Francesco Maria di Francia

The major work of Francesco Maria di Francia is intimately linked to the foundation and development of the Congregation of the Capuchin Sisters of the Sacred Heart (Suore Cappuccine del Sacro Cuore). The beginnings of this foundation date back to 1886 in Messina, when Francesco Maria di Francia invested the first four aspirants with the religious habit, among whom was Veronica Briguglio (considered the co-founder of the institute). However, the history of the congregation took a decisive turn in 1897. Sister Veronica Briguglio, after ten years of dedication within the work of Saint Annibale Maria di Francia, decided to leave Messina with three companions to begin a period of discernment in her native village of Roccalumera. As her departure was not accepted by Saint Annibale, the religious sisters found themselves without affiliation. Faced with this delicate situation, the Archbishop of Messina, Cardinal Giuseppe Guarino, entrusted the spiritual and material direction of this small group of religious sisters to Francesco Maria di Francia. On March 11, 1897, the sisters officially established themselves in Roccalumera to take over the management of the Sant'Antonio girls' orphanage. This date marks the historical foundation of the institute, initially known as the "Poor Sisters of the Sacred Heart." For sixteen years, Father Francesco guided and supported this new religious family. Demonstrating great humility, he constantly refused the formal title of superior or founder, preferring to sacrifice himself in the shadows to ensure the material subsistence of the orphans and to watch over the sanctification of the religious sisters. Mother Veronica Briguglio served as Superior General of the institute for more than 37 years. The charism of the institute is based on the exercise of works of mercy, the welcoming, education, and instruction of poor or abandoned children and youth. The sisters manage nursery and primary schools, day centers, and residential homes, and are actively involved in parish and family pastoral care. The institute was officially aggregated to the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin on December 1, 1915, adopting the Rule of the Third Order Regular of Saint Francis of Assisi. It received the pontifical decree of praise on March 4, 1943, and the definitive approval of the Holy See on February 16, 1957. Today, the congregation, whose motherhouse is located in Roccalumera and whose generalate has been in Rome since 1969, is present not only in Italy but also in Colombia, Poland, and Slovakia.

The reputation for holiness of Francesco Maria di Francia, nurtured by his heroic charity towards the poor, the sick, and orphans, prompted his institute to request the opening of his cause for beatification. The beatification process opened at the diocesan level in the mid-1980s within the Archdiocese of Messina-Lipari-Santa Lucia del Mela. The diocesan inquiry was officially closed on October 3, 1996. The decree of legal validity for this inquiry was promulgated by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints on November 6, 1998. The Positio, a summary document demonstrating the heroic nature of his virtues, was officially filed with the Congregation on December 22, 2014, the 101st anniversary of his death. The historical consultants of the Congregation issued a favorable opinion on April 29, 2015.

On March 19, 2019, on the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Pope Francis received in audience Cardinal Angelo Becciu, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. During this audience, the Sovereign Pontiff authorized the promulgation of the decree recognizing the heroic virtues of the Servant of God Francesco Maria di Francia. By this solemn act, Francesco Maria di Francia was proclaimed Venerable of the Catholic Church. For his beatification to be pronounced, the official recognition of a miracle attributed to his intercession by the Holy See remains necessary.

The spirituality of Francesco Maria di Francia is deeply marked by the love of the suffering Christ, whom he knew how to recognize in the flesh of the most destitute. His pastoral and charitable action was not mere human solidarity, but the expression of a theological charity lived in self-effacement. He nurtured an absolute and unwavering trust in Divine Providence, frequently repeating in moments of doubt or difficulty: "La Provvidenza di Dio ci penserà. Dio ha voluto così" ("God's Providence will see to it. God has willed it so"). His Marian devotion was also very vivid. He defined himself as a "slave of Mary," writing in one of his spiritual poems: "sono schiavo di Maria, della gran Madre d'amor, tutta in lei la vita mia, le ho sacrato affetti e cor. E così quest'alma mia paga è già, non cerca più: reso schiavo di Maria sono tutto di Gesù" ("I am a slave of Mary, of the great Mother of love, all my life is in her, I have consecrated my affections and heart to her. And so this soul of mine is already satisfied, it seeks no more: having become a slave of Mary, I am all of Jesus"). The spiritual and material legacy of Francesco Maria di Francia continues today through the educational and charitable work of the Capuchin Sisters of the Sacred Heart. His mortal remains rest in the Sanctuary of Sant'Antonio di Padova in Roccalumera, alongside those of the co-founder, the Servant of God Veronica Briguglio, making this place an important center of pilgrimage and popular devotion.