On June 1st the celebrations will begin for the centenary of the death of Saint Hannibal Mary of France, founder of the Rogationist fathers and of the Daughters of Divine Zeal, central figure of Messina religiosity, universally recognized as an apostle of prayer for vocations. The city of Messina is preparing to experience a time of intense spirituality and participation: next Saturday, in the basilica sanctuary of Sant’Antonio, there will be the first exposition (solemn exposure) of the saint’s body after the canonical recognition of the remains and the consequent conservative and reconstructive treatment, with particular attention to the face (so far covered with a silver mask) and the hands, subject to morphological reconstruction with platinum silicone. At 5.45pm the casket will be welcomed into the basilica and carried in procession. This will be followed by a brief presentation of the figure of Saint Hannibal entrusted to the mother general of the Daughters of Divine Zeal, Sister Maria Eli Milanez. Immediately afterwards, Lineo Tabarin, the technician who oversaw the conservative treatment, will illustrate in detail the work recently carried out. At 6 pm there will be a solemn mass presided over by the auxiliary bishop Cesare Di Pietro and at the end, the superior general of the Rogationists, Father Bruno Rampazzo, will address a greeting and thank you to those present. The rite will be broadcast live on RTP starting from 5.30 pm, to also allow the faithful unable to participate to spiritually join the celebration. The body of the Saint will remain on display for the entire month of May inside the basilica; on 16 May, the liturgical feast in memory of the canonisation, the solemn mass at 6pm will be presided over by Cardinal Gerhard Müller, prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and followed by the procession of the reliquary bust. The celebrations will then come into full swing on June 1st, the day which will mark the official start of the centenary year. On this occasion the pontifical will be presided over by Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco and, at the end of the celebration, the transfer of the new urn will take place in the crypt dedicated to the saint, which will be reopened following the recent restoration and there will be the blessing of the new altar. The entire celebratory journey, explain the director of the Rogationist Institute in Via S. Cecilia, Father Giorgio Nalin and the rector of the Basilica of S. Antonio, Father Mario Magro, represents an extraordinary opportunity to rediscover the figure and charisma of Annibale Maria Di Francia, a priest from Messina who embodied a sanctity made up of daily gestures and concrete attention to the least. His work in the Avignon neighbourhood, among the poorest in the city, remains a symbol of active charity and of a faith lived in the most authentic dimension of service. Twenty-two years after the canonization, which took place on 16 May 2004 in St. Peter’s Square at the hands of John Paul II, together with Luigi Orione, the memory of the saint continues to be alive and fruitful. Two figures, those of Annibale Di Francia and Luigi Orione, united by a profound dedication to the poorest and by an ideal bond with the city of the Strait, today more than ever called to safeguard its spiritual legacy.
John
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