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Saint Celestine V
Saint Celestine V

Saint Celestine V

Feast Day
May 19, 2013
Patronage
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<p>St. Celestine V, was born Pietro Angelerio.&nbsp; He was a monk and hermit who founded the order of the Celestines.&nbsp; In 1294, he was elected Pope in the Catholic Church&rsquo;s last non-conclave Papal election, ending a two year impasse.&nbsp; Among the only surviving edicts he issued as Pope, was the confirmation of the right of the Pope to abdicate.&nbsp; All of his other official acts were annulled by his successor, Pope Boniface VIII.&nbsp; Celestine resigned stating his desire to return to his humble, pre-papal life.&nbsp; On December 13, 1294, he announced his resignation.&nbsp; He was then imprisoned by Pope Boniface VIII, in the castle of Fumone in the Campagna region, where he died after nine months of being held prisoner.&nbsp; He was canonized in 1313, and no other Pope has taken the name &ldquo;Celestine&rdquo;.&nbsp;</p> <p>He was born in a town called St. Angelo Limosano, in the Kingdom of Sicily.&nbsp; After his father&rsquo;s death, he began to work in the fields.&nbsp; His mother was a key figure in his spiritual development, as she wished for a different future for her son.&nbsp; From the time he was a child, he showed great intelligence and love for others.&nbsp; He became a Benedictine Monk when he was 17.&nbsp; He was drawn to asceticism and solitude, and in 1239 he retired to a solitary cavern on the Mountain Morrone.&nbsp; Five years later, he relocated with two companions to an even more remote mountain, trying to follow the example of St. John the Baptist.&nbsp; He practiced severe penitential practices.&nbsp;</p> <p>It was while living as an ascetic monk that he founded his Celestines Order in 1244.&nbsp; He drew up a Rule and Pope Urban IV approved it. He lived to see himself as Superior General, and it grew to thirty-six Monasteries, with more than 600 Monks.&nbsp;&nbsp; After seeing this success, he gave the power over to another, and once again moved to a still more remote place, to give himself entirely up to solitary prayer and penance.&nbsp;</p> <p>He was elected as Pope, but with no political experience, Celestine proved to be an especially weak and incompetent Pope.&nbsp; He held his office in the Kingdom of Naples, out of contact with the Roman Curia and under the complete power of King Charles II.&nbsp; He appointed the King&rsquo;s favorites to all the Church&rsquo;s offices, sometime several to the same office.&nbsp; He even went, as far as to appoint three cardinals to govern the Church during Advent, while he fasted, something that was not well received.&nbsp; Realizing his lack of authority and personal incompatibility with Papal duties, he consulted with Cardinal Benedetta Caetani his eventual successor about the possibility of resignation.&nbsp; His supporters thought he had been kept prisoner and was treated harshly under the new Pope, some even thought he was executed.&nbsp;&nbsp; The historical evidence is unclear, and he did die 9 months after his retirement, while being held against his will in a Papal Castle.&nbsp; He was buried at Ferentino, but his body was removed to the Basilica Santa Maria di Collemaggio in Aquila.&nbsp; Many of his supporters thought that he was ousted as Pope, and that his successor Pope Boniface VIII was responsible for holding him captive.&nbsp; It is worth noting, that this is the tomb that Pope Benedict the XVI went to visit, praying over this saint, just prior to announcing his retirement.&nbsp;</p> <h1><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Practical Take Away</strong></span></h1> <p>St. Celestine V, was born Pietro Angelerio.&nbsp; He was a monk and hermit who founded the order of the Celestines.&nbsp; In 1294, he was elected Pope in the Catholic Church&rsquo;s last non-conclave Papal election, ending a two year impasse.&nbsp; Among the only surviving edicts he issued as Pope, was the confirmation of the right of the Pope to abdicate.&nbsp; All of his other official acts were annulled by his successor, Pope Boniface VIII.&nbsp; Celestine resigned stating his desire to return to his humble, pre-papal life.&nbsp; On December 13, 1294, he announced his resignation.&nbsp; He was then imprisoned by Pope Boniface VIII, in the castle of Fumone in the Campagna region, where he died after nine months of being held prisoner.&nbsp; He was canonized in 1313, and no other Pope has taken the name &ldquo;Celestine&rdquo;.&nbsp;</p>