Saint Francesco Saverio Maria Bianchi (31 January): Butler's Lives of the Saints

About this sermon

St Francis Xavier Bianchi, priest of the Barnabite Order and miracle-worker of Naples, is commemorated on January 31. His life is a powerful witness to obedience to God’s will, heroic suffering, priestly fidelity, and supernatural charity. Born in Arpino in 1743, then part of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, Francis Xavier Bianchi felt called to religious life at a young age. Despite fierce opposition from his father, he persevered after receiving counsel from St Alphonsus Liguori, who confirmed him in his vocation. Ordained a priest in 1767, Father Bianchi was entrusted with extraordinary responsibilities while still young, including hearing confessions and serving as superior of two colleges. Yet his heart longed not for honors, but for prayer, penance, and the confessional, where thousands sought his guidance. His life of extreme austerity destroyed his health. Covered in sores and unable to walk, he was often carried to the altar to celebrate Mass, yet he never abandoned his priestly duties. God confirmed his sanctity with miracles, prophecies, and astonishing events — including halting a river of lava during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 1805 with the sign of the Cross. Known in Naples as the “White Neri”, St Francis Xavier Bianchi died on January 31, 1815, and was canonized in 1951 by Pope Pius XII. This episode comes from “The Lives of the Saints” by Fr. Alban Butler, a timeless source of Catholic hagiography. 👉 May the example of St Francis Xavier Bianchi strengthen priests, inspire perseverance in suffering, and lead souls to deeper trust in God. :00 Introduction – Lives of the Saints 0:20 January 31 – St Francis Xavier Bianchi 0:27 Birth in Arpino and early vocation 0:39 Conflict with family and discernment 0:53 Counsel from St Alphonsus Liguori 1:02 Entrance into the Barnabites 1:09 Severe illness and suffering 1:16 Priestly ordination and responsibilities 1:43 Call to prayer, penance, and mortification 1:56 Confessional ministry and physical collapse 2:20 Suppression of religious houses in Naples 2:44 Miracles and prophecies 2:53 Eruption of Mount Vesuvius (1805) 3:09 “The White Neri” of Naples 3:30 Final prophecy and holy death 3:34 Death on January 31, 1815 3:38 Canonization by Pope Pius XII https://sensusfidelium.com/the-lives-of-the-fathers-martyrs-and-other-principal-saints/january/ Get Butler's Lives of the Saints here: https://loretopublications.idevaffiliate.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=102&url=1 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 Support Catholic Businesses here - https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ Sensus Fidelium Press - https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ Sensus Fidelium Apps - https://sensusfidelium.tv/ Support Sensus Fidelium - https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 🙏🏻PLEASE HELP OUR CHANNEL GROW 🙏🏻 ▶ 1. Become a Channel Patron: https://www.patreon.com/SensusFidelium ▶ 2. Visit the website https://www.sensusfidelium.com for Gueranger, Saint of the Day, Apologetics, Meditation by the Saints, Scripture Study and more. ▶ 3. Subscribe to Other Video Platforms 🔴 BitChute --- https://www.bitchute.com/channel/Sensus_Fidelium/ 🔴 Rumble --- https://rumble.com/c/c-298311 🔴 My Catholic Tube - https://mycatholictube.com/videos/sensus-fidelium-channel/ 🔴 LBRY.tv --- https://lbry.tv/@SensusFidelium:c 🔴 ODYSEE - https://odysee.com/@SensusFidelium:c 🔴 UGETube - https://videos.utahgunexchange.com/@Sensus%20Fidelium 🔴 BrandNewTube - https://brandnewtube.com/@SensusFidelium 🔴 GloriaTV - https://gloria.tv/Sensus%20Fidelium 🔴 Brighteon - https://www.brighteon.com/channels/sensusfidelium ▶ 4. Paypal, Bitcoin, Anedot, Stripe, Square & PO Box donations - https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ ▶ 5. YouTube: Click Subscribe, then Click "Notification Bell" = 🔔 Please "Like" our videos so that Youtube shares it to others by clicking the "Like" thumbs-up under the video = 👍🏻 ▶ 6. Please share this video 📲, and help others find Christ inside the Catholic Church! Please share this video on Facebook and Twitter using the share button. ▶ 7. Follow on Social Media: 🔴 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SensusFidelium/ 🔴 Twitter: https://https://twitter.com/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 Parler: https://parler.com/profile/Sensusfidelium/posts 🔴 SP3RN: https://www.sp3rn.com/community/pages/14-sensus-fidelium 🔴 GAB: https://gab.com/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 Bastyon: https://bastyon.com/sensusfidelium 🔴 GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/sensus_fidelium 🔴 INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/sensusfidelium/ 🔴 Telegram: https//t.me/RealSensusFidelium 🔴 Truth Social - @SensusFidelium ▶ 8. Follow on iTunes: 🔴 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sensus-fidelium-catholic-podcast/id1477010758 #StFrancisXavierBianchi #SaintOfTheDay #January31 #CatholicSaints #LivesOfTheSaints #CatholicHistory #TraditionalCatholic #Barnabites #PriestSaint #SaintsAndMiracles #CatholicFaith