Giovanni Battista Righi (1469 – 11 March 1539) was an

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance language *** Regional Ita ...

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...

priest A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particu ...

and a professed member from the

Order of Friars Minor The Order of Friars Minor (also called the Franciscans, the Franciscan Order, or the Seraphic Order; postnominal abbreviation OFM) is a mendicant Catholic religious order, founded in 1209 by Francis of Assisi. The order adheres to the teachi ...

. He was known for ascetic life and for his preaching and healing abilities. The beatification received confirmation from

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 ...

on 7 September 1903 after the pontiff issued a decree that ratified the local and popular "cultus" for the late Franciscan priest.

Life

Giovanni Battista Righi was born in

Fabriano Fabriano is a town and ''comune'' of Province of Ancona, Ancona province in the Italy, Italian region of the Marche, at Above mean sea level, above sea level. It lies in the Esino valley upstream and southwest of Jesi; and east-northeast of Foss ...

around 1470 to a noble family. He became a member of the

Forano Forano is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Rieti in the Italian region Latium, located about north of Rome and about southwest of Rieti. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 2,697 and an area of .All demographics and othe ...

in 1484 where he later made his solemn profession and was

ordained Ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart and elevated from the laity class to the clergy, who are thus then authorized (usually by the denominational hierarchy composed of other clergy) to perform va ...

as a

. He lived as a hermit

Cupramontana Cupramontana is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Ancona in the Italian region Marche, located about southwest of Ancona. Cupramontana borders the following municipalities: Apiro, Maiolati Spontini, Mergo, Monte Roberto, Rosora, San ...

from 1511 until his death and he preached and tended to the ill there from his hermitage."Beato Giovanni Righi da Fabriano", Santi e Beati, October 17, 2001
/ref> People flocked to hear him speak and his example led to others repenting from their sins and some even converting back to the faith. Righi died on 11 March 1539 and his remains were later transferred to an altar at the church of San Giacomo della Romita.

Beatification

confirmed the late hermit's beatification on 7 September 1903 after the pope confirmed Righi's longstanding and popular "cultus" - otherwise known as popular devotion to the late priest.

References

External links

Saints SQPN
1469 births 1539 deaths 15th-century venerated Christians 15th-century Italian Roman Catholic priests 16th-century venerated Christians 16th-century Italian Roman Catholic priests Beatifications by Pope Pius X Franciscan beatified people Franciscan hermits Italian Franciscans Italian hermits Italian beatified people People from Fabriano Venerated Catholics {{RC-clergy-stub