FASANI, FRANCESCO ANTONIO, ST.

Baptized Donato Antonio Giovanni Nicolò, known in religion as Francis Antony of Lucera, also called "Padre Maestro," Franciscan priest; b. Aug. 6, 1681, Lucera, Apulia, Italy; d. there Nov. 29, 1742. He was the son of Giuseppe Fasani, a farmer, and Isabella della Monica. After Giuseppe's death (c. 1691), Isabella married a man who provided for 'Giovanniello's education. He entered the Conventual Franciscan novitiate at Monte Sant'Angelo Gargano (Foggia) on Aug. 23, 1695, and made his solemn profession one year later. Thereafter he studied literature and philosophy at Venafro (Isernia), Al-vito (Frosinone), Montella (Avellino), and Aversa (Caserta), and theology at Agnone (Isernia). Following his ordination at the tomb of St. Francis of Assisi in 1705, he earned a doctorate in theology in Rome (1709), taught theology at the College of St. Bonaventure, then philosophy at St. Francis Convent, Lucera. In addition to his renown as a teacher, Fasani gained a reputation as a lucid preacher, spiritual director, and minister, especially among prisoners and the poor. He served in many offices: guardian at S. Rocco ad Alberona (Foggia, 1709–12) and Lucera (1712–15; 1739–42), and master of novices (Lucera, 1723–29), as well as provincial of Sant'Angelo Province (1720–23). He was known for his simplicity, humility, charity, fidelity to the Franciscan Rule and the spirit of its founder, and devotion to the Immaculate Conception. He composed novenas, including some of the first to the Immaculate Conception, meditations, sermons, Marian hymns, and a pamphlet on the attributes of God. The body of the saint is enshrined under the altar of Lucera's church dedicated to St. Francis. Fasani was beatified in 1951, and canonized by Pope John Paul II on April 13, 1986.

Feast: Nov. 27 (Franciscans).

Bibliography: Works by St Francesco Fasani: Le 7 Novene Mariane, ed. f. costa (Padua 1986). Mariale, interpretazione allegorico–spirituale del Cantico dei Cantici, ed. f. costa (Padua 1986). Il Padre Nostro (Expositio brevis), ed. e. galignano, tr. a. tolve and v. pergola (Italian tr. of Fasani's commentary on the Our Father) (Lucera 1996). Literature about St. Francesco Fasani: Compendium vitae virtum et miraculorum necnon actorum in causa canonizationis beati Francisci A. Fasani, sacerdotis ordinis fratrum minorum conventualium (Rome 1985). L'Osservatore Romano, Eng. ed., no. 16 (1986): 3. a. angelini, Predestinata! (Terni, Italy 1968). g. de angelis, Prodigio di un sorriso (Lucera 1991). l. m. berardini, Il Beato Francesco Antonio Fasani (Rome 1951). r. colapietra, Da Masaniello a Carlo di Borbone, I Convegno Nazionale di Studi su San Francesco A. Fasani (Lucera 1989). l. di fonzo, L'immagine di S. Francesco nei Sermoni e nella vita del Fasani (Bari 1986); Santo di Lucera, Profilo cronologico di S. Francesco A. Fasani (Bari 1986). i. di giovine, San Francesco A. Fasani (Lucera 1989). g. guastamacchia, Il bel San Francesco. La Chiesa del Padre Maestro, ed. g. preziuso (Lucera 1973). m. marsico, Profilo storico e spirituale di San Francesco A. Fasani (Rome 1986). b. nonni, Francesco Antonio Fasani dei Frati Minori Conventuali (Lucera 1985). a. orsitto, Il Santo dei poveri (Lucera 1986). g. stano, La stella di Lucera (Frigento, Italy 1986). t. tolve, Padre Maestro: il cammino dell'amore (Lucera 1987). g. trincucci, Un Santo e la sua città (Foggia 1988). r. zavalloni, "San Francesco educatore," in Pedagogia e vita (Rome 1980). p. zolla, San Francesco A. Fasani (Lucera 1986).

[k. i. rabenstein]