Blessed Angelo Paoli

Francesco Paoli was born in 1642 at Argigliano, a hamlet of Casola in the diocese of Luni-Sarzana, and received a solid Christian formation in a modest household. Drawn as a young man to the priesthood but more strongly to regular life, he entered the Order of Carmelites together with his brother Tommaso and took the name Angelo. He studied in several Tuscan cities and reached the grade of lector, but spent his life largely in humble and hidden duties, marked by obedience, religious observance and a strong sense of charity toward the poor. Called to Rome, he remained there almost thirty-three years, filling various offices within the community and maturing into his vocation as Father of the Poor, above all by organising and drawing in collaborators for the service of the most destitute. He was a fervent spiritual director to people of every rank. His charity was fed by an ardent Eucharistic zeal joined to a genuine Marian devotion. He died in the repute of holiness on 20 January 1720.