Antonio Rosmini

The heart of Antonio Rosmini's life is marked by the foundation of his religious institutes and by a monumental philosophical and theological body of work. On February 20, 1828 (Ash Wednesday), he retired to the Sacro Monte Calvario in Domodossola to draft the Constitutions of the Institute of Charity (whose members are commonly called the "Rosminians"). This institute rests on two fundamental spiritual principles: the "principle of passivity" (attending first to one's own sanctification until the will of God manifests to undertake an external work) and the "principle of impartiality" (having no personal preference in the exercise of charity). The institute received official pontifical approval from Pope Gregory XVI in 1839. In 1832, Rosmini also founded the female branch, the Sisters of Providence (Rosminian Sisters of Providence). At the same time, Rosmini developed an innovative philosophical system intended to harmonize Catholic theology with modern thought. His system is centered on the "idea of being" (the fundamental intuition of existence as a reflection of divine light in human intelligence). He published numerous major works, including the Nuovo Saggio sull'origine delle idee (1830). An engaged actor in the Italian Risorgimento, he advocated for a reconciliation between Catholicism and the aspirations of social justice of his time. His most famous and controversial work, Delle cinque piaghe della Santa Chiesa (The Five Wounds of the Holy Church), written in 1832 and published in 1848, proposed a profound reform of the Church. In it, he denounced in particular the separation between the clergy and the faithful in the liturgy, the insufficiency of the formation of priests, political interference in the appointment of bishops, and the inappropriate use of ecclesiastical goods. Because of these bold positions, this book as well as La costituzione secondo la giustizia sociale were placed on the Index of Forbidden Books in 1849.

Despite the intense attacks and doctrinal persecutions he faced, particularly from certain conservative circles, Rosmini demonstrated absolute obedience and submission to the Holy See. In 1854, after a thorough examination ordered by Pope Pius IX, his works were declared free of heresy (decree Dimittantur). Rosmini retired to Stresa, on the shores of Lake Maggiore, where he spent his final years in prayer, writing, and directing his institutes. He died there holily on July 1, 1855, surrounded by the affection of his loved ones, including his great friend, the writer Alessandro Manzoni. However, after his death, the controversy resurfaced. In 1887, under the pontificate of Leo XIII, the Holy Office published the decree Post obitum, condemning 40 propositions extracted from his works (mainly posthumous). This condemnation blocked his cause for beatification for more than a century. The historical resolution came on July 1, 2001: the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, under the leadership of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (the future Benedict XVI), published an official Note approved by Pope John Paul II. This note declared that the reasons for doctrinal concern that had led to the Post obitum decree were now overcome, as the condemned propositions did not reflect the authentic thought of Rosmini, thus fully rehabilitating the theologian's orthodoxy.

The cause for the beatification of Antonio Rosmini was officially opened in 1994. On June 26, 2006, Pope Benedict XVI authorized the promulgation of the decree recognizing the heroic nature of his virtues, conferring upon him the title of Venerable.

On June 1, 2007, Pope Benedict XVI approved the miracle necessary for his beatification: the sudden and scientifically inexplicable healing of Sister Ludovica Noè, a religious of the Rosminian Sisters of Providence. Suffering from severe bone tuberculosis of the spine and pelvis, she was instantly healed on January 6, 1927, after praying fervently to the founder and applying his image to her body.

The solemn beatification ceremony was celebrated on November 18, 2007, at the Palazzetto dello Sport in Novara (Italy). The Mass was presided over by Cardinal José Saraiva Martins, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and representative of Pope Benedict XVI.

His liturgical feast is set for July 1, the day of his birth into heaven.

The spirituality of Antonio Rosmini is centered on universal charity, lived in three inseparable forms: spiritual, intellectual, and temporal. He particularly developed the concept of "intellectual charity," which consists of dedicating intelligence and the search for truth to the service of God and neighbor, by reconciling faith and reason. His theological and ecclesiological intuitions proved to be prophetic. More than a century before the Second Vatican Council, Rosmini had anticipated major reforms such as the active participation of the laity in the liturgy, the renewal of biblical and patristic studies, and the freedom of the Church from political powers. Pope Paul VI even described him as a "profeta" (prophet) of the Council. Today, the Institute of Charity (the Rosminians) and the Sisters of Providence continue his educational, pastoral, and charitable work in many countries around the world (Italy, United Kingdom, Ireland, India, Tanzania, United States, Venezuela, etc.).