All of you know that I love learning about the saints, as I often preach on different saints in my homilies at daily mass. Even though I have read many books on the saints and have studied the saints a great deal, it is amazing how I am always discovering saints I have never heard of before. Vico Necchi was born in Milan, Italy in 1876. His father died when he was young. His mother and step father were atheists, but his two maternal aunts were devout Catholics; he was very much influenced by them. Italy was going through a very secular era back then, but he was always very bold in witnessing his faith to his friends and classmates, even as a child and a youth. He became a medical doctor and also became a third order Franciscan. He help found a Catholic center in Milan, using the values of the Catholic faith to influence the social problems of that time. He served as a doctor in the Italian military in WWI, but also took that opportunity to minister to the sick and to his fellow soldiers. He later was one of the co-founders of the University of the Sacred Heart in Milan. He has been declared as a servant of God on the path to becoming a saint.
We hear the familiar Gospel today from Luke about Jesus cleansing a leper. It is important for us to note that Jesus did not distance himself from the feared diseases of his day; he brought healing to the people in a very direct, personal, intimate way. Luke tells us that Jesus stretched out his hands, touched the leper, and said to him: “I do will it. Be cured.” Jesus risked contamination and condemnation because he knew that real healing comes through involvement, not rejection and condemnation. Jesus risked touched others to cure them in a caring, loving way. Servant of God Vico Necchi healed people as a medical doctor, his chosen profession. We can bring healing to people in different ways as disciples of Christ, especially to those on the margins.
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