Venerables
Benigno di S. Teresa di Gesù Bambino
Biography
Fr. Benignus of St Therese of the Child Jesus (Angelo Calvi), from the family and from the parish of the same name in Italy, had a strong and joyful education in the faith, founded on a great love for the Eucharist. At the age of 17, after thoughtful discernment, he felt called to the priesthood in the Teresian Carmel.
A novena to St. Therese of the Child Jesus allowed him to overcome insurmountable difficulties in resuming his studies. He became a convinced imitator of the Saint whose way of trusting abandonment in God, who is a Father, became characteristic of his life.
He spent the last months of his life in Concesa di Trezzo sull’Adda (MiIan) as deputy Master of novices. Here he was also asked to supply for the parish priest in the nearby parish, where his always smiling and limitless charity towards the sick, the poor, young people and families was a shining example.
He was only 28 when he died from a form of intestinal tumour. He offered his life for his religious Province which, due to a banking scam, ran the serious danger of being suppressed (eight monasteries, ten convents). A month after his death, everything turned out well.
The decree on his heroic virtue was promulgated on December 20, 2003.
Procedure
1. The canonical norms concerning the procedure to be followed in the Causes of Saints are stated in the Apostolic Constitution Divinus Perfectionis Magister promulgated by John Paul II on 25 January 1983 (AAS LXXV, 1983, 349-355).
2. To initiate a Cause it is necessary that at least five years pass after the death of the candidate. This is to allow for greater balance and objectivity in the evaluation of the case and to allow the emotions of the moment to decant. There must be a clear conviction among people about his/her sanctity (fama sanctitas) and about the efficacy of his/her intercession with the Lord (fama signorum).
Iconography
