CHRISTIAN LIVING EDUCATION 4 REVIEWER
assignment as a parish priest in
A. Life and Works of Fr. Carlo Cavina
● After the Congress of Vienna (1815), the
land of Italy was still divided.
● Carlo Cavina was located at Lugo,
Ravenna, situated in the middle portion of
Italy.
● June 13, 1859: The papal flag is lowered
and replaced with a tricolor flag.
○ Don Carlo maintains a balanced
position between the political and
religious nature of his ministry.
● 1860: Italy was proclaimed as a Kingdom of
Sardegna and Lugo, the region of Don
Carlo, became part of the new state which is
anti-clerical and anti-catholic.
○ Bishops are expelled, clergies are
persecuted, religious families are
suppressed, monasteries are driven
away, the monks were forced to beg
for food, and the churches stripped
of their furnishing.
● Italian Risorgimento: A movement
towards the unification of Italy that gives
way to blatantly end the earthly rule of the
Pope.
● In the midst of such delicate and precarious
times, DCC decided to tackle the situation in
two directions
1. Boosted the religious feeling of
people by stimulating their faith
through delivered and organized
sermons, updating the clergy, and
coordinated activities of various
brotherhood.
2. DCC realized that a culture
revolving around socio-cultural
principles would affect the
formation of young minds,
promptly setting up a new
institution that is committed to
prayer and education.
● “Where the cross touches, it bears fruit.”
● In spite of the oppression and the
deprivation, the religious life had survived.
● While the succeeding Italian government
was committed to execute their political
power, the Providence raised new religious
congregations who would give an answer to
political problems.
B. Background of Don Carlo Cavina
● Carlo Joseph Minardi Cavina
● Birthday: August 29, 1820
● Birthplace: Castel, Bolognese
● Third child in the family
○ First two siblings died: Domineco
at 50 days and Vittoria 2 months.
● He was baptized a day after his birth in the
Parish of St. Petronius.
● Confirmed: 8 years old.
● First Communion: 11 years old
● 1836: Received the clerical habit
● 1837: Received the Holy Tonsure
● Sept. 18, 1841: Ordained as sub-deacon
● 1842: Diaconate
● June 10. 1843: Ordained priest in the
Cathedral of Imola by Cardinal Giovanni
Maria Mastai Ferreti (future Pope Pius IX).
● March 12, 1848: Received his first
Montecatone.
● Became the prefect of the Seminary of
Imola and was given the task to look after
the young seminarians.
○ It was also here that he encountered
and started to meditate on the
works of St. Francis de Sales.
○ Carlo Cavina’s Ideals: the GLORY
OF GOD and THE SALVATION
OF SOULS.
● Remained at the seminary for 5 years and
became a Parish priest of Montecatone.
○ He acquired the motto of St.
Francis de Sales: “Da mihi animas,
coetera tolle,” (Give me the souls,
take the rest).
● May 15, 1850: The Provost (senior official;
priest in charge) of Logo, Don Francesco
Bosi died and Cardinal Baluffie convoked
DCC and ordered him to take over the
vacated post as Provost of Lugo.
○ He succeeded in reducing the
distances that once separated the
priest from the people (their
anti-clerical out view).
C. Signs of Time
● The anti-clerical campaign was becoming
bitter and launched an offensive against the
religious teachings in the schools in the
name of freedom of conscience and of the
separation of the Church from the State.
● DCC realized that there is a need for cultural
formation of the youth.
● 1867: DCC outlined the idea of a “Little
House” for young girls of the middle class
in need of education and for domestic
workers in search of work or devoid of
lodging.
○ 1868: A small house was put up for
sale but DCC couldn’t afford it.
○ A pious church member donated
the necessary money and DCC
purchased what is to become the
“Little House of St. Joseph.”
○ January 29, 1869: He placed the
first and most important piece of
furniture to a recently purchased
place, a cross with symbols of
Passion.
■ He wrote at the back of
the scroll, “La Croce dove
tocca, feconda.” (Where
the cross touches, life
comes forth).
