St François-Antoine (Francesco Antonio) Fasani
Prêtre
o.f.m.
‘Il Padre Maestro’ (le Père Maître)
François-Antoine
(Francesco Antonio) Fasani naît le 6 août 1681 à Lucera, dans les Pouilles
(sud-est de l’Italie). Ses parents sont d’humble condition mais riches de foi.
Chaque soir, on récite le chapelet devant une image de Marie Immaculée, ce qui
déterminera certains aspects de son apostolat plus tard.
L’enfant
est confié pour son éducation aux frères mineurs conventuels. Et c’est dans cet
ordre franciscain, au couvent du mont Saint-Ange (Monte Gargano), qu’il entre
comme novice à l’âge de quatorze ans, en 1695. L’année suivante, il fait ses
vœux sous le nom de François-Antoine.
Ordonné
prêtre le 11 septembre 1705, il achève ses études de philosophie à Assise,
puis, il obtient le grade de Maître
en théologie. Désormais on l’appellera : ‘Il
Padre Maestro’ (le Père Maître) et de nos jours encore, c’est le titre
qu’on lui donne dans la région où s’est exercée son influence.
Il
commence à prêcher lors du Carême de 1707. Contrairement au style fleuri et
pompeux de l’époque, il parle avec simplicité en employant des exemples tirés
de l’Écriture. Il émeut ses auditeurs et les invite sans ambages à la
conversion. En ce siècle des Lumières, rationaliste et orgueilleux, il
rencontre parfois de vives oppositions, surtout qu’il ne cache jamais la vérité
et n’hésite pas à fustiger les vices ou les injustices sociales, mais souvent
les gens réfléchissent après coup, et aboutissent à son confessionnal.
À ce
ministère du pardon, il consacre de nombreuses heures, toujours accueillant et
souriant. Il a un ministère très actif qui s’étend sur la région des Pouilles
et de la Molise. Il inculque sa dévotion à l’Immaculée, distribuant à ses
auditeurs, spécialement aux enfants, des images de la Vierge au dos de laquelle
est inscrite telle ou telle phrase. (Ces images font souvent des miracles !)
« Si la
Mère de Dieu est immaculée, dit-il, c’est pour être le refuge des pécheurs. »
Il répand l’habitude de mettre en valeur la fête de l’Immaculée-Conception par
une neuvaine préparatoire.
Pendant
35 ans son ministère s’exerce partout où on l’appelle. Dans son couvent, il est
successivement professeur de philosophie puis de théologie, maître des novices
et ‘gardien’ (c'est-à-dire
supérieur). En tant que supérieur religieux, « il est un vrai ‘ministre’ au sens franciscain du terme,
a dit saint Jean Paul II, c'est-à-dire le serviteur de tous ses frères :
charitable et compréhensif, mais saintement exigeant quant à l’observance de la
Règle, particulièrement en ce qui concerne la pratique de la pauvreté, donnant
lui-même un exemple irréprochable d’observance régulière et d’austérité de vie.
»
En 1721,
Clément XI (Giovanni Francesco Albani, 1700-1721) lui confie l’administration
de la province franciscaine de Saint-Ange. « À une époque caractérisée par
une si grande insensibilité des puissants à l’égard des problèmes sociaux,
notre saint se dépense avec une charité inépuisable pour l’élévation
spirituelle et matérielle de son peuple. Ses préférences vont aux couches
sociales les plus méprisées et les plus exploitées, surtout les humbles
travailleurs des champs, les malades, les prisonniers. Il fait preuve
d’initiatives géniales, sollicitant la coopération des classes plus aisées,
réalisant ainsi des formes d’assistance concrète et capillaire, qui ont paru
anticiper et annoncer les formes modernes d’assistance sociale ». En
effet, il crée une banque de crédit
dont le but est de protéger les pauvres contre la spéculation des usuriers.
