Vatican City (Fides Service) - Capuchin Father Marco d'Aviano (province of Udine, Italy) was born on 17 November 1631 to a rich middle class family and he was baptised the same day with the name of Carlo Domenico. After initial formation in his home town in 1643 he was sent to the Jesuit College in Gorizia where he broadened his cultural knowledge and deepened his spiritual life. The atmosphere of the Candia war fought in those years between the Republic of Venice and the Ottoman Empire had a strong influence on the life of young Carlo. Filled with desire to reach the area of war operations, ready even to shed his blood to defend the faith, he left the college in Gorizia and after a few days reached Capodistria where, exhausted and famished, he knocked on the door of the Capuchin monastery. Besides food and a bed, he received from the Superior of the monastery the sound advice to return to his family.
During his brief stay with the Capuchins at Capodistria, enlightened by grace, he had perceived the possibility to follow his vocation to the apostolate and martyrdom: he decided therefore to embrace the life of the Capuchin Fathers. In September 1648 he was accepted at the novitiate at Conegliano, and a year later, 21 November 1649, he took his religious vows with the name of Marco d'Aviano. He completed a regular course of studies, three years of philosophy and four years of theology and on 18 September 1655 was ordained a priest.
His life was marked by a strong commitment to prayer and community life, lived a humble and hidden life. In September 1664 Father Marco devoted his best energies to the apostolate preaching all over Italy, particular in the Seasons of Lent and Advent and he was entrusted with various positions of responsibility and government by the Order. The event which drew universal attention to him took place on 8 September 1676. He was sent to preach at the convent of St Prosdocimo near Padua and through prayer and blessing caused the immediate cure of one of the nuns, Vincenza Francesconi sick and bedridden for about 13 years. Similar extraordinary events occurred in Venice a month later drawing crowds of people.
Unperturbed by his fame, ever more widespread, Father Marco continued his ministry, especially his preaching. He stressed particularly the need to intensify the life of faith and Christian practices, and the need to repent of sin and do penance.
In the last years of his life he undertook strenuous apostolic journeys throughout Europe, always at the command of his Superiors of the Holy See. Continually requested by the kings and governors and public authorities, he was welcomed everywhere with great enthusiasm by large crowds. Among the authoritative personalities who requested his presence insistently and offered him their friendship we should mention Emperor Leopold I, to whom he was a friend, counsellor, spiritual father and confidant for every occasion and problem, to the point that Marco d'Aviano was forced to take part in the crusade against the Turks as papal legate and apostolic missionary.
He played a prominent part in the liberation of Vienna from the siege of the Turks on 12 September 1683. Between 1683 and 1689 he took part in the military campaign of defence and liberation: his purpose was to install and foster reciprocal friendly relations within the imperial army, to exhort all to authentic Christian behaviour and to offer spiritual assistance to the soldiers. In the years that followed he worked hard to restore peace in Europe and to promote the unity of the Catholic powers to defend the faith. In May 1699 he undertook his last journey to Vienna but his health, always frail, deteriorated. On 13 August 1699, assisted by Emperor Leopold and Empress Eleonora, with the crucifix in his hands, Father Marco breathed his last breath.
The message of Marco d'Aviano is a lively call, addressed to every Christian, to travel a continuous path of conversion and faith. At the broader level is recalls and underlines the Christian identity of Europe which must be safeguarded and carried forwarded: he himself took the name - which was his life programme - of "spiritual doctor of Europe". SL (Fides Service 23/4/2003 EM lines 52 Words: 721)