Notes on the Life of Father Januarius Maria Sarnelli, CSSR

Notes on the Life of Father Januarius Maria Sarnelli, CSSR I. His birth, infancy, and youth 5 II. He embraces the profession of the law, then the ecclesiastical state 7 III. He enters the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer 10 IV. He is sent to Naples 12 V. His love of meditation 14 VI. His principal devotions 16 VII. His interior trials 19 VIII. His spirit of mortification and of humility 22 IX. His charity towards his neighbor 25 X. His zeal for the salvation of souls 27 XI. His enterprise in regard to prostitutes 32 XII. His writings 35 XIII. His last illness and death 38 ALSO INCLUDES: Notes on the Life of Vitius Curzius, Lay Brother of the CSSR I. His conduct in the world and his vocation 45 II. His entrance into the Congregation 48 III. His love of meditation 49 IV. His mortification and humility 51 V. His charity towards his neighbor 55 VI. His obedience and his death 57 Notes on the Life of Father Januarius Maria Sarnelli, OF THE CONGREGATION OF THE MOST HOLY REDEEMER. ST. ALPHONSUS wrote this Life in 1752. There is every indication that it was destined to be placed at the head of the works of Father Sarnelli, where it is found in the editions with which we are acquainted. The saint was desirous of keeping it anonymous, but it can easily be recognized from what he omits to say, and from the notes that we append. We shall find more than one trait of resemblance between the life of Father Sarnelli and that of St. Alphonsus himself. Father Tannoia moreover informs us that they were united from their youth by a close friendship, and that before they had entirely left the world they gave themselves up together to pious exercises. It is astonishing how Father Sarnelli, who died at the age of forty-two, could have done so much in a life so short and so full of sufferings; but such is the life of the saints. Cardinal Villecourt also assures us, in 1862, that there was question of introducing the cause of his Beatification. (Vie de S. Alph. 1. 2, ch. 15.)-ED. WE add here to the life of Father Januarius Maria Sarnelli, a short biographical notice of Brother Vitus Curzius, who lived in the Congregation and was for a long time his companion. He was born at Aquaviva, in the diocese of Bari, of most respectable parents, in the year 1706. One of his brothers was a medical man, and the other was a Canon in the college of his native town. In order to show the extent of God's goodness to this young man, we must mention that he was exceedingly passionate until he was twenty-six years of age. He was so alive to the least injury that he fought several duels, in which he nearly lost his life. On one occasion, amongst others, he felt so offended at a doctor that he shot him. Another time he had the boldness to fire at a military officer; but God did not permit him to have the misfortune of hitting his mark.