Riccardo Pampuri
Encyclopedia
Riccardo Pampuri was an Italian
medical doctor from Trivolzio
and is a canonized saint in the Roman Catholic Church
. Born Erminio Filippo Pampuri, he took the name Brother Riccardo when he entered the Brothers Hospitallers of St. John of God
. He was born in Trivolzio
, Province of Pavia
.
, Pavia
, Italy
and given the name of Erminio Filippo Pampuri. He was the tenth of the eleven children of Innocenzo and Angela (née Campari) Pampuri. When he was three years of age his mother died and he was then taken into the home of his mother's sister, at Torrino, a village near Trivolzio
. In 1907 Pampuri father died in Milan
. As a young boy Pampuri wanted to become a missionary priest, but was dissuaded from this on account of his delicate health. In his youth Pampuri attended two primary schools at nearby villages and then went to Milan where he attended a junior high school. He completed his high school studies as a boarder at Augustine's College, Pavia
, where after graduation, he enrolled in the Medical Faculty of Pavia University. Whilst at university he was an active member of Pavia University's Severino Boezio Club for Catholic Action
. He also belonged to the St. Vincent de Paul Society and the Third Order of St. Francis
. Between the years 1915 and 1920, he was in the fighting zone of World War I
. He served firstly as a sergeant
and later went into training as an officer in the Medical Corps. On 6 July 1921, he graduated top of his class in Medicine and Surgery from Pavia University.
, he was appointed to the practice of Morimondo in Milan
. In 1922 he passed his internship with high honours at the Milan Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. In 1923 he was registered at Pavia University as a General Practitioner of Medicine and Surgery. When he arrived at Morimondo to practice medicine, he gave valuable assistance to the parish priest and helped him to set up a musical band and a Catholic Action
Youth Club of which he was the first president. Both of these under the patronage of St. Pius X. He was also secretary of the Parish Missionary Aid Society. Pampuri would eventually leave his practice to become a religious.
so as to follow the way of evangelical holiness more closely and at the same time to be able to carry on his medical profession so as to alleviate the suffering of his neighbour. He joined the St. John of God Brothers at Milan
on 22 June 1927. He did his novitiate year at Brescia
and when it was over, made his profession of religious vows on 24 October 1928. He was then appointed director of the dental clinic attached to the St. John of God Brothers' Hospital at Brescia
. This was mostly frequented by working people and the poor. Brother Richard untiringly gave himself fully to serving them with such wonderful charity that he was admired by all.
, which he had first contracted during his military service, and this degenerated into specific bronco-pneumonia
. On 18 April 1930 he was taken from Brescia
to Milan
, where he died in sanctity on 1 May at the age of 33 years: "leaving behind the memory of a doctor who knew how to transform his own profession into a mission of charity; and a religious brother who reproduced within himself, the charism of a true son of St. John of God".
, Europe
and the entire world. Many of the faithful received significant graces from God, even miraculous ones, through his intercession. The two required miracles were accepted and he was beatified by His Holiness John Paul II on 4 October 1981. Later on, a miraculous healing through the intercession of Blessed Richard Pampuri, took place on 5 January 1982 at Alcadozo, near Albacete
, Spain
. This was approved as a miracle and so, on the feast of All Saints
, 1 November 1989, he was solemnly canonized.
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...
medical doctor from Trivolzio
Trivolzio
Trivolzio is a comune in the Province of Pavia in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 25 km southwest of Milan and about 12 km northwest of Pavia...
and is a canonized saint in the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. Born Erminio Filippo Pampuri, he took the name Brother Riccardo when he entered the Brothers Hospitallers of St. John of God
Brothers Hospitallers of St. John of God
The Brothers Hospitallers of St. John of God are a Roman Catholic order founded in 1572. They are also known commonly as the Fatebenefratelli, meaning "Do-Good Brothers" in Italian.-History:...
. He was born in Trivolzio
Trivolzio
Trivolzio is a comune in the Province of Pavia in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 25 km southwest of Milan and about 12 km northwest of Pavia...
, Province of Pavia
Province of Pavia
The Province of Pavia is a province in the region of Lombardy in northern Italy. Pavia is the capital.It has an area of 2,965 km², and a total population of 493,753...
.
Early life
Pampuri, was born on the 2 August 1897 in TrivolzioTrivolzio
Trivolzio is a comune in the Province of Pavia in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 25 km southwest of Milan and about 12 km northwest of Pavia...
, Pavia
Province of Pavia
The Province of Pavia is a province in the region of Lombardy in northern Italy. Pavia is the capital.It has an area of 2,965 km², and a total population of 493,753...
, 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...
and given the name of Erminio Filippo Pampuri. He was the tenth of the eleven children of Innocenzo and Angela (née Campari) Pampuri. When he was three years of age his mother died and he was then taken into the home of his mother's sister, at Torrino, a village near Trivolzio
Trivolzio
Trivolzio is a comune in the Province of Pavia in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 25 km southwest of Milan and about 12 km northwest of Pavia...
