Blessed Mark of Aviano
Blessed Mark of Aviano (born November 17, 1631 AD in Aviano, Friuli, Italy; died August 13, 1699 AD in Vienna, Austria) was an Italian Capuchin friar, a celebrated preacher and spiritual counselor, and a papal envoy who played a notable part in rallying the Christian forces before the relief of Vienna in 1683. Born Carlo Domenico Cristofori, he is venerated as a Blessed of the Church. His feast day is August 13.
Renowned across Europe for his fervent preaching and reported miracles, Mark of Aviano was trusted by popes and princes alike and became a symbol of Christian unity in the face of the Ottoman advance. He was beatified in 2003.
Stored in Cargo: Blessed Mark of Aviano
| Blessed Mark of Aviano | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | August 13 |
| Profession | Capuchin friar; preacher; papal envoy |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Order of Friars Minor Capuchin |
| Patronage | Preachers; invoked in the defense of Christendom |
| Attributes | Capuchin habit; crucifix |
| Birthplace | Aviano, Friuli, Italy |
| Death Place | Vienna, Austria |
| Cause of Death | Natural death; Capuchin friar and preacher; died at Vienna |
| Primary Shrine | Vienna, Austria |
Biography
Carlo Domenico Cristofori was born on November 17, 1631, at Aviano in Friuli, in northeastern Italy. As a young man he entered the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, taking the name Mark of Aviano. He was ordained a priest and in time became one of the most famous preachers of his age, drawing great crowds and being credited with many conversions and healings.
His reputation for holiness brought him to the notice of rulers and of the Holy See. Pope Innocent XI made use of his zeal and influence in the great crisis of the later seventeenth century, when the Ottoman armies advanced into central Europe and laid siege to Vienna in 1683. Mark of Aviano labored to reconcile the quarreling Christian princes and to inspire their soldiers with courage and faith, and his presence was remembered in connection with the victory that relieved the city.
In the years that followed he continued to preach and to serve as a papal envoy, always returning to his life as a humble friar. He died in Vienna on August 13, 1699. He was beatified on April 27, 2003, by Pope John Paul II. His feast is kept on August 13.
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Feast day
August 13
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