Blessed Nicolò Rusca

Also known as

• Hammer of the Heretics

Memorial

• 4 September

Profile

Studied at the Collegium Helveticum in Milan, Italy from 1580 to 1587. Priest in the diocese of Como, Italy. Worked to revive Catholic practice and theology in the period after the Council of Trent and in the face of expanding Protestantism. Archpriest of Sondrio, Italy. Falsely accused of being involved in radical violence against Protestant ministers, he was arrested on 24 July 1618 and died during torture a few weeks later. Martyr.

Born

• 20 April 1563 in Bedano, Italy (in modern Ticono, Switzerland)

Died

• tortured to death on 4 September 1618 in Thusis, Graubünden, Switzerland
• relics in the collegiate church at Sondrio, Italy

Venerated

• 19 December 2011 by Pope Benedict XVI (decree of martyrdom)

Beatified

• 21 April 2013 by Pope Francis
• beatification recognition celebrated in Sondrio, Italy, presided by Cardinal Angelo Amato

Canonized

• if you have information relevant to the canonation of Blessed Nicolo, contact
     Parrocchia di SS. Gervasio e Protasio
     Via Nicolò Rusca, 2
     23100 Sondrio, ITALY

Additional Information

• Alessandro Botta
• Diocesi di Como
• Hagiography Circle
• Wikipedia

MLA Citation

• “Blessed Nicolò Rusca“. Saints.SQPN.com. 21 April 2013. Web. 23 May 2013. <>