Father Simpliciano of the Nativity
Encyclopedia
Fr. Simpliciano of the Nativity (1827 - 1898) was a Franciscan
and the founder of the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Hearts (SFSC/FSSH) in Santa Balbina
, Rome
, Italy
.
region of southern Italy
on May 11, 1827. He was baptized
on the same day as Aniello Francesco Maresca in the Church of the Madonna del Lauro. Very little is known about his earlier years except for his prowess in Latin
and his fondness for frequenting activities in the Franciscan Churches which abounded in the area. In his adolescent years he enrolled as a nautical
student. One year, during the Feast of St. Aniello (a Franciscan), he heard a panegyric
about the saint which may have inspired him to follow the ancient call of his heart. Thus, at the age of seventeen, he joined the Order of the Friars Minor
(Franciscans of the Strict Observance) in Naples
.
, he dedicated himself to theological studies and was devoted in his prayer life and asceticism
. After his ordination as a priest, he was appointed "guardian" in the convent
of Portici
, where he used one wing of the convent to provide free education
for poor children.
On June 5, 1869, he was called to serve as the Secretary General of the Franciscan Alcantarines at the Roman Curia
. A need arose for an additional chaplain
at the Consolazione Hospital, in the department specifically intended for women prostitutes
who were mandated by the Italian government to undergo periodic clinical check ups. The post was offered to him and he accepted it readily with the blessing of his Superior
. During his free time
, he heard confession
s while he officiated regularly at Holy Mass. In one of his masses, he gave a sermon on the "Parable of the Lost Sheep
". Immediately after the service, fifteen young girls sought his counsel, telling him that they wanted to go back to the path of Christian
moral life. After that, with the blessing of his Superior, Fr.Bernardino Portogruaro, he took upon himself the mission of helping to alleviate the plight of these girls.
and their reintroduction to genuine Christian life. Programs offered included vocational courses like embroidery
, sewing
and knitting
, baking
, housekeeping
and the plating
of sacred vessels
. The girls were also instructed in the social graces, hygiene and the Catholic catechism
. Year after year, his work became known and published even in the local newspapers of Rome and in the Franciscan "Eco" aside from the monthly newsletter "Riabilitazione e Lavoro" of which he himself was the Editor. He started receiving referrals, donations and invitations from all over Europe. During his lifetime, his apostolic activity miraculously proceeded onwards with the help of donations from all sectors of society. Sensitive to the signs of the times, he understood that the very young who are homeless and orphaned or neglected need protection and nurture to keep them from falling victims of human egoism and depravity. For them he also instituted orphanage
s and provided formal schooling.
was “Prayer and Work”, basically following the Benedictine
"Ora et Labora" but in his case with the added element of rehabilitation through work. This principle is behind the primary mission call of the SFSC's , that of "serving as fortresses for humanity against the torrents of egoism and imorallity". (Constitution of the Congregation, 1886)
Fr. Simpliciano, the founder, educator, theologian
and spiritual director
died on May 25, 1898. His ideals and experiences with God remain as an example to hundreds of religious sisters
of the Congregation he founded. Always compassionate, like St. Francis of Assisi, he was indeed a “Man of Peace and Service”.
Today, the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Hearts is flourishing on four continents, Europe, South America, Asia and Africa, dedicating itself to the education of the young in schools, parish
es, orphanages, rehabilitation centers and boarding house
s. Fr. Simpliciano’s apostolic fervour is further extended to the aged, the sick in hospital and the provision of assistance to priests.
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
and the founder of the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Hearts (SFSC/FSSH) in Santa Balbina
Santa Balbina
Santa Balbina is a basilica church in Rome, devoted to St. Balbina. It was built in the 4th century over the house of consul Lucius Fabius Cilo on the Aventine Hill, behind the Baths of Caracalla. Possibly the ancient Titulus Tigridae, the basilica was consecrated by Pope Gregory I.The adjoining...
, Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
Early days
Fr. Simpliciano of the Nativity was born at Meta in the CampaniaCampania
Campania is a region in southern Italy. The region has a population of around 5.8 million people, making it the second-most-populous region of Italy; its total area of 13,590 km² makes it the most densely populated region in the country...
region of southern Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
on May 11, 1827. He was baptized
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
on the same day as Aniello Francesco Maresca in the Church of the Madonna del Lauro. Very little is known about his earlier years except for his prowess in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
and his fondness for frequenting activities in the Franciscan Churches which abounded in the area. In his adolescent years he enrolled as a nautical
Seamanship
Seamanship is the art of operating a ship or boat.It involves a knowledge of a variety of topics and development of specialised skills including: navigation and international maritime law; weather, meteorology and forecasting; watchstanding; ship-handling and small boat handling; operation of deck...
student. One year, during the Feast of St. Aniello (a Franciscan), he heard a panegyric
Panegyric
A panegyric is a formal public speech, or written verse, delivered in high praise of a person or thing, a generally highly studied and discriminating eulogy, not expected to be critical. It is derived from the Greek πανηγυρικός meaning "a speech fit for a general assembly"...
about the saint which may have inspired him to follow the ancient call of his heart. Thus, at the age of seventeen, he joined the Order of the Friars Minor
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
(Franciscans of the Strict Observance) in Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
.
Calling
As a young friarFriar
A friar is a member of one of the mendicant orders.-Friars and monks:...
, he dedicated himself to theological studies and was devoted in his prayer life and asceticism
Asceticism
Asceticism describes a lifestyle characterized by abstinence from various sorts of worldly pleasures often with the aim of pursuing religious and spiritual goals...
. After his ordination as a priest, he was appointed "guardian" in the convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
of Portici
Portici
Portici is a town and comune of the Province of Naples in the Campania region of southern Italy. It is the site of the Portici Royal Palace.-Geography:...
, where he used one wing of the convent to provide free education
Free education
Free education refers to education that is funded through taxation, or charitable organizations rather than tuition fees. Although primary school and other comprehensive or compulsory education is free in many countries, for example, all education is mostly free including...
for poor children.
On June 5, 1869, he was called to serve as the Secretary General of the Franciscan Alcantarines at the Roman Curia
Roman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
. A need arose for an additional chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
at the Consolazione Hospital, in the department specifically intended for women prostitutes
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
who were mandated by the Italian government to undergo periodic clinical check ups. The post was offered to him and he accepted it readily with the blessing of his Superior
Superior (hierarchy)
In a hierarchy or tree structure of any kind, a superior is an individual or position at a higher level in the hierarchy than another , and thus closer to the apex. It is often used in business terminology to refer to people who are supervisors and in the military to people who are higher in the...
. During his free time
Leisure
Leisure, or free time, is time spent away from business, work, and domestic chores. It is also the periods of time before or after necessary activities such as eating, sleeping and, where it is compulsory, education....
, he heard confession
Confession
This article is for the religious practice of confessing one's sins.Confession is the acknowledgment of sin or wrongs...
s while he officiated regularly at Holy Mass. In one of his masses, he gave a sermon on the "Parable of the Lost Sheep
Parable of the Lost Sheep
The Parable of the Lost Sheep is one of the parables of Jesus. It appears in two of the Canonical gospels of the New Testament, as well as in the non-canonical Gospel of Thomas....
". Immediately after the service, fifteen young girls sought his counsel, telling him that they wanted to go back to the path of Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
moral life. After that, with the blessing of his Superior, Fr.Bernardino Portogruaro, he took upon himself the mission of helping to alleviate the plight of these girls.
Mission
Six years later, he founded an institution, the "Istituto di Sta.Margherita" in Rome where in a span of 10 years, more than 800 girls were rehabilitated and reintegrated back into their families. It stood adjacent to the Sta.Balbina Church, the very spot where the first nucleus of the SFSC's, then called the Margheritines, was born and was nurtured under the guidance of the Founder. The Institute was aimed for the education of the girls towards self-sufficiencySelf-sufficiency
Self-sufficiency refers to the state of not requiring any outside aid, support, or interaction, for survival; it is therefore a type of personal or collective autonomy...
and their reintroduction to genuine Christian life. Programs offered included vocational courses like embroidery
Embroidery
Embroidery is the art or handicraft of decorating fabric or other materials with needle and thread or yarn. Embroidery may also incorporate other materials such as metal strips, pearls, beads, quills, and sequins....
