Raffaele da Sant'Elia a Pianisi

In order to perfect his theological training and prepare for the ministry of confession and preaching, Father Raffaele obtained permission to attend the Jesuit seminary in Benevento. He subsequently exercised his ministry in several convents of his religious province, notably in Torremaggiore and Serracapriola. In 1852, he was appointed vice-master of novices in Morcone, a task he performed with a great sense of duty and profound humility. From 1857 to 1865, he resided at the convent of Santa Maria della Pace (or Madonna della Libera) in Campobasso. It was during this period that his reputation for holiness grew considerably among the faithful, who nicknamed him the "monaco santo" (the holy monk). Testimonies from his confreres report extraordinary mystical phenomena, such as ecstasies and levitations, as well as moments when he spoke aloud with the Virgin Mary. In 1865, he returned to the convent of his native village, Sant'Elia a Pianisi. The following year, in 1866, the unification of Italy led to the promulgation of laws suppressing religious orders, causing the dispersion of the Capuchins and the confiscation of their property. Father Raffaele exceptionally obtained permission to remain on-site as rector of the church and guardian of the convent, leading a quasi-eremitic life there for twenty years. In 1886, with the reorganization of the Capuchin province, he was sent again to Morcone as vice-master and extraordinary spiritual director of the novices. In September 1900, after the reconstruction and reopening of the convent of Sant'Elia a Pianisi, he returned there permanently, welcomed by immense popular fervor. Weakened by age, he could no longer celebrate Mass from mid-December 1900 and passed away peacefully on the evening of the Epiphany, January 6, 1901.

The reputation for holiness of Father Raffaele led to the opening of a diocesan informative process in the Curia of Benevento in 1950, which concluded in 1951 (and was suspended in 1958). After a long period of interruption, the cause was officially relaunched in the early 2000s. A supplementary diocesan inquiry was conducted from 2003 to 2006. The decree of legal validity for this inquiry was issued on February 15, 2008, and the Positio was submitted to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in 2012. Following the favorable examination by theologians and the ordinary session of cardinals and bishops, Pope Francis authorized the promulgation of the decree on the heroic nature of his virtues on April 6, 2019, thereby declaring him Venerable.

Father Raffaele da Sant'Elia a Pianisi was declared venerable by Pope Francis on April 6, 2019. For his beatification to be pronounced, the official recognition of a miracle attributed to his intercession is required by the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints.

Father Raffaele's spirituality is deeply rooted in the Franciscan ideal of poverty, humility, and joyful obedience. A sought-after confessor and attentive spiritual director, he was distinguished by his gentleness, patience, and life of rigorous penance. His spiritual legacy is particularly linked to the figure of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio). In January 1904, three years after Father Raffaele's death, the young Francesco Forgione (the future Padre Pio) arrived at the convent of Sant'Elia a Pianisi to begin his studies in rhetoric. He was deeply moved by an inscription engraved on the doorframe of a cell: « In questa cella il Servo di Dio Raffaele da Sant'Elia a Pianisi pienamente visse santamente morì il 6 gennaio del 1901 » (In this cell, the Servant of God Raffaele da Sant'Elia a Pianisi lived fully and died holily on January 6, 1901). Throughout his life, Padre Pio maintained an immense devotion to this holy religious. On April 5, 1956, he wrote a fervent prayer about him: « O anima candida ed eletta di padre Raffaele, io non sono stato degno di far parte di coloro che ti hanno conosciuto nel tuo pellegrinaggio terreno, ma ringrazio Iddio, che mi ha fatto conoscere al profondo delle tue virtù. La tua vita mi rapisce la mente ed il cuore, e piaccia a Dio di poterti, anche in minima parte, imitare... » (O candid and chosen soul of Father Raffaele, I was not worthy to be among those who knew you during your earthly pilgrimage, but I thank God, who made me know the depth of your virtues. Your life ravishes my mind and heart, and may it please God that I may, even in the smallest part, imitate you...).