● August 23, 1872: Founded the congregation
of the Daughters of St. Francis de Sales.
● May 24, 1896: He asked the Mother
General of the Sisters to provide him with
nuns.
○ Later on, he founded the convent
for the education and training of
young women, “Little House of
St. Joseph.”
○ The convent was run by three
sisters;
1. Sr. Ippolita Fantoni (as
headmistress).
 2. Vincenza Castellani
3. Sr. Elisabeth Montanari
(latest to join).
■ Together with DCC, they
developed an effective
method to educate people
adapted to the atmosphere
of community life.
● Summer of 1872: Rosa Nenci and Amalia
Manzoni arrived at the convent that alarmed
the Superior General of the Sisters of
Charity, Mother Caroline Chambrot.
○ Mother Caroline Chambrot and her
secretary general, Sr. Adelgonda
Collina arrived from Rome to Lugo
on August 23, 1872 with the
intention of withdrawing the sisters
from the Little House.
○ Mother Caroline Chambrot begged
Bishop Tesorieri to order the sisters
to immediately leave the institute
and give up on the works of the
Provost.
○ However, the bishop responded that
it is not good to remove sisters
from a work that is giving out good
results.
■ But Mother Chambrot is
irremovable, turning to the
sisters, she asked them to
decide, “Or here or
there?”
D. Painful Choices
● The activities of the Little House were
temporarily suspended while waiting for the
decisions of the bishop.
● October 23, 1872: Ippolita Fantoni and
Elisabetta MOntanari wore their new
religious habit as Daughters of St. Francis de
Sales.
● November 1872: The Little House reopened
● 1873: Teresa Tabanelli entered the
congregation.
● Jan. 29, 1874: Pierina Cartier, a former
Sister of Charity joined the congregation.
● July 5, 1874: Temporary profession of
Mother Teresa Fantoni, Sr. Luigia
Montanari, and Sr. Francesca ; and the
entrance to Novitiate of Rosa Nenci, Amalia
Manzoni, and Teresa Tabanelli.
● 1876: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin
Mary, the three novices had their first
religious profession:
1. Rosa Nenci - Suor Maria
Concetta
2. Amalia Manzoni - Suor Maria
Nazarena
3. Teresa Tabanelli - Suor Maria
Giuseppa
● Feb. 2, 1878: Anna Berardi (Sr. Veronica)
● Dec. 11, 1878: Anna nenci (Sr. Geltrude)
● Feb. 2, 1879: Virginia Cartier (Sr.
Giovanna)
● May 26, 1879: The founder admitted to
enter novitiate Anna Nenci (Sr. Geltrude),
sister of Concetta Nenci.
E. Encounter with Death
● June 19, 1879: Sr. Concetta (Rosa Nenci)
died at the age of 31.
● The deep faith of Don Carlo allowed him to
bear the conflict of hostility and indifference
even by his colleagues, the Canons of the
Chapter, who were not in favor of the
popularity of the Provost.
● Despite the hostility manifested to him by
his colleagues, DCC presided over 20
annual reunions (the rules prescribed a
maximum of 12 reunions).
● January 1880: Don Carlo had the first
attack of angina pectoris who felt numbness
on his left arm as if paralyzed.
○ Face became pale
○ Labored breathing
○ Constant cough
○ Weakness
● Despite the symptoms he experienced, he
assured stability in his work.
● May 31, 1880: DCC returned to Turin to
personally speak to Don Bosco and
proposed to him to incorporate in the
Daughters of Mary Help of Chrsitian his
congregation, but Don Bosco was not
favorable to the idea.
○ DCC was disappointed but
convinced himself that he would
have to attend to his “Daughters.”
● September 10, 1880: DCC was not feeling
well and went to the Institute to confess to
the sisters.
● September 11, 1880: He celebrated his last
mass; towards noon his heart gave up.
○ He was found in his office stricken
by a serious cardiovascular failure.
