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He was born in Milan (Italy) on 11 March 1841, to Luis Menni and Luisa Figini, the fifth of their 15 children.
Together from his family background, something destined to mark the lives of all men, four episodes would have a particular influence on his decision to become a Brother of St. John of God:
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A spiritual retreat at the age of 17
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The advice of a hermit in Milan
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His daily prayers before a picture of the Virgin Mary
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The example of Brothers of St. John of God caring for wounded soldiers arriving at Milan station from Magenta, a service in which Menni himself was also involved.
He joined the Hospitaller Order of St. John of God in 1860, changing his name from his baptismal name of Ángel Hércules, to Benedict. He studied philosophy and theology at the Lodi Seminary and then at the Roman College (the Pontifical Gregorian University of Rome). He was ordained priest in 1866.
Pius IX then entrusted him with the difficult task of restoring the Hospitaller Order, which he began in 1867.
On 31 May 1881, he founded the Congregation of Sisters Hospitallers of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
By the time he died in Dinan (France), in 1914, he had created 22 large centres including homes for the needy, general hospitals and psychiatric hospitals. His remains lie at the Mother House in Ciempozuelos.
He was declared blessed by Pope John Paul II on 23 November 1985 and on 21 November 1999, he was canonised.
MARIA ANGUSTIAS GIMENEZ VERA
VEN. MARIA JOSEFA RECIO
Maria Josefa Recio and Maria Angustias Giménez were two young women from Granada who heard God’s call to offer their lives to the cause of the poor and sick.
After a number of ups and downs, they put themselves under the spiritual guidance of Father Menni, who, in the summer of 1880, sent them the following invitation from Ciempozuelos: “You may come, if you wish…” And that was it. They went; taking flight in the night from Granada.
They settled in Ciempozuelos and would soon receive the motto that would sum up their ascetic demands: pray, work, endure, suffer, love God and be silent.
On 31 May 1881, they set up the Congregation and on 30 October 1883, María Josefa Recio, died, a victim of hospitaller charity. Her friend lived on for another 14 years; she died in 1897.