Contardo Ferrini (1849–1902)

Biography

He was also stubborn and capricious and needed his father's punishments to diminish those defects in his character. From a very young age she made the vow of chastity, but she kept it a secret. Since he read the Imitation of Christ in school, he was no longer interested in pleasing people and being famous and rich, but rather always pleasing God. He was an enthusiastic mountaineer and a superior student. At the age of 21 he obtained his doctorate and obtained a scholarship to specialize in Berlin, at the Faculty of Engineering. The employees of the hotel where he lived were amazed that he fasted many days and spent entire nights in prayer. After completing his specialization, he returned to Italy and was appointed professor at the University of Pavia when he was only 23 years old. In Italy there were many anti-Catholic laws and Contardo began to promote organizations that defended the faith within the government. He was elected councilor of Milan and achieved strong initiatives in favor of religion. He also promoted the founding of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart. He published more than 200 monographs as well as several volumes of school texts. He was beatified in 1947, and when he was in the canonization process, the owner of the hotel where Contardo had lived asked why they wanted to beatify him if all he had done was fulfill his duties well. When they told this comment to the Pope, he replied: “That is the best definition of a saint: one who fulfills his duties very well, for the love of God.”