CAJETAN

Also known as: Cajetan the Theatine; Cajetan of Thiene; Cayetano; Gaetano; Gaetanus; Gaetano dei Conti di Tiene; Gaetano da Thiene
Memorial: 7 August
Profile: Venetian nobility. Studied law in Padua, and was offered governing posts, but turned them down for a religious vocation. Ordained at age 36. In 1522, Cajetan founded a hospital in Venice for victims of incurable illness. Cajetan was aware of the need of reformation in the Church, and felt called to enter a religous community to serve the sick and poor. On 3 May 1524, with three others, including John Peter Caraffa who later became Pope Paul IV, he formed the Congregation of Clerks Regular (Theatines) at Rome with the mission of fostering the Church's mission and reviving the spirit and zeal of the clergy. Founded a bank to help the poor and offer an alternative to usurers (loan sharks); it later became the Bank of Naples. Known for a gentle game he played with parishioners where he would bet prayers, rosaries or devotional candles on whether he would perform some service for them; he always did, and they always had to "pay" by saying the prayers.
Born: October 1480 at Vicenza, Italy as Gaetano dei Conti di Tiene
Died: 1547 at Naples, Italy
Beatified: 8 October 1629 by Pope Urban VIII
Canonized: 12 April 1671 by Pope Clement X
Patronage: job seekers; unemployed people
Print References: Roman Martyrology, 3rd Turin edition
New Catholic Dictionary: Saint Cajetan
New Catholic Dictionary: Theatines

Saint Cajetan, Priest
Optional Memorial
August 7th

Francesco Solimena
Saint Cajetan Appeasing Divine Anger
Fresco
Basilica di S. Paolo Maggiore, Naples

History:
Born October, 1480 at Vicenza in Venetian territory.

At the age of 24 he received a degree as doctor utriusque juris In 1506 he became at Rome a prothonotary Apostolic in the court of Julius II, and took an important share in reconciling the Republic of Venice with that pontiff. On the death of Julius in 1523 he withdrew from the court, and is credited with founding, shortly after, an association of pious priests and prelates called the Oratory of Divine Love, which spread to other Italian towns. Though remarkable for his intense love of God, he did not advance to the priesthood till 1516. Recalled to Vicenza in the following year by the death of his mother, he founded there a hospital for incurables, thus giving proof of the active charity that filled his whole life. But his zeal was more deeply moved by the spiritual diseases that, in those days of political disorder, infected the clergy of all ranks, and, like St. Augustine in earlier times, he strove to reform them by instituting a body of regular clergy, who should combine the spirit of monasticism with the exercises of the active ministry.
In Rome in 1523 he began the foundations of his new congregation, which was canonically erected by Clement VII in 1524. Paul IV was elected first superior. In Venice, Cajetan met St. Hieronymus Æmiliani, whom he assisted in the establishment of his Congregation of Clerks Regular. He died in 1547 He was beatified by Urban VIII in 1629, and canonized by Clement X in 1671.
(Principal source - Catholic Encyclopedia - 1913 edition )

Collect:
Lord,
You helped St. Cajetan
to imitate the apostolic way of life.
By his example and prayers
may we trust in You always
and be faithful in seeking Your kingdom.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Reading: Ecclesiasticus 2:7-11
You who fear the Lord, wait for his mercy; and turn not aside, lest you fall.
You who fear the Lord, trust in him, and your reward will not fail; you who fear the Lord, hope for good things, for everlasting joy and mercy. Consider the ancient generations and see: who ever trusted in the Lord and was put to shame?
Or who ever persevered in the fear of the Lord and was forsaken? Or who ever called upon him and was overlooked? For the Lord is compassionate and merciful; he forgives sins and saves in time of affliction. Woe to timid hearts and to slack hands, and to the sinner who walks along two ways! Woe to the faint heart, for it has no trust! Therefore it will not be sheltered.

Gospel Reading: Luke 12:32-34
"Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms; provide yourselves with purses that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.