The Founder of the Xaverian Missionaries

Saint Guido Maria Conforti

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Saint Guido Maria Conforti
Painting by A. Costalonga

Saint Guido Maria Conforti was born on March 30th, 1865, at Ravadese, in the Diocese of Parma (Italy). While attending elementary school in Parma, he had his first prayer conversations with Christ crucified at the Church of Peace. He used to recall: "That Crucifix gave me my vocation," and "it seemed like he told me many things."

At the age of 17, Guido Conforti entered the diocesan seminary in Parma. After a brilliant course of studies, he was ordained a priest on September 22, 1888, and was in turn professor, Vice Rector of the seminary, and Vicar of Clergy. Consumed with zeal for the proclamation of the Gospel among non-Christian people, he established the Xaverian Missionaries on December 3, 1895.

In 1902, Conforti was appointed Archbishop of Ravenna, Italy. His health, however, obliged him to resign in October 1904. Invited by the Pope, he was put in charge of the Diocese of Parma, Italy, in 1906, where he displayed pastoral activity that was just short of prodigious in its extent and variety. Throughout his 25 years as Bishop of Parma, Conforti promoted his motto "Christ is all things."

In his efforts to make Christ known and loved, Conforti spent considerable time visiting parishes, but his main concern centered on religious formation. His spirituality was centered on the person of Christ. Christ was always present in his thoughts and in his heart. Christ was his constant companion in all the actions of his life. He took deep care of the clergy, promoted the religious education of the laity, supported the establishment and development of lay involvement in the Church, especially among the youth. He deeply cared for his diocese (he carried out five pastoral visits and organized two diocesan Synods), while being deeply involved in the missionary activity "ad gentes"(to non-Christians).

In September of 1928, notwithstanding his illness and age, Bishop Conforti visited the Xaverian Missionaries in China. He then died a saintly death in Parma, on November 5, 1931. Pope John Paul II declared Guido Maria Conforti "Blessed" in the eyes of the whole church on March 17, 1996. And on Oct. 23, 2011, Pope Benedict XVI proclaimed him "Saint."

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