John Juvenal Ancina facts for kids

Giovanni Giovenale Ancina (born October 19, 1545 – died August 30, 1604) was an Italian Catholic leader. He became the Bishop of Saluzzo and was a member of the Oratorians. Giovanni was also a smart scholar and a talented music composer. People knew him as a great speaker.

He served as a simple priest for about 20 years. Then, he was chosen to become a bishop. He tried to avoid this job for five months! But he finally accepted the Pope's decision. He arrived in his new diocese a few months later. There, he became famous for helping the poor. He also worked hard to make changes from the Council of Trent happen.

After he died, people started the process to make him a saint. But it was hard to prove he was killed because of his faith. So, that part of the process was stopped. He was later declared "Blessed" by Pope Leo XIII in 1890. This ceremony took place in Saint Peter's Basilica.

Early Life and Education

Giovanni Giovenale Ancina was born on October 19, 1545, in Fossano. He was the first of four children. His father, Durando Ancina, was a successful businessman. His mother was Lucia degli Araudini. When Giovanni was born, he was very sick. His parents prayed to Saint Juvenal for his health. When he got better, they added Juvenal to his name.

Giovanni had a younger brother, Giovanni Matteo, who also became an Oratorian priest. He also had two sisters. Giovanni and his brother were very religious. They even made a small chapel at home. They loved singing religious songs there.

Giovanni studied at several universities. He went to Montpellier in France in 1559. He also studied in Padua, Mondovì, and Turin. He was a very good student. He earned degrees in both medicine and philosophy. In Mondovì, he studied math and public speaking. He even published a work called "Academia Subalpina."

While he was studying, his father became very ill. Giovanni rushed home to be with him before he passed away. After his father's death, he continued his studies at a college in Padua. In 1566, he wrote a Latin poem. It was called "The Naval Battle of the Christian Princes." He dedicated this poem to the leader of Venice, Girolamo Priuli.

In 1569, his mother died while he was in Turin. In 1572, he gave a public speech to honor Pope Pius V after the Pope died. He even correctly predicted that the next Pope would be named "Gregory."

Becoming a Priest

Giovanni was a talented musician and a great writer. His skills and connections gave him many career choices. He even worked as a professor of medicine at the University of Turin. First, he became a doctor. In 1574, he traveled to Rome as the personal doctor for Count Federigo Madrucci.

In Rome, Giovanni attended religious lectures given by Cardinal Robert Bellarmine. They quickly became good friends. Giovanni knew he wouldn't return to Turin soon. So, he sent some of his writings to a religious group in Fossano. He asked a bookseller to sell the rest of his books. But the bookseller kept the money. Giovanni wrote a letter forgiving him. He also asked his family to forgive the bookseller.

Giovanni started taking part in activities with the Oratorians of Saint Philip Neri. He met Philip Neri, the founder, around 1575. In the Oratory, Giovanni was happy to do simple jobs. He would sweep the church or clean the candlesticks. He believed these humble tasks were best for him, even though he was very smart. He slept only three or four hours a night, often on the bare floor. He wore uncomfortable clothes, like a hair shirt, to show his devotion.

Philip Neri encouraged Giovanni to join the Oratorians. So, Giovanni joined the order on October 1, 1578. He became a deacon in 1579. He made his final promises to the order on October 7, 1580. He was later ordained as a priest on June 9, 1582. He had been a deacon for a long time until Philip Neri told him to become a priest.

In 1586, he was sent to Naples. His job was to help set up a new house for the Oratorians there. He was very good at connecting with people. He used his preaching and musical talents to reach them. In Naples, Giovanni published "Tempio Armonico della Beatissima Vergine." This was a collection of spiritual songs. He also wrote "Oratorio dei Principi," a guide about moral issues. His fame grew, and his friend Cardinal Cesare Baronio called him "a new Saint Basil."

He also met Francesco Maria Tarugi, another Oratorian, who later became a cardinal. Giovanni and his brother helped their niece, Lucilla Forti, who was an orphan. They brought her to Rome and supported her education at a Dominican convent. Lucilla wanted to become a nun. She was first denied, but later allowed to join. Before she officially joined, she met Pope Gregory XIV. The Pope blessed her and was happy that Giovanni was her uncle.

