Bartolo Longo
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Blessed Bartolo Longo (February 11, 1841 - October 26, 1926) was a Satanist priest who later repented and became a lay Dominican, dedicating his life to the Virgin Mary.
Bartolo Longo was born into a wealthy family on February 11, 1841 in the small town of Latiano, near Brindisi, in southern Italy. His parents were devout Roman Catholics and taught him to pray the Rosary daily.
In 1851 Longo's mother died and he slowly began to drift from his childhood faith. As a young man he attended the University of Naples and became involved with a movement that led him into a Satanist cult. Longo eventually studied to become, and was eventually ordained, as a satanic priest.
In the following years, Longo's life became one of depression, nervousness, and confusion. He turned to a hometown friend, Vincenzo Pepe, for guidance. It was Pepe who convinced him to abandon Satanism and introduced him to the Dominican Father Alberto Radente - who guided him further.
Longo spent a period of time repenting and made his profession as a lay Dominican. He took the name Brother Rosario in honor of the Rosary. The date of his conversion was October 7, 1871.
In 1872, now as Brother Rosario, he began to do good service to make up for his time as a servant of Satan. He went to Pompeii, where he had joined a charitable group, and aided the wealthy widow Countess Mariana di Fusco. He worried, however, that he would still be condemned to hell for his having been a Satanic priest. He was calmed by remembering what Father Alberto had told him - that the Virgin Mary had told St. Dominic, "he who propagates my Rosary will be saved." It was these words that led him to begin evangelizing people to the Rosary.
He started restoring a dilapidated church in October of 1873 and sponsored a festival in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary. In 1875, Longo obtained a well worn painting of Our Lady of the Rosary from a convent in Naples and raised funds to get the image restored so as to locate in the church.
Miracles began to be reported and people began flocking in droves to the church. Longo was given permission by the bishop of Nola to begin the construction of a larger church - the cornerstone being laid on May 8, 1876. The church was consecrated in May 1891 by Cardinal La Valetta (representing Pope Leo XIII). In 1939, the church was enlarged to a basilica, known today as the Basilica of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary.
At the suggestion of Pope Leo XIII, Longo and the Countess Mariana di Fusco were married on April 7, 1885. The chaste couple continued to do many charitable works and provided for orphaned children. In 1906 they donated the entire property of the Pompeii shrine to the Holy See. Longo continued promoting the Rosary until his death on October 5, 1926, at the age of 75. The piazza on which his basilica stands has since been named in memory of Longo.
On October 26, 1980 he was beatified by Pope John Paul II, who would call him the "Apostle of the Rosary."
On October 7, 2003 Pope John Paul II prayed for world peace at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, a popular Catholic shrine near the ancient ruined city of Pompeii. More than 30,000 people were waiting to greet him as he flew in by helicopter.
