The Saint

"The Saint" by Antonio Fogazzaro is a sequel to Piccolo Mondo Moderno, the novel takes up the story of Piero Maironi. After a dramatic meeting with Jeanne Dessale, the reformed Maironi (now Benedetto) takes refuge as a monk in a religious community in the mountain village of Jenne and acquires a reputation among the peasants there as a saint who sometimes works miracles of healing. Bendetto calls for a thorough reform of Christian spirituality and thought. Benedetto/Maironi's program of spiritual reform is developed by Fogazzaro from ideas of the Italian philosopher Antonio Rosmini. Benedetto forms with Don Clemente and Professor Giovanni Selva the nucleus of a latter-day Cénacle who call themselves Le Catacombe.