May 19

St. Celestine V

When they lived:

Saint Celestine V, also known as Pope Celestine V, lived during the 13th century. He was born on October 1215 in Isernia, Kingdom of Sicily (modern-day Italy), and he passed away on May 19, 1296, in Ferentino, Italy.

Where they lived:

Saint Celestine V spent much of his life in Italy, primarily in the regions of Apulia and Lazio. His humble origins in a small Italian village contrasted sharply with the grandeur of the Vatican, where he briefly served as pope.

Notable world events during the time of their life:

The Mongol Empire’s Expansion: During Celestine V’s lifetime, the Mongol Empire, under the leadership of figures like Kublai Khan, continued its expansion. This had significant global consequences, as it influenced trade, diplomacy, and cultural exchange across Eurasia.
The Crusades: The ongoing Crusades, aimed at reclaiming the Holy Land, were a prominent feature of the 13th century. These military campaigns impacted the political landscape of Europe and the Middle East.
The Magna Carta (1215): Although this event predates Celestine V’s birth, its impact continued to reverberate throughout his life. The Magna Carta laid the groundwork for modern constitutional principles and the limitation of royal authority, contributing to the development of democratic ideals.
The Emergence of Gothic Architecture: The 13th century witnessed the flourishing of Gothic architecture, with iconic cathedrals and structures like Notre-Dame de Paris being constructed. This artistic and engineering marvel influenced the culture and spirituality of the time.
The Works of Thomas Aquinas: The philosophical and theological contributions of Saint Thomas Aquinas, a contemporary of Celestine V, greatly influenced the Catholic Church. Aquinas’ Summa Theologica remains a fundamental text in Christian thought.

Their patronage:

Saint Celestine V is notably associated with patronage over several aspects:

Spiritual Renewal: As a hermit before his papacy, he symbolizes the importance of spiritual solitude and reflection.
Innocence: Celestine V’s humility and innocence, even during his short papacy, serve as a reminder of the value of simplicity and purity.
Leadership Transitions: His decision to abdicate the papacy emphasizes the importance of discernment and making difficult decisions, especially in positions of leadership.
Protection Against Earthquakes: Due to a tradition regarding his prayers for the safety of the faithful during earthquakes, he is considered a patron against such natural disasters.

The Early Life of St. Celestine

St. Celestine was born in the year 1215 to Angelo Angelerio and Maria Leone in Sant’Angelo, Limosano, in the Kingdom of Sicilia (Sicily). He was the sixth child of the eleven children his parents had. He was named Peter Angelerio. At the age of 17, he joined the Benedictine order and was quite devoted.

Stories have it that his mother wanted one of her children to become a saint, and she would regularly ask which one would become a saint. This was among the many things that got the young Peter interested in the pursuit of a holy life.

The Priestly Life of St. Celestine V

The young Peter, having developed an interest in living a holy life, joined the Benedictine order at the very young age of 17. He would later become a hermit at the age of 20 and spend his time praying and reading the Holy Book.

Whenever he wasn’t praying or studying the Bible, he would be found copying books or doing other complex tasks. This was to ensure that his mind was not idle and did not become the devil’s workshop, as the saying goes.

Due to his straightforward and pious lifestyle and his great devotion, a lot of hermits always came to him seeking his guidance on their mission to become better hermits. This led him to start another order, a branch of the Benedictine order known as the Celestine order.

He eventually became the Superior General of that order and committed himself even more to prayer and contemplation of the scriptures after the formation of the monasteries. He later handed the order over to a certain Robert, as vicar, to enable him to concentrate more on the life of solitude, prayer, and the scriptures.

The Papacy of St. Celestine V

Peter was in his 80s when he became a pope in the Catholic Church. His journey to the papacy was a very unusual one, however. It came about when, after two years, the cardinals were unable to decide on whom to choose as the next See of the church after the passing of Nicholas IV.

Sending them a message, Peter advised them to decide as soon as possible, as God was not pleased with the overlong delay. When the message was received by the school of cardinals, they quickly decided on Peter becoming the Pope.

Upon hearing that he had been chosen as the new Pope, Peter was not pleased. He wept but sorrowfully accepted the position and chose the name Clement V. A name no other pope has taken since his resignation and demise.

Being extremely simple and humble and having difficulty refusing people, the people around him took advantage of him. Due to such situations, great confusion arose in the affairs of the church.

Understanding that the state of confusion was due to his inability to govern strictly and authoritatively, he voluntarily gave up the papal seat on December 13, 1294, a week after issuing the decree allowing the Pope the right to abdicate.

Works of St. Celestine V

Due to his short stay on the Papal seat and the fact that his successor, Boniface VIII, nullified most of his works after succeeding him, not many records of his works are available.

Recorded amongst his works are the founding of the Celestine Order in 1244, the reinstitution of the Conclave System of Papal Ordinations instituted by Gregory X, and the Confirmation of the Right of the Pope to Abdicate.

Death and Canonization of St. Celestine

Upon his resignation from the papal seat, St. Celestine sought to return to his life as a hermit, but this was not granted to him by his successor, Boniface VIII. This was because he feared that St. Celestine would be ordained as the antipope.

On two occasions, he tried, albeit unsuccessfully, to escape from Boniface. He was imprisoned in a cell in the castle of Fumone, Lazio Region, where he met his death on May 19, 1296.

He was canonized by Clement the V on May 5, 1313. His remains were transferred some years after his canonization from Ferrentino to the church of his order at Aquila. His feast is celebrated on May 19.

5 Interesting Facts About St. Celestine V

His mother inspired in him the zeal for a saintly life, as she was fond of
of asking which one of them would become a saint.
St. Celestine V stated that he would become a saint in response to
his mother’s regular question to him and his siblings.
He was the 192nd Pope of the Catholic Church and had one of the
shortest stays in the papacy
He was simple and humble and had difficulty saying “no” to people.
St. Celestine V is the Patron saint of bookbinders and the papal
resignations, and Aquila.

Prayer to St. Celestine V

St. Celestine, you were pope for only five months, for in that short amount of time it was apparent that although you were very holy, you were not a natural leader, as you could not say no to anyone. You went again to the cardinals and begged that the position be taken away from you. They were deeply impressed by your humility. They chose a new pope, who decided to keep you in a cell so that no one could take advantage of you and make you into an anti-pope. In this prison, you lived out the rest of your days in prayer. St. Celestine, you were not the slightest bit ambitious for clerical power. Please pray that we may grow in humility as you did and not yearn for worldly honors. St. Celestine, you realized you were incapable of governing the people through the duties of a pope and resigned. The next pope to resign of his own accord was Benedict XVI. Please pray for all our popes, for you know how terribly burdensome and stressful this position is. We thank you for your gentle intercession. Amen.