Saint of the Day – 15 February – Blessed Angelus de Scarpetti OSA (Died c 1306)

Saint of the Day – 15 February – Blessed Angelus de Scarpetti OSA (Died c 1306) Religious of the Order of the Hermits of St Augustine, Missionary, miracle-worker. Born at Borgo San Sepolcro modern Sansepolcro, Italy and died in 1306 at Borgo San Sepolcro modern Sansepolcro, Italy. Also known as – Angelo de Scarpetti, Angelus of Sansepolcro, Angelo of Borgo San Sepolcro

Angelus was born into the Scarpetti family in Sansepolcro, Italy, in the first half of the thirteenth century. He entered the convent in his city of the Hermits of St John the Good in approximately 1254. In 1256 the convent passed to the new Order of the Hermit Friars of St Augustine. There he became a fellow-student with Saint Nicholas of Tolentino.

He was sent to England as a Missionary but we have little information of his time there.

His reputation for sanctity was endowed by some miraculous episodes that occurred during his lifetime, including the resurrection of an innocent man who was condemned to death. Angelus had made a formal request for the innocent man’s pardon but it was refused and the man was executed. However, by Angelus’ fervent entreaties to the only Judge, the man was raised to life.

Since the sixteenth century, Augustinian writers have noted his profound humility, unflinching charity and his spotless purity of spirit and body. All of these gained him, among his countrymen, renown as a man acceptable to God, who God made full of supernatural gifts.

Angelus died in Sansepolcro in 1306. In 1905 the local Diocese began the process for his Beatification, which reached a successful conclusion in 1922.

His body is currently kept in a carved, gilt wooden casket that is decorated with scenes from his life and is kept under the main altar of the Church of Sant’Agostino in Sansepolcro.

Angelus was Beatified on 27 July 1921 by Pope Benedict XV.