Saint Pascal Baylon

Son of the pious peasants Martin Baylon and Elizabeth Jubera. From youth he displayed great devotion to the Eucharist. Worked as a shepherd from ages 7 to 24, and was a good influence on his shepherd friends, an often rowdy group. Franciscan lay brother with friars of the Alcantarine Reform, often serving as cook or doorkeeper. His charity to the poor and afflicted, his unfailing courtesy and humility were remarkable even by Franciscan standards. While travelling in France, he defended the Real Presence against the blasphemies of a Calvinist preacher, and narrowly escaped death at the hands of a Huguenot mob. Poorly educated, he was still a counselor sought by rich and poor alike. His cultus is especially strong in Spain and southern Italy, in Central and South America.

Born

• 24 May 1540 (feast of Pentecost) at Torre Hermosa, Aragon, (modern Spain)

Died

• 15 May 1592 (feast of Pentecost) at Villa Reale, Spain of natural causes

Beatified

• 29 October 1618 by Pope Paul V

Canonized

• 16 October 1690 by Pope Alexander VIII

Patronage

• cooks
• Eucharistic congresses and organizations (proclaimed by Pope Leo XIII)
• Obado, Bulacan, Philippines
• Segorbe-Castellón de la Plana, Spain, diocese of
• shepherds