Gaetano Errico

Gaetano Errico MSSCC (* October 19, 1791 in Secondigliano, † October 29, 1860 ibid ) was an Italian Roman Catholic priest and founder of the order. He is the founder of the Congregation of the Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (it.: Missionari dei Sacri Cuori di Gesù e Maria ).

Life

Errico was born the third of ten children of Pasquale and Marie Marseglia Errico in Secondigliano, a suburb of Naples. His father was manager of a small pasta factory and his mother worked as a weaver. From January 1808 he attended the seminary of the Archdiocese of Naples, and was consecrated in the Cathedral of Naples on 23 September 1815 priests. In the following years he worked as a teacher.

By his own admission he appeared in 1818 during the prayer Alphonsus Liguori, founder of the Redemptorists, and told him to build a church and to found a new congregation. Between 1828 and 1830 one of the Sorrowful Mother Church was dedicated in his hometown Secondigliano. In the church a parsonage, which was to be home of the new congregation was formed.

After another appearance in 1836, he dedicated the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. After confirmation of the Articles on March 14, 1836, he opened in October of the same year with eight novices novitiate. On August 7, 1846 he was awarded by Pope Pius IX. the final recognition and was unanimously elected Superior General.

Errico died on October 29, 1860 at the age of 69 years. He was born on April 14, 2002 by Pope John Paul II beatified and October 12, 2008 by Benedict XVI. canonized. His liturgical feast day is October 29.