Blessed Carmelo De Palma

Carmelo De Palma was born at Bari on 27 January 1876. Orphaned young, he entered the seminary of his native city at ten, and was ordained at Naples on 17 December 1898; for reasons of health he then spent some months in the Benedictine monastery of Montecassino. On 17 June 1900 he was named chaplain of the Basilica of Saint Nicholas at Bari, serving the people of God by celebrating Mass, hearing confessions and animating many pastoral works. From 1902 he held a succession of offices in the same basilica: secretary to the Grand Prior, master of ceremonies, chancellor, keeper of the crypt, delegate of the Grand Prior, primicerius of the chapter, cantor, and capitular vicar from 1945 to 1951.

When the Holy See entrusted the basilica to the Dominicans, he, deeply attached to Benedictine spirituality, was made spiritual director of the Benedictine nuns of Santa Scolastica in Bari and of the Oblates of Saint Benedict. He gave himself also to Catholic Action and to the spiritual direction of the faithful, particularly priests and seminarians, and was tireless in the confessional. In his last years chronic illness and failing sight confined him, and he celebrated and heard confessions in his own room until his death.