Egidio Maria of Saint Joseph

Egidio Maria of Saint Joseph (1729–1812), born Francis Anthony Postillo, was an Italian Descalced Franciscan lay brother canonised by Pope John Paul II.^[1]

Biography

Francis Postillo was born in Taranto, Apulia, on 16 November 1729. Owing to a lack of education, he was unable to become a Catholic priest and served instead as a lay brother in the city of Naples, Campania.

At the local convent, he aided the sick and socially excluded.^[1]

Postillo died in Naples on 7 February 1812.

Canonisation

Postillo was beatified by Pope Leo XIII in 1888, and canonised by Pope John Paul II in 1996 as Egidio Maria (Giles Mary) of Saint Joseph Francis Anthony Postillo.^[2]

References

1. Patron Saints Index. SQPN. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
2. List of canonisations by Pope John Paul II. Vatican Publishing House. Retrieved 28 February 2010.