Born at Camporosso (Italy), August 20, 1813
Taking of the habit at Saint-Just, August 1, 1834
Oblation at Notre-Dame du Laus, August 15, 1835 (no. 64)
Ordination to the priesthood at Marseilles, June 24, 1838
Died at Le Calvaire in Marseilles, November 17, 1846.
Antoine-Marie Gibelli was born at Camporosso, diocese of Ventimiglia, August 20, 1813. He studied at the minor seminary of Ventimiglia where he received the tonsure May 28, 1831. He began his novitiate at Saint-Just near Marseilles, August 1, 1834 and made his oblation at Notre-Dame du Laus, August 15, 1835. After three years of theology at the major seminary in Marseilles, he was ordained to the priesthood on June 24, 1838.
Bishop de Mazenod sent him immediately to Vico to have Father Albini initiate him into the art of preaching. They only preached one mission together at Linguizetta. Father Albini soon fell ill and died, May 20, 1839. Left alone at Vico with two lay brothers, Father Gibelli spent a year without preaching any missions. He prepared sermons, supervised the carrying out of repairs being made to the monastery, taught catechism every Sunday to the children either of Nesa or of Vico. He continued this form of apostolate between his various missions right up until 1846.
During the summer of 1840, the Founder sent him two confreres, Father Joseph De Veronico and Father Étienne Semeria, as superior. Father Gibelli became first assessor and treasurer. They began their community life by having a retreat together. Bishop de Mazenod wrote to Father Semeria, November 19, 1840: “I also congratulate Father Gibelli for the graces he received during your retreat and I rejoice over the satisfaction he experiences at now being in the midst of a community, which, though very small provides nonetheless, all that is needed to live happily. I join all of you in spirit to enjoy a few moments of consolation in compensation for the immense sorrows I experience on the other hand. May you be blessed, my dearest Father Semeria, and you, my dearest Father Gibelli. Neither of you have ever saddened your father’s heart. May this witness be a first reward for your good behaviour and an additional title for what you are expecting from the supreme distributor of graces, the just judge who will reward each according to his deeds.” (Letters to the Oblates of France, 1837-1842, Oblate Writings I, vol. 9, no. 718, p. 156)
Together, they gave twenty-five missions from 1840 to 1845. Father Gibelli preached well and his health seems to have been very good. From January 1846, he began to spit blood. He was suffering from a pulmonary affliction that quickly made alarming progress. At the beginning of November, it was decided to send him to Marseilles. He died at Le Calvaire on November 17, 1846. In a November 25 letter, the Founder announced his passing to Father Semeria in these words: “What a loss we have just incurred in the person of this blessed Father Gibelli. The doctors assassinated him when they sent him across the sea in the pitiful state in which he was. That cries for vengeance. If this untimely trip had not shortened the days of this religious, I would bless the Lord for having embraced him, blessed him, consoled him with my presence, and have edified myself by the sublime sentiments which animated him until his last breath. I have suffered so much my heart was broken when I lost so young a son who was so rightly loved, so useful to the family and to the Church; but on the other hand it is consoling that we can say that there is not a saint on our altars who had a more holy death. What sweet peace! What confidence! He left for a Heaven whose doors were wide open.” (Letters to the Oblates of France, 1837-1842, Oblate Writings I, vol. 10, no. 916, p. 146-147) Father Gibelli is buried in the Oblate vault in the cemetery in Aix.
Yvon Beaudoin, o.m.i.
