4/2 - St. Francis of Paola

0:00Welcome to the St. of the Day Podcast, a service of good Catholic and the Catholic company. Join us each day as we share the story of a unique saint in three minutes or less. Today's saint is St. Francis of Pala. St. Francis of Pala, who lived from 1416 to 1507, was born in Calibria, Italy, to a husband and wife known for their holiness. After suffering childlessness for many years, his parents had recourse to prayer, especially the intercession of St. Francis of Assisi. They eventually had three children, and the eldest was Francis, who was named after St. Francis and thanksgiving for his birth. Francis of Pala grew in sanctity, and after having a vision of St. Francis, he spent a year in a Francis' convent to fulfill a vow, his parents had made to the saint. After his time there, he returned to his parents and accompanied them on a pilgrimage to the sea sea. Upon returning

1:03home, Francis retired to a private spot on his parents' estate to live as a hermit. He later moved his dwelling to a lonely cave by the seashore, living there in prayer, solitude, and mortification for six years. Disciples gradually came to him to imitate his manner of life, so many that St. Francis of Pala, with the permission of his bishop, built a monastery and church to accommodate them. He later attained permission from the holy sea to found a new religious order called the Minams, or the least, as they were to live hidden lives of poverty, abstinence, and humility. St. Francis of Pala became famous and was sought out by others for his prophecies and miracles. He spent the last three months of his life in solitude in preparation for his death. On Good Friday, after receiving last rights, he died while the Passion of Christ was read to him aloud. His feast day is April 2. I invite you to follow St. Francis example and take up an

2:08act of mortification today. St. Francis of Pala, pray for us. Thank you for tuning in. This is a Good Catholic Podcast. If you liked what you heard, check us out at GoodCatholic.com and make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel.