November 2, 2025 - "Bartolo Longo"

Through the prayers of his family and the influence of devout friends, including Professor Vicenzo Pepe and a Dominican priest, Father Alberto Radente, Barolo experienced a profound conversion and returned wholeheartedly to the practice of the Catholic faith.

 

Following his conversion Longo dedicated his life to promoting the rosary and the message of mercy and hope through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In 1871, he became a third order Dominican and received the name “Brother Rosary” because of his heartfelt commitment to this devotion. The next year, while on a business trip to Pompeii, the level of destitution and the impoverished state of the Church appalled him. Barolo settled in Pompeii where he began restoring a dilapidated church and worked tirelessly to build a Marian shrine dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary. With support from benefactors and the local community he transformed Pompeii into a thriving center of Catholic devotion. Bartolo’s future wife, Countess Mariana de Fusco, was a valuable assistant to him in this work. His efforts resulted in the construction of the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii, which continues to be a major pilgrimage site to this day.

 

In addition to his religious work, Longo became a tireless advocate for social justice. He established schools, orphanages, and charitable institutions, especially for the children of prisoners. He believed firmly in the power of education and mercy to transform lives.

 

For the last 20 years of his life, Longo had constant health issues. He died on Oct. 5, 1926, Pope St. John Paul II, who called Bartolo the “Apostle of the Rosary” beatified him in 1980.

 

His final words were “My only desire is to see Mary.”

 

Until next week,

Fr. John