Gaspare Luigi Bertoni (9 October 1777 – 12 June 1853)
/ref> was an Italian Roman Catholic priest and the founder of the Congregation of the Sacred Stigmata, also known as the Stigmatines.

Life

Gaspar Bertoni was born in Verona on 9 October 1777 to Francesco Bertoni (whose profession was the law) and Brunora Ravelli. His sister died when he was still a child. Bertoni received his initial education from his parents. Bertoni later studied under the Jesuits and the Marian Congregation at Saint Sebastian's School in his hometown of Verona. He commenced his studies for the priesthood in 1796. On 1 June 1796 - around the time of the French Revolution - troops from France began a two-decade occupation of the northern Italian cities. Bertoni joined the Gospel Fraternity for Hospitals and worked to help those wounded and ill while also focusing on those who were displaced or otherwise harmed due to the effects of the occupation. He was ordained as a priest on 20 September 1800.Agasso, Domenico. "San Gaspar Luigi Bertoni Priest and founder".Santi e Beati
/ref> Bertoni served as the chaplain to the Daughters of Charity, founded by Magdalene of Canossa,Kempf SJ, Constantine. ''The Holiness of the Church in the Nineteenth Century: Saintly Men and Women of Our Own Times
translated from the German by Father Francis Breymann, SJ, 1916] while also serving as the Spiritual direction, spiritual director of the seminary. He was also one of the leaders to offer prayers and support for

Pope Pius VII Pope Pius VII ( it, Pio VII; born Barnaba Niccolò Maria Luigi Chiaramonti; 14 August 1742 – 20 August 1823), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 14 March 1800 to his death in August 1823. Chiaramonti was also a m ...

when he was imprisoned by

Napoleon Bonaparte Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...

. His pastoral work was marked with the establishment of the Marian Oratories and the devotion to the

Five Wounds of Christ In Catholic tradition, the Five Holy Wounds, also known as the Five Sacred Wounds or the Five Precious Wounds, are the five piercing wounds that Jesus Christ suffered during his crucifixion. The wounds have been the focus of particular devotions, ...

and establishment of schools to the poor. He founded the Congregation of the Sacred Stigmata of Our Lord Jesus Christ (the Stigmatines) on 4 November 1816. As of 2012 there were reported to be 94 houses with 422 members including 331 priests. Bertoni was a rather frail and average looking man,Saulnier CSS, Donald. "Our Founder", congregation of the Sacred Stigmata
/ref> beset with fevers and a continuing infection in his right leg during the last two decades of his life. Over 300 operations were performed on his leg in an effort to stem the infection. However he continued to serve as counselor and spiritual director from his hospital bed until his death in 1853. Gaspare Luigi Bertoni was buried in the Veronese church of the Stimmate.

Veneration

Venerable

The sainthood process commenced in Verona with an informative process and the collation of his writings. Theologians approved them as being in line with the magisterium in a decree of 9 August 1905. The introduction of the cause came on 2 March 1906 under

Pope Pius X Pope Pius X ( it, Pio X; born Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto; 2 June 1835 – 20 August 1914) was head of the Catholic Church from 4 August 1903 to his death in August 1914. Pius X is known for vigorously opposing modernist interpretations of C ...

in which he was accorded the title of

Servant of God "Servant of God" is a title used in the Catholic Church to indicate that an individual is on the first step toward possible canonization as a saint. Terminology The expression "servant of God" appears nine times in the Bible, the first five in th ...

as the first formal stage in the process. The apostolic process was held not long after this. Both processes were validated on 18 December 1929 in Rome at the discretion of the

Congregation of Rites The Sacred Congregation of Rites was a congregation of the Roman Curia, erected on 22 January 1588 by Pope Sixtus V by '' Immensa Aeterni Dei''; it had its functions reassigned by Pope Paul VI on 8 May 1969. The Congregation was charged with the ...

. On 15 December 1966 he was proclaimed to be Venerable after Pope Paul VI acknowledged his life of heroic virtue.

Beatification

The process for the miracle needed for his beatification commenced in 1946 and concluded in 1950 after which the process was validated in Rome on 11 November 1967. Pope Paul VI approved it on 3 October 1975 and beatified Bertoni on 1 November 1975. The miracle involved the cure of Giuseppe Anselmi - a priest of the Stigmatines - who had severe stomach complications and was cured in Brasilia on 28 May 1937.

Canonization

The second miracle required for sanctification received validation from the Congregation for the Causes of Saints on 30 November 1984 while it received the papal approval of Pope John Paul II at the beginning of 1989. He canonized Bertoni on 1 November 1989.

References

External links

Kasper BertoniSaints.SQPN: Gaspar BertoniCatholic Online: Gaspar Bertoni
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bertoni, Gaspar 1777 births 1853 deaths 18th-century Christian saints 18th-century venerated Christians 18th-century Italian Roman Catholic priests 19th-century Christian saints 19th-century venerated Christians 19th-century Italian Roman Catholic priests Beatifications by Pope Paul VI Canonizations by Pope John Paul II Founders of Catholic religious communities Italian Roman Catholic saints Religious leaders from Verona Venerated Catholics