EGIDIO MARIA di SAN GIUSEPPE, blessed. — Francesco, in the world Francesco Antonio Pasquale, was born at Taranto on 16 November 1729 to Cataldo Pontillo and Grazia Procaccio, and died at Naples on 7 February 1812. As a young man, he practiced his father’s trade (rope-maker); in February 1754, through supernatural inspiration, he donned the religious habit at the convent of S. Pasquale in Taranto as a lay brother. Having made his religious vows on 28 February 1755, he was transferred to the convent of S. Maria delle Grazie at Squinzano and, shortly thereafter, to that of S. Pasquale at Chiaia in Naples, where he remained until his death.
Virtuous and pious from childhood, he distinguished himself through the practice of all Christian and religious virtues, particularly by his spirit of prayer, humility, and simplicity, so as to arouse great admiration in everyone, especially among the Neapolitan people, with whom he had frequent contact in exercising the office of porter and alms-seeker. He possessed the charism of prophecy and, during his lifetime, also performed many miracles, including the resurrection of some of the dead and the healing of the dying. He was therefore hailed as a thaumaturge. Pius IX beatified him on 21 November 1886.