Saint Giles Maryofsaintjoseph

Biography

Saint Giles Maryofsaintjoseph, also known as Aegidius Mary of Saint Joseph Pontillo, had a life dedicated to helping those in need and caring for the sick and outcast. Born on 16 November 1729 in Taranto, Apulia, Italy, he came from a pious family and was raised in a small village. When his father passed away in 1747, Giles took up the trade of rope maker to support his mother and siblings. However, he felt a strong calling to religious life and decided to pursue it. In 1754, at the age of 25, he applied to the Discalced Friars Minor of Saint Peter of Alcantara at Naples, Italy. Although he desired to become a priest, he lacked the necessary education and was accepted as a lay brother. At his monastery, Giles served as the porter and gate-keeper of the seminary. This position allowed him to be in constant contact with those in need, and he dedicated himself to their care. He had a special ministry to the sick and lepers and would often travel outside the city to help those who had been shunned and isolated. During his sick calls, he would carry an icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary known as Our Lady of the Well. Throughout his life, Giles himself battled various ailments. He suffered from sciatica, which caused severe leg pain and difficulty walking, leading him to use a cane. Depictions of him often show him as a Franciscan friar with a cane. Additionally, he experienced asthma and later, dropsy, a condition characterized by fluid retention and high blood pressure. Even during his lifetime, Giles was considered by locals as a saint and a patron of the sick and outcast. Legend has it that when he was charged with distributing food and alms to the poor, Saint Joseph would intervene to ensure he never ran out. Saint Giles Maryofsaintjoseph passed away on 7 February 1812 in Naples, Italy. He died peacefully, while in prayer, and a significant number of people attended his funeral. Today, his relics are enshrined in an urn placed next to the icon of Our Lady of the Well in the church of San Pasquale Baylón in his birthplace of Taranto, Italy. His holiness and virtuous life were officially recognized on 24 February 1868 when Pope Pius IX declared his heroic virtues. Saint Giles was beatified on 5 February 1888 by Pope Leo XIII, and finally, he was canonized on 2 June 1996 by Pope John Paul II. The canonization miracle involved the cure of Mrs. Angela Mignogna in 1937. Taranto, Italy, has chosen Saint Giles Maryofsaintjoseph as its patron, a title officially bestowed by Archbishop Orazio Mazzella on 29 June 1919. To this day, he is venerated for his dedicated service, compassion, and intercession in Taranto. Saint Giles Maryofsaintjoseph, also known as Aegidius Mary of Saint Joseph Pontillo, a Franciscan friar with a cane and a picture of Our Lady of the Well, continues to inspire and be revered for his unwavering devotion to the marginalized and suffering. His life serves as a reminder of the transformative power of love and compassion in the service of God.