Saint of the Day: Bl. Angelo of Acri

Capuchin Priest (1669-1739)

His life

+ Luca Antonio Falcone was born in Cosenza, Italy, to a poor family.

+ In 1684, he had an encounter with a charismatic Capuchin Franciscan friar who inspired Luca to seek entrance into the Capuchin Order. He struggled to follow this vocation and left the community twice, because Capuchins’ strict way of life frightened him. After praying for the grace of perseverance, he entered a third time in 1690. He received the religious name “Angelo.”

+ Following his ordination in 1700, he consecrated each hour of his priesthood to the Passion of Christ.

+ After a rough start as a mission preacher, Angelo eventually developed a reputation as a gifted and effective preacher. He became known as the “Angel of Peace.”

+ Angelo served his order as provincial, novice master, and visitor general and was said to possess the ability to read souls.

+ Saint Angelo died on October 30, 1739, in Cosenza, and was canonized in 2017.

For prayer and reflection

“The Lord freely takes the initiative and no one can claim to be the only one invited. No one has a better seat than anyone else, for all enjoy God’s favor. The Christian life is always born and reborn of this tender, special and privileged love.”—Pope Francis at the beatification of Saint Angelo of Acri

Spiritual bonus

On this day we also remember Saint Egelnoth “the Good.” A monk of Glastonbury Abbey, he was named archbishop of Canterbury in 1020. He died in 1038 and was honored as a saint immediately after his death.

Prayer

O God, who gave your Priest Saint Angelo the grace, through words and wonders, to call sinners back to repentance, grant that, through his intercession, we may mourn our sins and gain eternal life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(from Capuchin Missal: A Supplement to the Roman Missal Third Edition)

Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.