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More than 700,000 faithful filled St. Peter’s Square this month—not to protest or grandstand, but to witness a miracle of transformation centuries in the making.

In an extraordinary ceremony led by Pope Leo XIV, Bartolo Longo, a onetime occultist who publicly renounced Satanism and devoted his life to service, was officially canonized as a Catholic saint, as Daily Mail reports.

The journey that brought Longo from seances and demonic rituals to sainthood is not just incredible—it’s a clear rebuttal to our culture’s obsession with moral relativism and spiritual gimmickry.

From Darkness and Despair to Redemption

Longo’s life began simply enough in 1841 in Latiano, Italy, where he trained as a lawyer. But grief overtook him following his father’s death, leading him down a dark path that modern culture is all too eager to romanticize.

In his vulnerable state, he fell into occultism. Not content with dabbling, Longo went all in—acts of depravity that included drug-fueled orgies, extreme fasting, and even an alleged pact with a demon.

Longo wasn't just lost. He became a Satanic priest, leading spiritualist gatherings—a precursor to the kind of "enlightened" practices idolized by too many in today’s pop spirituality scene.

The Turning Point: A Father's Voice and a Friend’s Warning

Longo says it was a voice—his deceased father’s—that jolted him out of darkness. The words were strikingly simple: “Return to God!”

Shaken, he turned to a trusted friend, Professor Vincenzo Pepe, who warned him that these occult games led not to enlightenment, but to madness.

This moment of intervention wasn’t coddling or therapy speak—it was truth delivered plainly. And it proved life-altering.

Confession, Repentance, and Total Transformation

Under the guidance of Dominican priest Father Alberto Radente, Longo committed himself to rigorous spiritual rehabilitation—a full month of confession and repentance.

He didn’t quietly slink away from his former life, either. He publicly disrupted séances and spiritualist meetings, raising a rosary in defiance and declaring, “I renounce spiritualism; it is nothing but a web of lies and deception.”

That’s the kind of courage that stands in stark contrast to today’s culture, where moral accountability is often optional and virtue signaling replaces actual virtue.

A New Life Devoted to Faith and Service

After six years of steadfast charitable work, Longo formally committed his life to the faith. He took vows as a lay Dominican on the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.

He founded the Pontifical Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary of Pompeii, a site that today reminds the world that even the worst past can be used for good.

Not content with symbolism, Longo rolled up his sleeves and built real institutions: an orphanage for girls, and later two homes for the children of prisoners—work that serves as a rebuke to today’s performative activism.

A Saint Recognized by the Church

Longo died in 1926, but his legacy only grew. Those with eyes to see have long understood this was no ordinary redemption story—it was the blueprint for conversion, humility, and perseverance grounded in truth.

This October, Pope Leo XIV officially affirmed what many believers have believed for years: Longo is a saint. He was canonized alongside six others, including three nuns, a Venezuelan doctor known for serving the poor, and an archbishop martyred during the Armenian genocide.

“Today we have before us seven witnesses,” Pope Leo said on October 19, “who, with God’s grace, kept the lamp of faith burning.” A little old-fashioned, perhaps—but these days, old-fashioned faith is precisely what we need.

Proof That Mercy and Truth Still Matter

Canonization isn’t handed out like social media likes. Longo’s recognition comes after the full process of “Servant of God” to “Venerable,” then “Blessed,” and finally—decades later—“Saint.”

The steps demand rigorous proof of virtue and miracles. Apparently, restoring a soul from Satanic priesthood to sainthood met that bar. Maybe today’s elites could learn a thing or two about setting standards.

Pope Leo XIV’s words during the canonization capture the moment’s gravity: “May their intercession assist us in our trials and their example inspire us in our shared vocation to holiness.” Translation? Saints lead by example, not hashtags.

Faith Restored in a Time of Confusion

In a society increasingly confused about right and wrong, Longo’s story offers a shot of clarity. He embraced absolute truths, not subjective feelings. He turned from ruin to redemption—and stayed the course.

The fact that over 700,000 people gathered for the canonization says a lot. People are hungry for something more lasting than virtual virtue and curated outrage.

Bartolo Longo's elevation reminds us that even in today's swirling chaos, there's still room for repentance, grace, and purpose. But that kind of turnaround requires something too many avoid: the courage to face the truth.