On the morning of December 28th 2017, in the friary of Sabbioncello of Merate, Br. FRANCESCO BRAVI, former Vicar General and former Minister Provincial died at 61 years of age.
The funeral will be celebrated on Saturday, December 30th at 11:00 am in the Church of San Angelo in Milan (Piazza S. Angelo, 2, Milan). The wake will be held on Friday, December 29th at 8.30pm at Sabbioncello of Merate.
Obituary (in italian)
Br. Francesco Bravi (1956-2017)
Br. Francesco (Francesco) Bravi was born on February 9
th, 1956 in Maleo, Italy. His parents, Piero and Luigia Gaboardi, had him baptized on February 19
th that year, and he made his Confirmation on October 7
th, 1962.
Br. Onorio Pontoglio, Minister Provincial, admitted him to the Order in Rezzato (BS) on September 14
th, 1976 and he then went for novitiate to San Damiano, Assisi. He made Temporary Profession there on September 8
th, 1977, and made Solemn Profession at S. Angelo, Milan, on September 21
st, 1980. He was ordained Deacon on August 2
nd, 1981, and on May 24
th, 1982, he was ordained to the priesthood in Busto Arsizio. In 1982, he obtained a primary degree in Theology at the Pontifical Athenaeum
Antonianum, Rome, and he then attended the Faculty of Law at Sacred Heart Catholic University, Milan, from 1983 to 1988.
Elected Minister Provincial in the year 2000, he became President of
COMPI and Vice President of
CISM di Lombardia (an association of major superiors) from 2000 to 2003. On June 7
th, 2003, he was elected General Definitor for Italy at the General Chapter of the Order held in S. Maria degli Angeli from May 25
th to June 21
st 2003.
On November 10
th, 2004, following the death of Br. Antonio Franjic, Vicar General, the OFM General Definitory elected Br. Francesco as Vicar General and Procurator of the Order. Having completed his term of office, he returned to his Province in 2009 and lived in the Friary, Varese. On June 25
th, 2009, the General Definitory appointed him Visitator General for the Custody of the Holy Land.
During the Provincial Chapter held in Caravate (VA) in April 2010, he was again elected Minister Provincial and moved to the Provincial Curia at S. Antonio Friary in Milan. That same year he was elected President of the association of Ministers Provincial of Northern Italy, and made a significant contribution to the process of unification of the OFM Provinces of Northern Italy, which took place on May 16
th, 2016 in Padua with the birth of the Province of St. Anthony of the Friars Minor.
Because of the effects of a progressively debilitating illness (Parkinson's Disease), he was transferred to the Friary of Sabbioncello di Merate in September 2016 and there, insofar as his strength allowed, he lovingly served as a confessor and spiritual director. His joy was evident to all, as was his fraternal and fatherly spirit.
He was called to the Lord suddenly on the morning of December 28
th, 2017, during the Octave of Christmas, and was interred in Maleo cemetery (LO).
