| Blessed Angelo Paoli | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1 September 1642 Argigliano, Tuscany |
| Died | 17 January 1720 Rome |
| Beatified | 25 April 2010, Basilica of St. John Lateran by Archbishop Angelo Amato |
| Major shrine | San Martino ai Monti |
Blessed Angelo Paoli (1 September 1642 - 17 January 1720) was an Italian Carmelite, known as "the father of the poor".
He was born at born at Argigliano, Tuscany, the son of Angelo Paoli and Santa Morelli, as a young man he spent the greater part of his leisure time in teaching Catholic doctrine to the poor children of Argigliano. At eighteen, he was admitted to the novitiate of the Calced Carmelites at Siena.
After making his vows he spent six years at his studies, was ordained priest, and appointed to the community at Pisa. He was subsequently transferred to Cupoli, Monte Catino, and Fivizzano. Specially devoted to the Passion, he caused wooden crosses to be erected on the hills around Fivizzano (and afterwards in the Coliseum at Rome) to bring the sacred tragedy more vividly before the minds of the inhabitants.
In 1687, he was called to Rome and stationed at the Convent of St. Martin. The remaining years of his life were divided between the care of the sick poor in the city hospitals and the office of Master of Novices.
His virtues were declared by Pope Pius VI in 1781 to be heroic. In a July 2009 meeting with the Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Archbishop Angelo Amato, a miracle (that had been separately reviewed and voted by the medical, theological, and then prelate members of the Congregation as valid) was formally approved by Pope Benedict XVI. The beatification was held at the Basilica of St John Lateran in Rome, on April 25, 2010.[1]