Saint Francis of Paola was born in Italy and educated in the Franciscan friary of San Marco, becoming a hermit at 15. In 1436, he and two companions began a community that is considered the foundation of the Minim Friars; this was originally called Hermits of St Francis of Assisi when the Order was approved in 1474, but was changed to Minim Friars in 1492. Saint Francis was credited with many miracles and had gifts of prophecy and insight into men's hearts. He was ordered by Pope Sixtus II to go to France, where King Louis XI was dying, in the hopes to help cure him. This did not happen, however, the Saint managed to restore peace between France and Brittany by advising a marriage between the ruling families, and between France and Spain by persuading the King to return some disputed land. King Louis's son Charles VIII was so comforted by Saint Francis, that the two became good friends, and he endowed several monasteries for the Minims. Saint Francis spent the rest of his life at the monastery of Plessis in France, until his death on 2nd April 1519.
Feast day: 2nd April