April 2nd. St. Francis of Paola.

Born in 1416 in Paola on the S.W. coast of Italy, he was familiar with Franciscan life from an early age, and went on pilgrimage to Assisi. He became a hermit in a coastal cave near his home town, and at the age of 20 was joined by two others; this was the beginnings of a community which developed into an offshoot of the Franciscan Order known as the ‘Minims’. They stressed especially the Franciscan principles of charity and austerity, and in a worldly age attracted many followers. Francis was much in demand both as a spiritual adviser and a mediator in political disputes; he spent the last 25 years of his life in France and was responsible for several peace treaties, as well as being tutor to the Dauphin. He died in 1507 in Tours and was canonised in 1519. He is a patron saint of seafarers (many of the miracles associated with him being of a maritime nature). The Minims later fell on hard times, but their numbers surged again in a remarkable way in the 18th. century. They are now once again few in number.