April 2
St. Francis of Paula
Confessor
Double
St. Francis of Paula
Founder of the Order of Minims; b. in 1416, at Paula, in Calabria,
Italy; d. 2 April, 1507, at Plessis, France. His parents were remarkable
for the holiness of their lives. Remaining childless for some years
after their marriage they had recourse to prayer, especially commending
themselves to the intercession of St. Francis of Assisi. Three children
were eventually born to them, eldest of whom was Francis. When still in
the cradle he suffered from a swelling which endangered the sight of one
of his eyes. His parents again had recourse to Francis of Assisi, and
made a vow that their son should pass an entire year in the "little
habit" of St Francis in one of the convents of his order, a not uncommon
practice in the Middle Ages.
The child was immediately cured.
From his early years Francis showed signs of extraordinary sanctity,
and at the age of thirteen, being admonished by a vision of a Franciscan
friar, he entered a convent of the Franciscan Order in order to fulfil
the vow made by his parents. Here he gave great edification by his love
of prayer and mortification, his profound humility, and his prompt
obedience. At the completion of the year he went with his parents on a
pilgrimage to Assisi, Rome, and other places of devotion. Returning to
Paula he selected a retired spot on his father's estate, and there lived
in solitude; but later on he found a more retired dwelling in a cave on
the sea coast. Here he remained alone for about six years giving
himself to prayer and mortification.
In 1435 two companions
joined him in his retreat, and to accommodate them Francis caused three
cells and a chapel to be built: in this way the new order was begun. The
number of his disciples gradually increased, and about 1454, with the
permission of Pyrrhus, Archbishop of Cosenza, Francis built a large
monastery and church. The building of this monastery was the occasion of
a great outburst of enthusiasm and devotion on the part of the people
towards Francis: even the nobles carried stones and joined in the work.
Their devotion was increased by the many miracles which the saint
wrought in answer to their prayers. The rule of life adopted by Francis
and his religious was one of extraordinary severity. They observed
perpetual abstinence and lived in great poverty, but the distinguishing
mark of the order was humility.
They were to seek to live
unknown and hidden from the world. To express this character which he
would have his disciples cultivate, Francis eventually obtained from the
Holy See that they should be styled Minims, the least of all religious.
In 1474 Sixtus IV gave him permission to write a rule for his
community, and to assume the title of Hermits of St. Francis: this rule
was formally approved by Alexander VI, who, however, changed their title
into that of Minims. After the approbation of the order, Francis
founded several new monasteries in Calabria and Sicily. He also
established convents of nuns, and a third order for people living in the
world, after the example of St. Francis of Assisi.
He had an
extraordinary gift of prophecy: thus he foretold the capture of Otranto
by the Turks in 1480, and its subsequent recovery by the King of Naples.
Also he was gifted with discernment of consciences. He was no respecter
of persons of whatever rank or position. He rebuked the King of Naples
for his ill-doing and in consequence suffered much persecution. When
Louis XI was in his last illness he sent an embassy to Calabria to beg
the saint to visit him. Francis refused to come nor could he be
prevailed upon until the pope ordered him to go. He then went to the
king at Plessis-les-Tours and was with him at his death. Charles VIII,
Louis's successor, much admired the saint and during his reign kept him
near the court and frequently consulted him. This king built a monastery
for Minims at Plessis and another at Rome on the Pincian Hill. The
regard in which Charles VIII held the saint was shared by Louis XII, who
succeeded to the throne in 1498. Francis was now anxious to return to
Italy, but the king would not permit him, not wishing to lose his
counsels and direction. The last three mouths of his life he spent in
entire solitude, preparing for death.
On Maundy Thursday he
gathered his community around him and exhorted them especially to have
mutual charity amongst themselves and to maintain the rigour of their
life and in particular perpetual abstinence. The next day, Good Friday,
he again called them together and gave them his last instructions and
appointed a vicar-general. He then received the last sacraments and
asked to have the Passion according to St. John read out to him, and
whilst this was being read, his soul passed away. Leo X canonized him in
1519. In 1562 the Huguenots broke open his tomb and found his body
incorrupt. They dragged it forth and burnt it, but some of the bones
were preserved by the Catholics and enshrined in various churches of his
order. The Order of Minims does not seem at any time to have been very
extensive, but they had houses in many countries. The definitive rule
was approved in 1506 by Julius II, who also approved a rule for the nuns
of the order. The feast of St. Francis of Paula is kept by the
universal Church on 2 April, the day on which he died.-
St Francis of Paula Quote on the Vatican II Modernists of our times:
During
this unhappy period there will be laxity in divine and human precepts.
Discipline will suffer. The Holy Canons will be completely disreguarded (new
liberal canon) and the clergy will not respect the laws of the Church. The Holy
Canons and religious dogmas are clouded by senseless questions (sounds like
your modernists/liberals today) and elaborate arguments. As a result, no
principle at all, however holy, authentic, ancient, and certain it may be will
remain free of censure, criticism, false interpretations, modifications and
delimination by man"
"These
are evil times, century full of dangers and calamities. Heresy is everywhere
and the followers of heresy are in power almost everywhere. Bishops, prelates
and priests say they are doing their duty, that they are vigilant. They seek
all excuses but God will permit a great evil against His Church: Heretics and
tyrants will come suddenly and unexpectedly, they will enter Rome and lay Rome
to waste."
TCK
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