Il fait
des miracles. Un jour, il est amené à défendre la vertu d’une jeune fille
contre les visées d’un noble. Cela lui vaut la vindicte du gentilhomme qui le
dénonce à Rome. Convoqué en présence du Pape, il ne dit mot pour se défendre,
mais tandis que, selon la coutume, il baise les pieds du Pontife, celui-ci, qui
souffre de la goutte, se sent immédiatement guéri !
Il meurt
à Lucera le 29 novembre 1742.
Toute la
ville participe à l’enterrement et crie : « Notre saint Père Maître est mort ! »
François-Antoine (Francesco Antonio) Fasani a été
béatifié à Rome, le 15 avril 1951, par le vénérable Pie XII (Eugenio Pacelli,
1939-1958) et canonisé, toujours à Rome, le 13 avril 1986, par saint Jean Paul
II (Karol Józef Wojtyła, 1978-2005).
©Evangelizo.org
Monumento al Padre Maestro,Piazza Tribunali (più
conosciuta come piazza San Francesco), Lucera
Saint Francesco
Antonio Fasani
Also known as
- Antony Fasani
- Francis Anthony Fasani
- Francis Fasani
Profile
Known as a pious child. Entered the Conventual Franciscan order in 1695, taking the name Francis. Ordained in 1705. Taught philosophy to younger friars, served as guardian of his friary,
provincial of the Order, master of novices, and finally pastor in his hometown. Sought after confessor and preacher, a loyal friend of the poor, never hesitating to seek from benefactors what was needed. A
mystic, known for his deep prayer
life, he was known to levitate while praying.
Born
- 29 November 1742 in Lucera, Foggia, Italy of natural causes
- when news of his death spread, children ran through the streets crying, “The saint
is dead! The saint is dead!”
Francis Anthony Fasani (1681-1742)
priest, O.F.M. Conv.
A study of the life
of Fr. Francis Anthony Fasani shows clearly that his life was directed toward
God in a singular manner from his very infancy, thanks to the Christian
education received from his parents and to the workings of the grace of a
religious and priestly vocation upon his soul. He was born in Lucera on August
6, 1681, the son of Giuseppe Fasani and Isabella Della Monaca. His parents had
the joy of seeing their "Giovanniello" (this was the name they gave
him at Baptism) grow up endowed with promising moral and intellectual gifts. He
began his studies at the Franciscan friary of the Friars Minor Conventual at
Lucera; there Giovanniello's understanding of his vocation became clearer-a
vocation to which he gave himself with generous enthusiasm. He entered the
Order of Friars Minor Conventual and took the names of Saints Francis and
Anthony, thus expressing his fervent desire to follow their example by
consecrating himself to an evangelical and apostolic life. Professing his vows
in 1696, the young Friar Francis Anthony completed his liberal arts studies and
followed with his philosophical studies in the seminaries of his religious
province. Thereafter, he began theological studies in Agnone and continued them
in the General Study Centre at Assisi near the tomb of St. Francis. It was
there that Francis Anthony was ordained to the priesthood in 1705 and there,
too, that he completed his theological studies in 1707.
His application to
his studies, carried out with diligence and with a lively desire to assimilate
the salvific value of the mysteries of faith, made him "profound in
philosophy and learned in theology." The Venerable Antonio Lucci, bishop
of Bovino, attests to this in the canonical hearings investigating Fasani's
holiness. Bishop Lucci was a fellow student of his and imitated him in the
exercise of religious virtue. At the same time, by means of an intense
spiritual formation aided by enlightened spiritual masters, Francis Anthony
progressed in a life of union with God, patterning himself on the Lord through
religious consecration and the priestly charism.
From 1707 until his
death he continued to live at Lucera for thirty-five years, always giving
splendid witness to the gospel life and zealous pastoral ministry. For this
reason he was admired by the faithful of Lucera and all of Daunia and Molise.
