HANNIBAL MARY DI FRANCIA was born in Messina, Italy, on July 5, 1851. His father Francis was a knight, the Marquises of St. Catherine of Jonio, Papal Vice-Consul and Honorary Captain of the Navy. His mother, Anna Toscano, also belonged to an aristocratic family. The third of four children, he lost his father when he was only fifteen months old. The sad experience of losing a parent made him decply sensitive to the plight of children bcreft of parents and this, inlluenced his life and his educational system.

In childhood he developed such love for the Eucharist that he was allowed to receive Communion daily, something quite exceptional in those days. He was only seventeen when, at prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament, he was given the "revelation of Rogate", that is, he decply felt that vocations in the Church come only through prayer. Subsequently he found that such prayer is commanded by Jesus in the Gospel when He says: "Ask [Rogate] the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers to gather his harvest" (Mt 9:38; Lk 10:2). These words became the fundamental insight to which he dedicated his entire lite.

annibal proved to be ol lively intelligence with remarkable literary abilities. As soon as he lelt the cali of God, he immediately responded by placing himself and his talents at the service of God. After his theological studies, he was ordained a priest on March 16, 1878. A few months before his ordination, he met an almost blind beggar, Francesco Zancone, a providential encounter which led him to discover the sad social and moral reality of one of the poorest neighborhoods in the outskirts ol Messina (Case Avignone). It was the beginning of a long walk and his boundless love for the poor and the orphans was one of the primary characteristic of his life.

With the permission and the encouragement of his bishop, Msgr. Joscph Guarino, he made the Avignone ghetto his home and dedicated himself completely to tbc redemption of its inhahitants. In accordance with the Gospel, he saw them as "sheep without a shepherd". It was an experience strongly marked by misunder¬standings, difficulties and obstacles of every kind which he overcame by great faith, seeing Jesus Christ in the poor and marginalized people. He was carrying out what he defined as the "spirit of a twofold charity: the evangelization of and the care for the poor".

In 1882 he started his orphanages, which vere called " Anthonian Orphanages" because they were placed under the patronage of St. Anthony of Padua. His concern was not only to provide the children with food and occupation, but above all to assure that they vere brought up in a way that integrated the moral and religious aspects of their lives, offering a family climate which helped lead them to discover and follow God's plan for them.