Our Lady of Guadalupe

Date: June, 4

Francis (Francesco) Caracciolo was born in Villa Santa Maria in the Abruzzo region, in the Kingdom of Naples. He belonged to the Pisquizio branch of the Caracciolo family and received in baptism the name of Ascanio.

From a young age, he had a reputation for gentleness and uprightness. When he was 22, he was attacked by one of the several skin maladies collectively described as “leprosy” in those days.

So serious was this attack that he was considered hopeless. With death so near, he made a vow that if he regained his health, he would spend the rest of his life in the service of God and his fellow men.

He recovered so quickly after this vow, that his cure was considered miraculous. Eager to fulfil his promise to God, he went to Naples to study for the priesthood.

There he befriended a man who wanted to establish a new religious community that would focus on both the active and the contemplative life.

Francis helped draw up Rules for the new Order of the Minor Clerks Regular. Members of the Order agreed among themselves never to seek leadership within the group, though Francis was elected many times to serve in such positions.

Even in his capacity as superior of the Order, he insisted on sharing simple tasks: sweeping rooms, making beds, washing dishes.

As a priest, Francis spent many hours in the confessional. He also begged in the streets for the poor and gave away most of his possessions to the needy.

Francis died on June 4, 1608.

He is the patron saint of Naples, where his body lies. At first he was buried in the Basilica of St. Mary Major, but his remains were afterwards translated to the church of Santa Maria di Monteverginella, which was given in exchange to the Clerics Regular Minor (1823) after their suppression at the time of the French Revolution.

Francis is also the patron saint of Italian cooks.