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The Catholic Defender: Saint Ignatius of Laconi


He was the second of seven children of peasant parents in Sardinia. His path to the Franciscans was unusual.


During a serious illness, Ignatius vowed to become a Capuchin if he recovered. He regained his health but ignored the promise. When he was 20, a riding accident prompted Ignatius to renew the pledge, which he acted on the second time. Ignatius’s reputation for self-denial and charity led to his appointment as the official beggar for the friars in Cagliari. He fulfilled that task for 40 years, despite being blind for the last two years.


Ignatius's reputation for self-denial and charity led to his appointment as the official beggar for the friars in Cagliari. He fulfilled that task for 40 years, despite being blind for the last two years. While on his rounds, Ignatius would instruct the children, visit the sick, and urge sinners to repent.


He was known for his strict and total obedience to his superiors, even when it required the denial of his own will. He would not go to the house of a certain usurer because he feared that in accepting alms from the man he would share the guilt of his injustices. But when the man complained his superior ordered him to accept alms from him. However, when he returned to the friary and opened the sack with the alms the usurer had offered, blood started flowing out.


While on his rounds, Ignatius would instruct the children, visit the sick, and urge sinners to repent. The people of Cagliari were inspired by his kindness and his faithfulness to his work. Ignatius was canonized in 1951.


Why did the people of Cagliari support the friars? These followers of Francis worked hard but rarely at jobs that paid enough to live on. The life of Ignatius reminds us that everything God considers worthwhile does not have a high-paying salary attached to it.


He mingled with all people he met and was generous towards those who were ill. But he became known as a wonder worker and it was claimed that he had performed 121 miracles during his life. with an additional 86 reported after his death.


St Ignatius was beatified on 16 June 1940 and he was canonized in 1951and his remains were entered in Cagliari. There are two miracles attributed to him that occurred after his death. St Ignatius is known as the Patron saint for beggars and students.


Despite poor health and infirmities he continued his work, however arduous. Even after he became blind in 1779, he continued to work for the benefit of those around him. Peis died on 11 May 1781 at 3:00pm in Cagliari, where his remains were interred.


He was beatified on 16 June 1940 and was canonized later in 1951.[3] His body in Cagliari is still incorrupt.

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