November 10: Saint Andrea Avellina

Saint Andrea Avellina

Castronuovo, Potenza, 1521 – Naples, November 10, 1608

Roman Martyrology: In Naples, Saint Andrew Avellino, a priest of the Congregation of the Clerics Regular, which, distinguished for his holiness of life and concern for the salvation in the next life, he committed himself to a difficult vote of daily improvement in the virtues and rich merits, of a holy death at the foot of the altar.

He was born John Avellino and Margaret Apelli, and was called Lancellotti. Launched into his studies in nearby Senise by an uncle who was an archpriest, drilling since then, a catechetical apostolate among the youth of the place. Ordained a priest in 1545, in 1547 he moved to Naples to attend the Faculty of Law of the University, where he graduated in law utroque. Having practiced in 1548 the spiritual exercises under the direction of Jesuit Father Laínez, he lived a life of intense spirituality, which was directed by Theatine wisely, the future blessed p. John Marinoni (1490 to 1562). Church lawyer at the Archdiocesan Curia, the hole left after a lie sfuggitagli during a plea, which deeply embittered him.

In 1551 he was entrusted by Msgr. Scipione Rebiba, vicar general of Naples, with the reform of the sadly famous monastery of St. women Archangel of Baiano He undertook that task with zeal and determination, imposing stringent tenendovi enclosure and the Lenten homilies and in the years 1553 and 1554. Since, however, his work for reform was not supported by those who had shady interests in the monastery, he was repeatedly attacked and, in 1556, seriously wounded by a Sicario. Almost miraculously he healed, churches and won in November of that year, the habit of dressing among Teatini St. Paolo Maggiore in Naples, then changing his baptismal name for what’s on the cross. Novice teacher was the same p. Marinoni and her companion, the future cardinal and blessed Paul Burali d’Arezzo. Solemnly professed Jan 25 1558, adding further to the three votes of the other two religious life that has always oppose their will and progressing unceasingly, to the extent of their forces to perfection.

In 1559 he made a pious pilgrimage to Rome, where he was received by Pope Paul IV, founder, along with s. Gaetano Thiene, of Clerics Regular (1524). In 1560 he was appointed maestro of novices of the house of S. Paul Major, a position he held for ten years. They were his disciples spiritual Some of the most illustrious Teatini of his time were his spiritual disciples, among which must be recalled Friday. Lorenzo Scupoli, author of The Treaty spiritual battle. In charge of the house from 1566 to 1569, he instituted the first study of theology, whereby he wanted to inform his students about the doctrines of Aquinas.

In 1570 he was elected vicar of the house that Teatini had opened in Milan, at St. Calimero, at the invitation of s. Carlo Borromeo, who recalled how the Martirology Father P. `Bosco (Feb. 3.) Welcomed lovingly A., uscendogli meeting outside Porta Romana. In short, he became the spiritual director preferred by better Milanese nobility in the new structure given by the Borromeo Church Ambrosian, in the spirit of the Council of Trent. In major. 1571 he was transferred to Piacenza responsible for the new home S. Vincent had founded in that same month, the bishop Paul Burali d’Arezzo.

Having met in Genoa with the mystical Augustinian Sister Battistina Vernazza, daughter of Hector, the inspiration of the hospitals of incurable, and avendole exhibited a desire to withdraw from the Apostolic but later was dissuaded from doing so. In opening. that same year A. was elected in charge of St. Antonio di Milano in 1581 and even S. Vincenzo di Piacenza.

In major. 1582, after ten years of apostolate in Sydney, he returned to Naples, where he lived until his death. Here shooting his tireless activities preaching, writing and driving those trusting him turned.
Elected in 1584 and reconfirmed in the following year, A. was responsible for both of the two houses that the Order had then in Naples, that of S. Paolo Maggiore and that of SS. Apostles. During the riots in May. 1585, he was murdered G. V. Starace, ‘elect of the mob, felt responsible for the famine that afflicted the city then, A. He worked for peace and also put at the disposal of those most in need the resources of its religious family. In 1593 his nephew Francis having been murdered, A. not only lose the killer, but also wanted to do his family.

Dotto in Science church, full of extraordinary gifts and heavenly gifts such as prophecy and miracles, which reconciled the admiration and devotion to the noble and plebeian, A. wrote letters about three thousand spiritual and treatments and brochures of asceticism, of biblical exegesis and various topics. On Nov. 10. 1608, while in the church of S. Paul Major and preparing to celebrate Mass, A. was hit with an attack of apoplexy as he stood at the foot of the altar and died, rasserenato by a heavenly vision, that evening.

Iniziatisi processes information in December. of 1614, he was beatified by Pope Urban VIII on October 14, 1624 and canonized by Pope Clement XI on May 22, 1712. His body is venerated in the church of S. Paul Major. A. His feastday, which relies on the heavenly protector against sudden death, is celebrated on November 10.

SOURCE: Santi e Beati