A holy apostle of the Rosary

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A holy apostle of the Rosary
That evening, in Pompeii, we met the Leonori brothers, engineers, who introduced us to Monsignor Silj and the venerable couple, Commander Bartolo Longo and Countess De Fusco. The Count deigned to spend a long time with us, discussing the history of the sanctuary, the construction of the new, grandiose bell tower in the style of the façade, and the construction of an altar to Saint Cecilia. He also endlessly recounted the graces of Our Lady of the Rosary, and the zealous work of as many as twenty-five confessors who, on the most important solemnities, receive the sacramental Confession of the countless faithful who flock there. He showed himself knowledgeable about our works, applauding them with the exuberant enthusiasm so characteristic of these southern people. A true example of a Neapolitan of faith, Commendatore Bartolo Longo kept us attentive for a whole hour and the following morning came down again to congratulate our nuns as they prepared for departure. He then offered hospitality and special assistance to Monsignor Tommaso Trussoni, whom he learned would stop to visit the shrine of Pompeii and the tomb of St. Alphonsus Liguori in nearby Pagani on his way to his see in Cosenza. La divina Provvidenza, no. 6, June 1913; Opere, V, p. 855
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The canonization of Bartolo Longo confirms the living “miracle” that
It is the Sanctuary of Pompeii. Don Guanella met it and was amazed by it.

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GA young lawyer from Latiano, in the province of Brindisi (born there in 1841), Bartolo Longo, like all young people, thinks of building a future for himself, but some unexpected events stand in his way. God's ways always hold a certain mystery for us. This was also true for Bartolo.

At the prayer rooms of Saint Catherine Volpicelli in Naples, Bartolo meets the young Countess Marianna Farnararo, widow of Count De Fusco, who entrusts him with the administration of some properties in the Pompeii area. Upon inspecting those lands, the lawyer encounters the extreme poverty of the inhabitants of the area, which includes the ruins of ancient Pompeii. The area is inhabited by several families in humble huts, who work in the fields from morning till night, while their children are abandoned throughout the day, without any care or education; sometimes their parents find themselves in prison.

One day, Bartolo, still troubled by his future, while in a neighborhood at the foot of Vesuvius (now Via Arpaia), felt a strong inner calling to dedicate himself to those people, in that area, and to introduce them to the Madonna and the Rosary. What followed was a long experience of faith and courageous initiatives, with repercussions that still amaze.