Bartolo Longo
1841-1926 19th century Feast day: October 5
The turning around of a life given over to the dark; repeated prayer as a way of rebuilding.
Who was Bartolo Longo?
A law student in Naples, he drifted into spiritualist circles and went so far as to be consecrated a "priest" of a satanic sect, from which he emerged with his nerves broken. Brought back to faith by a professor friend and a Dominican, in 1872 he discovered the valley of Pompeii, wretched and churchless, and decided to stay. There he built a shrine, wrote a supplication to the Rosary that Italy still recites twice a year, and opened homes for orphans and for the children of prisoners, at a time when such children were written off in advance.
In their own words
If these words are true, I shall not leave this land until I have spread your Rosary here.
O august Queen of victories, O sovereign Virgin of paradise, here we are, poor sinners, prostrate at your feet.