St. Francis of Paola
Saint Francis was born around the year 1415 in Paola. Paola is a small neighborhood in Calabria, Italy.
His parents, though poor, were faithful and virtuous. Below is a little bit of amazing history, taken from the website http://www.wf-f.org/StFrancisPaola.html.
His parents were remarkable for the holiness of their lives. Remaining childless for some years after their marriage they had recourse to prayer, especially commending themselves to the intercession of St. Francis of Assisi. Francis was the eldest of three children. He suffered from a swelling which endangered the sight of one of his eyes. His parents again had recourse to Francis of Assisi, and made a vow that their son should pass an entire year in the “little habit” of St Francis in one of the convents of his order, a not uncommon practice in the Middle Ages. The child was immediately cured. From his early years Francis showed signs of extraordinary sanctity, and at the age of thirteen, being admonished by a vision of a Franciscan friar, he entered a convent of the Franciscan Order in order to fulfil the vow made by his parents. Here he gave great edification by his love of prayer and mortification, his profound humility, and his prompt obedience. At the completion of the year he went with his parents on a pilgrimage to Assisi, Rome, and other places of devotion. Returning to Paula he selected a retired spot on his father’s estate, and there lived in solitude; but later on he found a more retired dwelling in a cave on the sea coast. Here he remained alone for about six years giving himself to prayer and mortification.
Francis learned to read in the Franciscan convent at St. Mark’s, a town close to his home. After spending a year with the Franciscans, the young man took up living in solitude – about half a mile from Paola – in the year 1432.
(I’ve included two pictures today –
I couldn’t decide which I liked better! 
)
Before he was twenty, two other men joined him to share in his devout exercises. A group of locals built the them three cells and a chapel.
This was the beginning of the Order of Minims, the foundation of which is placed in 1436.
In 1474, the order was confirmed, and Francis named the Superior General. The first monastery was built in 1454, and many others followed.
When his life of penance drew near it’s close, St. Francis spent the last three months in his cell, preparing for death and eternity.
On Palm Sunday, 1508, he fell sick, and died shortly thereafter at the age of 91.
God, the exultation of the humble, You raised St. Francis to the glory ofYour saints. Through his merits and example, grant that we may happily obtain the rewards promised to the humble.
Amen.
Links I like:
http://www.wf-f.org/StFrancisPaola.html
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06231a.htm
http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1341
