Blessed Paul of Arezzo

This Pope, who applied himself to giving the Church zealous pastors, appointed him to the bishopri évêché de Plaisance City where the saint founded a house and exercised his ministry. c of Piacenza. Blessed Paul made humble representations to him, but the Pontiff paid no heed and ordered him to accept. Paul left for his diocese immediately after his consecration. There, he had the sorrow of seeing that the Sacraments were almost no longer approached, that practices of piety were neglected, and that corruption had introduced itself even into the sanctuary. To remedy these abuses, he employed all the means that an enlightened zeal could suggest; but, among these means, there was none more effective than his example. His fervor, his modesty, his affability, his gentleness, his love for simplicity, the rigor and continuity of his penance, and the abundance of his alms, earned him the veneration and trust of all the diocesans.

Pius V having named him cardinal, he was obliged to come to Rome, where an illness that then attacked him detained him for some time. After the restoration of his health, he returned to Piacenza, where he established the regular clerks of his congregation; then the illness of Pius V recalled him to Rome. There he attended the conclave where Gregory XIII was elected. This Pope consulting him on the manner of governing the Church well, the Blessed one replied that it was necessary above all to oblige bishops to reside. He left again for his diocese when his presence was no longer necessary in Rome, and he attende d the third provincial saint Charles Borromée Saint who executed donations in favor of orphans. council of Saint Charles Borromeo, supporting with his vote the wise regulations that were made there. He formed various establishments in Piacenza; he founded there among others two houses, one for orphans, and the other for penitent girls or women; finally, he held two synods there, where he published regulations that will be an eternal monument to his zeal for ecclesiastical discipline.

Gregory XIII transferred him from the see of Piacenza to tha t of N Naples Place of the saint's death. aples, despite all he could allege to prevent this translation. The Saint was received in the latter city with the greatest demonstrations of joy. He worked, as he had done in Piacenza, to reform the abuses that may have crept into his new diocese. The conversion of Jews, heretics, and Mohammedan slaves became one of the principal objects of his solicitude.

However, his health was weakening day by day. He was obliged to go and take the air in the countryside. Unfortunately, he had a fall there and broke his thigh, which necessitated his being brought back to Naples. Fever joined the pains caused by the fracture of his thigh and a continuous cough. His condition soon became dangerous. He submitted to the will of God with perfect resignation; then, after having made his will, he received the last Sacraments and prepared himself with a redoubling of fervor for the passage to eternity. He died on June 17, 1578, at the age of about sixty-seven. He was buried, as he had requested, in the common cemetery of the Theatines of Saint Paul in Naples. One can judge his virtues by the singular esteem held for him by the holy Pope Pius V, Saint Charles Borromeo, Saint Philip Neri, Saint A ndrew Avellino, and th saint Philippe de Néri Founder of the Congregation of the Oratory and Apostle of Rome. e Blessed Marinoni. He was beatified on May 13, 1772. The Theatines celebrate his feast on June 17.

Act. Sanctarum; — Cf. Gudencard, and Fr. de Tracy. Paris, 1774.