Saint Seraphin of Montegranaro

Seraphin of Montegranaro (Italian: Serafino da Montegranaro; 1540 – October 12, 1604), was an Italian Capuchin lay brother, who is honored as a saint by the Catholic Church. Born Felix Rapagnano (also written Felice) at Montegranaro, then in the March of Fermo, he was the second of four children of poor but pious parents, Gerolamo Rapagnano and Teodora Giovannuzzi. His father was a mason. Because of their poverty, the family depended on the productivity of all of its members. The eldest son, Silenzio, followed in his father's footsteps as a mason. The slighter and less manually adept Felix was hired out to a local farmer as a shepherd. Felix enjoyed shepherding since it afforded him time for prayer. Even at an early age, he had an inclination toward silence, seclusion, and prayer. When their father died, however, he was summoned home. His brother understood that Felix lacked the skills of a mason, but hoped to use him as an unskilled laborer. All attempts proved futile. Felix could not even learn how to slake lime. He did learn, however, to put up with the physical and emotional abuse heaped upon him by his irascible brother. Felix kept in mind stories he had heard about the desert ascetics and of their fasting and penances, and dreamed of becoming like them. He confided in a friend, Luisa Vannucci from Loro Piceno, who encouraged him to enter religious life. She specifically mentioned the Capuchins because she was familiar with these friars and with their reputation for virtue. Immediately, he left for Tolentino and presented himself to the Capuchin minister provincial, expecting to be admitted that very day. But such was not the Capuchin custom. Instead, he was sent home, in all likelihood because of his age and fragile condition. In 1556, he repeated his request to the minister provincial, who this time accepted him and sent him to the novitiate of the province at Jesi.