Saint Vicenç Romano

Vincenzo Romano (3 June 1751 – 20 December 1831) – born Vincenzo Domenico Romano – was an Italian Roman Catholic priest born in Torre del Greco in Naples. Romano was a parish priest of the village of Herculano who was noted for his simplistic and frugal manner of living and for his great care of orphans. But the French invaders in his area in addition to some of the Italian political groups oppressed him and his work. The people of Torre del Greco granted him the nickname "The Worker Priest" due to Romano's tireless work with the poor and for his commitment to the social needs of all people in the Neapolitan region. He was also noted for his efforts in rebuilding much of Naples following the 1794 eruption of Mount Vesuvius in which he himself cleared rubble and organized rebuilding efforts. Pope Paul VI beatified him in late 1963 after the recognition of his holiness as well as the confirmation of two miracles attributed to his intercession. The cause for his canonization had been opened on 22 September 1843 and Pope Leo XIII had named him as Venerable in 1895. Pope Francis confirmed his canonization which was celebrated in Saint Peter's Square on 14 October 2018. Vincenzo Romano was born on 3 June 1751 to poor parents Nicola Luca and Maria Grazia Rivieccio in Via Piscopia in the town of Torre del Greco in metropolitan Naples. Romano was baptized on 4 June in the Santa Croce church as "Domenico Vincenzo Michele Romano" and was named Vincenzo in honor of the Romano's favorite saint Vincent Ferrer (the Romano's fostered a longtime devotion to him). Two brothers included Pietro (b. 1739) and Giuseppe. He studied the writings of Alphonsus Maria de' Liguori and he developed a strong devotion to the Blessed Sacrament as a child. His vocation for becoming part of the religious life matured at the time he was fourteen due to the education on the part of Father Agostino Scognamiglio.