The Diocesan Inquiry was held at the Curia of San Severo (Fg) from 25 March 2009 to 30 November 2013. Having prepared the Positio, under the guidance of the Relator Fr Zdzisław Józef Kijas, they discussed, according to the usual procedure, whether the Servant God exercised the virtues to a heroic degree. With positive results, the Special Congress of Theological Consultors was held on 29 September 2020 and the Ordinary Session of Cardinals and Bishops on 4 May 2021.
The Cause of Beatification and Canonization, promoted by the Diocese of San Severo and the parish of Croce Santa, is followed by the Salesian Postulation in the persons of Fr Pierluigi Cameroni, SDB, Postulator General for the Causes of Saints of the Salesian Family, of Sister Francesca Caggiano, Daughter of Mary Help of Christians, Vice-Postulator, and of Dr. Lodovica Maria Zanet, collaborator.
Fr Felice Canelli was born in San Severo (Fg) on 14 October 1880 to Gabriele and Teresa Marchitto; on October 17 he received Holy Baptism and Confirmation in the Cathedral Parish. At the age of 6, he was orphaned of his father. He was 8 years old when he first received the Holy Eucharist; at the age of 12, in October 1892, he entered the seminary. He received priestly ordination from Msgr. Bonaventura Gargiulo on June 6, 1903.
His tireless apostolic activity saw him as an animator of Christian life in every field of the apostolate. In his pastoral work, he privileged youth in need, both materially and spiritually. Fr Canelli was also always attentive to social life: it was he who invited Fr Romolo Murri and Fr Luigi Sturzo to give lectures to the young and the general public. Anticipating the demands of the Second Vatican Council, he valued the apostolate of the laity to permeate society with Christian values. He died on November 23, 1977.
The desire of Jesus to kindle the fire of charity in all areas of human life well outlines the spiritual physiognomy of the new Venerable Fr Canelli. These, under the banner of Rerum Novarum, a milestone in the social doctrine of the Church, and with the motto Da mihi animas, coetera tolle and the Salesian educational binomial "good Christians and upright citizens", as a true "external" son of St. John Bosco , lived his long and intense priestly ministry with tireless pastoral charity and made himself "everything for everyone" (1 Cor 9:22) to win souls to the Lord.