, sewing
Sewing
Sewing is the craft of fastening or attaching objects using stitches made with a needle and thread. Sewing is one of the oldest of the textile arts, arising in the Paleolithic era...
and knitting
Knitting
Knitting is a method by which thread or yarn may be turned into cloth or other fine crafts. Knitted fabric consists of consecutive rows of loops, called stitches. As each row progresses, a new loop is pulled through an existing loop. The active stitches are held on a needle until another loop can...
, baking
Baking
Baking is the technique of prolonged cooking of food by dry heat acting by convection, and not by radiation, normally in an oven, but also in hot ashes, or on hot stones. It is primarily used for the preparation of bread, cakes, pastries and pies, tarts, quiches, cookies and crackers. Such items...
, housekeeping
Housekeeping
Housekeeping is the act of cleaning the rooms and furnishings of a home. It is one of the many chores included in the term housework. Housecleaning includes activities such as disposing of rubbish, cleaning dirty surfaces, dusting and vacuuming. It may also involve some outdoor chores, such as...
and the plating
Plating
Plating is a surface covering in which a metal is deposited on a conductive surface. Plating has been done for hundreds of years, but it is also critical for modern technology...
of sacred vessels
Chalice
A chalice is a goblet or footed cup intended to hold a drink. This can also refer to;* Holy Chalice, the vessel which Jesus used at the Last Supper to serve the wine* Chalice , a type of smoking pipe...
. The girls were also instructed in the social graces, hygiene and the Catholic catechism
Catechism of the Catholic Church
The Catechism of the Catholic Church is the official text of the teachings of the Catholic Church. A provisional, "reference text" was issued by Pope John Paul II on October 11, 1992 — "the thirtieth anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council" — with his apostolic...
. Year after year, his work became known and published even in the local newspapers of Rome and in the Franciscan "Eco" aside from the monthly newsletter "Riabilitazione e Lavoro" of which he himself was the Editor. He started receiving referrals, donations and invitations from all over Europe. During his lifetime, his apostolic activity miraculously proceeded onwards with the help of donations from all sectors of society. Sensitive to the signs of the times, he understood that the very young who are homeless and orphaned or neglected need protection and nurture to keep them from falling victims of human egoism and depravity. For them he also instituted orphanage
Orphanage
An orphanage is a residential institution devoted to the care of orphans – children whose parents are deceased or otherwise unable or unwilling to care for them...
s and provided formal schooling.
Principles
The underlying principle of Fr. Simpliciano's pedagogyPedagogy
Pedagogy is the study of being a teacher or the process of teaching. The term generally refers to strategies of instruction, or a style of instruction....
was “Prayer and Work”, basically following the Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
"Ora et Labora" but in his case with the added element of rehabilitation through work. This principle is behind the primary mission call of the SFSC's , that of "serving as fortresses for humanity against the torrents of egoism and imorallity". (Constitution of the Congregation, 1886)
Fr. Simpliciano, the founder, educator, theologian
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
and spiritual director
Spiritual direction
Spiritual direction is the practice of being with people as they attempt to deepen their relationship with the divine, or to learn and grow in their own personal spirituality. The person seeking direction shares stories of his or her encounters of the divine, or how he or she is experiencing...
died on May 25, 1898. His ideals and experiences with God remain as an example to hundreds of religious sisters
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
of the Congregation he founded. Always compassionate, like St. Francis of Assisi, he was indeed a “Man of Peace and Service”.
Today, the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Hearts is flourishing on four continents, Europe, South America, Asia and Africa, dedicating itself to the education of the young in schools, parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
es, orphanages, rehabilitation centers and boarding house
Boarding house
A boarding house, is a house in which lodgers rent one or more rooms for one or more nights, and sometimes for extended periods of weeks, months and years. The common parts of the house are maintained, and some services, such as laundry and cleaning, may be supplied. They normally provide "bed...
s. Fr. Simpliciano’s apostolic fervour is further extended to the aged, the sick in hospital and the provision of assistance to priests.