12 January, Saint Anthony Maria Pucci, of the Order of Servants of Mary

The little Curatino, who gave himself entirely for his parishioners

He never hesitated when faced with people in need, giving everything to everyone in charity, even going so far as to give away his own clothes to help the poor. He challenged the hostility of some anticlerical citizens, for which he was even beaten with clubs on one occasion, as he walked through Viareggio’s streets, distributing food. Known to everyone as the “Curatino”, he was seen as the manifestation of God’s presence among the people. He was the father of the poor and a supporter of sailors, who faced the storms to feed their families. Everyone knew they could count on the prayers of this little friar, who was small in height, but who had a big heart that was open to the needs of others.

Saint Anthony Maria Pucci, in the world, Eustachio, was born on 16 April 1819, in Poggiole di Vernio, in the Tuscan Apennines, to a poor farming family, that was rich in faith. Although his father was the sacristan of the village, he opposed his son’s intention to become a friar. The standoff was resolved only with the intervention of the parish priest. These were times of hunger and misery, and an extra pair of hands in the family was greatly needed.

The parish priest took the young man to the convent of the Most Holy Annunciation of the Servants of Mary in Florence. He was 19 when he completed his novitiate, but he had to wait until he was 24 to make his religious profession, due to a law in the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. While waiting, he was sent to the convent in Monte Senario to complete his philosophy and theology studies. He was ordained a priest in 1843, and after celebrating his first Mass in his hometown, he was assigned to the Church of Saint Andrew in Viareggio as assistant parish priest. He officially took over the parish on 25 July 1847, at the age of 28, and remained there until his death.

He established various associations involving the laity in apostolic work. For the youth, he founded the Company of Saint Louis and the Congregation of Christian Doctrine; for men, the Company of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Sorrows; and for women, the Congregation of Christian Mothers. He dedicated himself completely to others, even in an environment that was often hostile to the clergy and religion, marked by strong social tensions. He lived in poverty. His room contained a bed made of corn husks, a small writing desk, and a prayer kneeler. He was rich in God’s grace, and people saw him rise from the ground while he prayed. He always recommended turning to Our Lady of Sorrows, whose devotion spread among the people. During the cholera epidemic of 1854, he worked tirelessly to care for the sick. In January 1892, while helping a sick person on a rainy night, he contracted pneumonia, which led to his death.

He was beatified by Pope Pius XII in 1952 and canonized by Pope John XXIII in 1962.