User:Francesco A.A. Mastrachio/sandbox

Father Anselmo was born Antonio Luigi Apollonio in Sassinoro (Benevento) in Italy on February 25th of 1827 to Raffaele Apollonio and Maria Saveria Mastracchio. Already from his first years of infancy he manifested charitable sentiments and Christian virtues and so he was invested with the Franciscan habit during his youth.

He was very studious in philosophy and theology, top of his class and he was assigned a post at Saint Berardino Convent in Aquila.

In 1857 he departed for Koper in Slovenia where he taught theology and preached during Lent in the Cathedral of Zara in the capital of Dalmatia in Austria and for twelve years dedicated his ministry to preaching throughout Dalmatia.

He returned to Italy in 1869 living a simple life dedicated to teaching and preaching.

He was responsible for the construction of the minor convent of Santa Maria degli Angeli (Our Lady of the Angels) in Sepino (Campobasso). He also, in his quest to restore monasticism in the Samnium Valley (southern Italy) opened and restored the monasteries of Cascalenda (Campobasso), Ripalimosani (Campobasso) and Pietravairano (Caserta).

Father Anselmo preached throughout the many towns and villages that dot the region of Molise instilling enthusiasm in the faithful with the fascination of his words and with his example of a life of simplicity, humility and poverty.

For many years he ruled the restored monastic province of San Ferdinando in the region of Puglia.

He authored a book on the life of Saint Joseph and booklets on holy festivals as well as the life of the virgin martyr Saint Christina. In these literary works and the many other unpublished manuscripts Father Anselmo revealed the soul of a philosopher and great theologian.

In homage of the merits of his zealous apostolate and to his profound doctrine he was counted among the examiners of the Boiano Synod of August 25th 1885 and successively delegated to the institution in the Diocese of Third Order Franciscans.

He died in San Martino in Pensilis (Campobasso) while giving his homily at Mass on February 25th, 1896 at the age of 69.

Mourned and venerated as a saint, his body was transported with all honors in Sepino and his remains are entombed there in the church.