St. Francis of Paola
Francis was born at Paola, Italy and was educated at the Franciscan friary of San Marco there, and when fifteen became a hermit near Paola. In 1436, he and two companions began a community that is considered the foundation of the Minim Friars. He built a monastery where he had led his eremitical life some fifteen years later and set a Rule for his followers emphasizing penance, charity, and humility, and added to the three monastic vows, one of fasting and abstinence from meat; he also wrote a rule for tertiaries and nuns. He was credited with many miracles and had the gifts of prophesy and insight into men's hearts. The Order was approved by Pope Sixtus IV in 1474 with the name Hermits of St. Francis of Assisi (changed to Minim Friars in 1492). Francis established foundations in southern Italy and Sicily, and his fame was such that at the request of dying King Louis XI of France, Pope Sixtus II ordered him to France, as the King felt he could be cured by Francis. He was not, but was so comforted that Louis' son Charles VIII, became Francis' friend and endowed several monasteries for the Minims. Francis spent the rest of his life at the monastery of Plessis, France, which Charles built for him. Francis died there on April 2nd and was canonized in 1519. His feast day is April 2.
Previous Saint
< St. Francis of Pesaro
Next Saint
St. Francis Nagasaki >
Rate This Saint
1 - 14 of 14 Comments
Leave a Comment
Previous Saint
< St. Francis of Pesaro
Next Saint
St. Francis Nagasaki >
Find Saints
Catholic Online offers the largest searchable database of Catholic Saints on the internet.
| Browse Saints by Alphabet |
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
| Patron Saints by Alphabet |
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
Videos
St. Francis of Assisi 80,693 views View Video
Padre Pio 48,933 views View Video
Black Saints Vol I 31,733 views View Video
Black Saints Vol II 28,004 views View Video
Most Popular
No-one Can Change the Truth About Fatherhood. Love Your Father. Be a Good Father Read More
Courageous Cardinal George of Chicago Defends Marriage, Calls for Public Conversion Read More
Fall of the Wall of Silence: More on Pope Francis and Reports of a 'Gay Lobby' in the Roman Curia Read More
Pope Francis Refers to 'gay lobby' inside Vatican Read More
Why Catholics Have Failed Our Culture: The Bottom Line Read More
Daily Readings
Reading 1, Second Corinthians 8:1-9
Next, brothers, we will tell you of the grace of God which has ... Read More
Psalm, Psalms 146:2, 5-6, 7, 8-9
I will praise Yahweh all my life, I will make music to my God ... Read More
Gospel, Matthew 5:43-48
'You have heard how it was said, You will love your neighbour ... Read More
Saint of the Day
St. Gregory Barbarigo
June 18: St. Gregory Barbarigo was born in 1625, of a very old and ... Read More
Latest Videos
Pope Francis: Forgiveness enriches us View Video
Zanies Comedy Club - Comedian Sally Edwards View Video
Jun 18 - Homily - Fr. Benedict: St. Ephrem - Mary's Own Singer View Video
Jun 18 - Homily: Love those who Persecute us View Video
Pope Francis: Let us pray for our enemies! View Video
Marketplace
Fatima; The Great Sign
The story, the message, and the meaning. Penetrates deeply into the ... Read More
Jerusalem Stone Two-Tone Crucifix /Baptized in Christ Read More
happy belated feast day St. Francis of Paola. thank you for being our friend
Please pray for Jacob that he finds peace and the right path, for Michelle and Gwen that the doctors can help them and for all cancer patients especially the children. Dear Lord, thank you for all you have done for me.
St.Francis of Paola please pray for me and my family friends
God Bless us
Amen
St. Francis of Paola, Pray for me to be granted the gift of seeing into my own self, with all my debilities and weaknesses.
Happy Feast Day to all my fellow Calabrese! San Francesco de Paula pray that this is the year I will walk where my grandparents were born. Pray for our people that they will love one another, marry each other and have lots of belli bambini italiani!
2nd april 2013:st francis of paola om pray for us.
I am first generation here in America and my family comes from a small town in Calabria near Paola. San Francesco di Paola is the patron Saint of our town and my parents named me after San Francesco. Your info is great but there are many more details that people don't know about this great Saint and the only way to obtain them would be to visit the church. My grandmother had a great aunt that was somehow affiliated with helping San Francesco become canonized. We will forever pray to San Francesco.
Dear St. Francis of Paola, please pray for me.
I enjoy reading and learning about our saints i feel and i know when you need them they also will listen and help you.I was in Italy with my father and sister and i felt it was my responsibility to keep them safe in our travels since this was my second time in Italy and I was awoke to the voice of ST Rita assuring me that she will watch over us in my mind i saw and heard her and indeed she took care of us
St. Francis of Paola, you who could see and read men's hearts, help us to see our own hearts and realise that we need to change our ways in order to be more like Christ. Give me the grace and inspiration to work for the poor and the needy in the communities around us. Maybe I need to know how to start. Please show me the way, because I'm confident that many things are left udone because we do not know how or where to start. Please guide me. Amen
Did St. Francis Paola dress up like a clown? If not, is there another saint that did? The reason I ask is that it seems like I have seen a children's book in which St. Francis Paola dressed up like a clown. Thanks!
Ben
The Carmelites also abstain from meat.
WOw, a vegetarian saint who created a vegetarian order. awesome. maybe i should join them.
I like this and interested in Catholic on line information, also would like permission to print a post of St. Francis of Paola. This feastday happens to be my grandaughters B-day. It would be a special gift of knowledge to share the faith in this way.