Saint of the day: Blessed Antonio Franco, life and prayers

Da Paolo Tessione - September 2, 2019

02 SEPTEMBER

BLESSED ANTONIO FRANCO

Monsignor Antonio Franco was born in Naples on September 26, 1585 to a noble family of Spanish origin, as the third son of six children. From a young age he manifested a particular kindness and a lively and sincere faith, which he was able to cultivate over time with assiduous and daily prayer. At twenty-one he felt called to the priesthood and was sent by his father to continue his ecclesiastical studies first in Rome and then in Madrid. In 1610, at the age of 25, he was ordained a priest. On January 14, 1611 he was appointed Royal Chaplain by King Philip III of Spain. At the court of Madrid his priestly virtues shone, so much so that the sovereign himself, who deeply esteemed him, on 12 November 1616 appointed him Major Chaplain of the Kingdom of Sicily, Ordinary Prelate and Abbot of the Prelature nullius of Santa Lucia del Mela. He was totally dedicated to the care of souls, to charity towards the poor and the sick, to the fight against usury and the reconstruction of the Cathedral, for which he employed his personal patrimony, all of this, together with his intense spirit of prayer and penance, which was also expressed in corporal mortifications, earned him a wide reputation for holiness already from his premature death, which took him not yet forty-one on September 2, 1626.

PRAYER

O Blessed Anthony, image reaching out to the least and the needy, you renewed the Church in truth and peace.

You have all built up by referring to the eternal values of the Gospel of Christ, living in fidelity what is celebrated with decorum in the divine mysteries.

To us, who resort to your intercession, renew again today the graces we ask of you: faithful, fruitful and inexhaustible love for families, courage and hope for the sick.

Assistic in trials, and makes that, loving the Church, we can follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ our Lord

I appeal to you, most faithful Servant of God Archbishop Antonio Franco, in whose chest burned a sublime flame of charity towards God and neighbor, especially the poor. I appeal to you to pray to the good Jesus to have compassion on me, among the many tribulations in which I find myself. Deh! Obtain for me this grace which I humbly implore you (let the desired grace manifest itself in silence). Furthermore, I ask you for perseverance in the good; hatred of sin; to escape bad opportunities and finally a good death. If you grant it to me, most faithful Servant of God, I offer bread in your honor to the poor whom you loved so much on earth. O Monsignor Franco, with your strong arm protect me in life and save me in death.

I appeal to you, most faithful Servant of God Mons. Antonio Franco. To you, in whose bosom burned a sublime flame of charity towards God and neighbor, especially the poor. I appeal to you to pray to the good Jesus to have compassion on me, among the many tribulations in which I find myself. Deh! Obtain for me this grace which I humbly implore you. Furthermore, I ask you for perseverance in the good; hatred of sin; to escape bad opportunities and finally a good death. If you grant it to me, most faithful Servant of God, I offer bread in your honor to the poor whom you loved so much on earth. Oh Monsignor Franco, with your strong arm protect me in life and save me in death.