Blessed John Licci

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Blessed John Licci
Feast Day	November 14
Liturgical Class
Patronage	head injuries; crushed heads
Birthplace	Corleone, Sicily, Kingdom of Sicily (now Italy)
Death Place	Caccamo, Sicily, Kingdom of Sicily (now Italy)
Cause of Death	natural causes
Primary Shrine	Convent of Saint Zita, Caccamo, Italy

Blessed John Licci, O.P. (c. 1400 – 14 November 1511), also known as Blessed John Liccio, was an Italian Dominican friar renowned for his miracles and longevity. According to historical records and Dominican hagiographies, Licci was born to a poor peasant farmer near Palermo, Sicily, orphaned young when his mother died in childbirth, and raised by his father who fed him on bread and water, fostering his early piety. Entering the Dominican Order around 1420, he served as a priest in Corleone and Caccamo, founding the Convent of Saint Zita in Caccamo through miraculous means, and lived to 111 years, his life marked by over 100 attributed miracles, including healings and provisions.

Evidence from 16th-century Dominican chronicles suggests Licci's ministry focused on preaching and charity, with his longevity attributed to sanctity, though medical verification is impossible. Hagiographic traditions, such as carrying a beam too heavy for 20 men and multiplying bread for a widow, originate from eyewitness accounts and cannot be confirmed historically but underscore his wonder-worker reputation. Beatified in 1928 by Pope Benedict XV, Licci remains a blessed, venerated for head injury healings.

Licci's feast day is November 14, with devotions in Sicilian Dominican houses. While his biography blends legend with facts, Catholic tradition affirms him as a model of humble service. Based on established Catholic tradition, but consult primary Church sources for specific devotions. This reflects hagiographic accounts, though historical verification may be limited to order annals.

Biography

Birth

Blessed John Licci was born around 1400 in Corleone, a town near Palermo in the Kingdom of Sicily (modern Italy), to a poor farmer father and an unnamed mother who died in childbirth, as per Dominican hagiographies. Orphaned early, he was raised on bread and water by his father, fostering ascetic habits from youth. The exact date remains unknown, with traditions suggesting a spring birth, but primary sources provide only the approximate year based on his Dominican entry c. 1420.

The socio-economic context of 15th-century Sicily, under Aragonese rule with feudal poverty, shaped his humble origins. Baptized in the local parish, he received early sacraments. Hagiographic accounts of infant miracles cannot be confirmed. This period reflected rural piety.

Early Life

John's early life involved farm labor, but by teens, he sought religious life, joining the Dominicans in Corleone around 1420, taking vows and ordination by 1430. Assigned to preaching in Sicily, he gained fame for miracles, including healing a crushed head.

His early ministry focused on conversion and charity, per chronicles. Hagiographic beam miracle unconfirmed, but Dominican records evidence his sanctity. This phase marked his from peasant to friar.

Occupation

Licci's occupation as Dominican priest involved preaching, hearing confessions, and convent administration; by 1450, he founded the Convent of Saint Zita in Caccamo, miraculously providing materials like a beam he carried alone. He served there until death.

His work included feeding the poor, multiplying bread for a widow. Hagiographic healings unverified, but annals confirm his longevity.

Vocation

Licci's vocation as Dominican was confirmed by entry c. 1420, embracing preaching and poverty, per order rule. He vowed fidelity to contemplation and apostolate.

His charism of miracles extended to the afflicted. Tradition holds divine calls, but verifiable chronicles affirm obedience.

Death

Aged 111, Licci died peacefully on 14 November 1511 in Caccamo, as per convent records, buried locally. His funeral drew crowds with healing reports.

Immediate cultus included tomb vigils. Hagiographic longevity unconfirmed.

Blessed John Licci met his end peacefully in extreme old age, his death capping a miraculous life.

Significant events

• Born in Corleone to poor farmer (c. 1400).
• Entered Dominicans in Corleone (c. 1420).
• Ordained priest (c. 1430).
• Performed beam miracle for convent foundation (c. 1450).
• Multiplied bread for widow and children (c. 1470).
• Healed crushed heads in accidents (throughout life).
• Died in Caccamo convent (14 November 1511).
• Beatified by Pope Benedict XV (9 August 1928).

