“See to it that you refrain from harsh words. But if you do speak them, do not be ashamed to apply the remedy from the same lips, that inflicted the wounds.”
Francesco was born in 1416 in Paola, Italy to Giacomo and Vienna Martolilla. His parents were advanced in years and very devout. They believed his birth was a blessing and attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi and therefore named the child after him. As an infant, he was examined by doctors for a malfunction in one eye. His mother prayed with all her strength to Saint Francis, promising to steer her son towards Franciscan spirituality if healed by a miracle.
He was healed and for his early education, he attended the Franciscan friary of San Marco. After accompanying his parents on a pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi at the age of 15, he embraced a dream and mission of founding his own spiritual movement. While in Rome he saw a Cardinal wearing luxurious clothing and he noted, “Our Lord did not dress like that.” From then on, he was determined to lead a religious life based on poverty. He then started his journey by becoming a contemplative hermit in a remote cave.
He had studied and observed closely how the monastic orders worked, and had also understood the political logic and social dynamics with the Vatican. Before he was 20, he received 2 followers who came to imitate his way of life.
Over the course of 15 years he developed more followers and set 3 monastic rules for them which emphasized penance, charity, and humility. He later added vows of fasting and abstinence from meat. He gave advice and comfort to thousands of people as a moral leader. Many were healed miraculously and he had the gifts of prophesy and insight into men’s hearts.
The many pilgrims that visited. drew the attention of Pope Paul II who sent an Apostolic See. He then persuaded 4 cardinals to grant indulgence, under the usual conditions, to the pilgrims who visited Francis’ church or financially contributed to its building. In 1467, local people helped him in his quest to build a chapel and to make the hermitage more welcoming.
He applied to the Vatican and the Order was approved by Pope Sixtus IV in 1474 with the name of Hermits of Saint Francis of Assisi. He established foundations in southern Italy and Sicily at 1st and it spread to France, Spain, Germany, and Bohemia.
His reputation grew so much that at the order of the Pope, he was to visit France’s royal court by a request of the dying King Louis XI. The King thought he could be cured by Francis. He was not healed but was so comforted by his words and presence that his son, Prince Charles VIII, became his friend and endowed several monasteries for him and his order. He influenced the course of national politics, restoring peace between France and Brittany.
Some hermits from other Orders left to follow him. This led him to change the name of the Order in 1492 to Fratres Minimi (“Least Brothers”), which signifies humility. Their rules were approved by the Pope.
Successive monarchs built monasteries for him, keeping him in France for 25 years, away from his beloved town of Paola, but he continued his work. He had also established a 2nd order for nuns and a 3rd for laymen.
He died of natural causes at the age of 91 in 1507. There were some 9,000 Minim friars at the Order’s peak of influence in the 17th century.
His process for sainthood was very quick and he was canonized in 1519.
“The recollection of an injury is a rusty arrow and poison for the soul.”
He is the patron saint of sailors and the Calabria region.
His feast day is April 2.
For God’s Glory.
Saint Francesco di Paola Sanctuary
