After withessing at
the death of one of his missionary companions, Comboni, far from
being discouraged, feels an interior confirmation of his decision
to carry on in the mission: “O Nigrizia o morte!”
- Africa, or death.
It is still Africa and its peoples that drive
Comboni, when he returns to Italy, to work out a fresh missionary
strategy. In 1864, while praying at the Tomb of St Peter in Rome,
Daniel is struck by a brilliant inspiration that leads to the
drawing up of his famous Plan for the Rebirth of Africa, a missionary
project that can be summed up in an expression which is itself
the indication of his boundless trust in the human and religious
capacities of the African peoples: “Save Africa through
Africa”.
An original missionary Bishop
In spite of all the problems and misunderstandings
he has to face, Daniel Comboni strives to drive home his intuition:
that all European society and the Church are called to become
much more concerned with the mission of Central Africa. He undertakes
a tireless round of missionary animation all over Europe, begging
for spiritual and material aid for the African missions from Kings
and Queens. Bishops and nobles, as well as from the poor, simple
people. As a tool for missionary animation he launches a missionary
magazine, the first in Italy.
His unshakeable faith in the Lord and trust for
Africa lead him to found, in 1867 and 1872 respectively, two missionary
Institutes of men and of women: these become known more widely
as the Comboni Missionaries and the Comboni Missionary Sisters
(Verona Fathers and Sisters).
He takes part in the first Vatican Council as
the theologian of the Bishop of Verona, and gets 70 Bishops to
sign a petition for the evangelisation of Central Africa (Postulatum
pro Nigris Africæ Centralis).
On 2nd, July 1877, Comboni is named Vicar Apostolic
of Central Africa, and ordained Bishop a month later: it is confirmation
that his ideas and his activities considered by some to be foolhardy,
if not crazy are recognised as truly effective means for the proclamation
of the God News and the liberation of the African continent.
In 1877 and 1878 he and all his missionaries are
tormented in body and spirit by the tragedy of a drought followed
by starvation without precedent. The local populations are halved,
and the missionary personnel and their activities reduced almost
to nothing.
The cross as friend and spouse
In 1880, with unflagging determination, Bishop
Comboni travels to Africa for the eighth and last time, to stand
alongside his missionaries: intent, also, on continuing the struggle
against the pernicious Slave Trade, and on consolidating the missionary
activity carried out by Africans themselves. Just one year later,
overwhelmed by his labours, by many deaths in quick succession
among his collaborators, by a wave of calumnies and accusations
that are a bitter burden, the great missionary falls sick himself.
On 10th, October 1881, only 50 years old, marked by the Cross
which, like a faithful and loving bride, has never let him, he
dies in Khartoum, among his people. But he is aware that his missionary
work will not end with him: “I am dying”, he says,
“but my work will not die”.
He was right. His work did not die. Indeed, like
all great projects “which are born at the foot of the Cross”,
it continues to live through the giving of their lives by many
women and men who have chosen to follow Comboni along the path
of his arduous yet exhilarating mission among peoples who are
the poorest as regards the Gospel, and the most abandoned as regards
human solidarity.
The main dates
— Daniel Comboni is born at Limone on Lake
Garda (Brescia - Italy) on 15th, March 1831.
— In 1849 he consecrates his life to Africa,
thus setting in motion a project that will indeed lead him to
risk his life many times in exhausting missionary journeys, starting
from his first arrival in Africa in 1857.
— On 31st, December 1854, the year of the
proclamation of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, he is ordained
priest by Blessed John N. Tschiderer, Bishop of Trento.
— Confident that Africans will become the
leading agents of their own evangelisation, he launches a project
designed to “Save Africa through Africa” (Plan of
1864).
— Faithful to his motto: “Africa,
or death!” despite all difficulties, he pushes ahead with
his Plan by founding the Comboni Missionary Institute in 1867.
— He is a prophetic voice, proclaiming to
the whole Church, especially in Europe, that the hour of salvation
has come for the peoples of Africa. Though still a simple priest,
he has no hesitation in approaching the First Vatican Council
to petition the Bishops that every local Church be involved in
the conversion of Africa (Postulatum, 1870).
— With unusual courage for those days, he
is the first to bring missionary Sisters into the work in Central
Africa, and in 1872 he founds his own Institute of Sisters consecrated
exclusively to the missions: the Comboni Missionary Sisters.
— His endeavours are great on other fronts
too, for example in his tireless struggle for the abolition of
slavery.
— In 1877 he is consecrated Bishop and named
Vicar Apostolic of Central Africa.
— He dies in Khartoum (Sudan) in the late
hours of 10th, October 1881, worn out by his toils and his crosses.
— On 26th, March 1994, the heroic nature
of his virtues is recognised.
— On 6th, April 1995, the cure of an Afro-Brazilian
girl, Maria José de Oliveira Paixão, is recognised
as a miracle worked through his intercession.
— On 17th, March 1996, he is Beatified by
John Paul II in St. Peter's.
— On 20th, December 2003, the cure of a
Muslim mother from Sudan, Lubna Abdel Aziz, is recognized as a
miracle worked through his intercession.
— On 5th, October 2003, he is canonised
by John Paul II in St. Peter's
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