Mariano Arciero

From the time of his ordination, Don Mariano distinguished himself by his pastoral zeal and charity. He dedicated himself to the evangelization of the poor neighborhoods of Naples, visiting hospitals, prisons, and the arsenal. His profound knowledge of the Holy Scriptures and his theological culture earned him the nickname "the library of God" (or "library of Christ") by the Neapolitan clergy. In 1739, when Msgr. Gennaro Fortunato, a canon of Naples, was appointed bishop of the diocese of Cassano all'Jonio in Calabria, he asked Don Mariano to accompany him. For twenty years, Don Mariano led a colossal evangelization effort in this difficult region. He preached popular missions, taught catechism to children and adults (devoting up to six hours a day to it), built churches, and worked actively for the spiritual and moral reform of the local clergy as well as women's monasteries. His tireless dedication and the numerous conversions he inspired earned him the title of "Apostle of Calabria" (or "Apostle of the Calabrias"). After the death of Msgr. Fortunato, Don Mariano returned to Naples. There, he continued his ministry of preaching and confession. He also wrote a successful catechetical work, La pratica della Dottrina Cristiana in dodici istruzioni e dialoghi (The Practice of Christian Doctrine in Twelve Instructions and Dialogues), intended to combat religious ignorance. He became the spiritual father of many faithful and priests, notably the future Saint Vincenzo Romano, whom he guided during his seminary years.

Don Mariano led a life of extreme poverty and mortification. He refused honors and distributed all the alms he received to the poor, keeping for himself only a daily piece of bread offered by the Fathers of the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri and a bowl of soup from the diocesan seminary. He spent long hours in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament and endured serious health problems with patience for more than fifty years.

He died in Naples on February 16, 1788, at the age of 80, after having predicted the exact hour of his passing. At the precise moment of his death, the Neapolitan mystic Saint Mary Frances of the Five Wounds (Santa Maria Francesca delle Cinque Piaghe) declared that she saw the soul of Don Mariano ascending to heaven, crowned by two angels and blessed by Jesus and the Virgin Mary.

Don Mariano's body remained exposed for nearly a week to allow the crowd of Neapolitan faithful to pay him a final tribute. On October 15, 1950, his mortal remains were transferred from Naples to his hometown of Contursi Terme, where they now rest in the church of Santa Maria degli Angeli.

The cause for the beatification of Father Mariano Arciero began shortly after his death. On August 14, 1854, Pope Pius IX signed the decree proclaiming the heroic nature of his virtues, conferring upon him the title of Venerable. The miracle accepted for his beatification concerns the unexplained healing of Concettina Siani (or Concetta Siani). The diocesan inquiry into this healing took place in Campagna from February 11, 1953, to November 17, 1954. After legal validation by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints on March 31, 2008, the Vatican Medical Board declared unanimously on March 4, 2010, that this healing was scientifically inexplicable. The theological consultants confirmed the miraculous nature of the event on November 19, 2010. On June 27, 2011, Pope Benedict XVI authorized the promulgation of the decree officially recognizing the miracle. The solemn ceremony of beatification was celebrated on June 24, 2012, in Contursi Terme (locality of Tufaro) by Cardinal Angelo Amato, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and papal delegate, in the presence of the Archbishop of Salerno, Msgr. Luigi Moretti.

The spirituality of Mariano Arciero rests on a burning love for the Eucharist and an absolute filial trust in the Virgin Mary. He called Christ present in the tabernacle "my beautiful joy, my love, the fool of love" (la gioia bella, l'amore mio, il pazzo d'amore). His zeal for teaching Christian doctrine stemmed from his conviction that religious ignorance was the primary source of sins and moral disorder.

His spiritual legacy has been perpetuated through his catechetical writings and, in a striking way, through the figure of his spiritual son, Saint Vincenzo Romano, who was inspired by his pastoral method of proximity, simplicity, and charity toward the most destitute. Blessed Mariano Arciero is today venerated as the co-patron of the town of Contursi Terme.