Giuseppe Cognata
Most Reverend Giuseppe Cognata, SDB | |
---|---|
Bishop of Bova | |
Church | Catholic Church |
Diocese | Diocese of Bova |
In office | 1933–1940 |
Predecessor | Andrea Taccone |
Successor | Enrico Montalbetti, Obs. S.C. |
Orders | |
Ordination | August 29, 1909 |
Consecration | 23rd of March 1933 by Ven. Card. Augusto Hlond, Metropolitan Archbishop of Gniezno and Poznań (Poland.) |
Personal details | |
Born | October 14, 1885 |
Died | July 21, 1972 Pellaro, Italy |
Nationality | Italian |
Denomination | Roman Catholic |
Giuseppe Cognata (Agrigento, 14 October 1885 - Pellaro, 22 July 1972) was an Italian Catholic bishop and member of the Salesians of Don Bosco. He was the founder of the Salesian Oblates of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a female religious institute of pontifical right. Due to accusations that were proved false many years after, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith condemned Mgr. Cognata to be dismissed of his condition of Bishop on December 20, 1939.[1] Monsignor Giuseppe Cognata in Easter 1962 was reinstated by Pope John XXIII in the Episcopate, after the true came out. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith announced on February 17th, 2020 that Pope Francis has given consent to open the Cause of Beatification of Mons. Giuseppe Cognata, S.D.B.[2]
Life
Giuseppe Cognata was born in Agrigento on October 14, 1885 in an important family of his region with great Catholic tradition, especially from his mother.
Priesthood
At 12 years old, Giuseppe entered the Saint Basil Salesian School of Randazzo in Sicily and also applied for a vocational following as a priest among the order of Don Bosco, among a bitter opposition from his father and grandfather. He made perpetual profession as a religious man on May 5, 1908 in Saint Gregory of Catania in front of the Rector Major of the Salesians, Blessed Michael Rua. The following year, on 29 August 1909, he received priestly ordination in Acireale. He had already successfully achieved a double degree in literature and philosophy and therefore began to work as a professor and assistant. From Sicily, he was then transferred to other Salesian houses in the Veneto and Marche regions.
During the First World War, as many religious young men, Giuseppe was recruited as a soldier in Palermo, Trapani, Padua and precisely in Trapani in a military guise, where he laid the first foundations of the Salesian work which he was called to direct a few years later, after the war. He distinguished himself in various apostolic activities, becoming "all things to all", always tireless, ready for every instance, always mild and smiling. He raised a church dedicated to Mary Help of Christians almost out of nowhere, dedicated himself with zeal and commitment to the school and the oratory (youth centre). From Trapani he was then called to direct the college of Randazzo, then that of Gualdo Tadino in Umbria, and finally he was director of the "Sacro Cuore" in Rome, where today is the Main Salesian headquarters.
References
- ^ ANS, 2020. MG - Biographical note regarding Bishop Giuseppe Cognata (1885-1972), S.D.B., Bishop of Bova and Founder of the Salesian Oblates of the Sacred Heart. Agenzia Info Salesiana, 19 April 2020. Link retrieved on April 24, 2020 from https://www.infoans.org/en/sections/news/item/10218-rmg-biographical-note-regarding-bishop-giuseppe-cognata-1885-1972-s-d-b-bishop-of-bova-and-founder-of-the-salesian-oblates-of-the-sacred-heart
- ^ ANS, 2020. MG - Official announcement by the Rector Major Cause of Beatification and Canonisation of Bishop Giuseppe Cognata. Agenzia Notizie Salesiane. Rome 18 April 2020. Link retrieved on August 24, 2020 from https://www.infoans.org/en/sections/news/item/10217-rmg-official-announcement-by-the-rector-major-cause-of-beatification-and-canonisation-of-bishop-giuseppe-cognata