Every April 2 the Church celebrates San Francisco de PaulaEremita, Taumaturg, man of warm mercy and deep simplicity; Founder of the Eremitas of San Francisco de Asís, an institution that would later be renamed ‘order of the minimum’, approved by the Holy See in 1506.
The faith of our parents
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Francisco was born in Paula, Calabria (Italy), on March 27, 1416. His parents, humble peasants, had several years married without having children, so they entrusted the Holy of Assisi asking God to bless them with the offspring. Therefore, when the first child arrived they named him ‘Francisco’ in thanks. He would be the first of 3 brothers.
Being still very small, Francisco presented a serious eye ailment. His parents were entrusted to the Holy of Assisi and promised him that if the child healed they would send him later to a Franciscan convent, as a server. It was customary for those days that some families deliver their teenage children to live as friars, wearing the habit, for a year, in some convent.
The baby cured very soon, but the parents forgot the promise made. Even with that, they knew how to procure a beautiful and intense religious education. Perhaps they were not able to teach him to read or write, but they made him the best gift: they sowed in their heart of child the love and the desire to be like Jesus. Only a few years later, Francisco already showed some signs of holiness.
Promise and action
It is said that a Franciscan friar had a dream in which the young Francisco appeared with the habit of his order, and he was good to talk to his parents, who understood that God waited for his son, in compliance with the old promise. At thirteen, Francisco entered the Franciscan convent of Paula. In that place it grew in humility and spirit of obedience, in love for the prayer and understanding of the meaning of penance, elements that marked their life forever.
After the time with the Franciscans, at age 14, Francisco pilgated Assisi next to his parents. The experience of God lived in that place ended up consolidating what was around in his head for a year ago: consecrating his life to God entirely. Upon returning to Paula, then a life of retirement begins, isolated in a cave on the seashore. His longing was to pray, talk to Jesus as long as possible and enjoy his company alone. The example of the Holy of Assisi had placed deep, he also wanted to live like him: without material attachments, with the minimum of food and sleep. Soon would be many people who would join the project. Francisco, meanwhile, became increasingly a humble cooperator of grace, and would receive the gifts of prophecy, do miracles and cure souls and bodies.
A perpetual Lent
In 1474 Pope Sixto IV authorized that a rule for the novel community is written and that they be named after the ‘Hermitages of San Francisco’. This rule would be formally approved by Pope Alejandro VI, who also renamed the group with the name of order for the minimum, “the most humble of all religious.” Francisco wanted that in common life the religious live in silence and in a austere way, in a kind of perpetual Lent, of preparation for eternal Easter.
The final rule of the ‘minimums’ was approved in 1506 by Pope Julio II, who also approved the one that corresponded to the female branch.
For many years the saint toured cities and towns announcing the gospel. In 1482 Pope Sixtus IV sent him as a representative before the king of France, Louis XL, who became his intercession shortly before he died. The king was so grateful to San Francisco that he appointed him as advisor to his son, the future Carlos VIII, king of France.
San Francisco de Paula died on April 2, 1507. Twelve years after his death, he was proclaimed holy by the Supreme Pontiff Leo X, in 1519.
If you want to know more about this saint, we recommend this article of the Catholic Encyclopedia: https://ec.aciprensa.com/wiki/San_Francisco_de_Paula
And if you want to know more about the order of the minimums, you can consult this other article of the Catholic Encyclopedia: https://ec.aciprensa.com/wiki/Orden_de_los_Mínimos
More information:
Central writing
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