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Gennaro Maria Sarnelli was born on September 12, 1702 in Naples, Kingdom of Naples (now Italy), fourth of eight children.
As a child, Gennaro exhibited what some sociologists call “The best little boy in the world” pattern. Such boys are generally very sensitive to others, and they strive to do their best to follow the rules and please those in authority. They usually have a very strong sense of right and wrong, and always seek to do what is right. When they fail, they often have great guilt and are not at peace until they make amends. Gennaro was such a boy, obedient and diligent in school.
When he was about fourteen, Gennaro decided to become a Jesuit priest, but his father urged him to study law instead. Gennaro followed his father’s wishes and obtained a doctorate in civil and canon law in 1722.
Gennaro was a successful lawyer and, like many lawyers and physicians, became a member of the Congregation of the Knights of the Legal and Medical Professions. Members were required to spend some of their time nursing the sick in the Hospital of the Incurables that was run by the Pious Workers of St. Nicholas of Toledo.
Like many saintly people, it was through nursing the sick that his vocation became clear; he would become a priest.
So, in 1728, at the age of 26, Gennaro began studying for the priesthood while also working with children’s religious education. In June of 1732, Gennaro was ordained a priest. Two years later, however, he joined a group of diocesan priests who had formed the Congregation of the Apostolic Missions. He gave his money to the poor and threw himself into serving those in need, especially the elderly, the sick, and those condemned to death.
A year later, in 1733, Fr. Gennaro made another vocational change by joining his friend Fr. Alphonsus Liguori who had just founded a new religious order, the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer – the Redemptorists. Soon, the two Redemptorists began giving missions together all over Italy. In April 1736, however, Fr. Gennaro’s health began to decline, and he was forced to return to Naples. For the next ten years, Fr. Gennaro lived in a poor apartment with another religious and did what he could for those in need in Naples.
In Naples, Fr. Gennaro did what he could to fight against prostitution. He did what he could to help young women find a different way of making a living, and he fought against the pimps and others who were benefited financially from prostitution. Needless to say, he made many enemies, but only death would stop him.
Another one of Fr. Gennaro’s special ministries was to help young boys who were forced to work as dock-laborers. And, he never forgot to serve the sick and those in prison.
Although Fr. Gennaro worked tirelessly as a home missionary, he was also a gifted writer like his companion, Alphonsus Liguori. Fr. Gennaro published more than 30 books on a variety of subjects, such as pedagogy (methods of teaching), ascetical theology, Mariology, moral issues of the day, mysticism, pastoral practice, and socio-juridical studies.
On June 30, 1744, Fr. Gennaro died in his bed at the age of 42. His dear friend, Fr. Alphonsus Liguori, was with him along with two other Redemptorists.
After his death, Fr. Alphonsus, now known as St. Alphonsus Liguori, wrote the first biography of Gennaro Sarnelli.
Pope John Paul II beatified Gennaro on May 12, 1996. Blessed Gennaro Sarnelli’s feast day is June 30.