Within his Franciscan Order he fulfilled offices of special responsibility. He
was a respected teacher of scholastic philosophy and a revered master of
novices and the professed, making notable contributions to the spiritual and
doctrinal formation of his confreres. In 1709 he received a graduate degree in
theology and from that time on Fr. Fasani was known to all as "Padre
Maestro" ("Father Master"), a title which is still attributed to
him today in Lucera. He exercised the offices of local superior and minister
provincial with charity and wisdom, demonstrating that he was and effective
animator of the religious life of the brethren.
The spiritual life
of Fr. Fasani was characterized by those virtues that made him like his
Seraphic Father St. Francis. In fact, it was said in Lucera: "Whoever
wants to see how St. Francis looked while he was alive should come to see Padre
Maestro." In imitation of St. Francis he built his religious life on the
basis of a generous participation in the mysteries of Christ through the most
faithful practice of the evangelical counsels, which he considered to be a radical
expression of perfect charity. In his constant prayers, inflamed with seraphic
love, he called out to God, saying to Him: "O Highest Love, Immense Love,
Eternal Love, Infinite Love."
His fervent devotion
to the Immaculate Mother of the Lord was nourished by his intense dedication to
knowing ever better "who Mary is" and making her known to others,
while at the same time knowing and making known the maternal role entrusted to
her in the history of salvation with faith and love.
The priestly life of
Father Anthony Fasani is a splendid testimony to fidelity and dedication to the
mission given to all priests in the Church. It is their duty-as Vatican Council
II so vigorously confirms-to promote "the glory of God the Father in
Christ by their ministry and their life" (PO, 2).
In exercising this
evangelical mission Fr. Fasani gave himself devotedly from the very moment of
his priestly ordination, to such an extent that a witness could assert:
"He allowed himself no rest in the salvation of souls." His pastoral
ministry shows that he was involved zealously in many fields and forms of the
apostolate according to the needs of the particular Churches in which he
ministered.
The ministry of preaching the word of God assumed a special role in his
apostolic life. He preached popular missions, retreats, Lenten devotions and
novenas almost constantly - at Lucera and wherever he was called. The duty
which falls to all priests "to invite all people to conversion and
holiness" (PO, 4) was carried out by Fr. Fasani through a type of
preaching based on the scriptures that was well prepared, persuasive, and had
the particular purpose, as one witness recalled, "of rooting out vices and
sins and planting in their place goodness and the exercise of virtue."
As a worthy ministry
of "the one who uninterruptedly exercises his priestly mission for us in
the Liturgy through the Spirit" (PO, 5), Fr. Fasani dedicated himself with
zeal-especially the administration of the sacrament of Penance and the
celebration of the Holy Eucharist. "He heard the confession of every type
of person," asserted a witness, "with the greatest patience and
kindness on his face". He was charitable and welcoming to all, giving as
his reason the hope of being able one day to say to the Lord: "I was
indulgent, I don't deny it; but it was You who taught me to be so."
The most holy
Eucharist was the summit of his religious life and wholly represented the goal
toward which be ordered his entire priestly ministry. In fact, he always
considered the Eucharist "the source and summit of evangelization,"
and that the faithful were "fully incorporated into the Body of Christ
through the Eucharist" (PO, 5). A fervent minister of the Eucharist, Fr.
Fasani celebrated the sacrifice of the Mass with an intense ardor that lifted
and nourished his spirit while at the same time it edified all who were
present. In his preaching he inculcated in the faithful the love of the
Eucharist, promoting even daily communion.
The poor, the sick,
and the imprisoned held a privileged place in his pastoral activities.
Motivated by his ideal of gospel charity ("We must be charitable."),
he loved to pray with the poor and for them. Every day he personally
distributed to the poor the alms of his religious community and very often he
gave them as well gifts and special goods gathered from benefactors. Oftentimes
his prayers obtained extraordinary interventions of divine Providence for the
poor. He visited and comforted the sick, exhorting them to seek reasons for
hope and resignation in the goodness of God. The spiritual care of the
imprisoned, an apostolate given him by the bishop of Lucera, permitted him to
visit them daily and to exhort them to trust in the merciful love of God. He
was given the responsibility of assisting those condemned to death in their
last moments.
