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Memorial: 2 April
Profile
Following a pilgrimage in his teens to Rome and Assisi, he became a hermit
in a cave near Paola. Before he was 20 years old he began to attract
followers. By the 1450's the followers had become so numerous that he
established a rule for them and sought Church approval. This was the
founding of the Hermits of Saint Francis of Assisi, who were approved by
the Holy See in 1474. In 1492 they were renamed the Franciscan Order of
Minim Friars, which means they count themselves the least of the family of
God.
Prophet. Miracle worker. Reputed to read minds. In 1464 Francis wanted to
cross the Straits of Messina to reach Sicily, but a boatman refused to
take him. Francis laid his cloak on the water, tied one end to his staff
to make a sail, and sailed across with his companions. Franz Liszt wrote a
piece of music inspired by the incident.
Defender of the poor and oppressed. Gave unwanted counsel and admonitions
to King Ferdinand of Naples and his sons. Traveled to Paris at the request
of Pope Sixtus IV to help Louis XI prepare for death. Used this position
to influence the course of national politics, helping restore peace
between France and Brittanny by advising a marriage between the ruling
families, and between France and Spain by persuading Louis XI to return
some disputed land.
Francis died on Good Friday while still at court in France. In 1562
Huguenots broke open his tomb, found his body incorrupt, and burned it.
The bones were salvaged by Catholics, and distributed as relics to various
churches.
Born: 1416 at Paola, Calabria, Italy
Died: 2 April 1507 at Plessis, France
Canonized: 1512 by Pope Julius II
Patronage: against fire,
boatmen, Calabria, Italy (named by Pope John XXIII in 1963), mariners,
naval officers, plague epidemics, sailors, sterility, travelers, watermen
Representation: man with
the word "charitas" levitated above a crowd; man holding a skull and
scourge; man sailing on his cloak
Reading
Fix your minds on the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. Inflamed with love
for us, he came down from heaven to redeem us. For our sake he endured
every torment of body and soul and shrank from no bodily pain. He himself
gave us an example of perfect patience and love. We, then, are to be
patient in adversity.
Take pains to refrain from sharp words. Pardon one another so that later
on you will not remember the injury. The recollection of an injury is
itself wrong. It adds to our anger, nurtures our sins and hates what is
good. It is a rusty arrow and poison for the soul. It puts all virtue to
flight.
Be peace-loving. Peace is a precious treasure to be sought with great
zeal. You are well aware that our sins arouse God's anger. You must change
your life, therefore, so that God in his mercy will pardon you. What we
conceal from men is known to God. Be converted, then, with a sincere
heart. Live your life that you may receive the blessing of the Lord. Then
the peace of God our Father will be with you always.
from a letter by Saint Francis of Paola
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