Felice Rossini
Felice Rossini (1876-1924), in religion Brother Daniel of Samarate, was an Italian Capuchin missionary. Sent to Brazil, he devoted himself to the local populations and lepers, contracting the disease himself. He was declared Venerable by Pope Francis in 2017.
Contemporaries
Figures and markers around the normalized period for this entry.
Guided reading
5 reading sections
Biography
Birth of Felice Rossini in Italy, his entry into the Capuchins under the name Brother Daniel of Samarate, and his priestly ordination in Brazil.
Felice Rossini was born on June 15, 1876, in San Macario, a hamlet in the municipality of Samarate, Italy. The sixth child of a family of modest farmers, he was baptized the following day. He attended the parish of the Most Holy Trinity where the parish priest, Father Virginio Civati, helped him learn to read and write. At fourteen, he entered the Capuchin seminary in Sovere. Upon taking the habit in Lovere, he received the name Brother Daniel of Samarate (Daniele da Samarate). He made his simple vows in 1892 and his solemn vows in 1896 in Brescia. After his studies in philosophy and theology in Milan, he was ordained a priest on March 19, 1899, in Fortaleza, Brazil.
Life and Work
Brother Daniel's missionary ministry in Brazil, his dedication to the local populations and lepers, and his own contraction of the disease.
Inspired by Father Rinaldo da Paullo, Brother Daniel left for the Northeast of Brazil in 1898. In 1900, he was sent to the Santo Antônio do Prata colony, in the state of Pará, where he spent thirteen years as director, teacher, and superior. There, he developed spiritual and material infrastructure (schools, churches, hospitals, roads, telephone). Around 1908, he contracted leprosy while administering the last sacraments. After a pilgrimage to Lourdes in 1909, where he spiritually accepted his illness, he returned to Brazil. He served briefly in Anil, then entered the Tucunduba leper colony near Belém permanently in 1914 (or 1919), where he shared the daily life of the sick until his death on May 19, 1924.
Path to holiness
The opening of the cause for beatification of Daniel of Samarate and the examination of his heroic virtues.
The reputation for holiness of Daniel of Samarate spread rapidly after his death in Brazil and Italy. The diocesan process for his beatification was opened in the Archdiocese of Belém in 1991 and closed in 1997, supplemented by a rogatory inquiry in Milan. The Positio super virtutibus, gathering testimonies and documents on his life, was examined and validated by the historical consultants of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints on October 29, 2013.
Beatification and canonization
The recognition of heroic virtues by Pope Francis and the veneration of his relics.
On March 23, 2017, Pope Francis authorized the promulgation of the decree recognizing the heroic virtues of Daniel of Samarate, conferring upon him the title of Venerable. The majority of his mortal remains rest today in the Church of the Sacred Heart in Milan, while other relics are preserved in the Church of Saint Francis in Belém, Brazil. A miracle attributed to his intercession is required for his beatification.
Spirituality and legacy
The Franciscan acceptance of suffering and the impact of his testimony on other figures of holiness.
The spirituality of Daniel of Samarate is rooted in the Franciscan tradition of love for the poor and abandonment to Providence. He welcomed leprosy as an opportunity for communion with Christ. He is famous for his constant expression of gratitude: "A Deus louvado" (God be praised). His testimony inspired numerous vocations, notably that of the Venerable Brother Cecilio Maria Cortinovis, who asked to go to Brazil to care for lepers after learning of his death.
Frequently asked questions about Felice Rossini
Who was Felice Rossini?
Felice Rossini (1876-1924), in religion Brother Daniel of Samarate, was an Italian Capuchin missionary. Sent to Brazil, he devoted himself to the local populations and lepers, contracting the disease himself. He was declared Venerable by Pope Francis in 2017.
Which saints were contemporaries of Felice Rossini?
Contemporaries include: Pauline of the Agonizing Heart of Jesus, Felipe de Jesús Munárriz and 50 companions, Mariano de Jesús Euse Hoyos and Teresa of Jesus of the Andes.
When did Felice Rossini die?
Felice Rossini died around 1924.
What are the other names of Felice Rossini?
Other forms of the name: Daniele da Samarate and Daniel de Samarate.
Who are the relatives of Felice Rossini?
Relatives of Felice Rossini: Pasquale Rossini (father) and Giovanna Paccioretti (mother).
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Era / death: 1876-1924
- Decree of venerability by Francis
Quotes
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Praise be to God
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