Lino Maupas, Franciscan monk, born in Spalato in
Dalmazia, on 30 August 1866 and died in Parma at
the Barilla pasta factory on 14 May 1924. Father
Giovanni Maupas was a descendant of a famous,
noble, French family and would have liked to have
had a son as a lawyer, but Lino chose instead a
religious life. His mother, Rosa Marini of
Avezzano, was a well-known actress and Lino
inherited from her a rich interior, a love for all
creatures and the gift in being able to see the
goodness which is hidden in each person. He
finished his novitiate at Fucecchio and went to live
in Albania. Then he went to Bologna mainly to
remedy his sight (he was operated in one eye).
He arrived in Parma on 18 June 1893. Firstly, he
became Chaplain of the Church of Saint
Annunziata and secondly, Chaplain of the
"Riformatorio Lambruschini della Certosa" in Via
Mantova. Parma in those days was quite poor and
turbulent; flees and tuberculosis reigned in certain
districts, including outlaws' hide-outs and dotted
with disreputable bars frequented by quarrelsome
people. Father Lino was given cell number 38 in
the convent of the Annunziata.
It is from this point onwards that his meticulous
and constant, research work began regarding the
approaching of the poor, the ignorant, children and
whoever was beyond living in a civilised way. In
1898 began the rebellion of the poor, which became
ever more violent up until 1907 when Father Lino
saved his church from the fury of the people.
But it was whilst being the prison's chaplain that
the monk received the most affection, especially
from people who had become tired with time and
not used to loving; then he was given the job of
chaplain at the Lambruschini community home and
was moved from the convent to the prison.
Always without protest, refusing food and sleep he
was led to a premature old age; in his last years he
didn't even have the strength to climb the stairs to
enter into his cell and he used to fall asleep on the
church floor.
Then finally, he died in the Barilla pasta factory on
14 May 1924 whilst he was asking the company to
take on a young man in need.
In his pocket they found all his worldly goods: a
handful of crumbs.
On 25 July 1942 began the process of beatification
at the "Curia vescovile di Parma", whilst the statue
of Father Lino in the cemetery of the Villetta
district, is continuously visited by followers asking
for miracles.