| Saint Didacus of Alcalá | |
|---|---|
San Diego de Alcalá by Francisco de Zurbarán |
|
| Confessor | |
| Born | c. 1400 San Nicolás del Puerto, Seville, Andalusia, Kingdom of Castile |
| Died | November 12, 1463 Alcalá de Henares, Kingdom of Castile |
| Honored in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Canonized | 1588 by Pope Sixtus V |
| Feast | November 7 November 13 (General Roman Calendar 1588–1969) |
| Attributes | Cross, Lily |
| Patronage | Franciscan laity; Franciscan lay brothers |
Saint Didacus of Alcalá, (Latin: Sanctus Didacus Complutensis), Saint Diego, (or the more familiar Spanish: San Diego) was a lay brother of the Order of Friars Minor who died at Alcalá de Henares, Spain, November 12, 1463.
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His impoverished parents placed him as a child in the care of a hermit living not far from San Nicolás del Puerto Seville - Spain, his native town. Feeling called to the religious life, he applied for admission to the Franciscan Order at the convent of Arizafa and was received as a lay brother. In 1445 he was chosen guardian of the Franciscan community on the Canary Island of Fuerteventura, where in 1446, the Observantist Franciscans founded the Convent of San Buenaventura. There, though it was an exception to the ordinary rules for a lay brother to be made superior; his great zeal, prudence, and sanctity justified this choice.
In 1449 he was recalled to Spain, whence he went to Rome to be present at the canonization of Bernardino of Siena in 1450. At Alatraz he fulfilled the humble office of infirmarian in the convent of Ara Coeli; and his biographers record the miraculous cure of many whom he attended, through his pious intercession. He was finally recalled to Spain and was sent by his superiors to the Convento de Santa María de Jesús in Alcalá, where he spent the remaining years of his life in penance, solitude, and the delights of contemplation. There he died on November 12, 1463 due to an abscess. It was said that it amazed everyone that instead of a foul odor, fragrance emitted from his infection. His body was also rumored to have remained incorrupt, did not undergo rigor mortis and continued to emit a pleasant odor.[1]
Saint Didacus was canonized by Pope Sixtus V in 1588 and in the General Roman Calendar his feast day was celebrated on 13 November, since 12 November, the anniversary of his death, was occupied by that of Pope Saint Martin I. However, the Franciscans celebrated his feast day on 12 November,[2] and Saint Didacus's feast day was finally placed on 12 November for the whole of the Church[3] in the 1969 revision of the General Roman Calendar, which also moved Pope Martin I's feast day to his dies natalis, 13 April.[4]
Saint Didacus is the saint to whom the Franciscan mission that developed into San Diego, California was dedicated.
The Spanish painter Bartolomé Estéban Murillo is noted for painting representations of Didacus of Alcalá.
Complutum is the Latin name of Alcalá de Henares