● Mother Teresa and Luisa tried to rush to
DCC but were refused entrance two times.
● September 15, 1880; 1:30 PM: The bells of
Collegiate announced the death of the
Provost. It was Wednesday, the day
dedicated to St. Joseph.
○ DCC was 60 years old (37 years as
priest and 30 years as parish priest).
● “The will of God and not mine will be
done.”
● “Without being able to see him… without
being able to talk to him! My god, what will
happen to us?” (Mother Teresa Fantoni,
Sept. 15, 1880).
● “I lost the best priest of the diocese.”
(Bishop Tesorieri).
● Aristide Golfieri held the eulogy to the
Provost.
● With the death of DCC, Tesorieri assured the
DSFS that he will be a father to them.
● Nov. 29, 1884: A mansion house owned by
Count Manzoni was put up for sale.
● June 5, 1891: The first group of sisters and
other eleven made their perpetual
profession.
● April 18, 1961: The remains of DCC,
Mother Fantoni, and Mother Montanari were
transferred from the city cemetery to the
chapel of the St. Joseph Convent.
● Mother Teresa asked the bishop to arrange
election for her replacement as Mother
Superior and on September 14, 1903, Sister
Maria Angelica Santini succeeded her.
 ● June 19, 1907: Mother Maria Luigia ● He was greatly devoted to the Blessed
Montanari (Mother Teresa’s assistant) died. Virgin Mary. He built an altar for the
● September 16, 1908: Mother Maria Teresa Immaculate Conception at Collegiate.
Fantoni passed away. ● He opened a school of the Holy Trinity for
○ It was Wednesday, the day boys and girls and working adults.
dedicated to St. Joseph, the very ● Became a founder of the religious
day on which she had always hoped congregation, the Daughters of St. Francis
to die. (Just a few hours after the de Sales.
28th death anniversary of DCC). ● His years of service were marked by
○ The death of Mother Fantoni difficulties brought by many social
represented the tragic loss of a problems, insults, threats, and persecutions
priceless testimony, that of the but he sacrificed everything with love and
spiritual journey of one of the joy for Christ.
founders and cornerstones of the ● He offered his entire life to serve the people
congregation. and to fulfill his duty as a pastor of souls
until his death on Sept. 15, 1880 at the age
F. Additional Information of 60.
● October 16, 1994: Trial of the beatification ● His remains rest in the chapel of the Mother
of the Servant of God, Don Carlo Cavina House of the DSFS in Lugo, Ravenna, Italy.
opened in Lugo, Italy.
● April 7, 2019: He was proclaimed as
Venerable.
● When DCC finished elementary school, he
already told his mother his desire to be a
priest.
● His father wanted him to be a lawyer but
could not do anything but to agree (“If God
wants my son for Himself, let his name be
praised. We will do everything possible for
our son.”)
● He started his studies to become a priest
outside the seminary for 3 reasons:
○ He could not afford the seminary
expenses.
○ Poor health.
○ Good private schools were staffed
by priests.
● After he received his clerical habit in 1836,
he was forced to stop because of a strange
sickness.
○ During this period, he tried to
deepen his knowledge in moral
theology which helped him a lot as
a priest.
● His diligence and wisdom won the heart of
these Theologians who were almost near
ordination. He maintained discipline in the
seminary by being a good model and
assistant rector from 1843 to 1848.
○ It was during this period when
DCC came to know and love the
great saint of meekness and
gentleness: St. Francis de Sales.
● Don Carlo Cavina was an accomplished
organizer and promoter of associations:
○ He started the first youth group of
the Catholic action in the Diocese.
○ Organized the conferences of St.
Vincent de Paul and Daughters of
Mary in 1850.
● Founded the charitable works of the
missions in lugo.
○ Active promoter of the missions.
○ Introduced in his parish the
Apostleship of Prayer from which
sprang the charism of the DSFS
Congregation.
● He organized for mothers and Christian
women the association “Patronage of our
Lady of the Sacred heart.”