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St Francesco Saverio Maria Bianchi was born in Arpino in 1743. He was educated in the boarding school of the Saints Charles and Philip, and in 1762 he entered in the order of the Barnabites to become a priest. He had taught in the boarding school of Arpino for two years before moving to Naples where he taught in universities. His dedication to the cultural activity had always been in sync with his religious vocation. As the years rolled by his vocation started to be oriented to mysticism. He was confessor of Charles Emmanuel the Fourth of Sardinia, of his wife Maria Clotilde and of numerous cardinals and bishops. Thanks to his fame, he was called Saint and Apostle of Naples. The tradition wants that, thanks to his benediction, he stopped the lava flowing from the Vesuvio during an eruption in 1804. He was then suddenly afflicted by a mysterious leg illness, due to which he was not able to walk. He died in Naples on January 31st 1815, he was beatified on January 22nd 1893 by Pope Leo XIII and he was canonised on October 21st 1951 by Pope Pius XII.