SAINT OF TODAY - St. Benedict the African

St. Benedict the African

He was born in the year 1524 at Messino, Italy to African slaves. His parents were Christopher and Diana Manasseri. At the young age Benedict worked alongside his parents for very meager wages and did not even attend school. He was very patient and dignified in his behaviors. On seeing the good characters of Benedict, a group of Franciscan Hermits of Monte Pellegrino invited him to join with them. He then moved to the Franciscan Friary at Palermo, when the hermits were disbanded by pope Pius-IV. Since he was illiterate, the first work given to him at the Friary was to do cooking. Then step by step he became the Novice Master even though he was only a lay brother and illiterate. At the Friary he also had a reputation as a healer of the sick. It is also said about him that he predicted the exact hour and date of his own death. He died on April 4, 1589 at Palermo, Italy. King Philip-III of Spain paid for a special tomb for Benedict, even though he was a slave. His body when exhumed after several years after death was found to be incorrupt.

He was beatified on May 15, 1743 by pope Benedict-XIV and canonized by pope Pius-VIII on May 24, 1807.