VATICAN -
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - Pope Benedict XVI authorized the promulgation of various Decrees, the first of which recognized a miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed Guido Maria Conforti, founder of the Xaverian Missionaries. “The next step”, writes Fr Rino Benzoni, Superior General of the Xaverian Missionaries, “will the public Consistory in which the Pope will ask the Cardinals' opinions about the canonization of the Blessed, also confirming the date. We thank God for this. “For us there was never any doubt as to the holiness and the opportunities for the institution to which we gave this name, as well as the greatness of our Father and Founder Bishop Guido M. Conforti. We have been preparing up until now for the big event with prayer but also with a renewed commitment to our own holiness in increased faith to the mission that the Lord has sent to us through Bishop Conforti.”
Guido Maria Conforti was born near Parma on 30 March, 1865. He entered the seminary at 11 years. A serious disease placed his ordination in doubt and precluded him from a missionary vocation. Supported by the rector, Fr Andrea Ferrari (later Cardinal Archbishop of Milan, who was beatified in 1987), Conforti was ordained a priest in 1888. Not yet 30 years old he was appointed vicar general. In 1895, encouraged by his Bishop and the by the Prefect of Propaganda Fide, he founded the Congregation of St Francis Xavier for Foreign Missions (Xaverian Missionaries). In 1899, the first two missionaries were sent to China. In 1902, at 37 years of age, Conforti, is created Archbishop of Ravenna. He resigned his post for serious health problems in 1904. In 1907 Pope Pius X appointed him Bishop of Parma, leading the diocese for 24 years.
At the same time he undertook great activity to support the growing missionary spirit of the Italian Church. In 1916, he worked with Fr Manna towards the foundation of the Pontifical Missionary Union of the Clergy of which he became the first president. He sent several missionaries to China, where he himself went to visit in 1928. He died on 5 November, 1931 in Parma. He was beatified in Rome on 17 March 1996.
The Xaverian Missionaries, created with the sole purpose of proclaiming the Gospel to those who do not know it, currently number 832 (of which 652 are priests) present in 173 communities. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 13/12/2010)
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