Blessed Thomas Maria Fusco
Founder of the Daughters of Charity of the Most Precious Blood
1831- 1891
His charity was directed to every form of need and poverty—children, youths, labourers, the poor and the sick. He gathered the children and the youth in his house to be instructed in the ways of life and for catechetical classes. He alternated his day between activity and prayer; his daily schedul
e was almost monastic and one of those was the activities with youths in the “Evening Chapel” which was instituted with the Catholic Apostolate of the Most Holy Body of Christ (members: clergy, religious and lay) under the title and the protection of the Assumption of Mary to Heaven on 1857. It was here the youths of every class and social condition gathered and Fr. Thus, he strongly believed that the “quality of life” could be improved by beginning with these children of God. Thomas also gives special attention to altar boys because he saw in these boys the precious seeds for vocation to the priesthood. He likewise stirred up many priestly and religious vocations to join him in his mission. Together with the sodality of the Children of Mary (children and youths), Fr. Thomas introduced the association of the Handmaids of Charity of the Most Precious Blood on 1867 and later changed to the Daughters of Charity of the Most Precious Blood, whose members were pious souls who led a devout life to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ. While giving heed to the call of God, for the love of the orphans, he founded the Congregation of the Daughters of Charity of the Most Precious Blood on January 6, 1873 in Salerno, Pagani Italy. He entrusted them to the maternal care of the first three sisters. On the 5th of August 1912, the Congregation acquired a Pontifical status and, hence, subject to the jurisdiction of the Holy See. The Institute number various houses all over the world: Italy, U.S.A., Brazil, India, Philippines, Nigeria and Indonesia. The servant of God, suffered from hepatic colic during the year 1890; afflicted by acute pain, he would exclaim, “Oh my Jesus, what pain you suffered on the Cross!” It was the 24th of February 1891, three hours after sunset; Tuesday of Lent, the day he consecrated with pious devotions for all the priest and the missionaries, the soul of Fr. Thomas left this life to move towards eternal life. Thomas Maria Fusco was gloriously beatified on October 7, 2001 by Blessed Pope John Paul II in St. Peter Basilica, Vatican City, Rome.
