2 April

St Francis of Paola (1416-1507)
Hermit founder of the Minim Order, a branch of the Franciscans (1454)

Born 27 March 1416, Paola, Calabria, Kingdom of Naples
Died 2 April 1507 (aged 91), Plessis-lez-Tours, Touraine, Kingdom of France
Venerated in Roman Catholic Church
Beatified 1 November 1518
Canonized 1 May 1519 by Pope Leo X
Patron Against fire; boatmen; Calabria, Italy (named by Pope John XXIII in 1963); mariners; naval officers; plague epidemics; sailors; sterility; travellers; watermen.

St. Francis was born at Paola in Calabria; after living as a hermit for five years (from the age of fourteen to nineteen) he gathered around him some companions with whom he led the religious life. This was the origin of a new order, to which he gave the name of Minims, that is “the least” in the house of God. Pope Sixtus IV sent him to France to help Louis XI on his deathbed. He remained there and founded a house of his Minims at Tours.

COLLECT PRAYER

O God, exaltation of the lowly, who raised Saint Francis of Paola to the glory of your Saints, grant, we pray, that by his merits and example we may happily attain the rewards promised to the humble. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.

Things to Do: 

St. Francis of Paola

Francis of Paola founded the Minim Order, a branch of the Franciscans (1454). These “Hermits of St. Francis of Assisi” dwelt in small houses, and as “least” brethren, endeavored to live a more austere and humble life than the “Fratres Minores.”

The saint worked numerous miracles. He had a favorite ejaculation, one that welled up from the depths of his physical and spiritual being:

“Out of love.”

This was an all-powerful ejaculation for him and for his companions.
“Out of love” the heaviest stone was light;
“Out of love” he admonished and punished;
“Out of love” he once crossed the sea without a boat.

For on a certain occasion the saint wanted to go from the Italian mainland to Sicily. A boat was lying in the harbor. Francis asked the owner if he would take him and his companion along on the boat.

“If you pay, monk,” the sailor answered sulkily, “I will take you along.”

“Out of love,” the saint humbly pleaded; “for I have no money with me.”

“Then I have no ship for you,” came the mocking reply.

“Out of love,” was Francis’ answer, “forgive me if I go away.”

He walked about a stone’s throw to the shore, knelt down, and blessed the sea. Then, to the sailor’s great surprise, the saint suddenly stood up, stepped out on the tossing waves, and with firm foot trod over the surging sea.

St. Francis of Paola stood high in the esteem of the French king, Louis XI, whom he helped prepare for death.

Source: Catholic Culture