Roma e a Napoli, e che sta per diventare arcivescovo di Firenze.
Il giovane Neyrot da Rivoli è uno degli ultimi giovani che Antonino ha potuto seguire prima di passare al governo della diocesi, chiamandolo via via agli ordini sacri, e sempre mettendolo in guardia contro la fretta: per riuscire buon domenicano, gli ripeteva, occorre molto studio, con molta preghiera e molta pazienza. Ma lui non conosce la pazienza. Sopporta male il lento apprendistato sui libri. Si considera già preparatissimo, vorrebbe andare subito in prima linea. Insiste con i superiori, chiede di essere mandato in Sicilia. Gli rispondono di no. Allora decide di appellarsi a Roma, e va a finire che ci riesce: per insistenza sua, per raccomandazioni autorevoli, chissà. In Sicilia ci arriva davvero, con tutti i permessi romani.
Nel 1458 – e ancora per ragioni che non si conoscono – si imbarca dalla Sicilia diretto a Napoli, secondo alcuni; oppure, secondo altri, verso l’Africa: un’ipotesi che sembrerebbe in linea con le sue note impazienze missionarie. Ma questa è anche una stagione di pirati, e in essi s’imbatte appunto la sua nave: così lui arriva davvero in Africa, ma come schiavo. Sbarca a Tunisi, che all’epoca è la fiorente capitale di un vasto stato berbero, creato dalla dinastia musulmana degli Almohadi, e dal XIII secolo sotto il governo degli emiri Hafsidi. Un solido stato autonomo, legato da intensi rapporti commerciali con i Paesi mediterranei.
Padre Neyrot è dunque arrivato – sia pure in maniera inaspettata – in Africa da rievangelizzare, alla terra dei suoi entusiasmi. Ma rapidamente essa diventala terra di tutti i fallimenti. Il predicatore impaziente dei tempi fiorentini tradisce i suoi voti, butta l’abito domenicano e rinnega la fede, prende moglie e si fa pubblicamente musulmano.
Intanto a Firenze, nel maggio 1459, muore il vescovo Antonino, il suo maestro poco ascoltato, e la notizia lo raggiunge a Tunisi. (Secondo un’altra versione, il vescovo gli sarebbe apparso in sogno dopo la morte). Di qui prende avvio per Antonio il cammino del ritorno, che è rapido e senza incertezze. Non solo egli ritrova dentro di sé la fede cristiana, ma subito la proclama pubblicamente davanti all’emiro e con addosso l’abito di domenicano. Questo comporta la condannaa morte, che viene eseguita a Tunisi mediante lapidazione. Questo accade, secondo il Martirologio romano, nella feria quinta in Coena Domini, ossia il Giovedì santo, nell’anno 1460.
Mercanti genovesi riportano in Italia il suo corpo, che nel 1464 raggiunge la cittadina nativa, Rivoli, dov’è tuttora venerato nella nuova chiesa parrocchiale di Santa Maria della Stella. Clemente XIII ne ha approvato il culto come beato nel 1767.
Autore: Domenico Agasso
SOURCE : http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/90762
UN SAINT POUR AUJOURD'HUI
(1425-1460), ANTOINE NEYROT, prêtre dominicain devenu
musulman ! : http://www.dieu-parmi-nous.com/NIC/Saint.Antoine.Neyrot.pdf
Pier Mattia Tommasino, Testimonianze sulla traduzione del Corano del beato Antonio Neyrot da Rivoli O.P. m. 1460, in Actas_del V Congreso Internacional de Latín Medieval Hispánico, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona_7-10 September 2009, Firenze, Sismel Il Galluzzo, 2011, pp. 259-270 : https://www.academia.edu/7585281/Testimonianze_sulla_traduzione_del_Corano_del_beato_Antonio_Neyrot_da_Rivoli_O.P._m._1460_Actas_del_V_Congreso_Internacional_de_Lat%C3%ADn_Medieval_Hisp%C3%A1nico_Universidad_Aut%C3%B3noma_de_Barcelona_7-10_September_2009_Firenze_Sismel_Il_Galluzzo_2011_259-270
