BL. ANDREW GREGO OF PESCHIERA, MISSIONARY - 18 JANUARY

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JANUARY

Saints celebrated on the 18th of January

WELCOME!

BLESSED ANDREW GREGO OF PESCHIERA

(Andreas a Pisceria, Conf.) Blessed Andrew Grego of Peschiera (situated on Lake Garda) was born in this town of poor but virtuous parents at the beginning of the fifteenth century. Having matured into a youth, he rejected every marriage proposal that was made to him and kept intact the virtue of chastity. 

God had called him to something higher. He entered the Order of Saint Dominic in Brescia and after completing his studies was sent to Valtellina (Vallis Tellina), where he worked for 45 years for the conversion of false believers. This he did with the best success, so that he can be called the apostle of that area. He went to his eternal reward on January 18, 1485. 

Since 1641, when the inhabitants of Morbegno (Morbinium) were freed from the plague through his intercession, Andrew was publicly venerated there and his cult confirmed by Pope Pius VII on September 23, 1820. His name is listed in the Roman Martyrology of the Order of Preachers* on January 19. He is also commemorated on January 18, May 19, and September 23.

(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, Volume 1, Augsburg, 1858, p. 195)

*A hagiography source used by the authors 

Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Blessed Andrew may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Sources of these articles (in the original German): books.google.co.uk, de-academic.com, zeno.org, openlibrary.org