BL. COSMA SPESSOTTO, PRIEST AND MARTYR

BL. COSMA SPESSOTTO, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 10 JUNE

BLESSED COSMA SPESSOTTO, PRIEST AND MARTYR

Blessed Cosma Spessotto was born in Italy in 1923 to a peasant couple. Blessed Cosma's aunt Maria wanted to be a nun, but was forced to withdraw due to a bone disease. Maria taught the catechism to Blessed Cosma and also told him stories about the saints. Blessed Cosma felt called to the priesthood and wished to join the Franciscan Friary at Motta di Livenza, living the Rule of Saint Francis of Assisi.

HE JOINED THE FRANCISCAN FRIARS

His father gave permission and in 1938, at the age of 15. Blessed Cosma took some clothes, and some savings given to him by his aunt, and went to the train station for his journey to the Friary. While waiting for his train, Blessed Cosma said to his father: "Now I call you father but one day you will call me father."

THE OPERATION

During the Second World War, Blessed Cosma's training kept being interrupted due to fighting and bombings. On one occasion Blessed Cosma had to undergo an operation, which was very painful as there was no anaesthesia available due to the war. He asked the nursing sister for a crucifix and that she held his hand during the operation, which proved successful.

HE WAS SENT TO EL SALVADOR

Blessed Cosma was ordained a priest in 1948. The following year he was sent with two others to work as missionaries in El Salvador. He quickly learnt Spanish and was then sent to work in the town of San Juan Nonualco. He arrived riding a Vespa and covered in dust from the dirt roads.

HE VISITED ALL THE HOMES

Blessed Cosma visited all the homes and decided to rebuild the church that had been levelled by an earthquake in the 1930's. He found many couples living together and organised mass weddings to put things right for them. Some guerrillas gained control of the church one day and took several priests hostage.

Blessed Cosma negotiated their release. He also set about raising funds for the construction of a school and health clinics.

HE STARTED TO DENOUNCE THE RULER'S ABUSES

In the 1970's, Blessed Cosma started to denounce the abuses taking place by the ruling junta. He grew even more vocal after armed gunmen assassinated Fr Rutilio Grande. For this Blessed Cosma received many death threats himself.

"PARDON, PARDON"

In 1980 Blessed Cosma was diagnosed with leukaemia. Later that year, on June 14, while preparing to celebrate the evening Mass in his church, he was shot at point-blank range at the altar. As he lay dying, and as he was receiving the Last Rites from another priest, his final words were "pardon, pardon".

Blessed Cosma Spessotto, pray for us.

(From "Spiritual Thought from Father Chris")

WELCOME

Please pick your saints: January - Saints by date 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 February - Saints by date 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 ...

BL. LUKE KIRBY, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 30 MAY

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MAY Saints celebrated on the 30th of May WELCOME! BLESSED LUKE KIRBY, PRIEST AND MARTYR 16th century houses, painted by Auguste Mayer He was born in the bishopric of Durham, according to Raissius ; others say at Richmond, in Yorkshire. He was master of arts in one of our universities; but going abroad to Douay, in Flanders, was received into the English college there, 1576, and made priest in 1577; and the year following sent upon the mission. Where he had not been long before he again went abroad, and travelled to Rome, partly for devotion, and partly for further improvement in learning. Here he remained in the English college till 1580, when he returned into England, and was not long after apprehended: for I find by a printed diary of things transacted in the Tower of London from 1580 till 1585, that on the 5th of December, 1580, Luke Kirby, Thomas Cottam , and other priests, were brought to the Tower from other prisons; and that these two, on the 10th...

BL. RICHARD NEWPORT, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 30 MAY

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MAY Saints celebrated on the 30th of May WELCOME! BLESSED RICHARD NEWPORT, PRIEST AND MARTYR Richard Newport, alias Smith , was born in Northamptonshire and performed his studies abroad, partly in the college of Rheims (if he be the Richard Smith whom I find in the Douay diary sent to Rome in 1586) and partly in that of Rome, where he was made priest. From thence he was sent upon the English mission, and behaved himself in such a manner as justly to acquire the character of a laborious missionary; being withal remarkably successful in bringing home many strayed sheep to the fold of Christ, to which his apostolical way of living did not a little contribute. He was several times apprehended and cast into prison, and twice banished. His name occurs amongst those who were transported in 1606; at which time, we are told, he took that opportunity of making a pilgrimage to Rome, there to pour forth his prayers at the tombs of the apostles, in behalf of thi...

SAINT FEAST DAY FOR EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR

Search This Blog