Saint Benedict Joseph Labre
Poor pilgrim refused by religious orders, who lived by begging and died in Rome
- Rank
- Saint
- Kind
- Layperson, Mystic
- Life
- 1748 – 1783
- Era
- 18th century
- Feast
- 16 April
- Countries
- France, Italy
Life story
Benedict Joseph Labre was born on 26 March 1748 at Amettes, near Arras in Artois, France, the eldest in a large family. From childhood he wished to live a religious life. He applied to the Trappists, the Carthusians and the Cistercians, but was refused by all of them.
He then chose a life of poor pilgrimage and joined the Third Order of Saint Francis. He travelled on foot, living on alms, to many shrines in Italy, Switzerland, France and Spain, including Loreto, Assisi and Compostela. Contemporaries recorded that he wore ragged clothes, slept outdoors and gave away his food to others.
In his last years he stayed in Rome, at times sheltering in the ruins of the Colosseum, leaving the city only for an annual pilgrimage to Loreto. Romans came to know him, and sources say he spent many hours praying in the city's churches.
He collapsed from exhaustion and died on 16 April 1783 in Rome, during Holy Week, aged 35. Pius IX beatified him on 20 May 1860 and Leo XIII canonised him on 8 December 1881.
Works and witness
- Refused by the Trappists, Carthusians and Cistercians
- Walked on pilgrimage to Loreto, Assisi, Compostela and other shrines
- Lived in poverty on alms, mainly in Rome in his last years
- Died on 16 April 1783 aged 35
- Canonised in 1881
Patron of
The homeless, People with mental illness
Saints from the same country
References
- Martyrologium Romanum
- Decrees of beatification (1860) and canonisation (1881)
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.