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Blessed John Angelo Porro OSM
Born in Milan about 1451 John Angelo entered the Friars Servants of Mary in his home town. While there he felt attracted to a greater solitude. For some time he explored life in a hermitage along the River before completing his studies for priesthood.
Even while partaking in a life of community, prayer, and service, John felt a continued call to a more solitary life. The opportunity came to become part of the Servite community of hermits on Mount Senario, the birthplace of the Order. John spent his time in contemplation and penance growing in his love of the Lord. During his entire life as a Servant of Mary, John moved between the more active life of a community service, or parish work, and the solitary life of a hermit.
Fra Ermes M. Ronchi, prior of the Milan community in 1996 at an event to honor Blessed Angelo Porro commented: "Blessed John Angelo lived between these two poles: the hermitage and the city. His pilgrimage was from the city to the hermitage. Milan and the small Servite community of Cavacurta, near Lodi, where he was a hermit. Florence and the hermit community on Monte Senario. Florence and the small hermitage in Chianti. Milan and his small cell at the bottom of the garden along the street which is still called the friars’ garden behind the church of San Carlo. John Angelo was a friend of nature: he loved the land, the forests, the flowers and the plants. Both at his hermitage and in the city he sought out a green corner and as St. Bernard says, ‘From trees and stones he learned what no other book could have taught him’."
(quote excerpted from Jan-Feb 1997 issue of COSMO) |