Saint Cajetan, 1480-1547, Cayetano; Gaetano, Gaetano dei Conti di Tiene
A glorious, active life helping the poor, founded a hospital for incurables and the Theatines to reform the Church before Luther

    Venetian nobility. Like most of us, Cajetan seemed headed for an “ordinary” life—first as a lawyer, then as a priest engaged in the work of the Roman Curia.

    His life took a characteristic turn when he joined the Oratory of Divine Love in Rome, a group devoted to piety and charity, shortly after his ordination at 36. When he was 42 he founded a hospital for incurables at Venice. At Vicenza, he entered a “disreputable” religious community that consisted only of men of the lowest stations of life—and was roundly censured by his friends, who thought his action was a reflection on his family. He sought out the sick and poor of the town and served them

    The most important for Cajetan was the need of reformation in the Church, and felt called to enter a religous community to serve the sick and poor. On 3 May 1524, with three others, including John Peter Caraffa who later became Pope Paul IV, he formed the Congregation of Clerks Regular at Rome (Theatines), (from Teate [Chieti]  with the mission of fostering the Church's mission and reviving the spirit and zeal of the clergy. The Theatines were outstanding among the Catholic reform movements that took shape before the Protestant Reformation.
    Founded a bank to help the poor and offer an alternative to usurers (loan sharks); it later became the Bank of Naples.
    Known for a gentle game he played with parishioners where he would bet prayers, rosaries or devotional candles on whether he would perform some service for them; he always did, and they always had to "pay" by saying the prayers.

Born October 1480 at Vicenza, Italy as Gaetano dei Conti di Tiene

Died 1547 at Naples, Italy

Canonized 12 April 1671 by Pope Clement X

Print References

http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintc31.htm
http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1100

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