Saint Daniel Comboni
Saint Daniel Comboni (born March 15, 1831 AD in Limone sul Garda, Lombardy, Italy; died October 10, 1881 AD in Khartoum, Sudan) was an Italian missionary bishop who became the first Bishop of Central Africa and the founder of the Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus. He devoted his entire life to the evangelization of sub-Saharan Africa and the abolition of the slave trade. He died in Khartoum at age 50, worn out by the African climate and his labors, but his missionary congregation continues in over forty countries. He was beatified in 1996 and canonized in 2003. His feast day is October 10.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Daniel Comboni
| Saint Daniel Comboni | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | October 10 |
| Profession | Missionary bishop; founder of the Comboni Missionaries; first Bishop of Central Africa; abolitionist |
| Rel. Affiliation | Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus (Missionari Comboniani del Cuore di Gesù) |
| Patronage | Africa; Sudan; missionaries to Africa; the abolition of slavery |
| Attributes | Bishop's vestments; African mission; cross and globe; image of Africa |
| Birthplace | Limone sul Garda, Brescia Province, Lombardy, Italy |
| Death Place | Khartoum, Sudan |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes; exhaustion; fever; died at his mission in Khartoum |
| Primary Shrine | Comboni Shrine, Limone sul Garda, Brescia, Italy — his birthplace; a national shrine and pilgrimage site |
| Liturgical Class | Optional Memorial |
| Historic Class | Not included |
Biography
Daniel Comboni was born in 1831 in the fishing village of Limone sul Garda on Lake Garda. He was educated at the Institute of Father Nicola Mazza in Verona, a boarding school for poor boys that also trained missionaries for Africa. He was ordained a priest in 1854 and set out for Africa that same year with five companions — the first Mazza missionaries to central Africa.
The first expedition (1857–1859) was nearly catastrophic: disease killed four of his six companions. He himself nearly died. He returned to Europe to recuperate, but was more convinced than ever that Africa was his vocation.
In 1864, in Rome, Comboni had a sudden inspiration — he called it a divine flash — of a new missionary strategy: rather than sending Europeans to Africa (where they died quickly of disease), he would train African catechists and priests to carry the Gospel to their own people. He wrote this up as the Piano per la Rigenerazione dell'Africa (Plan for the Regeneration of Africa) and presented it to the First Vatican Council, gathering 70 episcopal signatures in its support.
He founded a training college for African missionaries in Verona (1867) and began training African students. In 1872 he was named Provicario Apostolico of Central Africa; in 1877 he became the first Bishop of Central Africa, with his see at Khartoum.
He worked tirelessly against the slave trade that devastated the populations of Central Africa, writing letters to European newspapers and governments and to Pope Pius IX to intervene. He opened mission stations throughout Sudan and organized relief during famines.
He died at Khartoum on October 10, 1881, at the age of 50, having spent himself entirely for Africa. His congregation — the Comboni Missionaries — today works in over forty countries.
Significant locations
Life tour: Footprints — walkable life places and pilgrimage stops
Legend
Birth location: Limone sul Garda, Brescia Province, Lombardy, Italy
Death location: Khartoum, Sudan
Notable location: His episcopal see as first Bishop of Central Africa; where he established the mission and died (Khartoum, Sudan)
Notable location: The city where he established one of his early mission centers in Central Africa (El Obeid (El-Ubayyid), North Kordofan, Sudan)
Notable location: The city where he founded the Comboni Missionaries (Consolata Missionaries); the motherhouse of the congregation (Verona, Veneto, Italy)
Notable location: His birthplace on Lake Garda; a shrine and museum to him is here (Limone sul Garda, Lombardy, Italy)
Notable location:
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Parishes
No parishes dedicated to Saint Daniel Comboni have been added to the database yet.
Media
| Media | Length | AuthorCreator |
|---|---|---|
| The Missionary to Africa – St. Daniel Comboni | Under 5 minutes | The Story of the Saints |
Shrines
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Known shrines
- Comboni Shrine, Limone sul Garda, Brescia — his birthplace; a sanctuary and museum.
- Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Khartoum, Sudan — his episcopal see; the Comboni missionaries continue their mission in Sudan.
Feast day
October 10
Veneration
Saint Daniel Comboni is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church with a feast day on October 10 (Optional Memorial).
Prayers
Authored
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Intercessory
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