St. Didacus

Didacus, a 15th-century Spanish Franciscan laybrother, labored for some years in the Canary Islands, where he instructed and converted many people. For a time he also headed a large monastery he had founded there. Didacus was above all a contemplative, and his abundant good works were the fruit of his ardent love of Christ. His charity for the sick was especially moving.

Pictorial Lives of the Saints St. Didacus

November 13

Saint Didacus was born in Spain, in the middle of the fifteenth century. He was remarkable from childhood for his love of solitude, and when a youth retired and led a hermit life, occupying himself with weaving mats, like the fathers of the desert. Aiming at still higher perfection, he entered the Order of Saint Francis. His want of learning and his humility would not allow him to aspire to the priesthood, and he remained a lay-brother till his death, perfect in his close observance of the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and mortifying his will and his senses in every way that he could contrive. At one time he was sent by his superiors to the Canary Islands, whither he went joyfully, hoping to win the crown of martyrdom. Such, however, was not God’s will, and after making many conversions by his example and holy words, he was recalled to Spain. There, after a long and painful illness, he finished his days, embracing the cross which he had so dearly loved through his life. He died with the words of the hymn “Dulce lignum” on his lips.

Reflection – If God be in your heart, He will be also on your lips; for Christ has said, “From the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”

Patron: diocese of San Diego, California; Franciscan laity; Franciscan lay brothers.

Symbols: Bread and roses in a tunic; cross held by an angel.

Things to Do:

• Meditate on the fact that in order to walk the Christian path you must always be counter-cultural, for the world follows the broad, level and easy roads, and resolve to bear patiently the next time someone misunderstands you or even ridicules you because you do not conform to this world (pray for that person); Pray for the virtue of humility which we must have if we are to reach our “enemies”.