Giuseppe Oddi

Last updated
Blessed
Giuseppe Oddi
O.F.M. Cap.
Religious
Born(1839-06-06)6 June 1839
Vallinfreda, Rome, Papal States
Died3 June 1919(1919-06-03) (aged 79)
Bellegra, Rome, Kingdom of Italy
Venerated in Roman Catholic Church
Beatified 3 October 1999, Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City by Pope John Paul II
Feast 3 June
Attributes Capuchin habit

Giuseppe Oddi (6 June 1839 - 3 June 1919) was an Italian Roman Catholic professed religious - though not a priest - of the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor Capuchin. He felt drawn to religious life after his adolescence and was resolved to become a Franciscan upon seeing the example that Mariano da Roccacasale set. Upon his profession of vows he assumed the religious name of "Diego da Vallinfreda". [1] Oddi was beatified - alongside Mariano da Roccacasale - on 3 October 1999.

Contents

Life

Giuseppe Oddi was born in Vallinfreda on 6 June 1839 to the poor but pious Vincenzo Oddi and Bernardina Pasquali. During his childhood, he had a limited education despite the fact he was receptive to learning about his faith to which he became devoted to. [1] [2]

At the age of 20 - in 1859 - he felt as if he were being called to the religious life and announced his desire to his parents to become a professed religious. His parents met this with fierce opposition and denied Oddi this chance. In tears, he confronted his father and said: "What am I doing? I want to go to become a saint". After sometime, in 1863 while on a pilgrimage to Rome he met Mariano da Roccacasale and was inspired with Mariano's example; this inspired Oddi to become a professed member of the Order of Friars Minor of the Franciscans. [1] Oddi went to the convent of the Franciscans in Bellegra in 1871 and was welcomed as a postulant; he later made his solemn vows in 1889. [2]

Oddi was known among his fellow Franciscans for his bright temperament and for his obvious and enriching faith. [1] His personal holiness spread in reputation throughout Rome and the surrounding areas to the extent that even Pope Pius X said of him: "This is a true son of Saint Francis". [2]

Oddi died at sunset on 3 June 1919 not long before he was to turn 80. His remains were exhumed on 12 November 1931 and were transferred to a new resting place in the presence of 3000 people.

Beatification

The process for Oddi's beatification commenced in Subiaco with a diocesan process that opened in 1933 and spanned until 1937; this process was initiated in order to evaluate Oddi's life and to investigate the extent to which he exercised the virtues and led a life of personal holiness. This process occurred despite the fact that the Congregation of Rites - under Pope Paul VI - did not grant their formal approval to the initiation of the cause until 1 July 1964 - this conferred upon Oddi the posthumous title of Servant of God. Not long after another process opened in 1968 and continued the work of the first process until it closed on 26 May 1972.

The postulation then compiled the Positio as a result of previous investigations and drafted the dossier to attest to his cause and also in order to provide biographical details to Rome who would begin their own investigations; this was sent to Rome in 1987. On 22 January 1991 he was proclaimed to be Venerable after Pope John Paul II acknowledged the fact that he had lived a model Christian life of heroic virtue.

The miracle required for his beatification was investigated in Sabina-Poggio Mirteto in 1960 and was ratified as being a valid process that completed the work assigned to the set criteria on 27 September 1985. John Paul II approved it on 6 April 1998 as being a legitimate miracle and beatified Oddi on 3 October 1999.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crispin of Viterbo</span> Italian Roman Catholic saint

Crispino da Viterbo - born Pietro Fioretti - was an Italian Roman Catholic professed religious from Order of Friars Minor Capuchin. Fioretti was an ardent devotee of the Mother of God and was consecrated to her protection in 1674 and he even made a small altar dedicated to her when he served in the kitchens at the house in Orvieto. He served in various roles for the order in various cities around Rome where he became a well-known figure with various nobles and prelates - even Pope Clement XI visiting him and seeking him out for advice and support. Fioretti likewise was known as a sort of wonderworker who worked miracles during his lifetime. He was also known for his warm sense of humor and his simple method for living.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tommaso da Cori</span> Christian saint

Tommaso da Cori - born Francesco Antonio Placidi - was an Italian Roman Catholic priest and a professed member of the Order of Friars Minor who lived as a hermit for much of his religious life. He gained fame as a noted preacher throughout the region where his hermitage was located and for this became known as the "Apostle of the Sublacense".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Szymon of Lipnica</span> Polish catholic priest (c. 1437–1482)

Szymon of Lipnica was a Polish catholic priest and a professed member from the Order of Friars Minor. He became a sought after and noted preacher and took as his preaching inspiration Saint Bernardine of Siena and also was a strong proponent of popular devotions that he worked to spread.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antonio Lucci</span>

Antonio Lucci, born Angelo Nicola Lucci, was an Italian Roman Catholic professed member from the Order of Friars Minor Conventual and served as the Bishop of Bovino from 1729 until his death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Nehmé</span> Lebanese Maronite Catholic monk (1889–1938)

Esțfān Nehmé, born Yūsuf Nehmé, was a Lebanese Maronite professed religious from the Lebanese Maronite Order. Nehmé worked to alleviate people's pain during World War I through the distribution of food to those suffering from famine and was known for an intense devotion to the Mother of God. He worked in the fields of his convent and other monasteries and also worked in construction for a brief period, he became well known and other monasteries sought him to live with them for his spiritual insight and work ethic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maria Domenica Mantovani</span> Beatified Italian nun (1862–1934)

