VENERABLE GIACOMO TORNO, CR
Giacomo Torno was born as the second child of the family in 1539 (or 1541) in Naples, to the lawyer Giovan Antonio Torno and Laura Follera. As a young man, he studied letters and law, and at the age of 18, despite his father’s strong opposition, he joined the Theatine Regular Clerics in San Paolo Maggiore, being received on October 30, 1558, by the superior, Blessed Giovanni Marinoni, who had previously been his confessor. On February 24, 1560, Giacomo made his solemn profession in the basilica of San Paolo Maggiore, and on April 20 he was sent to Rome to the Theatine house of San Silvestro al Quirinale, where he received minor orders and the subdiaconate. He returned to Naples for health reasons in 1567, the same year he was ordained a deacon and in 1568 a priest, always at the House of San Paolo Maggiore. Throughout his life, he was a great example of humility, frequently requesting the humblest duties in the house, such as carrying water daily to wash the chamber pots, taking out the trash, and cleaning the church of dog droppings. He never aspired to hold any dignity or position in the Theatine Order, always refusing to participate in the chapters and preferring silence and prayer to avoid judging his confreres. Despite his natural tendency towards stubbornness, the Servant of God was described by all as the most affable Theatine, a model of gentleness and patience; he was never heard to utter a harsh word or seen to make an offensive gesture. He was a masterful example of obedience, never daring to do anything without the permission of his confessor or superior. As an example, before darning a sock or moving a paper figure from one place to another in his cell, he always asked for permission, maintaining this practice even in old age. Giacomo Torno obeyed not only his superiors and confessors but also the younger clerics and brothers in the community, as well as the lay brothers, helping them with the humblest tasks. The Servant of God was always ready, never shirking requests made of him, becoming a clear example not only of obedience but also of availability. He was in charge of inspecting the hosts for Holy Mass, cleaning all sacred utensils, washing the sacristy linens, and caring for the church’s furnishings. He carried out this duty with dedication, edifying not only young clerics but also many laypeople who admired the cleanliness and extraordinary precision of San Paolo Maggiore. Giacomo Torno continually fought against himself, his passions, and desires. His confreres called him “a friend of the choir and the cell.” He was highly knowledgeable about cases of conscience and the breviary rubrics, so the superiors entrusted him with the care and guidance of the choir, a position he held for many years. Some confreres testified that when reciting the psalms, the Servant of God would be absorbed in contemplation, his face altered by ecstasy. He was an inspiring example of prayer, not only for the novices, who always saw him present and punctual in the choir, but also for the confreres and lay faithful who admired his piety and devotion. Although Giacomo Torno suffered throughout his life from various illnesses that weakened him physically, he never showed signs of suffering. Despite having a strong character—described by contemporaries as “the nature of a dragon”—he never let it show, constantly offering examples of charity, humility, patience, and mercy. Fr. D. Valerio Pagano C.R., a contemporary of the Servant of God, declared: “In order to exercise better in the virtue of patience, the Lord allowed [Giacomo Torno] to be cruelly tormented by demons, who appeared to him day and night, giving him every possible torment, even cruel beatings. Many times I, who lived near his cell, was called urgently as he struck the wall separating our cells, and he urged me so much that I barely had time to put on my robe and run to him. He never wanted to say anything, except, ‘For charity, stay with me for a while, and be patient with the inconvenience.’ And when I had stayed for a while, he would say, ‘Go rest,’ thanking me greatly and asking for forgiveness for the trouble caused. Later, it was learned from his confessors that he called for help to defend himself better against the demons.” This testimony reveals the great insight of the Servant of God, who understood that one of the best ways to drive demons away from his life was the presence of his confreres. Thus, without reservation, Giacomo Torno can be defined as the Apostle of communal life. Additionally, Giacomo Torno was one of the confessors of St. Andrew Avellino and assisted him at his deathbed. He studied the Holy Scriptures assiduously and confessed daily. His confreres considered him a saint even during his lifetime. The Servant of God died saintly in Naples on January 18, 1609, in San Paolo Maggiore, where his incorrupt body still rests today. As early as 1611, just a few years after his death, the ‘informative process’ was initiated in the church of San Paolo Maggiore. He was venerated with the title of Blessed by the popular acclamation of the Neapolitans. In the 19th century, knight Andrea Torno Aldana (1813-1898) created a glass case for the incorrupt body of the Servant of God, facilitating the opening of the wooden case where the Venerable was kept for the faithful who requested it. On May 23, 2020, Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe authorized the reopening of the beatification process of Venerable Giacomo Torno.
Author: P. Aleksander Iwaszczonek C.R.
