Venerable Mariano Arciero

Mariano Arciero (26 February 1707 – 16 February 1788) was an Italian priest of the Roman Catholic Church. As a priest in Naples he exercised his functions as both a pastor and theologian, and was later known as the "Apostle of Calabria" due to his tireless apostolate and efforts in evangelization. His beatification was celebrated on 24 June 2012. Mariano Arciero was born in Contursi Terme in 1707 to the poor Mattia Arciero and Autilia Marmora. In his childhood he fostered a strong devotion to the Mother of God whom he called "Mamma bella". The parish priest Emanuele Parisio took him under his personal care for educational purposes. Parisio instructed him and requested that he teach catechise his fellow children. He later moved from his home to Naples in 1729 where he attended a Eucharistic Congregation which the Jesuit Francesco Pavone had established; he enrolled in the congregation on 21 December 1729. He undertook philosophical studies and also studied literature. It was also during this time that Parisio took charge of his theological studies which allowed for him to be ordained to the priesthood on 22 December 1731. Arciero soon became a model for his fellow priests: he was active in all charitable acts and visited hospitals and other places to be with his people for his pastoral mission. Gennaro Fortunato, the Bishop of Cassano, desired that Arciero be in his diocese. Arciero devoted himself to the education of children and was known for astonishing conversions. He spent hours teaching catechism to children as well as preaching. To that end he was known as the "Apostle of Calabria" due to his tireless apostolate. The bishop also named him as the first parish priest for Altomonte and then for the Annunciation church (under construction at the time) in Maratea. The death of Fortunato in 1751 prompted Arciero to return to Naples. In 1768 he was named as the spiritual director for a diocesan congregation for the supervision of priests.