LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the canoni-
zation of Saint Vincent Pallotti

WHEREAS, From time to time this Legislative Body takes note of certain
individuals whose spiritual lives and holy actions served to inspire
members of their ethnic communities, and indeed, many others across our
State and Nation, and throughout the world; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commemorate the 50th
Anniversary of the canonization of Saint Vincent Pallotti; and
WHEREAS, Saint Vincent Pallotti was born in Rome on April 21, 1795,
the third of 10 children, five of whom died in infancy; and
WHEREAS, As a young man, Saint Vincent Pallotti became aware of his
vocation to the priesthood; at the age of twelve, he selected Father
Bernardino Fazzini as his confessor and spiritual director; and
WHEREAS, Father Bernardino Fazzini, a diocesan priest, recognized in
Vincent a person of extraordinary spiritual gifts; he played a formative
role, inculcating in his young charge a profound awareness of God, the
discipline of self and a readiness for apostolic service; and
WHEREAS, With clear sightedness and a resolute will, Saint Vincent
Pallotti brought an energy to his life project, in spite of frail health
and recurrent bouts of illness; and
WHEREAS, In 1818, Saint Vincent Pallotti was ordained priest at the
age of 23, already experienced from years of involvement with catech-
ists, youth associations, ministry to peasant farmers and the poor; and
WHEREAS, Seeing how he poured himself out in a staggering number of
apostolic ventures, the ordinary people called Vincent Pallotti the
"apostle of Rome"; and
WHEREAS, Saint Vincent Pallotti's intuitive awareness of the spiritual
situation and his gift of eliciting help from all classes of people led
to the providential founding of the Union of the Catholic Apostolate in
1835; and
WHEREAS, The Union of the Catholic Apostolate was conceived as a
united front, directing the efforts of lay people, religious and clergy,
and bringing Christ's message of faith and love to people of need in
Rome and elsewhere; and
WHEREAS, In Saint Vincent Pallotti's time, participation by the laity
in the hierarchical apostolate had almost vanished; and
WHEREAS, Saint Vincent Pallotti's effort was closely aligned with the
Spirit of Vatican II, which proclaimed that the whole Church, in all its
members, was missionary; and
WHEREAS, For Saint Vincent Pallotti, the call to apostolate had its
fundamental basis not in hierarchical approval, but in one's creation in
the likeness of the God of infinite love; and
WHEREAS, Saint Vincent Pallotti remained in Rome during the 1848-1849
Revolution, in spite of attempts on his life; he died in Rome on January
22,1850; and
WHEREAS, Saint Vincent Pallotti was canonized by Pope John XXIII on
January 20, 1963, who later declared him the Principal Patron of the
Pontifical Missionary Union of the Clergy; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the canonization of Saint Vincent
Pallotti, recognizing the powerful effect his life had on the world; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Pallottine Sisters of the Catholic Apostolate, Monroe,
New York.