Antonio Maria Pucci
 | |
| Priest | |
| Born | 16 April 1819 Poggiole di Vernio, Florence, Grand Duchy of Tuscany |
| Died | 12 January 1892 (aged 72) Viareggio, Lucca, Kingdom of Italy |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 12 June 1952, Saint Peter's Basilica, Vatican City by Pope Pius XII |
| Canonized | 9 December 1962, Saint Peter's Basilica, Vatican City by Pope John XXIII |
| Feast | 12 January |
| Attributes | Servite habit |
Saint Antonio Maria Pucci (16 April 1819 - 12 January 1892), born Eustance Pucci, was an Italian Roman Catholic friar and priest of the Servite Order.
He was beatified on 12 June 1952 and was later made a saint on 9 December 1962 at the conclusion of the first session of the Second Vatican Council.
Life
Born as Eustace Pucci to a poor sacristan and his wife he felt called to life in a religious order in his childhood. His father opposed this despite his own career as a church worker. Overcoming this opposition he entered the Servite Order at the age of eighteen at which time he was given the religious name of Antonio Maria.
In 1843 - at the age of 28 - he was assigned to serve as the local pastor of the town of Viareggio. He went on to serve in this post for the next four decades until his death. Known as il curatino (the Little Pastor) he took care of the poor and the sick as well at the old. This was augmented during two epidemics. In 1853 he founded an institution for the education of children and initiated the first seaside hostel for sick and poor children in Viareggio. He also helped found the Holy Childhood Society.
He was proclaimed a Servant of God on 13 April 1932 with the introduction of his sainthood cause and was made Venerable on 18 January 1948. Pope Pius XII beatified him on 12 June 1952 while Pope John XXIII canonized him on 9 December 1962.
External links
- Canonization of Antonio Maria Pucci
- Saint Antony Mary Pucci at Patron Saints Index
References
- Calabuig I. M. (editor), Sant'Antonio Maria Pucci, Facoltà Teologica Marianum, 2004
- Antonio Maria Pucci, Epistolario di s. Antonio M. Pucci osm (1847-1891), Vol. 1: 1847-1883, Facoltà Teologica Marianum, 2001
- Antonio Maria Pucci, Epistolario di s. Antonio M. Pucci osm, Vol. 2: 1883-1891, Facoltà Teologica Marianum, 2006
- Peretto E. (editor), Storia e profezia nella memoria di un frate santo. Atti del Convegno di studio nel primo centenario della morte di s. Antonio Pucci (Roma, 14-16 ottobre 1992), Facoltà Teologica Marianum, 1994
