200th Anniversary of the death of Fr. Francesco Antonio De Paola

Who was Fr. Francesco De Paola?

Fr. Francesco de Paula was born on 10 October 1736 in Ruvo del Monte (PZ). He was the cousin of Pietro Paolo and Dominico Blasucci. As a boy he felt a vocation to the consecrated life in the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer in which, after fleeing from home, he was accepted by St. Alphonsus. He made his Novitiate under the guidance of Fr. Antonio M. Tannoia. He made his religious profession in Deliceto (FG).

In his early twenties he finished his studies and was ordained a priest. Immediately after ordination he began to preach popular missions, becoming one of the best proponents of traditional Alphonsian missions. Esteemed by the saintly founder, De Paola was nominated as Master of Novices (1765) and as the Rector of the house of St. Angelo in Cupolo (BN) (1767), where he finished the construction of the house. He collaborated very closely with the bishops of Benevento, Sora, Veroli, Aquino, Anagni and Alatri, in whose dioceses he preached many missions, evangelizing the farmers and the shepherds of the rural surroundings of Sannio and the Ciociaria.

His main effort was to bring the Congregation of the Redemptorists beyond the borders of the Kingdom of Naples through the foundation of new communities. Among the most important houses were in Scifelli di Veroli (1773) and in Frosinone (1776). He also founded the communities in Gubbio, Spello, Poggio Catino, Rome and Cisterna.

He found himself involved, against his will, in the crossfire of events that marked the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer when the government of the Kingdom of Naples introduced the Regolamento in 1780. The Holy See made the existing houses in the Papal States, which observed the primitive Regola, independent. Fr. De Paola was appointed by the Pope the “President” of all houses in the Papal States and Superior General (second after St. Alphonsus) in 1783. He convened the General Chapter in Scifelli (the Third General Chapter) in 1785, where he was appointed to the post of Head of the Institute. During the General Chapter held at Pagani in 1792, he gave up the office of Superior General, in order to ensure the unity of the entire Congregation.

Appointed by the Pope as the Provincial Vicar for the houses in the Papal States, he worked tirelessly to help the confreres to live the Redemptorist mission, encouraging them in new challenges.

He accepted many young people to the Congregation, including St. Clement Maria Hofbauer, who was sent by Fr. De Paola over the Alps with the mission of spreading the Redemptorist Institute, according to the desire of St. Alphonsus.

When Fr. De Paula made the house of Frosinone his headquarters, there began the most controversial and turbulent period of his life. With his extraordinary personality he was doing his best for the good of the city that suffered the invasion of Napoleon’s troops. The people of Frosinone honored him with the title of “Father of the Homeland” for his wise mediation with the French authorities. He donated to the collegiate church of Santa Maria, the relics of San Silverio, Pope and Martyr.

He was misunderstood and he was the subject of slanders for his exuberant personality and for his avant-garde ideas. His numerous and passionate letters are the only testimonies of the journey of his true feelings and the missionary projects.

His troubles came to a climax with his expulsion from the Congregation, signed by his cousin Fr. Pietro Paolo Blasucci as Rector Major on 26 December 1808, despite all attempts for clarifications.

For his indisputable qualities at the service of the Congregation, and for the esteem he enjoyed in the city of Frosinone and by the bishops of southern Lazio, he was reinstated by the Pope to the Redemptorist community in Frosinone where he lived during the last years of his life. He served in the church and in the city with continuous physical and moral sufferings. He died in great suffering on 8 November 1814. The solemn funeral was held in the renovated church of the Madonna delle Grazie.

As the proof of his great devotion to Mary, and his multifaceted culture, we can read his book “Grandezza di Maria” (1803-1804). His years of study, prayer, meditation and preaching are linked to his controversial but definitely authentic personality.

He is buried in the church of the Madonna delle Grazie in Frosinone, where the Redemptorists continue to proclaim the Gospel according to the heart of St. Alphonsus and with the passion and the openness of Fr. De Paola.

He can be considered as the founder of the library “St. Alfonso” in Frosinone. In this same Redemptorist house we can visit his room and observe some of his personal belongings.

Fr. Vincenzo La Mendola C.Ss.R.