Saint of the Day Profile

Catholic Saint of the Day Profile

Saint Alexius of Rome
Also known as
• Alexis of Rome
• Alexis the Beggar
• The Man of God
Profile:
The only son of a wealthy Christian Roman senator. The young man wanted to devote himself to God, but his parents arranged a marriage for him. On his wedding day his fiancee agreed to release him and let him follow his vocation. He fled his parent's home disguised as a beggar, and lived near a church in Syria. A vision of Our Lady at the church pointed him out as exceptionally holy, calling him the "Man of God". This drew attention to him, which caused him to return to Rome, Italy where he would not be known. He came as a beggar to his own home. His parents did not recognize him, but were kind to all the poor, and let him stay there. Alexis lived for seventeen years in a corner under the stairs, praying, and teaching catechism to small children. At his death an unseen voice was heard to proclaim him 'The Man of God', and afterwards his family found a note on his body which told them who he was and how he had lived his life of penance from the day of his wedding until then, for the love of God.

Died:
Early 5th century
Patronage:
• Alexians
• beggars
• belt makers
• nurses
• pilgrims
• travellers
Representation:
• dying man with a letter in his hand
• man holding a ladder
• man in a pilgrim's habit holding a staff
• man lying beneath a staircase
• man lying on a mat
• old and very ragged beggar with a dish
• dish
• old man dressed as a pilgrim
• cross
• palm (his sufferings and patience led some to consider him a martyr)

Blog post courtesy:
http://catholicsaints.info/saint-alexius-of-rome/