Francis Caracciolo, Saint

FRANCIS CARACCIOLO, Saint. - Born at Villa S. Maria (Chieti) on 13 Oct. 1563 into a noble family, he lived an exemplary life in his father's house until the age of 22, then went secretly to Naples, where he was ordained a priest. Having by mistake received a letter from the venerable servant of God Agostino Adorno and from his kinsman Fabrizio Caracciolo, abbot of S. Maria Maggiore in Naples, who intended to found the new Order of the Minor Regular Clerics, he followed them immediately and with them drafted its constitutions, obtaining their approval in Rome from Sixtus V on 1 July 1588. In the profession that followed in Naples the next year he changed his baptismal name Ascanio to that of F. When Adorno died on 29 Sept. 1591, the General Chapter unanimously elected F. C. as its superior general.

His brief life was a miracle of charity and apostolic zeal, of surpassing and continual penance. He spread devotion toward the Most Holy Eucharist and willed that perpetual adoration should be a distinctive mark of his Order. He died at Agnone on the eve of Corpus Christi, 4 June 1608. He was beatified by Clement XIV on 10 Sept. 1769 and canonized by Pius VII on 24 May 1807. His remains are venerated in the church of S. Maria in Monte Vergine in Naples. Of his writings there remain some letters and a book of piety entitled Le sette stazioni. Feast day 4 June.

Giuseppe Rossi