Saint Gaetano Errico

Biography

Saint Gaetano Errico, also known as Don Gaetano, was born on 19 October 1791 in Secondigliano, Naples, Italy. He was the second of nine children born to Pasquale Errico, a pasta factory manager, and Marie Marseglia Errico, who worked as a weaver. From a young age, Gaetano displayed piety and was always ready to help his father at work or his mother with his younger siblings. At the age of fourteen, Gaetano felt a strong call to the priesthood. However, he was turned away by both the Capuchins and the Redemptorists due to his youth. Undeterred, he began studying at a diocesan seminary in Naples when he was sixteen. Every day, he walked the five miles to attend classes. After years of dedicated study and preparation, Gaetano was eventually ordained as a priest on 23 September 1815. For the next twenty years, Saint Gaetano served as a school teacher, imparting knowledge and guidance to young minds. He then became a parish priest at the church of Saint Cosmas and Damian. It was during this time that he developed a reputation for his profound devotion to the Sacrament of Reconciliation and his ministry to the sick. Gaetano also engaged in self-imposed austerities and penances as a way to deepen his spiritual life. In 1818, during one of his yearly retreats to the Redemptorist house in Pagani, Italy, Saint Gaetano experienced a significant vision. Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, the founder of the Redemptorists, appeared to him, revealing God's desire for Gaetano to build a new church and establish a new religious congregation. Although initially receiving strong support from the local community, fundraising and the physical work proved challenging. Eventually, on 9 December 1830, Saint Gaetano dedicated and blessed the church Our Lady of Sorrows at Secondigliano. Over time, this church has become one of Italy's most popular pilgrimage sites. Adjacent to the church, Saint Gaetano built a small house for himself and a lay-brother who assisted in its maintenance. This small dwelling marked the humble beginnings of the Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, the religious congregation Gaetano was tasked to found. The Missionaries received local approval on 14 March 1836, approval from the Congregation of Bishops on 30 June 1838, royal approval on 13 May 1840, and papal approval by Blessed Pope Pius IX on 7 August 1846. Gaetano served as the first Superior General, guiding and nurturing the growth of the congregation. Saint Gaetano's beatification miracle occurred in southern Italy in January 1952. It involved a man suffering from a perforated stomach wall. On the verge of emergency surgery, his wife placed a relic of Father Gaetano under his pillow, and together they prayed for his intercession. Miraculously, the man's health began to improve immediately, and he was eventually healed without any medical intervention. On 29 October 1860, at 10 o'clock in the morning, Saint Gaetano Errico passed away in Secondigliano, Naples, Italy, due to natural causes. Recognizing his exemplary life and unwavering dedication to God, Gaetano was venerated by Pope Paul VI on 4 October 1974, who issued a decree of heroic virtues. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on 14 April 2002 and finally canonized as a saint on Sunday, 12 October 2008, by Pope Benedict XVI. Saint Gaetano Errico's life serves as an inspiration to all, demonstrating the power of faith, perseverance, and selfless devotion to God and others. His deep love for the Sacraments, his tireless ministry to the sick, and his commitment to building a vibrant religious congregation continue to impact and inspire countless individuals around the world.