Francis Caracciolo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Saint Francis Caracciolo
Saint Francis Caracciolo
Confessor
Born	October 13, 1563 Villa Santa Maria, Province of Chieti, Region of Abruzzo, Kingdom of Naples (modern-day Italy)
Died	June 4, 1608(1608-06-04) (aged 44) Agnone, Province of Isernia, Region of Molise, Kingdom of Italy
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church
Beatified	June 4, 1769, Rome by Pope Clement XIV
Canonized	May 24, 1807, Rome by Pope Pius VII
Major shrine	Church of Santa Maria di Monteverginella, Naples
Feast	June 4
Patronage	Naples (Italy), Italian cooks

Francis Caracciolo (born Ascanio Pisquizio on October 13, 1563 – died June 4, 1608) was an Italian Catholic priest. He helped start a religious group called the Clerics Regular Minor. He decided to dedicate his life to God when he was 22 years old.

Early Life of Francis Caracciolo

Francis Caracciolo was born in Villa Santa Maria, a town in the Abruzzo region of what was then the Kingdom of Naples. His birth name was Ascanio Pisquizio. He came from a well-known family called Caracciolo.

From a young age, people knew him for being kind and honest. When he was 22, he became very sick with a serious skin disease. Doctors thought he would not survive.

During his illness, he made a promise to God. He vowed that if he got better, he would spend the rest of his life serving God and helping others. He recovered so quickly that many believed it was a miracle.

Eager to keep his promise, he moved to Naples. There, he began studying to become a priest.

Starting a New Religious Order

Five years after moving to Naples, Francis received a letter by mistake. The letter was meant for another person named Fabrizio Caracciolo. It was from Giovanni Agostino Adorno, asking for help to start a new religious group.

Francis saw this mistake as a sign from God. He joined Giovanni Adorno and Fabrizio Caracciolo to create the new order. They wrote rules for their new community.

Pope Sixtus V approved their group on July 1, 1588. Later, Pope Gregory XIV and Pope Clement VIII also confirmed it. The group was named the Order of the Clerics Regular Minor. People also called them the "Adorno Fathers."

This new order was both about quiet prayer and active service. A key part of their life was worshipping the Blessed Sacrament (the Eucharist) in a special way. Members also took a fourth vow, promising not to seek important positions in the church.

They chose their motto, "Ad majorem Resurgentis gloriam," which means "to the greater glory of the Risen One." They chose this because Francis and Augustine Adorno made their promises on April 9, 1589, which was Low Sunday (the Sunday after Easter). When Francis made his promise, he took the name Francis to honor Francis of Assisi.

The Clerics Regular Minor had strict rules. They committed to daily acts of penance. For example, one brother would fast on bread and water each day. Another would practice self-discipline, and a third would wear a hair shirt. Later, Francis added that everyone should pray for an hour each day before the Blessed Sacrament.

Francis as Superior General

Giovanni Adorno, who was a main founder of the order, passed away in 1593. Even though Francis Caracciolo did not want the job, he was chosen as the Superior General on March 9, 1593. This happened at the order's first house in Naples.

Even as the leader, Francis insisted on doing simple chores. He would sweep rooms, make beds, and wash dishes. As a priest, he spent many hours listening to confessions. People believed he had special gifts, like knowing what would happen in the future and understanding people's thoughts.

He also begged for money in the streets to help the poor. He gave away most of his own belongings to those in need. Francis Caracciolo is best known for his deep devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. He loved the Holy Eucharist so much that he would spend almost the entire night praying before it. He often slept only a little, sometimes on the steps of the altar.

Francis traveled to Spain three times to set up new houses for the order. He opened houses in Madrid, Valladolid, and Alcalá. He also worked to get churches for the order in Rome.

Francis Caracciolo also wrote a book called "Le sette stazioni sopra la Passione di N.S. Gesù Christo" (The Seven Stations of the Passion of Our Lord, Jesus Christ). He deeply cared for the poor. Like Thomas Aquinas, who was a relative on his mother's side, Francis was known for his pure heart. Pope Paul V wanted to make him an important bishop, but Francis always refused.

Later Years and Passing

After serving as Superior General for seven years, Francis finally received permission from Pope Clement VIII to step down. Leading the order had been very difficult for him. Not only was his health delicate, but the order also faced opposition and false accusations as it grew.

After resigning, Francis became the prior (leader) of Santa Maria Maggiore and a teacher for new members. He continued his work as a priest, hearing confessions and giving sermons. He spoke so often and so movingly about God's goodness that people called him "The Preacher of the Love of God." It is also said that he healed many sick people by making the sign of the cross.

He often cried while praying, especially when he lay on his face before the tabernacle. He would constantly repeat words from Psalm 68: "Zelus domus tuae comedit me," which means "Zeal for your house consumes me." This showed his intense devotion.

In 1608, Francis Caracciolo went to Agnone to start a new religious house. However, he passed away before it was finished. After his death, his body was taken to Naples.

Before he died, he visited Loreto. There, he was allowed to spend the night praying in the chapel of the Holy House. While praying, he had a vision or dream where Giovanni Adorno appeared to him. Adorno told him that his death was near. Francis arrived in Agnone seeming healthy, but he knew his time was short.

On June 1, 1608, he got a fever that quickly worsened. He wrote a heartfelt letter urging the members of his order to stay true to their rules. On June 4, 1608, the day before the feast of Corpus Christi, he seemed lost in thought. An hour before sunset, he suddenly cried out, "Let us go, Let us go to heaven!" Right after saying this, he passed away. He was 44 years old.

Veneration and Legacy

After Francis Caracciolo's death, his body was examined. His heart was found to be "burnt up," and the words "Zelus domus Tuæ comedit me" ("The zeal of Thy house hath consumed me") were said to be imprinted around it.

Francis Caracciolo was declared "blessed" (beatified) by Pope Clement XIV on June 4, 1769. He was later declared a saint (canonized) by Pope Pius VII on May 24, 1807. His special day of remembrance, or feast day, is June 4.

In 1838, he was chosen as a patron saint of Naples, where his body rests. His remains were first buried in the Basilica of St. Mary Major. Later, they were moved to the church of Santa Maria di Monteverginella in Naples.

Francis Caracciolo is also known as the patron saint of Italian cooks.

See also

In Spanish: Francisco Caracciolo para niños

• Catholic Church in Italy
• List of Catholic saints
• Saint Francis Caracciolo, patron saint archive