Maria Domenica Mantovani was an Italian Roman Catholic professed religious, and the co-founder of the Little Sisters of the Holy Family; she established them alongside Giuseppe Nascimbeni. As a nun she received the religious name of Maria of the Immaculate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Claudio Granzotto</span> Italian sculptor

Claudio Granzotto was an Italian professed religious from the Order of Friars Minor and a noted sculptor. Granzotto's works were a conduit for his religious expression and are reflective of his dedication to use sculpting to evangelize to others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luigi Maria Monti</span> Italian religious brother (1825–1900)

Luigi Maria Monti, CFIC was an Italian Roman Catholic professed religious and the founder of the Sons of the Immaculate Conception.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cristobal of Saint Catherine</span> 17th-century Spanish Catholic hermit and priest

Cristóbal of Saint Catherine – born Cristóbal López de Valladolid Orea – was a Roman Catholic Spanish priest and a professed member of the Third Order of Saint Francis. He was the founder of the Franciscan Hospitallers of Jesus of Nazareth which paid careful attention to both religious and social needs of the faithful.

Francesco Antonio Marcucci was a Roman Catholic Italian bishop and a member of the Secular Franciscan Order. Marcucci was also the founder of the Pious Workers of Mary Immaculate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Three Martyrs of Chimbote</span> Group of two Polish Franciscan priests and one Italian missionary priest

The Three Martyrs of Chimbote were a group of two Polish Franciscan priests and one Italian missionary priest murdered in Peru in 1991 by the Shining Path communist guerillas. Michał Tomaszek and Zbigniew Adam Strzałkowski, and Alessandro Dordi were murdered on 9 August and 25 August 1991 respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giacinto Longhin</span> Bishop of Treviso

Giacinto Bonaventura Longhin - in religious Andrea di Campodarsego - was an Italian Roman Catholic prelate and professed member from the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin who served as the Bishop of Treviso from 1904 until his death. Longhin held various roles of leadership within his order following his ordination such as acting as a teacher in Udine and acting as the Provincial Minister for his order. He became close friends with Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto, Cardinal Patriarch of Venice. The latter became Pope Pius X in 1903 who made his old friend Longhin the new head for the vacant Treviso episcopal see.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giuseppe Marcinò</span>

Giuseppe Marcinò, religious name Innocenzo of Caltagirone, was an Italian priest and a member of the Capuchins. He was well known for his frequent and often sensational predications and miracles attributed to him since 1623. Due to this he was granted the moniker of "the miracle worker of the earth".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giuseppe Nascimbeni</span>

Giuseppe Nascimbeni was an Italian Roman Catholic priest who exercised his pastoral mission in his home of Verona and who also established the Little Sisters of the Holy Family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leopoldo da Gaiche</span> Italian Roman Catholic priest

Leopoldo da Gaiche, born Giovanni Croci, was an Italian Roman Catholic priest and a professed member of the Order of Friars Minor who became well known for wearing a crown of thorns. He was a preacher who went from diocese to diocese and served in a position of power in the Franciscan order in the Umbrian region in which he pushed for strong adherence to the Rule of Saint Francis of Assisi. He has been called the "Apostle of Umbria".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josep Tous Soler</span>

Josep Tous Soler was a Spanish Roman Catholic priest and a professed member of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin - a branch of the Franciscan Order. Upon becoming a friar he was called by the religious name Josep of Igualada and went on to preach across both Spain and France.

Mariano da Roccacasale - born Domenico di Nicolantonio - was an Italian Roman Catholic professed religious from the Order of Friars Minor. He was of peasant stock and entered the order in his twenties as a professed religious rather than as an ordained priest. He was an influence in the decision of Giuseppe Oddi joining the Franciscans after their 1863 encounter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Melchor Chyliński</span>

Melchor Chyliński - in religious Rafał - was a Polish Roman Catholic priest and a professed member from the Order of Friars Minor Conventual. He first served as a soldier but decided to instead become a priest and so entered the Franciscans and made his profession prior to ordination. He also became known for his simplistic preaching and for his generous outreach to the poor through the distribution of clothing and food.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gerardo Cagnoli</span> Italian Roman Catholic and professed religious from the Order of Friars Minor

Gerardo Cagnoli was an Italian Roman Catholic and professed religious from the Order of Friars Minor. He embarked on a long pilgrimage south where he passed through Rome and Naples before settling in Trapani and then on the slopes of Mount Etna for a long hermitage. He later entered the Franciscans and served in two of their Sicilian convents where he was known for having caused miracles in addition to his humble and simple childlike nature which people believed was one of the signs of his holiness.

Giuseppe Beschin - in religion Ignazio - was an Italian Roman Catholic priest and professed member from the Order of Friars Minor. He studied in northern Italian cities for the priesthood while he did his Franciscan formation before serving as a professor in Rome in addition to holding several other important positions. Beschin was noted for his spiritual direction and for having been a good confessor while he spent most of his career spearheading efforts for the beatification cause of Bernardino da Portogruaro. Beschin also had served in several leadership roles during his time as a priest that saw him move often from the north to Rome.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Blessed Diego Oddi". Saints SQPN. 10 April 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 "Bl. Diego Oddi". Catholic Online. Retrieved 19 March 2016.