Barberi, Domenico, Bl.

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BARBERI, DOMENICO, BL.

Born near Viterbo, Italy, June 22, 1792; d. Reading, England, Aug. 27, 1849. He was the youngest of the 11 children of Giuseppe, a tenant farmer, and Marie Antonia (Pacelli) Barberi. Without formal schooling, he entered the passionists (1814), took the name Dominic of the Mother of God (Domenico della Madre di Dio), made his profession (Nov. 15, 1815), and was ordained at Rome (March 1, 1818). From 1821 to 1831 he lectured on philosophy and theology to Passionist clerics. After serving as superior of the new monastery at Lucca, Italy (183133), he became provincial for southern Italy (1833). Moving to England (1841), he opened the first British Passionist monastery at Aston in Staffordshire (1842). Despite his ugly, ungainly appearance, ridicule by Catholics, and persecution by Protestants, he was responsible for many conversions because of his saintly life. His greatest consolation was to receive John Henry newman into the Church. Barberi was beatified on Oct. 27, 1963.

Feast: Aug. 27.

Bibliography: Acta Apostolicae Sedis 55 (1963) 893895, 9961001, 102025. d. r. gwynn, Father Dominic Barberi (London 1947; Buffalo 1948). j. mead, Shepherd of the Second Spring; the Life of Blessed Dominic Barberi (Paterson, N.J. 1968). a. wilson, Blessed Dominic Barberi (London 1966); Blessed Dominic Barberi; Supernaturalized Briton (London 1967).

[d. milburn]

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Barberi, Domenico, Bl.

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