SERAFINO da MONTEGRANARO, saint. - Capuchin lay brother, b. at Montegranaro (Ascoli Piceno) in 1540, entered the novitiate at Iesi about 1557, d. at Ascoli Piceno on 12 Oct. 1604. Declared blessed by Benedetto XIII on 18 July 1729; canonized by Clemente XIII on 16 July 1767. Feast day: 12 Oct.
In humility and penance, performing the offices of cook, gardener, mason, and questor in various convents, and for a longer time at Ascoli, he was generous in charity toward the poor; surrounded by popular veneration, he consoled, corrected, and encouraged others to do good. Frequent were his brief addresses to his fellow religious. The spirit of prayer, love for the Crucified Christ, and devotion to Maria S.ma won him divine charisms. The minister general s. Lorenzo da Brindisi did not grant his request to go on mission, leaving him at Ascoli for the edification of the faithful.