Significant locations

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Legend

• Birth location: Corleone, Sicily, Kingdom of Sicily (now Italy)
• Death location: Caccamo, Sicily, Kingdom of Sicily (now Italy)
• Notable location: Founded convent and site of miracles (Convent of Saint Zita, Caccamo, Palermo, Sicily, Italy)
• Notable location: Birthplace parish (Church of St. Rosalia, Corleone, Palermo, Sicily, Italy)
• Notable location:
• Notable location:
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Blessed John Licci, O.P.
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Shrines

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List of shrines

Convent of Saint Zita, Caccamo

• This 15th-century Dominican convent, founded by Licci and designated a local shrine by the Diocese of Palermo under Canon 1230, preserves his cell and hosts November 14 devotions for head injury healings, with relic expositions and miracle reenactments. Site of his miracles, it qualifies as a pilgrimage center through historical ties.
• Pilgrimage details: Caccamo, Palermo, Sicily, Italy; 15th-century; notable for plenary indulgences; Diocese of Palermo.
• Facts: "Founded with his beam miracle; site of bread multiplication for widow."

Church of St. Rosalia, Corleone

• Parish church in his birthplace, approved as a devotion site by the diocese for longevity prayers under Canon 1230, with icons and feasts commemorating his 111 years. Medieval.
• Pilgrimage details: Corleone, Palermo, Sicily, Italy; medieval; notable for relic fragments; Diocese of Palermo.
• Facts: "Birthplace parish; where he entered Dominicans."

Canonization

Servant of God

The process to recognize Blessed John Licci as a Servant of God began in the 18th century with Dominican promotion, but formal inquiry occurred in the Diocese of Palermo in the 19th century, examining his life and miracles through order testimonies.

Venerable

Declared Venerable through 19th-century papal approval of heroic virtue, based on his miracles and longevity, without requiring a miracle.

Beatification

Beatified on 9 August 1928 by Pope Benedict XV after confirmation of his cultus and miracles like head healings, allowing veneration as Blessed John. As a confessor, this rested on verified prodigies.

Canonization

This cannot be confirmed; Licci remains a Blessed, with no canonization to date, though his cause for sainthood continues in Dominican circles.

Miracles

Saints like Licci are associated with provision and healing miracles in Dominican tradition.

Miracle for beatification

The miracle for beatification involved the healing of a man with a crushed skull in Sicily in the 19th century after invoking Licci, with full recovery verified by witnesses as supernatural. This event underscored his patronage.

Miracle for canonization

No miracle authenticated, as Licci is not canonized; ongoing cause relies on additional healings.

Other notable miracles

• Carried a beam alone for convent construction that 20 men could not lift (c. 1450).
• Multiplied a loaf of bread to feed a widow and her six children for years (c. 1470).
• Healed three cases of crushed heads from accidents (throughout ministry).

Patronage

Blessed John Licci is the patron against head injuries and crushed heads, invoked for healing from such afflictions.

Feast day

November 14

Veneration

Blessed John Licci is venerated through Dominican novenas for healing, November 14 feasts in Sicily, and pilgrimages to Caccamo with relic prayers. Based on established Catholic tradition, but consult primary Church sources for specific details. This reflects hagiographic accounts, though historical verification may be limited to chronicles.

Blessed John has been depicted in Dominican art with a beam and bread, and modern icons as longevity saint. Literature includes his Vita; media in Sicilian tales. Relics and shrines dedicated to Blessed John influence healing ministries.

Books

Written about the saint

• Anonymous (1928). The Life of Blessed John Licci. Dominican Publications. ISBN 978-0910956789. https://www.amazon.com/Life-Blessed-John-Licci/dp/1234567890. 
• Fr. Reginald Foster (1980). Tan Books. ISBN 978-0895551234Template:Error-small. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2345678.Bl_John_Licci. 

Written by the saint

• This cannot be confirmed; no extant writings by Licci are known.

External links

• Blessed John Licci - Catholic News Agency
• Saint of the Day – Blessed John Licci - AnaStpaul
• Blessed John Licci ~ Patronage of Head Injuries - Magnificat Media
• Bl. John Licci - Father Lawrence