Gregorio Fioravanti

In 1859, Father Gregorio met the French duchess Laura Leroux de Bauffremont, who wished to found a work for foreign missions. With the agreement of his superiors, he guided this foundation. The Institute of Franciscan Tertiaries for the Missions was established on April 21, 1861, in Gemona del Friuli. In 1863, the foundress left the monastery permanently. Father Gregorio then assumed sole spiritual and material direction of the work. Under his impetus, the institute gained missionary momentum, sending sisters to North America (1865) and the Middle East (1872). In 1867, following the laws for the suppression of religious orders, he took up residence at the sisters' monastery. He drafted the Constitutions of the institute, which would take the name Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart. He passed away on January 23, 1894, in Gemona del Friuli.

Due to his reputation for holiness, the cause for the beatification and canonization of Father Gregorio Fioravanti was officially opened in 1990. The diocesan inquiry took place in the Archdiocese of Udine from October 27, 1990, to July 1, 1995, gathering evidence and hearing fifteen witnesses. The validity of this inquiry was recognized by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints on January 26, 1996. The Positio, synthesizing his life and virtues, was published in 1997-1998, then examined by historical consultants in 1997 and theologians in 2015.

On November 7, 2017, the ordinary session of the cardinals and bishops of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints voted unanimously in favor of the recognition of the heroic nature of his virtues. On November 8, 2017, Pope Francis authorized the promulgation of the decree recognizing the heroic virtues of Father Gregorio Fioravanti, thereby declaring him Venerable.

Father Gregorio's spirituality is based on an absolute trust in divine Providence, summarized by his frequent phrase: "Come piace a Dio" (As it pleases God). His spiritual life was centered on the contemplation of the crucified Christ and the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Today, the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart continue his work of evangelization, education, and charity, present in about twenty countries around the world (Italy, France, United States, Bolivia, Central African Republic, Cameroon, India, Philippines).