St. Bartolo Longo was a layman who left the faith and returned, then built the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary in Pompeii and cared for orphans; he was canonized in 2025.
Life
Bartolo Longo was born in 1841 in Latiano, in the southern Italian region of Apulia. While studying law in Naples he drifted from the faith and even fell into spiritualism, but with the help of good friends he returned to the Church.
After his conversion he became a lay Dominican and taught the Rosary to the poor farmers near Pompeii. There he built the shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary and founded homes for orphans and for the children of prisoners. He married Countess Marianna De Fusco, and together they carried on this work. He died in 1926 and was canonized in 2025.
Spirituality
Bartolo Longo's spirituality is conversion and the Rosary prayed with Mary. He let God's mercy cover his dark past and led people to Christ through the Rosary. His prayer flowed straight into love for poor children.
Reflection
Even one who has wandered far can come back to God. Like Bartolo Longo, could we pray one decade of the Rosary today for someone we hope will return?