On April 4, the Church celebrates St. Benedict Massarari, from Palermo, called 'the African' or 'the Black', and St. Cajetan Catanoso, priest and parish priest in Reggio. St. Benedict Massarari was born in Sicily in 1526 to Christian parents, descendants of black slaves. As a young man, Benedict tended the patron's flock, and from then on, because of his virtues, he was called 'the Moorish saint'.
St. Benedict was a hermit and later entered the Franciscan Order in 1562. He was always humble and full of faith in Divine Providence, according to the Roman Martyrology. He had no studies, but his natural and spiritual endowments of advice and prudence attracted many people. It was lay brotherHe was a cook, then guardian of the convent of Santa Maria di Gesù in Palermo and master of novices. Charismatic and miraculous gifts were attributed to him.
Worship of the Eucharist, care for the needy, vocations, etc.
Saint Cajetanus Catanosus, a priest, was pastor for years from a poor village, where he was pastor and father to all, according to the directory Franciscan. Later, in a parish In Reggio, he carried out an even more intense activity: catechesis, popular missions, confessional, assistance to the poor, the sick and the persecuted, etc.
He encouraged the cult of the Eucharist and promoted priestly vocations. Very devoted to the holy face of ChristIn 1987, St. Cajetan founded the Congregation of the Veronica Sisters of the Holy Face to help the neediest priests. He was beatified in Rome by St. John Paul II in 1987, and canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in 2005.
Other saints and blessed on April 4 include St. Peter of Poitiers (12th century), St. Plato of Constantinople, Blessed William Cuffitelli, Blessed Joseph Benedict Dusmet and Blessed Francis Solis, and the martyred Saints Agathopod and Theodulus.
