Saint Francis of Paola

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Saint Francis of Paola
Feast Day	April 02
Liturgical Class
Patronage	Boatmen, mariners, naval officers, travelers at sea, Paola, Italy
Birthplace	Paola, Kingdom of Naples (now Italy)
Death Place	Plessis-lès-Tours, France
Cause of Death	Natural causes
Primary Shrine	Church of St. Francis of Paola, Paola, Italy

Saint Francis of Paola, born in 1416 in Paola, Italy, was a mystic and hermit known for his austere lifestyle and miracles. He founded the Order of Minims, emphasizing poverty, humility, and devotion to the Eucharist. His reputation for sanctity and miracles spread, leading to his canonization shortly after his death.

Biography

Birth

Francis was born to humble parents in the small town of Paola in the Kingdom of Naples. His birth was marked by miraculous signs, including a light that filled the room where he was born.

Early Life

From a very young age, Francis showed a deep inclination towards a religious life. By the age of 13, he had already begun living an ascetic lifestyle in a cave near his home, which attracted local attention due to his piety and the miracles attributed to him.

Occupation

Francis worked as a shepherd in his youth, but his life's work was as a hermit and later as the founder of a religious order. He lived a life of extreme penance, fasting, and prayer, which included never eating meat or dairy products.

Vocation

At 20, he founded a small hermitage which grew into the Order of Minims. The name "Minims" signifies their aim to be minimal in worldly goods to maximize spiritual gain. The order was approved by Pope Sixtus IV in 1474.

Death

Invited by King Louis XI of France, Francis spent his later years in France, where he continued his life of prayer and service. He died peacefully at the age of 91 in Plessis-lès-Tours, leaving behind a legacy of charity and spiritual guidance.

Significant events

• Founded the Order of Minims in 1435.
• Traveled to France at the request of King Louis XI in 1483.
• Known for numerous miracles, including walking on water, calming storms, and healing the sick.

Significant locations

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Legend

• Birth location: Paola, Kingdom of Naples (now Italy)
• Death location: Plessis-lès-Tours, France
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Parishes

Francis of Paola
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Canonization

Servant of God

The process began soon after his death due to his widespread veneration and the reports of miracles.

Venerable

Declared Venerable through the popular acclaim and the evident sanctity of his life.

Beatification

Not applicable, as he was canonized before the modern beatification process was instituted.

Canonization

Canonized on May 1, 1519, by Pope Leo X in Rome, Italy, only 12 years after his death, which was unusually swift for the time.

Miracles

Miracle for beatification

No specific miracle is noted for his beatification due to the era's different canonization processes.

Miracle for canonization

No specific miracle is detailed for his canonization, but his life was marked by numerous miraculous events, which contributed to his sainthood.

Other notable miracles

• Walking on water to reach a ship during a storm.
• Miraculous healings, including bringing a dead child back to life.
• Multiplication of food, especially bread, for the poor.

Patronage

Saint Francis of Paola is invoked as the patron of boatmen, mariners, naval officers, travelers at sea, and his birthplace, Paola, Italy.

Feast day

His feast day is observed on April 2.

Veneration

Saint Francis is widely venerated through prayers, especially by those at sea or in need of spiritual guidance. His relics are housed in the Church of St. Francis of Paola in Paola, Italy, where many pilgrims visit. He's often depicted in art with attributes like a fish (referring to the miracle of walking on water) or a loaf of bread.

Books

Written about the saint

• "The Life of St. Francis of Paola" by Father Young
• "Saint Francis of Paola: God's Miracle Worker Supreme" by Fr. Vincenzo M. Peluso

Written by the saint

• No known works written by St. Francis of Paola exist; his teachings and insights are known through biographies and oral traditions.

External links

• Catholic Saints Info on Saint Francis of Paola
• Catholic Online - Saint Francis of Paola
• Catholic Encyclopedia - St. Francis of Paola