Padre Bernardino Giuseppe Bucci, OFM
July 17 is the anniversary of Padre Bucci’s entrance into Eternity (2020) – Eve of the Feast of Santa Maria Greca, Protectress of Corato – home Parish of the Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta!
Born in Corato June 15, 1935
Vestition August 14, 1955 – Eve of the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Temp Profession Aug 15, 1956 – Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Perpetual Prof Aug 15, 1959 – Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Ordination on March 14, 1964
Entered Eternity July 17, 2020 – Eve of the Feast of Santa Maria Greca, Protectress of Corato
Our Lady, Santa Maria Greca, Protectress of Corato, has shown a GREAT LIGHT, as Padre Bucci passed on the Eve of the Feast of Santa Maria Greca, second miraculous image from Heaven (the first being Our Lady of Guadalupe), with his Funeral Mass being offered in Bari on Her Feast day.
After his Baptism in the Parish Church of Santa Maria Greca, Bernardino Giuseppe Bucci grew to know and dedicate his life to the Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta. From a young age he saw many miracles around her, even being prophesied by Luisa herself to become a Priest. His name Giuseppe and the name of his sister Gemma were suggested to their parents by Luisa.
In 1955, he entered the Holy Novitiate of the Capuchin Friars of Alessano. He was ordained by his Excellency Msgr. Nicodemo, Archbishop of Bari, to the Franciscan Order of the Capuchins on March 14, 1964, in Triggiano, Italy.
He studied in Rome at the International College specializing in Missionary Theology. He was then assigned to the Convent of Scorrano, as spiritual Father for the Seraphic Seminary. In 1972 he studied the Licentiate and Doctoral Courses at the Ecumenical Faculty of St. Nicholas in Bari and also qualified in Literatures.
He was the Pastor of the Parish Church of the Immacolata in Trinitapoli starting January 1, 1997. Padre Bucci always had a special place in the hearts of the people, and of many Franciscan brothers and sisters he met in his travels. This is attributed to his role as a formator of consciences, or simply as a friend in the hour of need. He was also known as a Capuchin lover of the poor. Quite a few people asked that he be conferred honorary citizenship of their towns, communities, and countries.
Padre Bucci’s entire life and priesthood were immersed in the writings of the little daughter of the Divine Will, Luisa Piccarreta. He was the first priest to read, study and put into practice the Truths given to Luisa from Jesus.
Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta
Padre Bucci’s beloved Aunt Rosaria Bucci (1898-1978) took care of Luisa for forty years. Rosaria tirelessly promoted the beginning of the Cause of Luisa under the Spiritual Direction of St. Padre Pio.
Rosaria Bucci gave to Padre Bucci the original Volumes 35 and 36 that were not taken to the Vatican.
(Pictured) Rosaria Bucci on the left, next to Sister-in-law Rita (married to Luigi Bucci), then Gemma and her husband, with Padre Bucci on the far right.
Monsignor Savino Giannotti, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Trani-Barletta-Bisceglie-Nazareth, proclaimed Padre Bucci to be a member of the Ecclesiastical Diocesan Tribunal for the Cause of Beatification of the Servant of God, Luisa Piccarreta. He was Promoter of the Faith and member of the Diocesan Commission for the same Cause. On the Feast of Christ the King, November 20, 1994, Archbishop Carmelo Cassati of Trani opened the Cause in Chiesa Matrice di Santa Maria Maggiagore, Corato, Italy.
Padre Bucci published many books on the life of Luisa, with the Imprimatur of the Archbishop of the Archdiocese. He was placed in charge of diffusing the spirituality of the Divine Will according to Luisa’s writings. Padre Bucci expressly taught that in order to understand well the spirituality of the Servant of God, the following requirements are necessary:
- The Divine Will prayer groups must be formed of Eucharistic souls
- They must also be devoted to the Most Holy Virgin, Mother of God
- They must be submitted, in everything, to the authority of the Holy Church and especially to their own Bishop, who is the only guarantee of the Faith in the local Church
- All the writings that make reference to the diaries of Luisa, must be read and interpreted, only and solely, in the light of Sacred Scripture and of the Magisterium of the Church
- They also must have as spiritual father, Priests of sure orthodoxy.
Further, he stated, “…there must be a correct interpretation of the writings of Piccarreta in the light of the Magisterium of the Church; this is the precise will of this soul all of God, and very faithful and very obedient daughter of the Church. One who acts otherwise, is certainly a diabolical being who wants to hinder the fulfillment of the Kingdom of the Divine Will, of which the Servant of God is the bearer.”
As co-founder with Sr. Assunta Marigliano of the Association of the Divine Will, Padre Bucci spent many years as Spiritual Advisor of the Association, canonically erected on March 4, 1987, in Corato, Italy, where Luisa lived.
Various quotes of Padre Bucci:
“Luisa is not just a Saint… She is The Saint.”
“Luisa’s doctrines are not from earth but from Heaven.”
“You need to understand that Luisa wrote with the Light of the Church’s Authority.”
“Luisa is the Saint of the New Era.”
“Luisa is the Saint of the Holy Spirit.”
“We have three Eras. The Era of Creation, the Era of Redemption and the Era of Sanctification. Luisa is the Sanctity Era.”
“It would be as foolish for a lay person to stand at the Altar and say ‘this is my body’
as it would be for them to teach the Divine Will.”
“Jesus said the Divine Will is the Sacrament of Sacraments.”
“All the world will become Catholic. Luisa is the starting point….always remember this.”
Even in his last room, at the Infirmary of St. Fara, Padre Bucci had this invocation posted on the wall:
“Descend O Supreme Will, Come to Reign upon the earth!”
From the Provincial Curia of St. Fara in Bari:
“Now you have found your peace, brother Bernardino! Rest at last with the Saints, the Blessed, the Angels and sister Luisa, whom you so greatly admired down here, and who wants to welcome you at the Special Feast prepared for you in Paradise. We pray with you in this moment with the words of the Little chaplet of the Divine Will: ‘Lord Jesus, I praise You, I love You, I bless You and I thank You, God, with the Father and with the Holy Spirit, in Your Holy and Eternal Divine Volition. Amen!’”
Padre Bernardino Giuseppe Bucci, whom many attribute as Spiritual Father of the little children of the Divine Will throughout the world, was buried in the Bucci family tomb in Corato, in the very place where the Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta was buried until 1963. On July 3, 1963, Luisa’s body was moved inside the Church of Santa Maria Greca, Corato, Italy, where she was Baptized, and is now at the front of the Church at right side of the High Altar.
“I am Preparing for you an Era of Love – the Era of My Third Fiat.” – Jesus to Luisa Feb. 8, 1921
Taken from Padre Bucci’s Biography on the Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta:
“Luisa also lived on the Food of the Divine Will, which Jesus said in the Gospels, “a Food that you do not know of…” During that time through great sufferings and a Sublime Call to Holiness, Jesus taught Luisa about the fulfillment of the Our Father, the prayer that Jesus taught His Apostles.”
Prayer Requesting the Intercession of Padre Bernardino Bucci, OFM
O Most Holy Trinity, we pray through the intercession of Padre Bernardino Bucci, OFM,
that Our Lord be Glorified among the little children of the Divine Will,
and that His Kingdom Come to Reign upon earth.
We ask this through Our Lord Jesus, Our Lady, Mother and Queen of the Divine Will,
and through the little daughter of the Divine Will Luisa Piccarreta,
who Padre Bucci said the Church will one day state that Luisa is THE SAINT of the New Era.
Amen. Fiat!