The witnesses at the
canonical proceedings for his holiness assure us that God rewarded the
apostolic zeal of Fr. Fasani with abundant fruits of conversion and a renewed
Christian life among the faithful. In this way those values of the sacred
ministry were totally fulfilled in the priestly life of Fr. Francis Anthony
Fasani which Vatican Council II expresses in the following terms:
"Priests, whether they devote themselves to prayer and adoration, to the
preaching of the Word, to offering the Eucharistic Sacrifice and administering
the other sacraments, or to carrying out other ministries in the service of
mankind, always contribute to the increase of the glory of God and at the same
time to enriching mankind with divine life" (PO, 2).
When Fr. Fasani was
taken by his final illness in 1742, he wanted to offer it to the Lord in a
spirit of perfect joy, with that same expression with which he had always
offered God all the actions of his life: "The Will of God: that is my
Paradise." On November 2 of the same year, comforted by the holy
sacraments and the protection of the Immaculate Virgin Mary for which he
prayed, Fr. Francis Anthony Fasani returned his soul to God in the friary of
the city where he was born and where, for thirty-five years, he showed himself
a faithful witness to Christ. His body was interred in the adjoining church of
St. Francis, after funeral rites in which all of Lucera participated with the
cry: "Our holy Padre Maestro has died!"
The fame of the
sanctity that surrounded Fr. Fasani in life witnessed an extraordinary increase
after his death. Thus, already in 1746 the bishop of Lucera decided to
institute proceedings to investigate the holiness of life, the virtues and the
miracles of this Servant of God. There followed the Apostolic Cause of
particular virtues and the decree on the heroicity of his virtues promulgated
by His Holiness Pope Leo XIII on June 21, 1891. His Holiness, Pope Pius XII,
having approved two miracles attributed to the intercession of Venerable Fasani,
raised him to the honor of the altars on April 15, 1951.
A new miracle
attributed to the intercession of Blessed Francis Anthony was approved with the
decree of March 21, 1985, by the Holy Father, John Paul II.
SOURCE : http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_19860413_fasani_en.html
Francis Antony of Lucera (RM)
(also known as Antony Fasani)
Born at Lucera, Apulia, Italy, on August 6, 1681; died November 29, 1742; beatified by Pope Pius XII on April 15, 1951; canonized by John Paul II April 13, 1986.
Donato Anthony John Nicholas Fasani was born into a family of farm laborers. Although he was baptized with this august name, he was known simply as Giovanniello (Johnny). His mother remarried after his father died while Giovanniello was still very young. It was Giovanniello's stepfather who sent him to the Friars Conventual for his education. At age 15, the little saint was sent to Monte Gargano to begin his novitiate. Upon making his profession as a Franciscan on August 23, 1696, he took the name Francis Antony.
In 1703, Francis Antony was sent to Assisi, where he was ordained to the priesthood on September 11, 1705. He completed his master's degree in theology at the College of Saint Bonaventure in Rome. From that time he was called "Father Master" in his hometown, where he taught theology from 1707. At the convent of Lucera, he also served as guardian, novice master, and minister provincial of the Province of Sant'Angelo.
Although his scholarship was great, he was better known for his preaching in both the city and countryside. He spoke in a way that all who heard him could understand and directed his catechetical efforts to the poor. He produced several volumes of sermons, which include some in Latin. Francis Antony was devoted to the downtrodden: the poor, the suffering, and the imprisoned. He often accompanied those condemned to death to their execution.
