Daniel Comboni
Encyclopedia
Daniel Comboni was a Roman Catholic missionary
and Saint
.
, Italy
, into a family of cultivators employed by one of the rich local proprietors. Luigi and Domenica, his parents, were very attached to Daniel, being the fourth of eight children, but the only one to survive into adulthood: all the others died young, six of them in their infancy. Because of this tragedy, the family formed a very close unit, rich in faith and human values, but poor in material things. This poverty is the reason that Daniel went away to school in Verona
, at the Institute founded by Father Nicola Mazza. During the years spent in Verona, Daniel discovered his calling to the priesthood, and completed his studies of Philosophy and Theology. Above all he was is entranced by the mission to Central Africa, drawn by the descriptions of the missionaries who returned from there to the Fr. Mazza's Institute. On 31 December 1854, the year of the proclamation of the Immaculate Conception
of Mary, Daniel was ordained a priest by Blessed John N. Tschiderer, Bishop of Trent. Three years later he left for Africa along with five other missionaries of the Mazza Institute. He also had the blessing of his mother Domenica, who finally tells him: “Go, Daniel, and may the Lord bless you”.
, capital of the Sudan
. The impact of this first face-to-face encounter with Africa was tremendous, Daniel was immediately made aware of the multiple difficulties that were part of his new mission. But labours, unbearable climate, sickness, the deaths of several of his young fellow-missionaries, the poverty and dereliction of the population, only served to drive him forward, never dreaming of giving up what he has taken on with such great enthusiasm. From the mission of Holy Cross he wrote to his parents: “We will have to labour hard, to sweat, to die: but the thought that one sweats and dies for love of Jesus Christ and the salvation of the most abandoned souls in the world, is far too sweet for us to desist from this great enterprise”.
After witnessing at the death of one of his missionary companions, Daniel, far from being discouraged, felt an interior confirmation of his decision to carry on in the mission, as he wrote: “O Nigrizia o morte!”—"Either Africa, or death".
It is still Africa and its peoples that drove Comboni, when he returned to Italy, to work out a fresh missionary strategy. In 1864, while praying at the Tomb of Saint Peter
in Rome
, Daniel was struck by an inspiration that led to the drawing up of his "Plan for the Rebirth of Africa", a missionary project that can be summed up in an expression which is itself the indication of his boundless trust in the human and religious capacities of the African peoples: “Save Africa through Africa”.
His faith in the Lord and trust for Africa lead him to establish, in 1867 and 1872 respectively, two missionary Institutes of men and of women: these become known more widely as the "Comboni Missionaries" and the "Comboni Missionary Sisters", also known as the "Verona Fathers and Sisters". With unusual courage for those days, he was the first to bring missionary Sisters into the work in Central Africa.
Daniel took part in the First Vatican Council
as the theologian of the Bishop of Verona, and was able to get 70 Bishops to sign a petition for the evangelisation of Central Africa: Postulatum pro Nigris Africæ Centralis. The Postulatum was not discussed by the Council due to its premature end.
On 2 July 1877, Comboni was named Vicar Apostolic of Central Africa, and ordained Bishop
in August 1877: this was seen as a confirmation that his ideas and his activities, which were considered by some to be foolhardy, if not crazy, were recognised as truly effective means for the proclamation of the Gospel
and the liberation of the African continent.
In 1877 and 1878 he and the missionaries in Africa were tormented in body and spirit by the tragedy of a drought, followed by mass starvation that was considered without precedent. The local population was halved, and the missionary personnel and their activities reduced almost to nothing.
, among his people. But he was aware that his missionary work would not end with him: “I am dying”, he says, “but my work will not die”.
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
and Saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
.
Early life
He was born at Limone sul Garda, BresciaBrescia
Brescia is a city and comune in the region of Lombardy in northern Italy. It is situated at the foot of the Alps, between the Mella and the Naviglio, with a population of around 197,000. It is the second largest city in Lombardy, after the capital, Milan...
, 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...
, into a family of cultivators employed by one of the rich local proprietors. Luigi and Domenica, his parents, were very attached to Daniel, being the fourth of eight children, but the only one to survive into adulthood: all the others died young, six of them in their infancy. Because of this tragedy, the family formed a very close unit, rich in faith and human values, but poor in material things. This poverty is the reason that Daniel went away to school in Verona
Verona
Verona ; German Bern, Dietrichsbern or Welschbern) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy, with approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven chef-lieus of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of North-Eastern Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona...
, at the Institute founded by Father Nicola Mazza. During the years spent in Verona, Daniel discovered his calling to the priesthood, and completed his studies of Philosophy and Theology. Above all he was is entranced by the mission to Central Africa, drawn by the descriptions of the missionaries who returned from there to the Fr. Mazza's Institute. On 31 December 1854, the year of the proclamation of the Immaculate Conception
Immaculate Conception
The Immaculate Conception of Mary is a dogma of the Roman Catholic Church, according to which the Virgin Mary was conceived without any stain of original sin. It is one of the four dogmata in Roman Catholic Mariology...
of Mary, Daniel was ordained a priest by Blessed John N. Tschiderer, Bishop of Trent. Three years later he left for Africa along with five other missionaries of the Mazza Institute. He also had the blessing of his mother Domenica, who finally tells him: “Go, Daniel, and may the Lord bless you”.
