BLESSED ZEFIRINO AGOSTINI

Blessed Zefirino Agostini
Born in Verona, Italy, September 24, 1813
Died there on April 6, 1896
Beatified October 24, 1998.
 Feast day: April 6.

Blessed Zefirino was the elder son of the physician Antonio Agostini and his wife Angela Frattini. Upon the death of the pious Antonio, the two boys were raised by their mother with a gentleness and wisdom that left its mark on the souls of her children and led Zefirino to his priestly vocation.

Following his ordination on March 11, 1837, at the hands of Bishop Grasser of Verona, Zefirino was assigned to the poor parish of Saint Nazarius, where he had been baptized on September 28, 1813. The first eight years he had responsibility for teaching the catechism and running the recreational program for boys.

In 1845, he was named pastor. Although the parish was large and poor, Father Agostini never allowed his fatherly heart to be overcome by its problems. He knew that his first priority was to develop his relationship with God through personal prayer because God was the source of his joy and power to do good.

God filled Father Agostini with apostolic zeal. He established an after-school program for girls and catechetical instruction for their mothers. To inspire women, he held up the ideal of Saint Angela Merici and celebrated her feast. Three young women followed that inspiration and devoted themselves to the neediest in the community.

Realizing that this was indeed God's will, Father Agostini founded the Pious Union of Sister Devoted to Saint Angela Merici, even though he lacked the means to support them. Their rule was approved by Bishop Ricabona in 1856 and the first charitable school was opened in November. The first women who assisted him in this endeavor continued to live with their families until after 1860 when Father Agostini wrote a rule that was approved for the first Ursuline community. On September 24, 1869, the first twelve Ursuline Daughters of Mary Immaculate made their professions. They had the option of living in community or with their families.

Father Agostini's humility and trust in the providence of God was revealed clearly in his 1874 statement to the sisters: "Do not be dismayed by toil or suffering, nor by the meager fruit of your labors. Remember that God rewards not according to results, but effort"