Saint’s Life Story

His Early Life

Daniele (Daniel) was born on March 15, 1831, in Limone sul Garda, Lombardy, Italy on the western banks of Lake Garda. His humble parents, Luigi and Domenica, Luigi and Domenica, farmed on land owned by a wealthy owner. Daniel was the fourth of eight children. However, his seven siblings all died young, six in their infancy, so his parents held him very closely. So, they form a very close unit, rich in faith and human values, but poor in material things.

Boarding School in Verona

At age 12, this poverty forced Daniel to go away to seminary boarding school in Verona, Italy, in the Religious Institute founded by Father Nicola Mazza. Here, he studied theology and medicine, demonstrating his thirst for knowledge and his determination to prepare himself for a life of service. A “language genius” himself, he was a master not only of six European tongues, but later he also learned Arabic and three African languages, and compiled a dictionary of the Nubian language (an African dilect). He was entranced by the mission of Central Africa, drawn by the descriptions of the missionaries who return from there to the Mazza Institute. The readings on missionary reports and the testimonies of the first evangelizers ignited in him an irrepressible passion for the African continent, which he would later define as “the land of martyrs”.

Missionary Priest

On December 31, 1854, he was ordained a priest in the diocese of Verona by Blessed John Nepomuk von Tschiderer. Three years later in 1857 at the age of 26, after completing his studies, Daniel embarked on his first missionary journey to modern-day Sudan. He left along with five other missionaries of the Mazza Institute with the blessing of his mother Domenica, who told him: “Go, Daniel, and may the Lord bless you”.

After a journey of four months, Daniel and his missionary companions reached Khartoum, capital of the Sudan. The impact of this first face-to-face encounter with Africa is tremendous. Daniel is immediately made aware of the multiple difficulties that are part of his new mission. They immediately encountered many difficulties, including hard work in an uncomfortable climate, the dire poverty of the people and sickness. Even, the death of several of his fellow missionaries did not dampen his zeal. Instead all this only serve to drive him forward, never dreaming of giving up what he has taken on with such great enthusiasm.

Africa in his Heart

Daniel’s first assignment was the liberation of enslaved boys and girls. Daniel wrote to his parents stating: “We will have to labor hard, to sweat, to die: but the thought that one sweats and dies for love of Jesus Christ and the salvation of the most abandoned souls in the world, is far too sweet for us to desist from this great enterprise.”

After witnessing the death of one of his missionary companions, Daniel, far from being discouraged, feels an interior confirmation of his decision to carry on in the mission: “O Nigrizia o morte!” – “Either Africa, or death”.

Return to Italy

However, due to declining health from a bout of malaria, Daniel was forced to return home in 1859. Despite this setback, he continued his work by teaching at Mazza’s Institute from 1861 to 1864. During this period, Daniel developed a deep understanding of the challenges faced by Africans and the dire need for assistance in their communities.

“Save Africa Through Africa”

In September, 1864, while praying at the Tomb of St Peter in Rome, Italy, Daniel is struck by a brilliant inspiration that leads to the drawing up of his famous Plan for the Rebirth of Africa. This missionary project 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”. His idea was to empower the local Church in Africa so that it could regenerate and sustain itself, rather than approaching central Africans as a helpless child needing guidance.

Daniel’s vision was based on some fundamental principles:

1. The formation of African clergy and catechists who could become protagonists in the evangelization of their continent
2. The creation of training centers for Africans in Europe and Africa
3. The integration between evangelization and human promotion, through the foundation of schools, hospitals and vocational
training centers
4. Respect for local cultures and the enhancement of indigenous human resources

Begged European Dignitaries

From that point, Daniel began begging tirelessly throughout Europe with Kings, Queens, Bishops and nobles for spiritual and material aid for support and awareness of the emerging Christians of central Africa. His dedication and vision prompted him to travel lobbying diligently through France, Spain, England, Germany, and Austria on fundraising to support the missions. Daniel aimed to raise awareness and gather resources for the necessary support and evangelization of Africa. He could speak six different European languages in addition to Arabic and several indigenous African dialects (Dinka, Bari and Nubia).

