From the seed that dies life is reborn

Speaking of Father Gregory a truth is clear: he never asked for anything for himself, and he was never searching for recognition or merit. He has now delivered to the printing press the drafts of the Rules, but his health conditions take away the joy of seeing the printed document. His body is so weakened that it lacks autonomous movement.

Even cardiovascular disease, never cured, is now felt with many discomforts. Father Gregory presided, in November 1893, the council meeting and then he was not showing himself anymore. Sister death is approaching. On 21 January 1894, at the end of the Eucharistic celebration, in the last prayer, he collapsed on the ground and fell into the arms of his confrere who was assisting him.

He spent another two days, between moments of recovery and agony and, after having blessed all his daughters near and far, present and future, he returned to the House of the Father: it was the dawn of January 23, 1894. As soon as he ascended to Heaven, the Servant of God did not interrupt his act of love for his over 200 daughters: he obtained for them, a few months after his death, the Decree of approval, signed on June 12, 1894. The Institute and its Constitutions were then definitively approved by the subsequent Pontifical Decree of 14 August 1905. Since then the Institute of the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart has developed considerably.

Currently the religious are present in: EUROPE (Italy, France, Switzerland, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Albania); MIDDLE EAST (Turkey, Cyprus, Lebanon); ASIA (India, Philippines); AFRICA (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of the Congo)); AMERICA (U.S.A, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Mexico). (Cfr. M. Antonietta Pozzebon " The Servant of God Father Gregorio Fioravanti, ofm ", Editrice VELAR, 2012)