A religious of the Order of Friars Minor in the 14th century, Oderic of Pordenone was a great missionary in Asia, traveling through Persia, India, and China. After spending three years in Khanbaliq, he returned to Italy to report on his mission to the Pope but died in Udine in 1331. His office was officially approved in 1755.
Guided reading
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BLESSED ODERIC OF PORDENONE (1331).
Youth and Franciscan vocation
Oderic entered the Order of Friars Minor at the end of the 13th century, distinguishing himself by extreme austerity, absolute poverty, and a constant refusal of honors.
Blessed Oderic of Pordenone was born at the end of the 13th century. After spending his childhood and adolescence in the exercises of a persevering piety, he entered the Order of F riars Minor. He soon add Ordre des Frères Mineurs Religious order welcomed by Engelbert in Cologne. ed to the austerities of a rule already quite austere, and excited the admiration of his brothers by his profound humility, which made him constantly refuse all kinds of dignities. Living in the most exact poverty, he always walked barefoot.
The missionary epic in Asia
The Blessed traveled through Asia Minor, Armenia, Persia, India, and China, notably spending three years in Cambaluc under the protection of the Emperor of the Tartars.
He went to evangelize Asia Minor, Armenia, Media, and Persia; he penetrated into Tartar y, trave Tartarie Vast region of Central and Northern Asia traversed by the missionary. led through Chi na, t Chine Far Eastern country evangelized by Odoric. he Indies, and the adjacent islands. The Emperor of the Tartars, who at that time protected the Christians, professed a great affection for Oderic. This true servant of God, after having spent three y ears in Cambaluc Combulek ou Fukin Seat of his mission in China, corresponding to modern-day Beijing. or Fukin, the seat of his mission, returned to Italy in 1330. He set out for Avignon, wishing to report to the Sovereign Pontiff on his mission among the Tartars; but he fell ill in Pisa and returned t o the Udine City in Italy where the saint died. convent of Udine, where he died o n January 14, Le Saint-Siège Papal authority that approved the cult of Aemilian. 1331. The Holy See approved his office in 1755.
Return to Europe and end of life
Returning to Italy in 1330, he attempted to join the Pope in Avignon but died at the convent of Udine in 1331 after falling ill in Pisa.
Manual of the Brothers and Sisters of the Third O rder of Saint Francis o saint François d'Assise Founder of the Order of Friars Minor. f Assisi. See our Seraphic Palm, on January 14.
Recognition and hagiographic sources
His cult was officially approved by the Holy See in 1755, and his life is documented in the manuals of the Franciscan Third Order.
He went to evangelize Asia Minor, Armenia, Media, and Persia; he penetrated into Tartary, traveled through China, the Indies, and the adjacent islands. The Emperor of the Tartars, who at that time protected the Christians, professed a great affection for Oderic. This true servant of God, after having spent three years in Cambaluc or Fukin, the seat of his mission, returned to Italy in 1330. He left for Avignon, wishing to report to the Sovereign Pontiff on his mission among the Tartars; but he fell ill in Pisa and returned to the convent of Udine where he died on January 14, 1331. The Holy See approved his office in 1755.
Manual of the Brothers and Sisters of the Third Order of Saint Francis of Assisi. See our Seraphic Palm, on January 14.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Entered the Order of Friars Minor
- Evangelization of Asia Minor, Armenia, Media, and Persia
- Mission in Tartary, China, India, and adjacent islands
- Three-year stay in Cambaluc (Fujian)
- Return to Italy in 1330
- Approval of his office by the Holy See in 1755