ALL SAINTS: ⛪ Saint Annibale Maria di Francia

Saint Annibale Maria di Francia,
Pray for us!

Priest | Founder | Carmelite Tertiary | Apostle of Prayer for Vocations

Early Life and Call to Holiness

Saint Annibale Maria di Francia was born on July 5, 1851, in Messina, Sicily, into a noble and devout Catholic family. His father, Cavaliere Francesco di Francia, was a royal court official, and his mother Anna Toscano instilled in her children the virtues of faith and charity. Annibale lost his father when he was very young, a loss that deepened his sensitivity to the plight of the poor and orphaned.

From childhood, Annibale showed signs of a profound spiritual calling. His devotion to the Eucharist and love for the poor were exceptional. He nurtured a special reverence for priestly vocations and later dedicated his entire life to promoting them through prayer, formation, and pastoral outreach.

Ordination and Mission to the Poor

Annibale was ordained a priest on March 16, 1878. Soon after his ordination, he felt deeply drawn to the impoverished and spiritually abandoned areas of Messina, especially the notorious neighborhood called Avignone, infamous for crime, destitution, and social neglect.

Seeing Christ in the poorest of the poor, Fr. Annibale went to live among them. He brought not just material relief but also spiritual nourishment—education, dignity, and the Gospel. He established schools, orphanages, and vocational training centers. His work became a witness of the Church’s maternal heart, reaching out to those on the margins.

Apostle of Vocations: The Rogate Spirituality

The cornerstone of Fr. Annibale’s spirituality was a single verse from the Gospel:

“The harvest is great, but the laborers are few. Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
(Matthew 9:37–38 / Luke 10:2)

He called this the Rogate (Latin for "pray") command—Jesus' explicit instruction to pray for vocations. To respond to this divine command, Fr. Annibale founded:

The Rogationists of the Heart of Jesus (for men, 1897)
The Daughters of Divine Zeal (for women, 1887)

These congregations are entirely dedicated to praying for and promoting vocations to the priesthood and religious life, especially among the poor and abandoned. Rogationist communities serve across the world today in schools, orphanages, parishes, and mission centers.

Fr. Annibale once said:

“It is necessary to pray, not only for vocations in general but for holy and chosen vocations.”

He was the first promoter of the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, later formally established by Pope St. Paul VI in 1964.

Carmelite Tertiary and Eucharistic Devotion

Saint Annibale also embraced the spirituality of the Discalced Carmelites, becoming a Tertiary of the Carmelite Order. He deeply admired Saint Teresa of Ávila, Saint John of the Cross, and Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, calling her the "protectress of my works."

His love for Eucharistic Adoration and daily Mass sustained his mission. He promoted perpetual adoration, especially in homes and religious houses, and lived a life of profound humility and simplicity.

Suffering, Holiness, and Death

Though he bore many hardships—poverty, criticism, and the demands of mission—Fr. Annibale never lost his joy or zeal. He remained centered in Christ and the Church, always trusting in Divine Providence.

He died peacefully on June 1, 1927, in Messina. His final words were said to be a prayer for vocations.

Beatification and Canonization

Beatified: October 7, 1990 by Pope John Paul II, who called him “an authentic forerunner and zealous apostle of the modern pastoral care for vocations.”
Canonized: May 16, 2004, by Pope John Paul II, who declared:

“He was consumed by love for Christ and His Church and lived entirely for the Rogate: for the proclamation of the Gospel and for prayer for vocations.”

Legacy and Relevance Today

Saint Annibale Maria di Francia’s life shines with three guiding lights:

Love for the Poor
Devotion to the Eucharist
Fervent Prayer for Vocations

Today, in an age marked by vocational crises, spiritual poverty, and social fragmentation, his call to "Pray the Lord of the harvest" remains more urgent than ever.

His spiritual children—the Rogationists and Daughters of Divine Zeal—continue his mission across five continents, especially in places of greatest pastoral need.

Prayer to Saint Annibale Maria di Francia

O Saint Annibale Maria di Francia,
faithful priest, founder, and friend of the poor,
Apostle of the Divine Rogate,
you heard the cry of the Lord to pray for workers in His harvest.
Obtain for us holy and zealous priests and religious.
Kindle in our hearts a burning love for the Eucharist,
and teach us to see Christ in the poorest and forgotten.
May your life inspire us to serve with joy and pray without ceasing.
Amen.

SAINT OF THE DAY

Saints in June

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Jun 1, 2017

⛪ Saint Annibale Maria di Francia