Lentini, Domenico, Bl.
LENTINI, DOMENICO, BL.
Priest of the Diocese of Tursi-Lagonegro (formerly Policastro); b. Nov. 20, 1770, at Lauria, Potenza, Italy;d. there Feb. 25, 1828. The youngest of the five children of Macario Lentini and Rosalia Vitarella, Domenico (Dominic) Lentini studied in the seminary at Salerno and was ordained in 1794. In addition to his ministry in Lauria, he taught literature, philosophy, and theology to young people in his home without monetary compensation. He preached and catechized throughout the diocese and spread the devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows. He is called the "precursor to the Curé d'Ars" (St. John vianney) because of his willingness to make himself available to hear confessions and his gift of reading hearts. He practiced personal austerity in order to provide charity to the poor, and frequent penances in the spirit of reparation. Lentini was beatified on Oct. 12, 1997 by Pope John PaulII.
Feast: Feb. 25.
Bibliography: Acta Apostolicae Sedis 20 (1997): 999. L'Osservatore Romano, English edition, no. 42 (1997): 1–2. g. reale, Domenico Lentini, santo di paese (Reggio Calabria 1977).
[k. i. rabenstein]