By DEB PIROCH
Such love of the poor he could have only received in grace from our Lord. Born to a wealthy family in 1480, Cajetan sought out poverty most of his life. At age three he built the first chapel in his room, and as a child was trying to give food to the poor. His life came to be influential not in what he wrote, not in miracles that were wrought, but in his stellar witness to the faith.
This was the time of Martin Luther. Corruption was rife in the Church and the laxness and laziness by religious and ignorance by Christians was a great cross. But instead of seeking (Protestant) reformation, Cajetan sought reform!
A lawyer educated both in civil and canon law, he felt strongly drawn to St. Peter and had visions of him; he would serve the court of Pope Julius II during the Fifth Lateran Council. When the Pope passed away, he resigned and pursued studies for the priesthood. He received Ordination at the ripe age of 35, which was seen as later than ordinary. But his reputation for piety became known and this is what attracted so many to return to Christ who knew him.
Though his father had died when he was but two, the youngest of three brothers had a pious mother who left a strong influence. She dedicated him to the care of the Blessed Virgin, and he would pray ceaseless hours to God and the Virgin throughout his life.
After becoming a priest, he initially founded the Oratory of Divine Love, then later the Congregation of Clerics Regular. The latter was a community which had the aim of living together simply, as the apostles had done. They were eventually named for their first superior, the Theatines. The Jesuits and other orders would later take the group as a model. The men relied on Providence, not even begging, trusting that God would provide the necessities of life. The saint prayed as much as eight hours a day, wore a hairshirt, and slept on straw or boards.
Because they insanely thought that the order had wealth, the troops of Emperor Charles V overran it in 1527. The men fled from Rome to Venice and regrouped. Just six years after Ordination Cajetan founded a hospital for incurables; these included those with cases of the plague, for instance, that is, diseases that were contagious.
The Pope asked the saint to form another branch of his oratory in Naples, and while there he formed a financial institution. This provided loans to the poor without interest (usury was a sin).
St. Cajetan was blessed with foresight. In his 50s he founded centers, one in Naples and later another in Verona, to combat Lutheranism. One of the twelve in his original group would go on to be chosen in the conclave as the future Pope Paul V.
Visions were common for Cajetan. We know of some of them. The most well-known of these, and perhaps the most beautiful, occurred in the stillness of Christmas night. The Holy Family appeared, along with angels and St. Jerome. The saint was asked to approach the crib in the church, and the Virgin bent to hand him the Child Jesus. Think of the wonder with which he contemplated the Child King in perfect ecstasy.
Other visions we know he had included one of the Circumcision, when Christ first shed His holy Blood, the visit of the Magi, and the Presentation. Even before becoming a priest, he had frequent visions of St. Peter. These visions of one sort or another continued throughout his life. One vision that surely was special concerned the death of his own mother. He saw Saints Michael and Monica bringing her to the Virgin, who with her Son opened the doors of Heaven for her to enter. He had worried she might have time in Purgatory for not being strict enough with him!
His utter and total devotion to the poor is what has earned him the moniker patron saint of the jobless or the unemployed.
“He likewise gave himself, serving [the sick] day or night, however revolting might be their diseases. He went so far as to kiss their hideous sores. . . . He called the hospital ‘his Paradise’” (The Life of St. Cajetan).
His own foot was injured, but he did not spare himself.
Luther was excommunicated in 1521. As today, there was much corruption and plenty of excuses not to follow God. When people say that they do not wish to follow a Church filled with sin, or hypocrisy, there are many answers. First, Christ was neither . . . do we abandon Him? Second, even one of the original 12 apostles was bad. That did not mean the other 11 were. St. Cajetan focused on reform of the clergy:
“Luther, as you well know, and his heretical followers, base their attacks on the Church on the excessive luxury of its prelates, and with sacrilegious audacity deny the action of Divine Providence on the Earth; and relegating God to Heaven, declare that terrestrial matters are left to chance, or to the good luck of men. How shall we shut their impious mouths, if we, ministers of God and preachers of His Gospel, content ourselves with mere words, and do not resort to deeds?
“Deeds are what we want; and of a kind which no one can deny, and which will compel them to be silent. For this end there is no other means than to put before their eyes a body of thoroughly reformed clergy, men who seek for nothing but the glory of God and His justice, who despise worldly riches and comforts to the point of depending upon God alone for their daily bread, and leaving the care of their food and cloth entirely to Him” (The Life of St. Cajetan).
Not surprisingly, he was subject to attacks from the Devil. He constantly invoked St. Michael. Likewise, other angels, including his guardian angel, intervened and rescued him at times from grave danger.
After some time, he became seriously ill in Naples. St. Cajetan resisted attempts to make him comfortable in his last illness, insisting for his last fight with the Devil he need not to be indulging himself but lying on rough straw and ashes. He received the final sacraments and asked for full forgiveness, in all humility, if he had in any way offended any of his brothers in Christ. They wept, listening to him. He prayed for the conversion of Naples…and then contemplated the crucifix.
It is thought he was comforted by a vision of our Lady, for those present heard a voice which said: “Upwards Cajetan! My Son is calling you, let us go in peace!” And he passed away with a joyful smile, this on August 7, the Feast of the Transfiguration.
Post-COVID in the United States we have many millions unemployed. We also have many poor. And of course, there are always those suffering from illness. Pray to dear St. Cajetan. Despite diseases that could kill, the saint was there washing their wounds, as Christ washed the feet of the apostles, with nothing but love. Let us pray for such love on behalf of all those in our own lives!
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