Francis Antony promoted devotion to the Immaculate Conception, which was his own special love at a time when the dogma had not yet been defined. He had brought from Naples a statue of the Immaculate Conception that he put in the church of Saint Francis, and he wrote hymns for the people to sing before it. This statue is still an object of veneration in Lucera. He also established a novena to Our Lady under this appellation. On November 29, the first day of this novena, Francis Antony died, a man revered and loved as another Saint Francis of Assisi (Attwater 2, Walsh).
Francis Antony of Lucera (RM)
(also known as Antony Fasani)
Born at Lucera, Apulia, Italy, on August 6, 1681; died November 29, 1742; beatified by Pope Pius XII on April 15, 1951; canonized by John Paul II April 13, 1986.
Donato Anthony John Nicholas Fasani was born into a family of farm laborers. Although he was baptized with this august name, he was known simply as Giovanniello (Johnny). His mother remarried after his father died while Giovanniello was still very young. It was Giovanniello's stepfather who sent him to the Friars Conventual for his education. At age 15, the little saint was sent to Monte Gargano to begin his novitiate. Upon making his profession as a Franciscan on August 23, 1696, he took the name Francis Antony.
In 1703, Francis Antony was sent to Assisi, where he was ordained to the priesthood on September 11, 1705. He completed his master's degree in theology at the College of Saint Bonaventure in Rome. From that time he was called "Father Master" in his hometown, where he taught theology from 1707. At the convent of Lucera, he also served as guardian, novice master, and minister provincial of the Province of Sant'Angelo.
Although his scholarship was great, he was better known for his preaching in both the city and countryside. He spoke in a way that all who heard him could understand and directed his catechetical efforts to the poor. He produced several volumes of sermons, which include some in Latin. Francis Antony was devoted to the downtrodden: the poor, the suffering, and the imprisoned. He often accompanied those condemned to death to their execution.
Francis Antony promoted devotion to the Immaculate Conception, which was his own special love at a time when the dogma had not yet been defined. He had brought from Naples a statue of the Immaculate Conception that he put in the church of Saint Francis, and he wrote hymns for the people to sing before it. This statue is still an object of veneration in Lucera. He also established a novena to Our Lady under this appellation. On November 29, the first day of this novena, Francis Antony died, a man revered and loved as another Saint Francis of Assisi (Attwater 2, Walsh).
San Francesco Antonio Fasani
Lucera, 6 agosto 1681 - Lucera, 29 novembre 1742
Nacque da
umile famiglia il 6 agosto 1681 a Lucera, antica città della Daunia nelle
Puglie. Entrò da giovane tra i Minori conventuali del suo paese natale per poi
completare il Noviziato a Monte Sant'Angelo sul Gargano dove emise la
professione il 23 agosto 1696. Quindi, nel 1703 fu mandato nel convento di
Assisi dove fu ordinato sacerdote l'11 settembre 1705. Passato a Roma, nel
collegio di San Bonaventura, tornò ad Assisi fino al 1707 quando rientrò a
Lucera. Eletto ministro provinciale fu protagonista di un'intensa attività
apostolica percorrendo tutti paesi della Capitanata e località limitrofe.
Sempre attento ai bisogni dei poveri e dei sofferenti, devotissimo alla
Vergine, fu particolarmente vicino ai carcerati e ai condannati che
accompagnava fino al luogo del supplizio. Morì il 29 novembre 1742. Ancora oggi
la sua tomba, nella chiesa di San Francesco a Lucera è meta di frequenti
pellegrinaggi. Proclamato beato il 15 aprile 1951 da Pio XII
è stato canonizzato da Giovanni Paolo II il 13 aprile 1986. (Avvenire)
Martirologio
Romano: A Lucera in Puglia, san Francesco Antonio Fasani, sacerdote dell’Ordine
dei Frati Minori Conventuali, che, uomo di raffinata cultura pervaso da un
grande amore per la predicazione e la penitenza, si adoperò al tal punto per i
poveri e i bisognosi da non esitare mai a privarsi della veste per coprire un
mendicante e offrire a tutti il suo cristiano sostegno.
