Erminio Filippo Pampuri
Erminio Filippo Pampuri, in religion Fra Riccardo, was born in Trivolzio on 2 August 1897, the tenth of eleven children, to Innocenzo and Angela Campari, and was baptized the following day. Orphan of his mother at three years old, he was welcomed and educated in the home of his maternal uncles in Torrino, a hamlet of Battuda but dependent on the parish of Trivolzio. In 1907 his father also died in Milan in a road accident. He attended primary school in two nearby towns, Trovo and Casorate, the first gymnasium in Milan and was then a student at the Sant'Agostino College in Pavia. After completing his high school studies at the "Ugo Foscolo" high school, he enrolled in the faculty of medicine at the University of Pavia. During the First World War, he was under arms in the years 1915-1920, providing medical service in the war zone, first as a sergeant, then as an aspiring medical officer. On 20 March 1921, a few months before graduating, he became a Franciscan Tertiary with the name of Antonio, receiving his signs in the Canepanova convent in Pavia. He graduated in medicine and surgery with top marks on 6 July 1921 at the aforementioned university of Pavia. After an internship with his doctor uncle and a brief substitution in the Vernate medical branch, he was appointed medical officer of Morimondo (Milan). In 1922 he commendably completed a specialization course at the Obstetric-Gynecological Institute of Milan, and in 1923 the course for qualification as a health officer at the University of Pavia. Very early he began to open his mind and heart to the Christian ideals of holiness and the apostolate, so that even as a child he wanted to follow the priestly and missionary life, but was always dissuaded from doing so by his frail health. Since his adolescence he was always and everywhere a shining example of the Christian who, despite living in the middle of the world, openly and consistently professes the evangelical message and practices the works of mercy with generous dedication. He loved prayer and was constantly in intimate union with God even during external activity. Assiduous at the Eucharistic table, he lingered for a long time before the holy tabernacle in deep adoration. Extremely devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary, he recited the Rosary several times a day. He was an active and industrious member of the Severino Boezio University Club of Pavia and also of the Conference of San Vincenzo de' Paoli and Franciscan tertiary. Belonging to Catholic Action since he was a boy, he arrived in the medical center of Morimondo, and was a precious collaborator of the parish priest, co-founder of the Catholic Action Youth Club, of which he was the first president, and of the musical body: both named after Saint Pius X. He was also secretary of the missionary commission of the parish. He organized shifts of spiritual exercises at the "Villa del Sacro Cuore" of the Jesuit Fathers in Triuggio, for the young people of the club and for the country workers and factory workers, generally also supporting the expenses, and he also invited colleagues and friends. In the exercise of his profession, in addition to being very studious and competent, he was admirably attentive, generous and charitable. He visited the sick without ever sparing himself either day or night in any part of the Medical Conduct, which was very inaccessible at the time. Since the sick were mostly poor, he gave them medicines, money, food, clothing, blankets, and also extended his charity to workers and the needy both in Morimondo and the nearby farms, and in other towns and localities. Therefore, when, after about six years, he left the Medical Conduct to become a religious man, the regret of having lost the "holy doctor" was very lively and general, to the point of even the daily press echoing it. The Dr. Pampuri embraced the hospital religious life in the Order of Saint John of God ("Fatebenefratelli") in order to be able to achieve evangelical perfection more quickly and at the same time continue to practice the medical profession to relieve suffering others. Having entered the Order in Milan on 22 June 1927, after a year of novitiate in Brescia, he took his religious vows on 24 October 1928. Appointed director of the dental office attached to the Fatebenefratelli Hospital in Brescia, frequented mainly by the poor and workers, Fra Riccardo tirelessly worked to relieve them with wonderful charity, attracting the esteem and veneration of the entire population. During his religious life, Brother Riccardo, as he had always been throughout the century, was a model of perfection and charity for everyone: for his brothers, for doctors, for the sick, for paramedical and auxiliary staff and for anyone else who approached him. He was held in the concept of sanctity by all. Following the resurgence of pleurisy contracted during military service, which degenerated into specific bronchopneumonia, on 18 April 1930 he was transported from Brescia to Milan, where he died a holy death on 1 May at 33 years of age, "leaving the memory of a doctor who he was able to transform his profession into a mission of charity, and of a religious who reproduced in himself the figure of the true son of St. John of God" (Decree of heroic virtues, 12 June 1978). After his death, the fame of sanctity that he enjoyed during his life spread widely throughout Italy, Europe and other continents. Many faithful obtained notable, even miraculous, graces from God through his intercession. Once the two miracles presented were approved, he was beatified by His Holiness John Paul II on 4 October 1981. Then, once the healing that took place on 5 January 1982 in Àlcadozo (Àlbacede, Spain) through the intercession of Blessed Riccardo Pampuri was recognized as miraculous, the miracle was approved . On the feast of All Saints, 1 November 1989, he was solemnly canonized. The short but intense life of Fra Riccardo Pampuri is a spur for all the people of God, but especially for young people, for doctors, for religious people. He invites contemporary young people to live the Christian faith joyfully and courageously; in continuous listening to the word of God, in generous coherence with the demands of Christ's message, in giving towards our brothers. He appeals to doctors, his colleagues, to carry out their delicate art with commitment, animating it with Christian, human, professional ideals, so that it is an authentic mission of social service, of fraternal charity, of true human promotion. To the men and women religious, especially to those who, in humility and concealment, carry out their consecration in the hospital wards and in nursing homes, Fra Riccardo recommends living the original spirit of their Institute, in love of God and of brothers in need" (Homily, 4 October 1981). The body of Saint Riccardo Pampuri is kept and venerated in the parish church of Trivolzio (Pavia) in the chapel dedicated to him. His liturgical feast is solemnly celebrated in Trivolzio on 1 ° May.