Giovanni Antonio Farina

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Saint
Giovanni Antonio Farina
Bishop of Vicenza
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Diocese Vicenza
See Vicenza
Appointed 18 June 1860
Installed 1860
Term ended 4 March 1888
Predecessor Giovanni Giuseppe Cappellari
Successor Antonio Maria De Pol
Orders
Ordination 15 January 1827
Consecration 20 September 1850
by Giovanni Giuseppe Cappellari
Personal details
Born 11 January 1803
Gambellara, Veneto, Venetian Province
Died 4 March 1888 (aged 85)
Vicenza, Veneto, Kingdom of Italy
Nationality Italian
Parents Pedro Farina & Francisca Bellame
Previous post
Sainthood
Feast day 4 March
Venerated in Roman Catholic Church
Beatified 4 November 2001
Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City
by Pope John Paul II
Canonized 23 November 2014
Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City
by Pope Francis
Attributes Bishop's attire
Patronage

Saint Giovanni Antonio Farina (11 January 1803 – 4 March 1888) was an Italian Roman Catholic bishop known for his compassionate treatment of the poor and for his enlightened views of education.[1] He served as the Bishop of Vicenza and the Bishop of Treviso and is also known for ordaining the future Pope Pius X to the priesthood.

He was beatified in 2001 by Pope John Paul II and was canonized in 2014 by Pope Francis following the recognition of miracles attributed to his intercession. His liturgical feast day is celebrated annually on 4 March, the date of his death.[2] He remains the patron saint of his religious order and of his hometown.

Biography

Early life and family

Farina was born in Gambellara in the Venetian Province to Pedro Farina (30 January 1768 - 22 September 1864) and Francesca Bellame.[3]

Farina had ten sibilings: Giacomo (b. 28 March 1792), Teresa (b. 17 March 1793), Gio Batta (b. 6 January 1795), Maddalena (b. 30 January 1796), Girolamo (b. 14 February 1801), Pietro (b. 2 March 1806), Lucia Fortunata-Farina (b. 18 August 1807), Giambattista (b. 18 October 1809), and Palma (b. 17 October 1811).

Following the death of his father in 1864, Farina was mentored by his maternal uncle Antonio who was a priest. At the age of 15, he entered the seminary in Vicenza.[1]

Ministry

At the age of 21, Farina began teaching at the seminary, where he continued to serve for 18 years. He was ordained to the priesthood on 15 January 1827. In 1831, he founded the first school for poor girls in Vicenza, and in 1836, the Institute of the Sisters Teachers of Saint Dorothy, Daughters of the Sacred Hearts (Italian: Suore Maestre di Santa Dorotea, figlie dei Sacri Cuori ). The Sisters taught at the girls' school, and also cared for the sick and the elderly.

On 25 May 1850, Farina was appointed as the Bishop of Treviso. He was consecrated as a bishop on 19 January 1851, by Giovanni Giuseppe Cappellari, the Bishop of Vicenza, assisted by Bernardo Antonino Squarcina, O.P., the Bishop of Adria, and Federico Manfredini, the Titular Bishop of Famagusta.

On 18 September 1858, Farina ordained as a priest Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto, the future Saint Pope Pius X.

On 18 June 1860, Farina was appointed as the Bishop of Vicenza, a position he held until his death in 1888. In 1869 and 1870 he attended the First Vatican Council.

He died on 4 March 1888 at the age of 85 from a stroke.

Beatification and canonization

The cause for Farina's beatification started on 1 June 1990, therefore, he was granted the title of Servant of God. On 24 April 2001, he was proclaimed Venerable due to the recognition of his "heroic virtues".

Farina was beatified by Pope John Paul II on 4 November 2001.[2] March 4 was designated as his memorial day.[4]

Pope Francis signed a decree on 3 April 2014 recognizing a miracle that had been attributed to Farina's intercession and paving the way for his canonization. He was canonized, alongside five others, on 23 November 2014 at the Vatican.

Lineage

His paternal grandparents were Girolamo (9 January 1738 - 18 December 1822) and Maddalena Disconzi (1734 - 31 October 1815). His paternal aunts were Pasqua (b. 2 March 1763), Angela (b. 28 August 1778), Antonia (b. 10 January 1766), and Anna (b. 23 February 1770).

His paternal great-grandparents were Francesco (1 May 1701 - 7 February 1779) and Antonia Capitanio. His paternal great-great-grandparents were Sebastiano Farina (b. 2 March 1673) and Pasqua. Farina's paternal great-great-great-grandfather was Sebastiano (b. 1580).

External links

References

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