MARCHISIO, CLEMENTE, BL.

Priest, founder of the Institute of the Daughters of Saint Joseph; b. March 1, 1833, Racconigi, near Turin, Italy; d. Dec. 16, 1903, Rivalba, Piedmont, Italy.

Clemente was the eldest of the five children of a cobbler of modest means. His secondary education and study of philosophy was made possible with the financial help of Fr. Sacco. Following his ordination (Sept. 21, 1856), Marchisio continued his ministerial training for two years at a boarding school founded by St. Joseph cafasso. Although his first assignment was an easy one in a small town full of pious Christians, his second was a challenge. As pastor in the anti–clerical Rivalba, his mettle was tested and proved strong. His strong sermons, unwaveringly proclaiming the truth, caused many to leave the Church and others to interrupt the Mass, but after ten years of persecution his example of Christian charity and virtue won souls.

Father Marchisio is known for his assiduous attention to duty, his devotion to the Holy Eucharist, and his concern for the poor. He gave away any of his possessions to help those in need, even his own bedding. Between 1871 and 1876, he established a home for children and a weaving mill to provide work for young girls.

Together with Rosalia Sismonda, who died just two hours before him, he found the Daughters of Saint Joseph to extend his care of the needy. He stressed to the sisters the necessity of prayer to support the congregation's apostolate. Later, wounded by the neglect of liturgical vestments and linens, he tasked the sisters with a new mission. The work of the Congregation now centers around the altar: making hosts and wine for the Eucharist, and preparing and maintaining linens for the liturgy.

Pope John Paul II beatified him on Sept. 30, 1984.

Feast: Sept. 20.

Bibliography: n. sarale, Teologia della semplicità: biografia di don Clemente Marchisio…. (Rome 1975). Acta Apostolicae Sedis 77 (1985) 931–35. L'Osservatore Romano, Eng. ed. 44 (1984): 6–7.

[k. i. rabenstein]