Justin Russolillo
Encyclopedia
Blessed Fr. Justin Russolillo was founder of the Vocationist Fathers, the Vocationist Sisters
and Apostles of Universal Sanctification. He was born in Pianura
, Italy
on 18 January 1891.
After completing his seminary
studies, he was ordained a priest on 29 September 1913. On the day of his ordination he vowed to found a religious congregation
for promoting vocations to priesthood and religious life. On 30 April 1914, with a group of young men that had been in formation (as a seminarian, Justin used to teach catechism to some young boys of his town and he found in some of them some true signs of priestly of religious vocations and he continued to give them formation even after becoming a priest), he tried to set up a community life. But this did not last long.
He was appointed the parish priest of St. George's church in Pianura in 1920. On 18 October 1920, he started the Society of Divine Vocations (SDV), popularly known as the Vocationist Fathers. And on October 2, 1921, he also founded the Vocationist Sisters.
In 1927, the Society of Divine Vocations (SDV) received diocesan approval. The Vocationist Sisters and the Fathers became congregations of Pontifical Right in 1947 and 1948, respectively. In 1950, Fr. Justin sent three missionary priests to Brazil
to open a community there. Now the congregation serves in Italy
, Brazil
, the United States
, France
, Argentina
, Philippines
, Nigeria
, India
, Madagascar
, Indonesia
, Chile
, Colombia
, Ecuador
, the United Kingdom
and South Africa
.
Fr. Justin died on 2 August 1955 in Pianura. On 18 January 1980, the process of beatification
started at the diocesan
level in the archdiocese of Naples by Cardinal Corrado Ursi
. On 18 December 1997, he was proclaimed "Venerable." On 1 June 2010, Pope Benedict XVI
approved the miracle through the intercession
of Fr. Justin and signed the decree of Fr. Justin's beatification. He was officially declared "Blessed" on 7 May 2011, and his feast day is 2 August.
Vocationist Sisters
The Sisters of the Society of the Divine Vocations more commonly known as The Vocationist Sisters, is a Congregation of Catholic Sisters founded by Fr. Justin Russolillo in the year 1921....
and Apostles of Universal Sanctification. He was born in Pianura
Pianura
Pianura is a western suburb of Naples, southern Italy. It is bounded on one side by the area of Soccavo and on the other side by the outskirts of the town of Pozzuoli.-Personalities:*Justin Russolillo , presbyter...
, 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 18 January 1891.
After completing his seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
studies, he was ordained a priest on 29 September 1913. On the day of his ordination he vowed to found a religious congregation
Congregation (catholic)
The term "congregation" has three usages specific to the Roman Catholic Church. One concerns the Roman Curia, the other two concern religious institutes.- Roman Curia :...
for promoting vocations to priesthood and religious life. On 30 April 1914, with a group of young men that had been in formation (as a seminarian, Justin used to teach catechism to some young boys of his town and he found in some of them some true signs of priestly of religious vocations and he continued to give them formation even after becoming a priest), he tried to set up a community life. But this did not last long.
He was appointed the parish priest of St. George's church in Pianura in 1920. On 18 October 1920, he started the Society of Divine Vocations (SDV), popularly known as the Vocationist Fathers. And on October 2, 1921, he also founded the Vocationist Sisters.
In 1927, the Society of Divine Vocations (SDV) received diocesan approval. The Vocationist Sisters and the Fathers became congregations of Pontifical Right in 1947 and 1948, respectively. In 1950, Fr. Justin sent three missionary priests to Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
to open a community there. Now the congregation serves in 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...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
, the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
Fr. Justin died on 2 August 1955 in Pianura. On 18 January 1980, the process of beatification
Beatification
Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
started at the diocesan
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
level in the archdiocese of Naples by Cardinal Corrado Ursi
Corrado Ursi
Corrado Ursi was an Italian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Naples from 1966 to 1987, and was created a cardinal in 1967, given the titular church of San Callisto.-Biography:...
. On 18 December 1997, he was proclaimed "Venerable." On 1 June 2010, Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
approved the miracle through the intercession
Intercession
Intercession is the act of interceding between two parties. In both Christian and Islamic religious usage, it is a prayer to God on behalf of others....
of Fr. Justin and signed the decree of Fr. Justin's beatification. He was officially declared "Blessed" on 7 May 2011, and his feast day is 2 August.
His Books
- Book of the Soul (His Spiritual Diary)
- Offertories of the Most Precious Blood
- Spirit of Prayer
- Ascension
- Heaven's Heaven
- Devotionals