Born in 1639 to Filippo Macchia and Giovanna Alcini, a rich couple, Giovanni Antonio at the age of 33, married a certain Maria Lusignoli of Monzone in 1672, and had from this marriage six children, two of which died in infancy, while one them, named Filippo became a priest and ministered first in Polinago as parish priest and then in Brandola as archpriest. After fourteen years of marriage, Maria passed away, leaving the youngest son at only eight years of age.
Wisely advised by those close to him, Macchia married again, this time to Domenica Perrotti, the sister of the Archpriest of Polinago.
Passing himself away in 1694, shortly before his death, he made his will, which is preserved in the parish archive of Gombola. Buried beneath the church floor of the parish church of San Michele Arcangelo near the main altar, for over a century, he rested in his vault, until May 8, 1830, when during the reparation of the floor, his body was found incorrupt, 136 years on his death. His cloak of the Fraternity of the Blessed Sacrament that he was wearing on his burial where also found in perfect conditions. The event aroused great emotion not only in Gombola, but also in the near parishes. He was then placed in a room between the church and the vicarage which immediately became a place of pilgrimage.
Several times the bishop and the health officer asked the parish priest to transfer Macchia's remains to the cemetery, but the people of Gombola who considered him as a saint did not agree.
The only relocation occurred in 1959, when he was moved from the parish church to the Oratory of the Madonna del Carmine where it remains to this day. It is said during this event, a miracle was attributed to the saint when a nine year old boy, suffering from a malformation of the leg, was miracoulosly cured.
The Archpriest of Gombola, Don Paolo Casolari (1803 - 1853) wrote the memoirs of Macchia that told different graces obtained through his intercession. The people of Gombola still call him "The Saint" and continue to worship him in the oratory near the cemetery.
Wisely advised by those close to him, Macchia married again, this time to Domenica Perrotti, the sister of the Archpriest of Polinago.
Passing himself away in 1694, shortly before his death, he made his will, which is preserved in the parish archive of Gombola. Buried beneath the church floor of the parish church of San Michele Arcangelo near the main altar, for over a century, he rested in his vault, until May 8, 1830, when during the reparation of the floor, his body was found incorrupt, 136 years on his death. His cloak of the Fraternity of the Blessed Sacrament that he was wearing on his burial where also found in perfect conditions. The event aroused great emotion not only in Gombola, but also in the near parishes. He was then placed in a room between the church and the vicarage which immediately became a place of pilgrimage.
Several times the bishop and the health officer asked the parish priest to transfer Macchia's remains to the cemetery, but the people of Gombola who considered him as a saint did not agree.
The only relocation occurred in 1959, when he was moved from the parish church to the Oratory of the Madonna del Carmine where it remains to this day. It is said during this event, a miracle was attributed to the saint when a nine year old boy, suffering from a malformation of the leg, was miracoulosly cured.
The Archpriest of Gombola, Don Paolo Casolari (1803 - 1853) wrote the memoirs of Macchia that told different graces obtained through his intercession. The people of Gombola still call him "The Saint" and continue to worship him in the oratory near the cemetery.
Born in 1639 to Filippo Macchia and Giovanna Alcini, a rich couple, Giovanni Antonio at the age of 33, married a certain Maria Lusignoli of Monzone in 1672, and had from this marriage six children, two of which died in infancy, while one them, named Filippo became a priest and ministered first in Polinago as parish priest and then in Brandola as archpriest. After fourteen years of marriage, Maria passed away, leaving the youngest son at only eight years of age.
Wisely advised by those close to him, Macchia married again, this time to Domenica Perrotti, the sister of the Archpriest of Polinago.
Passing himself away in 1694, shortly before his death, he made his will, which is preserved in the parish archive of Gombola. Buried beneath the church floor of the parish church of San Michele Arcangelo near the main altar, for over a century, he rested in his vault, until May 8, 1830, when during the reparation of the floor, his body was found incorrupt, 136 years on his death. His cloak of the Fraternity of the Blessed Sacrament that he was wearing on his burial where also found in perfect conditions. The event aroused great emotion not only in Gombola, but also in the near parishes. He was then placed in a room between the church and the vicarage which immediately became a place of pilgrimage.
Several times the bishop and the health officer asked the parish priest to transfer Macchia's remains to the cemetery, but the people of Gombola who considered him as a saint did not agree.
The only relocation occurred in 1959, when he was moved from the parish church to the Oratory of the Madonna del Carmine where it remains to this day. It is said during this event, a miracle was attributed to the saint when a nine year old boy, suffering from a malformation of the leg, was miracoulosly cured.
The Archpriest of Gombola, Don Paolo Casolari (1803 - 1853) wrote the memoirs of Macchia that told different graces obtained through his intercession. The people of Gombola still call him "The Saint" and continue to worship him in the oratory near the cemetery.
Wisely advised by those close to him, Macchia married again, this time to Domenica Perrotti, the sister of the Archpriest of Polinago.
Passing himself away in 1694, shortly before his death, he made his will, which is preserved in the parish archive of Gombola. Buried beneath the church floor of the parish church of San Michele Arcangelo near the main altar, for over a century, he rested in his vault, until May 8, 1830, when during the reparation of the floor, his body was found incorrupt, 136 years on his death. His cloak of the Fraternity of the Blessed Sacrament that he was wearing on his burial where also found in perfect conditions. The event aroused great emotion not only in Gombola, but also in the near parishes. He was then placed in a room between the church and the vicarage which immediately became a place of pilgrimage.
Several times the bishop and the health officer asked the parish priest to transfer Macchia's remains to the cemetery, but the people of Gombola who considered him as a saint did not agree.
The only relocation occurred in 1959, when he was moved from the parish church to the Oratory of the Madonna del Carmine where it remains to this day. It is said during this event, a miracle was attributed to the saint when a nine year old boy, suffering from a malformation of the leg, was miracoulosly cured.
The Archpriest of Gombola, Don Paolo Casolari (1803 - 1853) wrote the memoirs of Macchia that told different graces obtained through his intercession. The people of Gombola still call him "The Saint" and continue to worship him in the oratory near the cemetery.
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