Mission to Africa
After a journey of four months, the missionary expedition that included Comboni reached KhartoumKhartoum
Khartoum is the capital and largest city of Sudan and of Khartoum State. It is located at the confluence of the White Nile flowing north from Lake Victoria, and the Blue Nile flowing west from Ethiopia. The location where the two Niles meet is known as "al-Mogran"...
, capital of the Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
. The impact of this first face-to-face encounter with Africa was tremendous, Daniel was immediately made aware of the multiple difficulties that were part of his new mission. But labours, unbearable climate, sickness, the deaths of several of his young fellow-missionaries, the poverty and dereliction of the population, only served to drive him forward, never dreaming of giving up what he has taken on with such great enthusiasm. From the mission of Holy Cross he wrote to his parents: “We will have to labour hard, to sweat, to die: but the thought that one sweats and dies for love of Jesus Christ and the salvation of the most abandoned souls in the world, is far too sweet for us to desist from this great enterprise”.
After witnessing at the death of one of his missionary companions, Daniel, far from being discouraged, felt an interior confirmation of his decision to carry on in the mission, as he wrote: “O Nigrizia o morte!”—"Either Africa, or death".
It is still Africa and its peoples that drove Comboni, when he returned to Italy, to work out a fresh missionary strategy. In 1864, while praying at the Tomb of Saint Peter
Saint Peter
Saint Peter or Simon Peter was an early Christian leader, who is featured prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The son of John or of Jonah and from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, his brother Andrew was also an apostle...
in 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...
, Daniel was struck by an inspiration that led to the drawing up of his "Plan for the Rebirth of Africa", a missionary project that can be summed up in an expression which is itself the indication of his boundless trust in the human and religious capacities of the African peoples: “Save Africa through Africa”.
An original missionary Bishop
In spite of all the problems and misunderstandings faced, Daniel strove to drive home his intuition: that European society and the Church were called to become much more concerned with the mission of Central Africa. He undertook a tireless round of missionary appeals throughout Europe, begging for spiritual and material aid for the African missions from Kings and Queens, Bishops and nobles, as well as from the poor, simple people. As a tool for missionary animation he launched a missionary magazine, the first in Italy. He was also the first bishop of Cental Africa.His faith in the Lord and trust for Africa lead him to establish, in 1867 and 1872 respectively, two missionary Institutes of men and of women: these become known more widely as the "Comboni Missionaries" and the "Comboni Missionary Sisters", also known as the "Verona Fathers and Sisters". With unusual courage for those days, he was the first to bring missionary Sisters into the work in Central Africa.
Daniel took part in the First Vatican Council
First Vatican Council
The First Vatican Council was convoked by Pope Pius IX on 29 June 1868, after a period of planning and preparation that began on 6 December 1864. This twentieth ecumenical council of the Roman Catholic Church, held three centuries after the Council of Trent, opened on 8 December 1869 and adjourned...
as the theologian of the Bishop of Verona, and was able to get 70 Bishops to sign a petition for the evangelisation of Central Africa: Postulatum pro Nigris Africæ Centralis. The Postulatum was not discussed by the Council due to its premature end.
On 2 July 1877, Comboni was named Vicar Apostolic of Central Africa, and ordained Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
in August 1877: this was seen as a confirmation that his ideas and his activities, which were considered by some to be foolhardy, if not crazy, were recognised as truly effective means for the proclamation of the Gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
and the liberation of the African continent.
In 1877 and 1878 he and the missionaries in Africa were tormented in body and spirit by the tragedy of a drought, followed by mass starvation that was considered without precedent. The local population was halved, and the missionary personnel and their activities reduced almost to nothing.
Final African Mission
In 1880, with unflagging determination, Bishop Comboni traveled to Africa for the eighth and final time, to stand alongside his missionaries: intent, also, on continuing the struggle against the pernicious Slave Trade, and on consolidating the missionary activity carried out by Africans themselves. Just one year later, overwhelmed by his labours, by many deaths in quick succession among his collaborators, and by a wave of calumnies and accusations that were a bitter burden, the great missionary fell sick himself. On 10 October 1881, only 50 years old, he died in KhartoumKhartoum
Khartoum is the capital and largest city of Sudan and of Khartoum State. It is located at the confluence of the White Nile flowing north from Lake Victoria, and the Blue Nile flowing west from Ethiopia. The location where the two Niles meet is known as "al-Mogran"...
, among his people. But he was aware that his missionary work would not end with him: “I am dying”, he says, “but my work will not die”.
See also
- The mission station of DetwocDetwocDetwoc is a Shilluk village located on the western bank of the Nile river, ten miles from the town of Kodok Detwoc is a Shilluk village located on the western bank of the Nile river, ten miles from the town of Kodok Detwoc is a Shilluk village located on the western bank of the Nile river, ten...
in SudanSudanSudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
established by the Verona Fathers in the early 20th century. - Our Lady of La SaletteOur Lady of La SaletteLa Salette is a small mountaintop village near Grenoble, France. It is most noted for an apparition of the Virgin Mary that was reported in 1846 by two shepherd children, Mélanie Calvat and Maximin Giraud, followed by numerous accounts of miraculous healings....