Blessed Bartholomew Longo
Blessed Bartolo Longo (born February 11, 1841 AD in Latiano, Brindisi, Apulia, Italy; died October 5, 1926 AD in Valle di Pompei, Campania, Italy) was an Italian lawyer, Dominican Tertiary, and apostle of the Rosary who founded the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompei (Basilica di Santa Maria del Rosario di Pompei) and transformed the impoverished Valley of Pompei through an extraordinary work of charity and devotion. A former Satanist who underwent a dramatic conversion, he dedicated his life to Mary and the Rosary, creating one of the greatest modern Marian shrines in the world. He is the author of th e famous Supplica alla Madonna di Pompei (Supplication to Our Lady of Pompei). He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on October 26, 1980. His feast day is October 5.
Stored in Cargo: Blessed Bartholomew Longo
| Blessed Bartholomew Longo | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | October 05 |
| Profession | Lawyer; Dominican Tertiary; founder of the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompei; founder of orphanages; author of the Supplica; apostle of the Rosary; converted former Satanist |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Dominican Third Order (Secular Franciscans); Italian Catholic Church; Marian devotion; Rosary apostolate; Pompei Shrine; 19th-20th century Italian Catholic social action |
| Patronage | Pompei (Valle di Pompei); Apulia; the Rosary; converts; former sinners; those who work for prisoners and their families; orphans; the poor of southern Italy; Dominican Tertiaries; Marian apostolate |
| Attributes | Dominican Tertiary habit (or secular dress with rosary); a rosary (his primary symbol); the Basilica of Pompei; a painting of Our Lady of the Rosary (the original shrine image); a cart (the legend of the painting's transport); the ''Supplica'' prayer text |
| Birthplace | Latiano, Brindisi, Apulia, Italy |
| Death Place | Valle di Pompei (Pompei), Campania, Italy |
| Cause of Death | Natural death; died October 5, 1926, in Valle di Pompei (the "Valley of Pompei," distinct from the ancient archaeological site of Pompeii), Campania, Italy; he was 85 years old; he had spent more than fifty years transforming the impoverished Valle di Pompei through the foundation of the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary and a vast network of charitable works (orphanages, schools, workshops, care for the children of imprisoned parents); his death on October 5 — the feast of Saint Faustina Kowalska in some calendars, and close to the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary (October 7) — was that of a man who had lived entirely for Mary; Pope John Paul II beatified him on October 26, 1980 |
| Primary Shrine | Papal Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, Pompei, Campania, Italy — his tomb; October 5 feast; major Marian pilgrimage (4 million visitors annually); the Supplica ceremony (first Saturday of May and first Saturday of October) |
| Liturgical Class | Not in universal Roman calendar; October 5 feast in Italy and among Dominican Tertiaries |
| Historic Class | Not in 1962 calendar |
Biography
Bartolo Longo was born February 11, 1841, in Latiano in Apulia. He studied law at the University of Naples, where he fell under the influence of anti-clerical and spiritualist circles and became involved in Satanism and occultism.
His conversion came through the Dominican priest Father Alberto Radente, who helped him return to the faith. He became a Dominican Tertiary and committed himself to reparation through devotion to Our Lady and the Rosary.
In October 1875 he traveled to the impoverished Valley of Pompei as the agent of the Countess De Fusco. There he obtained a shabby painting of Our Lady of the Rosary from a Dominican convent in Naples and had it installed in a small chapel. Around this image he organized a vast work of spiritual renewal and charity: founding the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary (elevated to a Papal Basilica in 1901), orphanages for the children of prisoners, schools, and workshops.
He also composed the famous Supplica alla Madonna di Pompei — a prayer now recited by millions worldwide on the first Saturday of May and the first Saturday of October.
He eventually married the Countess De Fusco (with pontifical permission) and together they dedicated their lives and wealth to their charitable works at Pompei. He died October 5, 1926.
He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on October 26, 1980.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Latiano, Brindisi, Apulia, Italy
Death location: Valle di Pompei (Pompei), Campania, Italy
Notable location:
Notable location:
Notable location:
Notable location:
Notable location:
Dynamic content
Parishes
No parishes dedicated to Bartolo Longo have been added to the database yet.
Media
No media found for this saint.
Shrines
Dynamic shrines
No results
No shrines where this saint is the primary saint.
Known shrines
- Papal Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, Pompei, Campania, Italy — his tomb and primary shrine; the original image of Our Lady of the Rosary; October 5 feast; Supplica ceremony (4 million visitors annually).
Feast day
October 5
Veneration
Blessed Bartolo Longo (1841–1926) was an Italian lawyer and Dominican Tertiary who converted from Satanism to become the apostle of the Rosary and founder of the great Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary at Pompei — building from a shabby painting on a cart (1875) to a Papal Basilica attracting 4 million pilgrims annually, while also founding orphanages and charitable works for the poor of southern Italy. Author of the beloved Supplica alla Madonna di Pompei. Beatified John Paul II, 1980. Feast October 5.
Prayers
Authored
There are prayers authored by this saint in prayers list yet.
Intercessory
There are no prayers asking for this saint's intercession in prayers list yet.