At Piacenza in Emilia, the passing of Saint Anthony Mary Gianelli, bishop of Bobbio, who founded the Congregation of the Daughters of Mary Most Holy of the Garden, and was distinguished by his zeal and renowned example in caring for the needy and the salvation of souls and in promoting holiness among the clergy.
Lifespan: 1789–1846
Beatified: 19 April 1925 by Pope Pius XI
Canonized: 21 October 1951 by Pope Pius XII, Vatican Basilica
Memoria liturgica: 7 June
“His life can be said to have been a continuous and perpetual act of faith, hope, and charity toward his neighbor. All his actions, like all his words, all his thoughts, like all his affections, had one and the same principle, one and the same end: the glory of God and the salvation of souls.”
Tommaso Reggio, Archbishop of Genoa
Anthony Mary Gianelli was born at Cereta, near Chiavari in the province of Genoa, on 12 April 1789.
He entered the seminary at the age of nineteen and was ordained a priest four years later. A teacher of letters and rhetoric, he organised in Genoa a presentation entitled La riforma del seminario (“The Reform of the Seminary”) to welcome the new bishop, Lambruschini, which attracted considerable attention. From 1826 to 1838 he served as archpriest at Chiavari.
This period was marked by a series of pastoral innovations and the founding of various institutions, including a seminary of his own. Under the unusual name of Società Economica (“Economic Society”), a cultural and charitable institution was established, entrusted by Don Gianelli “to the care of the Ladies of Charity” for the free education of poor girls. This was the first step toward the Daughters of Our Lady of the Garden, known as the Gianellines.
In 1838 he was elected Bishop of Bobbio. With the assistance of the Liguorians, he reconstituted his congregation under the name of the Oblates of Saint Alphonsus.
He died on 7 June 1846. Two years earlier he had established a small missionary congregation for preaching to the people and the organisation of the clergy.
He was canonized by Pope Pius XII.