Nacque a
Lucera, antica città della Daunia nelle Puglie, il 6 agosto 1681, da umili e
modesti lavoratori, Giuseppe e Isabella Della Monaca. Battezzato
con i nomi di Donato Antonio Giovanni, fu chiamato familiarmente Giovanniello.
Entrò giovinetto nell'Ordine di s. Francesco, tra i Minori Conventuali del
convento di Lucera e vi rifulse per innocenza di vita, spirito di penitenza e
povertà, ardore serafico e zelo apostolico, sì da sembrare un "s.
Francesco redivivo".
Compiuto il noviziato a Monte S. Angelo sul Gargano ed emessavi la professione
il 23 agosto 1696, fu mandato, nel 1703, a completare la sua formazione nel
sacro convento di Assisi dove ebbe come direttore spirituale il servo di Dio
Giuseppe A. Marcheselli, e fu ordinato sacerdote l'll settembre 1705.
Passato a Roma nel collegio di S. Bonaventura, vi fu creato maestro in
teologia, per cui, in seguito, sarà da tutti chiamato a Lucera "Padre
Maestro". Ritornato ad Assisi, vi rimase dedicandosi alla predicazione
nelle campagne fino al 1707, quando rientrerà definitivamentc a Lucera.
Dalla scuola, dal pulpito e dal confessionale esplicò un intenso e fecondo
apostolato, percorrendo tutti i paesi della Capitanata e località limitrofe, sì
da meritarsi l'appellativo di apostolo della sua terra. "Profondo in filosofia
e dotto in teologia", come attesta il ven. Antonio Lucci, suo confratello
e vescovo di Bovino, fu dapprima lettore e reggente di studi nel collegio
filosofico di Lucera, e poi guardiano del convento e maestro dei novizi,
modello ai confratelli di osservanza regolare, per cui fu nominato nel 1721,
con speciale Breve di Clemente XI, ministro provinciale della provincia
religiosa conventuale di S. Angelo, che in quel tempo si estendeva dalla
Capitanata al Molise.
Scrisse
alcune operette predicabili, tra cui un Quaresimale, un Mariale, una
esposizione al Pater e al Magnificat, e vari Sermoni, alcuni in lingua latina.
Suo principale intendimento nel predicare era quello di "farsi capire da
tutti", come nella sua modestia era solito dire, e la sua catechesi,
tipicamente francescana, era rivolta di preferenza all'umile popolo verso cui
sentivasi particolarmente attratto. Inesauribile fu la sua carità verso i
poveri e sofferenti; fra le varie iniziative, promosse la simpatica usanza di
raccogliere e distribuire pacchi-dono ai poveri in occasione del S. Natale. Ma
il suo zelo e la sua carità sacerdotale rifulsero in modo singolarissimo
nell'assistenza ai carcerati e ai condannati che accompagnava personalmente
fino al luogo del supplizio per confortarne gli estremi momenti, precorrendo in
ciò l'ammirabile esempio di carità di s. Giuseppe Cafasso. Fece restaurare
decorosamente il bel tempio di S. Francesco in Lucera, centro per quasi
trentacinque anni continui della sua indefessa attività sacerdotale. Fu devotissimo
dell'Immacolata Concezione, e alle anime che egli dirigeva era solito inculcare
gli atti di ossequio alla Madonna e la meditazione delle sue virtù. Anche oggi
è oggetto di particolare venerazione nella chiesa di S. Francesco la bella
statua dell'Immacolata, che il beato fece venire da Napoli, ed il popolo canta
tuttora la canzone mariana da lui composta.
Morì a Lucera il 29 novembre 1742, il primo giorno della novena dell'immacolata
ed il suo corpo è venerato nella chiesa di S.Francesco. Fu beatificato da Pio
XII il 15 aprile 1951.
Autore: Gaetano
Stano
