Nunzio Sulprizio

Life

Nunzio Sulprizio was born on 13 April 1817 to Domenico Sulprizio and Rosa Luciani. He was baptized mere hours after his birth.

His father died in August 1820 and his mother remarried in 1822. His stepfather viewed Sulprizio with harshness and contempt. The relationship between the two was nonexistent and Sulprizio bonded more with his mother and maternal grandmother. At this time he also started to attend school that a local priest ran where he learned to read and to write. In his childhood he took the time to attend Mass and come to know Jesus Christ but also to follow His example and that of the saints.

His mother died on 5 March 1823 and he and was sent to live with his maternal grandmother Rosaria. The latter died on 4 April 1826. After this his uncle - Domenico Luciani - took him on as an apprentice blacksmith. His uncle was harsh on him and often left him without proper nourishment. He sent Sulprizio to run errands regardless of the distance which put a great strain upon him. The work was too much for him due to his age and he contracted a disease in 1831. It was found to be gangrene in one leg. He was hospitalized first in L'Aquila between April and June and then in Naples. Despite his pain he dealt with it with patience and his offering his pain to God.

The hospitalized Sulprizio later met his other uncle - Francesco Sulprizio - who introduced him to a fellow soldier: Colonel Felice Wochinger. His uncle introduced him to the colonel in 1832. The two's relationship soon grew until it became that of father and son. Gaetano Errico - future saint - promised him that he would admit him into his religious order when the time was right.

In 1835 the doctors decided to amputate his leg as their sole option but his pain continued. His situation worsened in March 1836 and his suffering increased. He continued to place his trust in God and was well aware of the fact that the end was near. Two months later he summoned his confessor and received the sacraments. He died in 1836 due to the disease he contracted. His remains are located in the Church of San Domenico Soriano in Naples. Decades after his death Pope Leo XIII proposed Sulprizio as a model for workers.

The process and beatification

He was regarded as a saint and it was something that Pope Pius IX agreed with. To that end he opened the canonization process for him on 9 July 1859 which conferred upon him the posthumous title Servant of God. The commencement of the cause saw the introduction of two local processes in both his birthplace and in Naples; both received formal ratification on 20 September 1877 in order for the cause to be able to proceed to the next stage.

He was proclaimed to be Venerable on 21 July 1891 after Pope Leo XIII approved that Sulprizio lived a life of heroic virtue. Leo XIII proposed Sulprizio as an appropriate model for workers of all ages.

The two miracles required for his beatification were investigated and Pope John XXIII approved them both before his death in 1963. Pope Paul VI beatified him on 1 December 1963.

Miracle for canonization

The miracle required for his canonization was investigated in Taranto and Archbishop Filippo Santoro placed the case under examination; it went to a diocesan tribunal from 19 June 2015 to 11 July 2016.

The miracle concerned a man who was injured in a motorbike accident who fell into a coma. A relic of Sulprizio was - at the request of his relations - placed in his hospital room. Almost a week after his parents were told he had made remarkable process and had awaken from his coma and was not in a vegetative state as was believed.

The case was closed in mid 2015 and must be sent to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints for further evaluation.