MISSIONARY FOUNDER

 

We did the Blog  Feb  2020 on Bl Alfredo Cremonesi  (d.1953), but it is interesting to note that this missionary order has no fewer than 10 either canonized or up for canonization (includes already one saint and  five  blesseds.) As we have settled into "ordinary time", I want to present a few of the men who stand out in this order.

PIME (The Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions) was born in 1850 from a desire to help the poor, and the need to witness God’s love to those who have not yet heard the Word of God.

VENERABLE BISHOP ANGELO RAMAZZOTTI, along with Pope Pius IX started the first Italian Missionary Seminary in 1850. Eventually, in 1947, PIME was invited to the United States by Archbishop Cardinal Mooney and eventually settled in the Archdiocese of Detroit.  

Born in 1800 in Milan,  he studied in Pavia where he obtained a doctorate in both canon law and civil law on 10 August 1823. He practiced law for three years before entering the seminary.

He became well known across Venice for his love of the people and for his careful attention and consideration of the social and pastoral issues that faced the archdiocese. He brought to Venice his sense of calmness and resolve in tending to the social needs of the poor and to all people in general as a means of rekindling the Christian virtues in Venice.

He was elevated to cardinal on 27 September 1861 by Pope Pius IX, who was unaware that the bishop had died three days earlier.