Saint Francis of Paola, Patron of Mariners

 

Do you want to get to know someone who is able to read your mind, prophesy about future events and have these come true, and stop plagues from coming to your town through his prayers?  Saint Francis of Paola has done all of these and has even been able to raise someone from the dead!

One time, he met some poor men along the road and asked them for food.  They said they had none.  Francis told them to check their bags and there they found freshly baked bread!  Instead of being consumed when they ate it, it seemed to multiply!  

Being a hermit with no money, Francis was denied passage on a boat so he used his cloak and traveled over the water to Sicily!  This is probably why sailors and mariners called upon him before setting out on a journey.

Francis' holiness reached far and wide and many joined the Franciscan Minim Friars, the order he founded in 1492.  Due to their humility, they called themselves Minim meaning "the least".

"May our Lord Jesus Christ, who repays most generously, reward your labour. You must flee from evil, and drive away dangers. We and all our brothers, although unworthy, pray constantly to God the Father and to his Son Jesus Christ, as well as to Mary the Virgin Mother, to be with you as you seek the salvation of your souls and your bodies. Brothers, I most strongly urge you to work for the salvation of your souls with prudence and diligence. Death is certain, and life is short and vanishes like smoke. Therefore you must fix your minds on the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ who so burned with love for us that he came down from heaven to redeem us. For our sakes he suffered all the agonies of body and mind, and did not shrink from any torment. He gave us a perfect example of patience and love. For our part, we too must be patient when things go against us. Put aside hatred and hostility. See to it that you refrain from harsh words. But if you do speak them, do not be ashamed to apply the remedy from the same lips that inflicted the wounds. In this way you will show each other mercy and not keep alive the memories of past wrongs. Remembering grievances works great damage. It is accompanied by anger, fosters sin, and brings a hatred for justice. It is a rusty arrow spreading poison in the soul. It destroys virtue and is a cancer in the mind. It thwarts prayer and mangles the petitions we make to God. It drives out love and is a nail driven into the soul, an evil that never sleeps, a sin that never fades away, a kind of daily death. Be lovers of peace, the most precious treasure that anyone can desire. You are already aware that our sins drive God to anger,"so you must repent of them, that God in his mercy may spare you. What men conceal is open to God. Turn to him with a sincere heart. Live in such a way that you bring upon yourselves the blessing of God, and that the peace of God our Father may be with you always."

He is the patron saint of mariners, boatmen, sailors, naval officers, and travelers.   One can also ask his prayers in case of fire, plagues, and sterility.

Today April 2nd is his feast day.  Saint Francis of Paola, pray for us!