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
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.
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).
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 prieuret 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.
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
Blessed Antoine Neyrot
Also known as
- Anthony Neyrot
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
- stoned
to death on 10 April
1460
in Tunis, Tunisia
- body returned to Rivoli,
Italy
by merchants
travelling
through the region
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).
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 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.
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.
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
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
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
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
