Saint Francis Fasani

Francis Anthony Fasani (6 August 1681 – 29 November 1742) was an Italian friar of the Order of Conventual Friars Minor who has been declared a saint by the Catholic Church. Fasani held a number of offices in the Franciscan order and was pastor of his home town. "He promoted devotion to Our Lady Immaculate and for nearly forty years was famous in Apulia for his fervent preaching and his great charity towards the poor, orphans, and prisoners." He was born Giovanniello Fasani on 6 August 1681 in Lucera, in the Province of Foggia, then part of the Kingdom of Naples. He was the son of Giuseppe Fasani and Isabella della Monaca. He began his studies at the Conventual friary in his town and there entered the order, taking the religious names of Francis and Anthony. Fasani professed his religious vows in 1696. Once having professed his vows, Fasani began theological studies in Agnone, and continued them in the General Study Centre at Assisi, close to the tomb of St. Francis. It was there that Fasani was ordained to the priesthood in 1705. He was a friend of another Conventual friar, Antonio Lucci; he and Lucci were both ordained as priests together. Fasani stayed in Assisi, completing his theological studies there in 1707. From 1707 until his death in 1742, Fasani resided in his hometown of Lucera, and endeared himself to the faithful of that town as well as Daunia and Molise. In 1709, he received the degree of Doctor of Theology and, from that time on, Fasani became known to all as "Padre Maestro" ('Father Master'), a title which is still attributed to him today in Lucera. Fasani also fulfilled many duties in the Franciscan Order, being a respected teacher of scholastic philosophy, and was entrusted with the position of Master of novices and the junior professed friars. He was later appointed to serve as the guardian of the community of friars and the pastor of the town. He came to be elected Minister Provincial of his province in the Order.