Blessed Tommaso Maria Fusco

Biography

Blessed Tommaso Maria Fusco, also known as Thomas Mary Fusco, was born on 1 December 1831 in Pagani, Salerno, Italy. He was the son of Dr. Antonio Fusco, a pharmacist, and Stella Giordano, a member of the Italian nobility. Tommaso was the seventh of eight children in a devout and pious Catholic family.

Tragedy struck Tommaso's life at a young age when his mother passed away from cholera in 1837 when he was just six years old. Four years later, in 1841, his father also passed away. Following the death of his parents, Tommaso was entrusted to the care of his fraternal uncle Giuseppe, who was a priest and school teacher. Under his uncle's guidance, Tommaso received a solid education.

In 1847, at the age of sixteen, Tommaso entered the seminary at Nocera, Italy. However, the same year, his uncle Giuseppe passed away, leaving him without the support and mentorship that had been instrumental in his upbringing. Nevertheless, Tommaso remained steadfast in his vocation and was ordained a priest on 22 December 1855.

After his ordination, Father Tommaso opened a school for boys in his own home and organized prayer groups in his parish. In 1857, he joined the Congregation of the Missionaries of Nocera and began his mission work, traveling extensively in southern Italy to spread the Gospel and minister to the people in need.

In 1860, Father Tommaso became the chaplain and spiritual director at the Shrine of Our Lady of Carmel, also known as Our Lady of the Hens, in Pagani, Italy. His dedication to the spiritual growth of the people led him to establish a school of moral theology in his home in 1862, where he trained priests in the ministry of Confession.

Father Tommaso's passion for fulfilling the missions led him to found the Priestly Society of the Catholic Apostolate in 1874. This congregation received the approval of Pope Blessed Pius IX and offered support to mission activities. Additionally, on 6 January 1873, he founded the Daughters of Charity of the Most Precious Blood, a women's religious congregation dedicated to the care of orphans.

From 1874 to 1887, Father Tommaso served as the parish priest at San Felice e Corpo di Cristo in Pagani. His deep spirituality and holiness were evident in his role as a confessor to cloistered nuns in Pagani and Nocera. Throughout his life, he also authored several works on various topics, particularly focusing on moral theology, always emphasizing his devotion to the Precious Blood.

In the later years of his life, Father Tommaso faced slander from a jealous fellow priest who resented his good works and growing reputation. Despite this unjust accusation, Father Fusco turned to prayer and continued his work. Eventually, he was vindicated, and his reputation remained untarnished.

Blessed Tommaso Maria Fusco devoted his life to serving God and his fellow human beings with great zeal and selflessness. He exemplified the virtues of humility, charity, and perseverance throughout his ministry. He suffered from a chronic liver disease, which eventually caused his death on 24 February 1891.

In recognition of his extraordinary life, Pope John Paul II declared the heroic virtues of Blessed Tommaso Maria Fusco on 24 April 2001, leading to his beatification on 7 October 2001. The miracles attributed to his intercession include the healing of Mrs. Maria Battaglia in Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicily, on 20 August 1964. Today, Blessed Tommaso Maria Fusco is venerated as a model of Christian virtue and a beacon of hope for all who strive to serve God and their fellow human beings.