. In 1907 Pampuri father died in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
. As a young boy Pampuri wanted to become a missionary priest, but was dissuaded from this on account of his delicate health. In his youth Pampuri attended two primary schools at nearby villages and then went to Milan where he attended a junior high school. He completed his high school studies as a boarder at Augustine's College, Pavia
Pavia
Pavia , the ancient Ticinum, is a town and comune of south-western Lombardy, northern Italy, 35 km south of Milan on the lower Ticino river near its confluence with the Po. It is the capital of the province of Pavia. It has a population of c. 71,000...
, where after graduation, he enrolled in the Medical Faculty of Pavia University. Whilst at university he was an active member of Pavia University's Severino Boezio Club for Catholic Action
Catholic Action
Catholic Action was the name of many groups of lay Catholics who were attempting to encourage a Catholic influence on society.They were especially active in the nineteenth century in historically Catholic countries that fell under anti-clerical regimes such as Spain, Italy, Bavaria, France, and...
. He also belonged to the St. Vincent de Paul Society and the Third Order of St. Francis
Third Order of St. Francis
The Third Order of St. Francis is a third order within the Franciscan movement of the Roman Catholic Church. It includes both congregations of vowed men and women and fraternities of men and women living standard lives in the world, usually married...
. Between the years 1915 and 1920, he was in the fighting zone of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. He served firstly as a sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
and later went into training as an officer in the Medical Corps. On 6 July 1921, he graduated top of his class in Medicine and Surgery from Pavia University.
Professional career
After a three years practical experience with this doctor uncle, and for a short time as temporary assistant in the medical practice at VernateVernate
Vernate is a comune in the Province of Milan in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 20 km southwest of Milan. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 2,594 and an area of 14.6 km²....
, he was appointed to the practice of Morimondo in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
. In 1922 he passed his internship with high honours at the Milan Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. In 1923 he was registered at Pavia University as a General Practitioner of Medicine and Surgery. When he arrived at Morimondo to practice medicine, he gave valuable assistance to the parish priest and helped him to set up a musical band and a Catholic Action
Catholic Action
Catholic Action was the name of many groups of lay Catholics who were attempting to encourage a Catholic influence on society.They were especially active in the nineteenth century in historically Catholic countries that fell under anti-clerical regimes such as Spain, Italy, Bavaria, France, and...
Youth Club of which he was the first president. Both of these under the patronage of St. Pius X. He was also secretary of the Parish Missionary Aid Society. Pampuri would eventually leave his practice to become a religious.
Religious Life
Dr. Pampuri joined the Brothers Hospitallers of St. John of GodBrothers Hospitallers of St. John of God
The Brothers Hospitallers of St. John of God are a Roman Catholic order founded in 1572. They are also known commonly as the Fatebenefratelli, meaning "Do-Good Brothers" in Italian.-History:...
so as to follow the way of evangelical holiness more closely and at the same time to be able to carry on his medical profession so as to alleviate the suffering of his neighbour. He joined the St. John of God Brothers at Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
on 22 June 1927. He did his novitiate year at Brescia
Brescia
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...
and when it was over, made his profession of religious vows on 24 October 1928. He was then appointed director of the dental clinic attached to the St. John of God Brothers' Hospital at Brescia
Brescia
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...
. This was mostly frequented by working people and the poor. Brother Richard untiringly gave himself fully to serving them with such wonderful charity that he was admired by all.
Death
He suffered a fresh outbreak of pleurisyPleurisy
Pleurisy is an inflammation of the pleura, the lining of the pleural cavity surrounding the lungs. Among other things, infections are the most common cause of pleurisy....
, which he had first contracted during his military service, and this degenerated into specific bronco-pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
. On 18 April 1930 he was taken from Brescia
Brescia
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...
to Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, where he died in sanctity on 1 May at the age of 33 years: "leaving behind the memory of a doctor who knew how to transform his own profession into a mission of charity; and a religious brother who reproduced within himself, the charism of a true son of St. John of God".
Legacy
After his death, his reputation of sanctity, which he demonstrated throughout his life, greatly expanded throughout ItalyItaly
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...
, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and the entire world. Many of the faithful received significant graces from God, even miraculous ones, through his intercession. The two required miracles were accepted and he was beatified by His Holiness John Paul II on 4 October 1981. Later on, a miraculous healing through the intercession of Blessed Richard Pampuri, took place on 5 January 1982 at Alcadozo, near Albacete
Albacete
Albacete is a city and municipality in southeastern Spain, 258 km southeast of Madrid, the capital of the province of Albacete in the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha. The municipality had a population of c. 169,700 in 2009....
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. This was approved as a miracle and so, on the feast of All Saints
All Saints
All Saints' Day , often shortened to All Saints, is a solemnity celebrated on 1 November by parts of Western Christianity, and on the first Sunday after Pentecost in Eastern Christianity, in honour of all the saints, known and unknown...
, 1 November 1989, he was solemnly canonized.