Saint of the Day – 26 May – Blessed Andrea Franchi OP (1335-1401) known as “The Father of the Poor”Bishop, Priest and Friar of the Order of Preachers, renowned Preacher and missionary evangelist, Professor of Prior, Reformer, Miracle-worker. Born in 1335 in Pistoia, Italy and died on 26 May 1401 in Pistoia, Italy of natural causes.
Andrea Franchi was born in Pistoia in 1335 as the third of four children which included – Francesco Franchi, as well as Bartolomeo – an Advisor tp Pope Urban VI and Pope Boniface IX – and Luca (who joined Andreas in the Dominican Order).
He studied at the Dominican Convent of Santa Maria Novella in Pistoia and, in 1359, at the very young age of 14 years, entered the Dominicans. He was later Ordained to the Priesthood and became a noted Preacher and internal missionmary evangelist. He also served as a teacher in Rome of both philosophical and theological studies.
From 1369 until 1381, Andrea served as the Prior of the Dominican houses in his home Town of Pistoia, and also of the districts of Lucca and Orvieto.
In 1382, he was appointed aas the Bishop of Pistoia, by Pope Urban VI. The new Bishop received his Episcopal Consecration sometime in 1382. He administered to the poor and to the ill and gained the moniker of the “The Father of the Poor.” After 18 years servoce, ill health forced him, on 29 May 1400 – to relinquish his Episcopal See and he returned to his Pistoia Convent where he remained for the final months of his life.
Andrea died in 1401. He was interred in theChurch of San Domenico in Pistoia and his remains were found to be incorrupt after their exhumation in 1613 – a sweet odour emanated from his remains.
This holy and zealous Dominican received formal Beatification by Pope Benedict XV on 21 November 1921 after the Pontiff confirmed the late Bishop’s cultus.
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