BIANCHI, FRANCESCO SAVERIO MARIA, ST.

B. Arpino, Italy, Dec. 2, 1743; d. Naples, Jan. 31, 1815. Because of parental opposition to his religious vocation, he studied law at the University of Naples before joining the barnabites. Almost all his priestly life was spent in Naples, where he was superior in the College of Portanova, and from 1778, professor of theology at the

university. He was a member of several academies and soon gained a reputation as a learned man, but his writings have not been published, except for a few sermons. Charitable and pastoral labors, aid to the poor, and contemplation kept gaining more ascendancy over his studious activities, especially after his mysterious ecstasy on Pentecost of 1800. A strange and terrible disease afflicted his legs and immobilized him from 1804 until his death. Bianchi was the spiritual guide of St. Maria Francesca gallo and many other elect souls. His fame for performing miracles was widespread, especially because of his prophecies and his arrest of the lava flow from Vesuvius in 1804 and 1805. Characteristic of his spirituality was a mystic ardor joined to a joyous serenity and a lively devotion to the Mass. His remains are in the church of S. Giuseppe a Pontecorvo in Naples.

He was beatified on Jan. 22, 1893, by Leo XIII, and canonized on Oct. 21, 1951, by Pius XII.

Feast: Jan. 31.

Bibliography: a. baravelli, Vita del b. F. S. M. Bianchi. f.t. moltedo, Vita del b. F. S. M. B.. f. m. sala, LApostolo di Napoli. j. m. sisnando, São Francisco Bianchi, sacerdote barnabita, apóstolo de Nápoles (Belo Horizonte 1968). g. r. zitarosa, Tre benefattori (Naples 1967). g. boffito, Scrittori Barnabiti, 1 212–217.

[u. m. fasola]