It was around this time that Daniel launched a magazine – the first in his homeland to delve into the missions for it was designed to be an exclusive magazine for those in the missions.

Founder of Comboni Institutes

In 1867, in Verona, Daniel founded the Istituto delle Missioni per la Nigrizia (today known as the Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus), which provided training and preparation for priests and brothers dedicated to missions in Africa. Additionally, in 1872, he established the Istituto delle Pie Madri (today’s the Comboni Missionary Sisters) for women who felt called to work in Africa. These institutions became the main operational instrument for the realization of his “Plan” and spread rapidly, becoming fundamental for the continuation of his work. The commitment of these congregations extended beyond pure evangelization, embracing educational, health and social promotion activities, in line with Comboni’s integral vision.

Sudanese Missions Founded

In May 1867, Daniel had an audience with Pope Pius IX , brining with him twelve African girls to meet the pope. Later in 1867 opened two branches of the order in Cairo. Daniel was the first to bring women into this form of work in Africa founding new missions in El Obeid and Delen amongst other Sudanese cities. In March 1869, Daniel opened a third house in Cairo, Egypt.

First Vatican Council

In March 1870, Daniel took part in the First Vatican Council as the theologian of the Bishop of Verona. At this Council, Daniel got 70 Bishops to sign a petition for the evangelization of Central Africa (Postulatum pro Nigris Africæ Centralis).

Bishop of Khartoum

On July 2, 1877, Daniel was named Vicar Apostolic of Central Africa and titular Bishop of Claudiopolis. As the first Catholic bishop of Khartoum, Daniel found himself managing an immense and complex territory, characterized by internal conflicts and religious tensions.

During his episcopate, Daniel worked tirelessly to promote interreligious dialogue, forging relations with Muslim leaders and encouraging peaceful coexistence between different ethnic and confessional communities. In parallel, he continued to develop the network of schools, hospitals and training centers, despite the political difficulties, endemic diseases and famines that afflicted the region. Daniel knew that his missionary work was not easy, but he plowed ahead stating “The missionaries will have to understand that they are stones hid under the earth, which will perhaps never come to light, but which will become part of the foundations of a vast, new building.”

His Death

The weight of responsibilities and the extreme conditions in which Daniel worked began to undermine his already fragile health. Over his lifetime, Daniel made eight more trips to his beloved continent of Africa. On October 10, 1881, at the age of only fifty, struck down by fevers and apostolic labors, Daniel died in Khartoum, Sudan. His last words, “I am dying, but my work shall not die,” proved prophetic.

In later years, Comboni missionaries spread. Today, more than 4000 religious and members of the Sons of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Institute work in 24 countries in Africa from Egypt and Sudan to Uganda, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Congo and Togo. Today, more than 1500 Comboni Missionary Sisters, live and work in around 30 different countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and America. So, priests, brothers and sisters minister in hospitals, schools, and orphanages in 41 countries, including Mexico, Brazil, Ecuador and the United States of America (USA).

Born:                   March 15, 1831, in Limone sul Garda, Brescia, Italy

Died:                   October 10 (Feast Day), 1881 in Khartoum, Sudan

Beatified:           March 26, 1994 by Pope John Paul II

Canonized:        October 5, 2003 by Pope John Paul II

Feast Day:         October 10

Patron Saint:    None

Source:

• • CatholicSaints.Info » Saint Daniel Comboni
  • Saint Daniel Comboni – Saint for a Minute: Saints & Blesseds
  • St. Daniel Comboni – Santi e Beati
  • Daniel Comboni (1831-1881), biography – Vatican
  • Daniele Comboni – Wikipedia

Prayers

Video Link

Who was St Daniel Comboni – YouTube Video (Comboni Missionaries – North American Province)