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BL. GIOVANNI MERLINI, PRIEST - 12 JANUARY

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JANUARY

Saints celebrated on the 12th of January

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BLESSED GIOVANNI MERLINI, PRIEST

Blessed Giovanni Merlini (born on August 28, 1795, ordained to the priesthood on December 19, 1818 ) was a trusted friend of Saint Gaspar del Bufalo, founder of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, and was with him when he died in 1837.

Blessed Giovanni succeeded Fr Biagio Valentini as the order's third Moderator General in December 1847 after having served as the interim leader for a few months before that due to Valentini's declining health. 

A spiritual counsel to Saint Maria de Mattias, he helped her in founding her religious congregation titled the Sisters Adorers of the Most Precious Blood.

Blessed Giovanni's devotion to the Blood of Christ was instrumental in strengthening and expanding the congregation's spiritual and apostolic mission throughout Europe and beyond. 

He also became a close friend and confidante to Pope Pius IX. He joined the pope during the latter's exile to Gaeta after losing the Papal States to the Roman Republic and asked the pope to extend the Feast of the Precious Blood to the entire church in 1849.

Blessed Giovanni died on January 12, 1873 after an accident in Rome. The last thing he did before he died was to forgive the coachman who ran into him.

Blessed Giovanni's legacy continues to inspire members of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood and their lay collaborators worldwide.

Sources: https://www.fides.org/en/news/75885-EUROPE_ITALY_Blessed_Father_Giovanni_Merlini_the_missionary_who_spoke_to_the_Pope_and_the_bandits_of_the_Papal_State         https://www.preciousbloodus.org/blog/fr-giovanni-merlini     https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giovanni_Merlini

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Blessed Giovanni 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.

















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