Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has published a decree announcing the canonisation of Blessed Bartolo Longo (who became a Knight of our Order in 1925). Once an ardent Satanist, Bartolo repented of his ways and reverted to the faith giving his life to Christ wholeheartedly. In 1906 Bartolo, and his wife, donated the land for the new shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompey. Bartolo devoted his life to the spreading of the faith through the Rosary. He was affectionately called: The Apostle of the Rosary.
Blessed Bartolo’s spiritual writings were approved in 1939; his cause for canonisation was opened in 1947. He was beatified by St John Paul II in 1980 and is now waiting for canonisation by HH Pope Francis.
Please check out this article from EWTN: https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/our-lady-of-pompeii-5310
God, Father of mercy, we praise you for having given Blessed Bartolo Longo to human history, ardent apostle of the Rosary and shining example of a layman engaged in the evangelical witness of faith and charity.
We thank you for his extraordinary spiritual journey, his prophetic insights, his tireless efforts for the least and the marginalized, the dedication with which he filially served your Church and built the new city of love in Pompeii.
We pray that Blessed Bartolo Longo will soon be counted among the Saints of the universal Church, so that everyone can follow him as a model of life and seek his intercession.
Amen