O
odhiambo
Guest
Saint Daniel Comboni……
Back in Rome, Father Mazza had by now died and his successor was not too keen on Daniel’s Plan. He was on his own or so it seemed, but God was very much with him on this one. An advisor suggested to him that he should form his own missionary society. This was what he did. On 1 June, 1867, the new organization was set up in Verona and given the name of “The Institute of the Good Shephard for the Regeneration of Africa.” Other priests interested in missionary work joined him as well as some sisters and even some Africans many of whom were from the Mazza College. The group sailed to Africa arriving in Egypt in December 1867 and on New Year’s Day of 1868; they were able to open two colleges in Cairo, one for women and the other for men. When their money ran out, Comboni returned to Europe to raise more funds which he took back with him to Africa.
When the First Vatican Council was convoked by Pope Pius IX on 29 June 1868, Father Comboni wrote to his adviser ( Cardinal Barnabo), about the possibility of his going to Rome to inform the Church Fathers about the needs of the Church in Africa. In March 1880, Father Comboni returned to Europe and attended the Council. He presented a document to the Council Fathers and sixty five bishops supported it and signed to that effect. The document asked the bishops to find a way of sending workers into this “abandoned part of the Lord’s vineyard”.
Father Comboni was indeed committed to Africa. His motto was “Africa or death”. On 1January, 1872, he founded a society of women known as the Comboni Missionary Sisters.
In May 1872, the Vatican approved the two institutions he had founded and officially entrusted them with a mission. Father Comboni was then appointed Pro-Vicar Apostolic of Central Africa, meaning that while still a priest, he had the full authority of a bishop in that area.
When he went back to Africa in 1872, on the Sunday after his arrival, he preached in Arabic to a cosmopolitan congregation of freed slaves, Arabs, missionaries and European dignitaries. This is part of what he told them “The first love of my youth was for Africa, and, leaving all that was dear to me in the world, I came here 16 years ago. Because of the poor state of my health, I was obliged to return home. I left out of obedience, but I left my heart among you. And today, now that I have found my heart again by returning among you, I will never abandon you. I intend to belong to each one of you.”
In 1876, Father Comboni returned to Europe to raise more funds and to defend himself against accusations of waste of money and not caring for his missionaries. Investigations into the allegations absolved him completely of any wrong doing. He was ordained the first bishop of Central Africa in August 1877. Back to Africa he went that same year and was met by a great famine. He directed all his energies towards ameliorating the effects of the famine. But the famine began to affect the missionaries and several of them died. In his report to Verona he wrote:
“ What more than anything else filled my spirit with deep affliction and sorrow, to the point of nearly dying of anguish and grief, was the torment which lack of resources, diseases and death inflicted on the active personel of the mission. In these fierce trials, we were inspired to stand firm in our holy vocation, and to persevere more than ever with our war cry “Africa to death” “
Utterly worn out by these trials, he was forced to return to Europe again in May of 1879. He gave talks in cities in Europe and identified three main difficulties for missionaries in Africa as 1: Long hazardous journeys. 2: Tropical diseases. 3: The problem of numerous languages.
Two years later, he was back in Khartoum. While mourning the death of three of his missionaries that had just taken place, he too became ill with a fever. On the evening of 9 October, the Bishop talked for a long time about his crosses. He talked about his missionaries, about his dear old father, his friends, etc. That was his last night here on earth. Before noon on 10 October, he asked for the Sacraments of Penance and Holy Communion which he received. Later he received also the Anointing of the Sick. He died on 10 October 1881 at 10 pm. Yes, it was indeed “Africa to death” for him and many of his missionaries.
As soon as the children of the mission school were told of the Bishop’s death, they burst into such a wild, desperate crying, so loud and prolonged that all Khartoum guessed what had happened. In no time, all the yards and surroundings of the mission were crowded with people of all races and religions, who according to their custom started mourning very loudly. All night and the following day, people kept coming to weep for their common father and benefactor.
The next morning, the remains of the Bishop were taken into the chapel for the Solemn Office and High Mass. All the authorities were present.
Before the burial, the Austrian consul said a few words of farewell to “ his friend and the Angel of Africa” None of the missionaries, so overwhelmed, had the strength to speak.
Told about the death of Bishop Comboni, Pope Leo XIII reportedly raised his arms towards heaven and exclaimed:** “ Poor Africa, what a loss!”**
He was proclaimed venerable on 26 March 1994 by Pope John Paul II, beatified on 17 March 1996 by Pope John Paul II at Saint Peter’s Basilica, Rome and canonized on 5 October 2003 by Pope John Paul II.
Saint Daniel Comboni,
Pray for us!
