Blessed Anthony Grassi (1592-1671)
(uCatholic) Anthony’s father died when his son was only 10 yrs old but the young lad inherited his father’s devotion to Our Lady of Loreto. as a schoolboy, he frequented the local Church of the Oratorian Father’s, joining the religious order when he was 17
Already a fine student, he soon gained a reputation in his religious community as a ‘walking dictionary’ who quickly grasped scripture and theology. For sometime he was tormented by scruples but they reportedly left him at the very hour he celebrated his first Mass, from that day serenity penetrated his very being.
In 1621 at the age of 29, Anthony was struck by lightning while praying in the Church of the Holy House at Loreto, he was carried paralyzed from the Church expecting to die. When he recovered in a few days, he realized that he had been cured of acute indigestion. Anthony’s scorched clothes were donated to the Loreto Church as an offering of thanks for his new gift of life. More important, Anthony now felt that his life now belonged entirely to God and each year thereafter he made a pilgrimage to Loreto to give thanks.
Anthony also began hearing confessions and came to be regarded as an outstanding confessor. Simple and direct, he listened carefully to penitents, said a few words, giving a penance and absolution, frequently drawing on his gift of reading consciences. In 1635 he was elected ‘Superior of the Fermo Oratory, he was so well regarded, that he was reelected every three years until his death. Anthony was a quiet person and a gentle Superior, who did not know how to be severe–at the same time, he kept the Oratorian Constitutions literally, encouraging the community to do likewise.
Full biographical article here from Franciscan Media