Blessed Francis Faà di Bruno

One of our patrons (see And Now a Word from Our Sponsors, below) is Blessed Francis Faà di Bruno.

If you’re thinking “Faà who?--you’re not alone! Blessed Francis Faà di Bruno was born in 1825, the youngest of 12. He became first a mathematician and later a priest. How late? He was ordained at the age of 51!

Here’s a quote from AmericanCatholic.org (Read the full entry here.)

It wasn’t Francis’ lack of scholarly ability or deep-down goodness that almost kept him from the priesthood, but his bishop’s distrust of “late vocations.” Until the later part of the 20th century, most candidates for the priesthood entered the seminary right out of grade school. Today no bishop would refuse a middle-aged applicant—especially someone whose care for people in need is constant. Francis is a holy reminder that God’s call to reassess our life’s direction can reach us at any age.

Hmm, I’m not sure that “today no bishop would refuse a middle-aged applicant”! But the need for such to show that their late vocation comes from a life of openness to the Holy Spirit’s leading is well taken.

Blessed Francis Faà di Bruno, pray for us!