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Saint of the Day for February 13
St. Giles Mary of Saint Joseph

In 1812, while a determined Napoleon Bonaparte marched his army into Russia, a humble Franciscan brother in Naples quietly ended a life devoted to charity and service. That brother was Giles Mary of Saint Joseph, born Francesco Pontillo in Taranto on November 16, 1729. Raised in deep poverty, he faced a devastating loss when his father died, leaving the 18-year-old Francesco responsible for the family’s welfare. Only after providing for his mother and siblings did he pursue his religious calling, entering the Order of Friars Minor at Galatone in 1754.

From that moment onward, Francesco—soon known by his religious name, Giles Mary of Saint Joseph—spent 53 years in the friary of St. Paschal’s Hospice in Naples. Over time, he filled many roles: cook, porter, and most notably, the official beggar for his community. Day after day, Brother Giles ventured into the streets of Naples, petitioning donations of bread, produce, and money to support the friars’ humble needs. His signature exhortation, “Love God, love God,” became the phrase by which many came to know him.

Yet Giles Mary offered more than requests for alms. He comforted the troubled, encouraged people to turn back to God, and often shared surplus donations with the poor. Neapolitans, touched by his compassion, began calling him the “Consoler of Naples.” His gentleness and deep faith were rooted in daily prayer and the communal rhythm of Franciscan life.

On February 7, 1812—the same year Napoleon’s ambitions would falter in the frozen landscapes of Russia—Giles Mary of Saint Joseph passed into eternal life, leaving behind a testament to humility and generosity. His reputation for holiness grew steadily over the years. Beatified in 1888 by Pope Leo XIII, Brother Giles Mary was finally canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1996, formalizing what the citizens of Naples had long believed: that among them had walked a true man of God, whose watchwords—“Love God, love God”—still echo in the hearts of the faithful.


Saint Giles Mary of Saint Joseph Pray for Us.


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