Blessed Justin de Jacobis

Blessed Justin de Jacobis

Vicar Apostolic of Abyssinia and titular Bishop of Nilopolis, h. at San Fele, Province of Potenza, Italy, 9 October, 1800 d. 31 July, 1860, in the plain of Eydele between the mountains Chedene and Hamamo in Abyssinia, while on his way to Halay where he hoped to regain his health. On 17 October, 1818, he entered the Congregation of the Lazarists at Naples, took vows there on 18 October, 1820, and was ordained priest at Brindisi, 12 June, 1824. After spending some time in the care of souls at Oria and Monopoli, he became superior, first at Lecce, then at Naples. In 1839 he was appointed first Prefect Apostolic of Abyssinia and entrusted with the foundation of Catholic missions in that country. After laboring with great success in Abyssinia for eight years, he was made titular Bishop of Nilopolis in 1847, and shortly afterwards Vicar Apostolic of Abyssinia, but he refused the episcopal dignity until it was finally forced upon him in 1849. Despite imprisonment, exile, and every other kind of persecution from heathens and heretics, he founded numerous Catholic missions, built various schools for the training of a native clergy, and in many other ways labored for the conversion of Abyssinia. The process of his beatification was introduced on 13 July, 1904.

DEMIMUID, Vie du Venerable Justin de Jacobis (Paris, 1905); Acta Sanctae Sedis (ROME, 1904), XXXVII, 185-189.

MICHAEL OTT