St. Venturino of Bergamo
Today we celebrate the feast day of St. Venturino, who was a missionary crusader and a Dominican preacher. St. Venturino was born on April 9, 1304 in Bergamo, Italy.
On January 22, 1319, St. Venturino felt the calling to join the Dominicans. St. Venturino joined that day the Dominican convent of Saint Stephen that was in Bergamo, Italy. After St. Venturino finished all of his studies he was ordained in Genoa, Italy.
St. Venturino would preach the faith all around Northern Italy and he was able to convert many people through the things that he taught and what he preached. St. Venturino was quickly known by many people as a brilliant, kind and caring person. St. Venturino also called for peace during the various tensions that were occurring between the Guelphs and the Ghibellines.
Due to the fact that St. Venturino was able to reach out to so many people through his preaching he decided during the year 1335 to go on a pilgrimage to Rome. On February 1335, St. Venturino led the great pilgrimage to Rome, Italy.
However, during St. Venturino’s pilgrimage some issues started to arise. During the lifetime of St. Venturino the Avignon Papacy was taking place, after Pope Benedict Xll found out what St. Venturino was doing he was frightened because he believed that St. Venturino was marching to Rome so that he could get declared Pope.
Therefore due to the worries that Pope Benedict had, Pope Benedict and the the Dominican Master General decided to prohibit the pilgrimage that St. Venturino was partaking in. However St. Venturino did not get the news and information until he had arrived in Rome, Italy with his group.
When St. Venturino was in Rome, Italy before he knew about the order from the Pope, he had the opportunity to preach at several different churches and was able to inspire people to join the Catholic faith. Eventually 12 days after he had arrived in Rome, Italy he found out about the Pope's order which was for St. Venturino to leave Rome, Italy and he left immediately.
In June 1335, St. Venturino decided to request a meeting with the Pope so that they could clarify some of the things that were occurring. However, St. Venturino was imprisoned for 8 years until he was later released by Pope Clement VI.
After St. Venturino spent his time in jail he decided to not give up on the talent that God gave him, which was the ability to be an excellent preacher. Therefore, St. Venturino started to preach and help with the crusade that was occurring against the Turks and he was very successful in his preaching.
St. Venturino was a very successful preacher and he lived most of his life preaching and teaching people about the faith. St. Venturino passed away on March, 28 1346 in Smyrna, Turkey.
Prayer to St. Venturino:
St. Venturino intercede that we may be able to have the wisdom and patience that we need to preach the Catholic faith to others not only through our words but also through our actions. St. Venturino help us to develop a stronger devotion to God so that we may guide more people to him. St. Venturino help us to have the ability to reach out to as many people as we can so that we may help them find Christ. St. Venturino I pray that you may help all of those who are currently lost in their life and help them to be able to find Christ so that they may be able to endure the many graces from Christ’s love.
We ask this through Christ Our Lord and Mary Our Mother Heaven
Amen
St. Venturino pray for us
St. Joseph pray for us
May we continue to strengthen our journey to sainthood and keep others in our prayers.
Works cited:
Information (read from, not taken):
Catholic Online. “St. Venturino of Bergamo.” St. Venturino of Bergamo - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online. Accessed 28 March 2021.
Images:
Venturino of Bergamo. March 28, 2021.
Thanks you.