Sant' Angelo d'Acri (Saint Anthony of Acri, Italy) is a special person to the natives of Acri and worthy of respect and honor by all people everywhere. Immaculate Conception Church has the distinction of having an exact replica copy of the Sant' Angelo hand delivered by the friars of his
shrine in Acri, Italy.
Check back for news regarding future events surrounding this local spiritual and cultural treasure and the annual commemoration held each October.
It was October 19, 1669, when in Acri, was born Lucantonio FALCONE, the future Saint Angelo, Missionary of his land and genuine glory of the Capuchins. His life was a true poem of holy light, love apostolic glory of miraculous. Its complex life and fought fascinates, captivates, seduces.
Dad and mom Diana and Francis of economic resources were poor but rich in virtue. Orphaned of his father in adolescence, the young mother, with admirable kindness, exemplary witness of tireless hard work, proceeded to carry out the delicate and difficult task, his mother-to-be widow.
One day she, returning from church, he saw so much light in the room. His creature was on his knees, the picture of the Virgin, departed bright rays, which invested and I wrapped the head like a halo. Of course she immediately understood and thought ... my son ..he is called to do something great.
As they grew older, the lively and handsome guy, matured more and more a religious vocation. At the stroke of the 19th year, he entered the monastery, forever eager to cut the thread that bound him to the world. In the new state of life was all eyes on the ground, hands to the crown, heart to heaven. But, when they least expect oncoming suggestions and the devil to tempt him to such an extent, as to induce him to return with the family. His cherished dream seemed faded, despite the suggestions though, despite the return to the family, the world does not quenched ... Only God not men, could know the intensity and depth of the martyrdom of the troubled youth. On his way to the monastery of M. Belvedere, with permission of Superiors special Capuchins, he ran into a meeting with a shaggy hound with his barking furiously, another did not want if not, groped again to dissuade him from his vocation. The young holy man, however, no longer a novice to such deceptions, faced the beast shouting: "Evil Beast, go away! Return to your hell." On the instant the dog left him and he went on his way along the road to Belvedere. Shy and moved with shame, he knocked at the monastery and opened the door of the novitiate.
Once again, therefore, he returned to the novitiate, and did not fail any friar. On November 12, 1690 with unparalleled joy, put the holy habit and received the name of Brother Angelo.
The evil continued to conspire against him: the temptations assailed him with more force than before, but he resisted. A day in the struggle with evil, was about to be overwhelmed, then threw himself at the foot of the crucifix, and so he called: "Lord Jesus, I can not take any more. Help me or let me die."
Poor young man struggling to get from the open sea to the shore, not to be submerged by the raging waves! The answer: "Walk in the footsteps of Bernard of Corleone" or better, the same that was given by Jesus, centuries earlier, the Apostle Paul: "My grace is sufficient for you. My power, in fact, is made ??perfect in weakness ".
God, you know, never sends suffering beyond our ability.Out of humility, Brother Angelo decided not to become a priest. His superiors however disagreed and thought it the will of God and so Brother Angelo was ordained April 10, 1700. He did not desire to become a Doctor of the Church but was content in striving to be a saint. Preaching soon became his principal field of work. Even his life as a preacher was completely devoid of success at the beginning, not to say, very humiliating. The mountaineer of birth and education he began his career as a preacher in St. George Albanian. At the climax of the three sermons evening off by heart, to his confusion, he loses the thread of the sermons and unable to move forward. And 'forced to get to the venue. In the silence of the monastery is mortified, weeping and pleading with the Lord humbly, of expressing his holy will. And the answer is: "Fear not: I will give you the gift of preaching and bless your labors. Henceforth preach simply and what you say will be understood by all."
Since then it became the great missionary of southern Italy and will be for almost forty years. At his fiery words, in the light of his examples, the good became more good and the bad they turned: it was a true spiritual resurrection. He did not need the manuscripts prepared in accordance pompous and bombastic oratory of the time, so he burned them. It 'important to remember, however, that his example trailed most of the sermons.
He was respected by all and rather belonging to the Capuchin order was viewed as belonging to his countrymen. Almost always his missionary labors were punctuated by the gift of miracles, such as prophecy, ecstasy, bilocation, healing. Consumed by the fatigues and love of Christ Crucified and ripe for Heaven, October 30, 1739 completed his undergraduate wonderful earthly life. He was 70 and 11 days. Pope Leo XII 18 December 1825 proclaimed him Blessed in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Even after his death many miracles and are attributed to his intercession. He was canoized a Saint on October 15, 2017.
Today, the Basilica of Saint Angelo in Acri, Italy, is the destination of many pilgrimages. C
ountless devotees await the Sanctification. We are very blessed to have an exact replica of his likeness here with us in Westerly, RI!