Becoming a Bishop

Around 1596, Giovanni heard that the Duke of Savoy wanted to suggest him to the Pope for a bishop position. This worried him. He was called to Rome in the fall of 1596. Pope Clement VIII's nephew, Pietro Aldobrandini, told him that the Pope wanted him to become a bishop. The Pope himself said Giovanni was the best person he knew for such a role.

Giovanni did not want to be a bishop. He tried to avoid it for five months! During this time, he traveled and preached in many places. This only made his reputation even stronger. In 1598, while hiding in San Severino, he wrote "The Wandering Pilgrim." In it, he correctly predicted that the Pope would die in 1605.

But his hiding place was found. He was called back to Rome. The Pope asked him to preach. The Pope wanted him to become the Bishop of Mondovì. But Giovanni asked to be the Bishop of Saluzzo instead. He wanted to preach to people who had different beliefs and help them. On August 26, 1602, his wish was granted. He was named Bishop of Saluzzo. Cardinal Alessandro de' Medici, who later became Pope Leo XI, was very happy about this. He praised Giovanni for his knowledge.

Giovanni became a bishop on September 1, 1602. The ceremony took place in the church of Santa Maria in Vallicella. Camillo Borghese, who would become Pope Paul V, led the ceremony. Cardinals Francesco Maria Tarugi and Cesare Baronio were also there.

Giovanni left Rome on October 2, 1602. He arrived in Turin on October 19. Then he went to Fossano. He left Fossano on March 5, 1603, for his new diocese. He officially took his position as bishop on March 6, 1603. He once asked Pope Clement VIII if he could leave his bishop role. He wanted to go to Geneva to preach. But the Pope said no.

His Work as Bishop

As bishop, Giovanni's main goal was to put into practice the rules from the Council of Trent. He held a meeting of bishops. There, he explained how to improve the lives of priests and followers. He also made plans to create a religious school. This school would help new priests get better knowledge and dedication.

He strongly believed in teaching people about their faith. So, he started using the new catechism that the Council of Trent had created. He also encouraged people to worship the Blessed Sacrament.

Francis de Sales, another bishop, greatly admired Giovanni. Bishop de Sales later started an Oratorian house in his own diocese. The two bishops often wrote letters to each other. Giovanni received a letter from his friend on May 17, 1599. On May 3, 1603, Bishop de Sales invited him to attend a sermon he was giving.

Death and Legacy

Bishop Giovanni died on August 30, 1604. His strong dedication led to his death. A monk, whom the bishop had disciplined, poisoned him. Giovanni knew who poisoned him, but he refused to name the person. On August 20, the monk offered him wine mixed with poison. He pretended it was a peace offering. The bishop was surprised but drank it. The monk then ran away.

The bishop started vomiting and became very sick. As his pain grew, he whispered, "Oh! What poison! What terrible poison this is!" The Duke of Savoy heard about this and sent his personal doctor. But it was too late. Giovanni called for his brother. He then asked for his confession to be heard. He also received the Extreme Unction, a special prayer for the sick.

The dying bishop asked to be laid on the bare floor. He prayed to Saint Gennaro. His last words were: "Jesus, sweet Jesus, with Mary give peace to my soul." He was buried in the cathedral of his diocese. In 1620, his remains were dug up. They were well-preserved, but turned to dust when touched, except for his skull and some bones.

Beatification

The process to make Giovanni a saint began in 1619. Investigations took place in Saluzzo, Fossano, Genoa, and Acqui. The official process started on December 2, 1621, under Pope Gregory XV. Giovanni was then called a Servant of God. Pope Urban VIII confirmed the start of the process in 1624. More investigations happened in Rome, Saluzzo, Turin, and Naples.

The process was paused for a while. But in 1666, Pope Alexander VII reopened it. Francis de Sales also spoke about Giovanni's holiness around the 1660s. In 1716, the Congregation for Rites confirmed that all the investigations were done correctly.

On January 29, 1870, Pope Pius IX declared that Giovanni had lived a life of heroic virtue. This meant he was called Venerable. Later, Pope Leo XIII approved two miracles that happened because people prayed to Giovanni. This happened on May 30, 1889. Then, on February 9, 1890, Pope Leo XIII declared Giovanni "Blessed" in Saint Peter's Basilica.

See also

• Diocese of Saluzzo
• Oratory of Saint Philip Neri