Saint RICHARD PAMPURI

 

(al secolo Erminio)

Born in 1897 at Trivolzio, 12 km from Pavia.

Died in Milan in 1930.

He was the tenth of eleven children, and lost his mother at the age of three and his father at the age of eleven. His sister testified that "Every day, before going to school, he used to visit the church". He was placed in the college of St Augustine in Pavia where he stayed for six years and where he maintained his spiritual commitment as well as his study. In Trivolzio, together with other companions, he founded the "Pius X" Catholic Action Circle, and a band.

On finishing high school he enrolled in the Faculty of Medicine, but had to interrupt his studies in 1917 to do his military service in the First World War with the rank of corporal in the Medical Corps, taking with him the Gospels, the Letters of St Paul and the Imitation of Christ. During the disastrous retreat following the rout at Caporetto, he was awarded a bronze medal for an act of bravery and for working himself to the verge of collapse, as a result of which he contracted suffered a sudden attack of fatigue, as a result of which he contracted tuberculous pleurisy, which flared up again ten years, leading to his death at the early age of only 33.

After graduating in Medicine in 1921, he worked as a district doctor in Morimondo (Milan), where he remained until 1927 when he entered the Hospitaller Order and where he exercised his profession as a true mission of charity towards his patients. It was his spiritual director Fr Riccardo Peretta, a fellow student of the Provincial Superior of the Lombardy-Veneto Province, Zaccaria Castelletti, who introduced the young Dr Ermino to the Brothers of St John of God - Fatebenefratelli, at the San Giuseppe hospital in Milan.

Fr Zaccaria, seeing the young man in poor health, told Fr Riccardo Peretta privately that, "Even if he were to stay for only one day as a member of our Order, he would be welcome. Having set an edifying example on earth, he will be a guardian angel in heaven". He was transferred to our St Orsola hospital in Brescia where he devoted himself to the most menial tasks as well as running the dental surgery.

His body rests in an urn in Trivolzio parish church, where it is visited by many pilgrims and devotees.

Beatified by Pope John Paul II on 04 October 1981.

Canonised by Pope John Paul II on 01 November 1989.

His liturgical Feast Day is 1 May.