FERRARI, ANDREA CARLO, BL.

Cardinal; archbishop of Milan; founder of the Company of Saint Paul (Compagnia di San Paolo ); b. Aug. 13, 1850, Lalatta di Protopiano (diocese of Parma), Emilia–Romagna, Italy; d. Feb. 2, 1921, Milan, Lombardy, Italy. Son of Giuseppe Ferrari and Maddalena Langarine, Andrea received both his early education and seminary training at Parma, where he was ordained to the priesthood on Dec. 20, 1873. Thereafter he was appointed vice–rector of Parma's seminary (1873), rector (1876), and cathedral canon (1878). He was named bishop of Guastalla (1890), then transferred to the diocese of Como, Lombardy (1891), where he proved himself a true "Father of Souls." Three years later he was made archbishop of Milan (1894) and created a cardinal. He founded the Company of Saint Paul for pastoral work, many churches, the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, and charitable institutions. During World War I, Ferrari organized a group to care for soldiers and prisoners, for which he received the Grand Cross of Saints Maurizio and Lazarro (1919). He continued his pastoral work until death, even when bedridden. At his beatification (May 10, 1987) Pope John Paul II likened Ferrari's pastoral heart to that of the Good Shepherd and praised his fervent charity.

Feast: Feb. 1 (Archdiocese of Milan).

Bibliography: g. caracciolo, La fede e le opere: la figura del cristiano nella pastorale del cardinal Ferrari e nella Compagnia di San Paolo (Milan 1994). a. majo, A. C. Ferrari: uomo di Dio, uomo di tutti (Milan 1994); Il Card. Ferrari, i cattolici e il catechismo nella scuola (Milan 1995). l. montagna, Il cardinale Andrea Carlo Ferrari e l'ora presente (Milan 1969). g. ponzini, Il cardinale A. C. Ferrari a Milano, 1894–1921: fondamenti e linee del suo ministero episcopale (Milan 1981). g. rossi, Il cardinal Ferrari (Assisi 1956). c. snider, L'episcopato del cardinale Andrea C. Ferrari (Vicenza 1982). Acta Apostolicae Sedis (1987):690. L'Osservatore Romano, Eng. ed., no. 21 (1987): 18–19.

[k. i. rabenstein]