Back in Rome, Father Mazza had by now died and his successor was not too keen on Daniel’s Plan. He was on his own or so it seemed, but God was very much with him on this one. An advisor suggested to him that he should form his own missionary society. This was what he did. On 1 June, 1867, the new organization was set up in Verona and given the name of “The Institute of the Good Shephard for the Regeneration of Africa.” Other priests interested in missionary work joined him as well as some sisters and even some Africans many of whom were from the Mazza College. The group sailed to Africa arriving in Egypt in December 1867 and on New Year’s Day of 1868; they were able to open two colleges in Cairo, one for women and the other for men. When their money ran out, Comboni returned to Europe to raise more funds which he took back with him to Africa.
When the First Vatican Council was convoked by Pope Pius IX on 29 June 1868, Father Comboni wrote to his adviser ( Cardinal Barnabo), about the possibility of his going to Rome to inform the Church Fathers about the needs of the Church in Africa. In March 1880, Father Comboni returned to Europe and attended the Council. He presented a document to the Council Fathers and sixty five bishops supported it and signed to that effect. The document asked the bishops to find a way of sending workers into this “abandoned part of the Lord’s vineyard”.
Father Comboni was indeed committed to Africa. His motto was “Africa or death”. On 1January, 1872, he founded a society of women known as the Comboni Missionary Sisters.
In May 1872, the Vatican approved the two institutions he had founded and officially entrusted them with a mission. Father Comboni was then appointed Pro-Vicar Apostolic of Central Africa, meaning that while still a priest, he had the full authority of a bishop in that area.
When he went back to Africa in 1872, on the Sunday after his arrival, he preached in Arabic to a cosmopolitan congregation of freed slaves, Arabs, missionaries and European dignitaries. This is part of what he told them “The first love of my youth was for Africa, and, leaving all that was dear to me in the world, I came here 16 years ago. Because of the poor state of my health, I was obliged to return home. I left out of obedience, but I left my heart among you. And today, now that I have found my heart again by returning among you, I will never abandon you. I intend to belong to each one of you.”
In 1876, Father Comboni returned to Europe to raise more funds and to defend himself against accusations of waste of money and not caring for his missionaries. Investigations into the allegations absolved him completely of any wrong doing. He was ordained the first bishop of Central Africa in August 1877. Back to Africa he went that same year and was met by a great famine. He directed all his energies towards ameliorating the effects of the famine. But the famine began to affect the missionaries and several of them died. In his report to Verona he wrote:
“ What more than anything else filled my spirit with deep affliction and sorrow, to the point of nearly dying of anguish and grief, was the torment which lack of resources, diseases and death inflicted on the active personel of the mission. In these fierce trials, we were inspired to stand firm in our holy vocation, and to persevere more than ever with our war cry “Africa to death” “
Utterly worn out by these trials, he was forced to return to Europe again in May of 1879. He gave talks in cities in Europe and identified three main difficulties for missionaries in Africa as 1: Long hazardous journeys. 2: Tropical diseases. 3: The problem of numerous languages.
Two years later, he was back in Khartoum. While mourning the death of three of his missionaries that had just taken place, he too became ill with a fever. On the evening of 9 October, the Bishop talked for a long time about his crosses. He talked about his missionaries, about his dear old father, his friends, etc. That was his last night here on earth. Before noon on 10 October, he asked for the Sacraments of Penance and Holy Communion which he received. Later he received also the Anointing of the Sick. He died on 10 October 1881 at 10 pm. Yes, it was indeed “Africa to death” for him and many of his missionaries.
As soon as the children of the mission school were told of the Bishop’s death, they burst into such a wild, desperate crying, so loud and prolonged that all Khartoum guessed what had happened. In no time, all the yards and surroundings of the mission were crowded with people of all races and religions, who according to their custom started mourning very loudly. All night and the following day, people kept coming to weep for their common father and benefactor.
The next morning, the remains of the Bishop were taken into the chapel for the Solemn Office and High Mass. All the authorities were present.
Before the burial, the Austrian consul said a few words of farewell to “ his friend and the Angel of Africa” None of the missionaries, so overwhelmed, had the strength to speak.
Told about the death of Bishop Comboni, Pope Leo XIII reportedly raised his arms towards heaven and exclaimed:** “ Poor Africa, what a loss!”**
He was proclaimed venerable on 26 March 1994 by Pope John Paul II, beatified on 17 March 1996 by Pope John Paul II at Saint Peter’s Basilica, Rome and canonized on 5 October 2003 by Pope John Paul II.
Saint Daniel Comboni,
Pray for us!
He was an Austrialian. He used to cover “long hazardous journeys” although the local congregation had a car. I was amazed by how he fit himself in the society.)
So when I was discussing with this Marist Brother, one of the first question I asked him was how he coped healthwise. He gave me a very simple answer. He said when he had malaria, he took quinine and everything was ok. We both laughted. 
(Quinine is probably the worse drug–very bitter–that I have ever taken.)–And the health system during the 19th century at the time of St. Daniel can’t be compared to that of the 21st century for sure. So it is much more easier for the “missionaries” today.-- He told me he lived in Africa for 26 years. (Was probably challenging me. 
I only noticed it by chance and was very surprised it was being sold and at such a high price. 
