Spadafora, Domenico, Blessed

SPADAFORA, DOMENICO, blessed. – Dominican preacher, born in Messina in 1450, died at Montecerignone on 21 December 1521.

For 8 years he preached in Sicily. He devoted himself to the reform of his Order, like his teacher, b. Pietro Geremia. He was an associate of the master general Gioacchino Torriani, who commissioned him to found a convent of strict observance (1491) at Montecerignone (Duchy of Urbino); S. fulfilled this mission by building the church of S. Maria delle Grazie (1498) together with the convent. His cult was approved on 12 January 1921. According to Quétif-Echard, S. wrote Sermones de tempore et de Sanctis.