Venerable Gaspar Bertoni

Gaspare Luigi Bertoni, CSS (9 October 1777 – 12 June 1853) was an Italian Catholic priest and the founder of the Congregation of the Sacred Stigmata, also known as the Stigmatines. Gaspar Bertoni was born in Verona on 9 October 1777 to Francesco Bertoni (whose profession was the law) and Brunora Ravelli. His sister died when he was still a child. Bertoni received his initial education from his parents. Bertoni later studied under the Jesuits and the Marian Congregation at Saint Sebastian's School in his hometown of Verona. He commenced his studies for the priesthood in 1796. On 1 June 1796 - around the time of the French Revolution - troops from France began a two-decade occupation of the northern Italian cities. Bertoni joined the Gospel Fraternity for Hospitals and worked to help those wounded and ill while also focusing on those who were displaced or otherwise harmed due to the effects of the occupation. He was ordained as a priest on 20 September 1800. Bertoni served as the chaplain to the Daughters of Charity, founded by Magdalene of Canossa, while also serving as the spiritual director of the seminary. He was also one of the leaders to offer prayers and support for Pope Pius VII when he was imprisoned by Napoleon Bonaparte. His pastoral work was marked by the establishment of the Marian Oratories and the devotion to the Five Wounds of Christ and the establishment of schools for the poor. He founded the Congregation of the Sacred Stigmata of Our Lord Jesus Christ (the Stigmatines) on 4 November 1816. As of 2012, there were reported to be 94 houses with 422 members, including 331 priests. Bertoni was a rather frail and average-looking man, beset with fevers and a continuing infection in his right leg during the last two decades of his life. Over 300 operations were performed on his leg in an effort to stem the infection. However, he continued to serve as counsellor and spiritual director from his hospital bed until his death in 1853.