Callistus Caravario Explained

Callistus Caravario
Titles:Martyr
Birth Date:18 June 1903
Birth Place:Cuorgnè, Italy
Death Place:Shaoguan, China
Feast Day:25 February
Venerated In:Roman Catholic Church
Beatified Date:15 May 1983
Beatified Place:Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City
Beatified By:Pope John Paul II
Canonized Date:1 October 2000
Canonized Place:Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City
Canonized By:Pope John Paul II
Honorific Suffix:S.D.B
Honorific Prefix:Saint

Callistus Caravario (18 June 1903 ― 25 February 1930) was a Salesian priest serving in China, who along with Luigi Versiglia was martyred in China on 25 February 1930.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

Early life

Caravario was born in Cuorgnè, Italy on 18 June 1903. He joined Salesians on the advice of Father Garelli and entered the Novitiate.

Mission in China

Callistus was inspired by the words of Bishop Luigi Versiglia who spoke of the missions to the Brothers on his visit to Turin in 1922 and wanted to join the mission in China. After a prolonged insisting to join the mission in China finally he was sent to China. He was sent to Macao and then he spent two years in Timor. He returned to Shaoguan on 18 May 1929 and was ordained a priest by Versiglia. He was entrusted with the mission at Lianzhou.

Martyrdom

On 13 February 1930, Caravario was accompanying Versiglia on his pastoral visit to his mission in Lianzhou and there were some young boys and girls with them. Their boat was stopped by a group of Bolshevik pirates on 25 February 1930, the pirates wanted to take the girls. Versiglia and Callistus tried to stop them but they were hit by the guns by the pirates and fell unconscious. Versiglia and Callistus were taken ashore and shot by the pirates. Their bodies were found on 27 February 1930.

Sainthood

Caravario was declared a martyr by Pope Paul VI in 1976 and was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1983. He was canonized on 1 October 2000 along with Luigi Versiglia by John Paul II.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: St Callistus Caravario (2000). 2021-07-03. Salesian Missions. en-US.
  2. Web site: 2009-02-25. Saint Callistus Caravario. 2021-07-03. CatholicSaints.Info. en-US.
  3. Web site: 2019-06-04. Saint Callistus Caravario - Saint of the Day - February 25 -. 2021-07-03. Catholic Daily Readings. en-US.
  4. Web site: St. Callistus Caravario. 2021-07-03. faith.nd.edu.
  5. Web site: St. Callistus Caravario - Saints & Angels. 2021-07-03. Catholic Online. en.