Saint Michael de Sanctis

1591- 1625

April 10

Also known as:  Michael of the Saints; Michael the Ecstatic
Memorial:  4 April


Profile
Decided at age six that he wanted to be a monk. Imposed such austerities on himself as a child that he had to be restrained. Orphaned, he became the apprentice of a merchant. Tried to join the Trinitarian monastery at Barcelona at age 12. Took his vows at age 15 at the monastery of Saint Lambert at Saragossa on 5 September 1607. Later felt drawn to the more austere Discalced Trinitarians; began his novitiate at Madrid, studied in Seville and Salamanca and took vows at Alcalá. Priest. Twice elected superior of the monastery at Valladolid. Lived a life of prayer and great mortification; especially devout towards the Holy Eucharist, and is said to have been rapt in ecstasy several times during Consecration. He was considered by his brothers to be a saint in life.


Born:  29 September 1591 at Vich, Spanish Catalonia
Died:  10 April 1625 at Valladolid


Beatified:  24 May 1779 by Pope Pius VI
Canonized:  8 June 1862 by Pope Pius IX


Representation:  kneeling before an altar where the Blessed Sacrament is exposed