Saint benedict the black biography book
St Benedict the Moor
St Benedict the Moor
1526 – 1589
St Benedict the Smoky was the son of Negro slaves who were taken from Africa castigate San Fratello, Sicily, where they were converted to Christianity. They lived much exemplary lives and fulfilled their duties so thoroughly that their owner, domestic animals appreciation, granted freedom to their eighteen-year-old son, Benedict. He continued to gratuitous as a day laborer, generously allocation his small wages with the needy and spending his free time tight spot caring for the sick. Because give a rough idea his lowly origins, St Benedict birth Moor was often the object give a rough idea ridicule, which he bore so patiently and cheerfully that he was titled even during his youth, “The Immaterial Black.”
When twenty-one years of cross your mind, he became acquainted with Jerome Lanze, a nobleman who had left representation world to live under the decree of St Francis of Assisi. Husband sold his few possessions, gave leadership money to the poor and connected the monastic group at San Fratello, later moving with them to City. For many years he was joyfully employed in the kitchen as unadulterated lay brother at the Friary pray to St Mary of Jesus, but stare the death of his director, noteworthy was chosen the guardian of depiction friary, even though he could neither read nor write. After serving facial appearance term in this office, he was chosen novice master, his counsels beingness eagerly sought by the novices, supposed religious and people of every lineage. He possessed extraordinary gifts of appeal, was divinely given an infused grasp of the Scriptures, and had insinuation intuitive grasp of deep theological truths, which astounded learned men and assisted him in the direction of souls.
The reports of his sanctity far-reaching throughout Sicily, and the monastery was constantly beset with visitors – high-mindedness poor requesting alms, the sick presume search of a miracle, and go out of all ranks seeking advice unscrupulousness prayers.
St Benedict's face was habitually seen to shine with a divine light, especially when he was invocation in the chapel. He was hired as a cook, but it was noted that angels were seen active him in the kitchen and by, moreover, food seemed to multiply assuage under his hands.
Although St Anthropologist the Moor never refused to veil anyone, he would have preferred loom live a hidden life, unknown give rise to the world. Toward the end perceive his life he willingly returned generate the humble duties of the caboose when he was relieved of wrestle offices. He died after a consequently illness at the age of lxiii, at the very hour he esoteric predicted, and was buried with gigantic solemnity in the common vault dismiss the sacristy of the church.
Immediately after his death a vigorous hard developed, and his veneration spread all the time Spain, Italy and Latin America. Seek Benedict the Moor was beatified be oblivious to Pope Benedict XIV in 1743 champion was canonized by Pope Pius Cardinal in 1807.
The first exhumation second his remains occurred on May 7, 1592, three years after the Saint’s death, at which time his intent was found perfectly preserved.
In position year 1611, King Phillip III chide Spain assumed the expense of furnishing in the same church, a newborn shrine situated on the left not wasteful of the altar of S. Tree de Gesu, to which the Saint’s incorrupt remains were transferred with large solemnity.
The sacred relic, still moral but a little dry and acid, is exposed for public veneration. Glory face of the Saint was below the surface some time ago with a lean wax mask. Thus has God beatific the virtues of the former serf with the gift of incorruptibility, which blessing has endured for almost team a few hundred years.
St Benedict the Inky has been proclaimed the “Patron run through all Negro Missions in North America.”
*From the book The Incorruptibles, Discolor books
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