THE RECIPIENT OF THE LETTER

His Eminence Lucido Maria Parocchi the Cardinal Vicar, Rome

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Lucido Maria Parocchi was born on August 13, 1833, in Mantua. After completing his theology studies, he was ordained a priest and appointed parish priest in Mantua. In 1871, he was consecrated Bishop of Pavia by Pope Pius IX. He was very zealous in the care of souls and the diocesan episcopal seminary flourished under his direction. In 1877, he became Archbishop of Bologna and in that same year, he was named cardinal. In 1882, Pope Leo XIII called him to Rome. After two years, Pope Leo entrusted him with the office of Cardinal Vicar. On September 17, 1885, on behalf of the Holy Father, he appointed Monsignor George Jacquemin as spiritual director of the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother. On October 4, 1885, he approved the sisters’ constitutions drafted by Mother Frances and showing great interest in the development of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother. Parocchi was esteemed as the most cultured of cardinals, in fact, he collected numerous philosophical and theological writings. One of his contemporaries said of him: "He combined in himself acute knowledge, great commitment and exquisite kindness." He died on January 15, 1903, at the age of 69. He is buried in the tomb of Propaganda Fide, Campo Verano, in Rome.