Blessed Gabriel Ferretti

Gabriel Ferretti (c. 1385 – 12 November 1456) was an Italian Roman Catholic priest and a professed member of the Order of Friars Minor. He was an ancestor to both Cardinal Gabriele Ferretti and Pope Pius IX having been descended from a long noble lineage. Ferretti entered the religious life after becoming of age and soon after his ordination held two important leadership positions in the order. He set about restoring run down Franciscan convents in the region as well as seeing to the establishment of new ones to deal with an influx of new novices. Ferretti's beatification cause could be traced soon after his death after Pope Callixtus III had Giacomo della Marca collect evidence that would attest to Ferretti's saintliness. Pope Benedict XIV later beatified Ferretti on 19 September 1753 in a decree that recognized his official "cultus" (or longstanding and popular veneration). Gabriel Ferretti was born circa 1385 in Ancona as the eldest of ten children to the devout Count Liverotto Ferretti (a count since 1397) and Alvisia Sacchetti (who married in 1378) who were responsible for his upbringing in the Christian faith. He was an ancestor to future Cardinal Gabriele Ferretti and the future Pope Pius IX. His paternal grandfather was Francesco Ferretti and his paternal great-grandfather was Pietro Ferretti. His maternal grandfather was Simone Sacchetti. His siblings included: In 1403 he entered the Order of Friars Minor at their convent church of San Francesco ad Alto stationed in his hometown and did his novitiate and formation there prior to his solemn profession into the order. Ferretti achieved excellent results in his philosophical and theological studies during this time. He became respected for his virtuous and meek nature and after his ordination to the priesthood in 1410 was appointed to preach in the region which he did until 1425.