นักบุญกาเยตาน พระสงฆ์

ค.ศ.1480-1547 (ฉลอง 7 สิงหาคม)

 

Cajetan

Also known as

Cajetan the Theatine; Cajetan of Thiene; Cayetano; Gaetano; Gaetanus; Gaetano dei Conti di Tiene; Gaetano da Thiene

Memorial

7 August

Profile

Venetian nobility. Studied law in Padua, and was offered governing posts, but turned them down for a religious vocation. Ordained at age 36. In 1522, Cajetan founded a hospital in Venice for victims of incurable illness. Cajetan was aware of the need of reformation in the Church, and felt called to enter a religous community to serve the sick and poor. On 3 May 1524, with three others, including John Peter Caraffa who later became Pope Paul IV, he formed the Congregation of Clerks Regular (Theatines) at Rome with the mission of fostering the Church's mission and reviving the spirit and zeal of the clergy. Founded a bank to help the poor and offer an alternative to usurers (loan sharks); it later became the Bank of Naples. Known for a gentle game he played with parishioners where he would bet prayers, rosaries or devotional candles on whether he would perform some service for them; he always did, and they always had to "pay" by saying the prayers.

Born

October 1480 at Vicenza, Italy as Gaetano dei Conti di Tiene

Died

1547 at Naples, Italy

Beatified

8 October 1629 by Pope Urban VIII

Canonized

12 April 1671 by Pope Clement X