Day 218 -- Saint Miguel de Sanctis

When Saint Miguel de Sanctis was 6 years old he decided he wanted to be a monk. He was born on September 29, 1591 in Catalonia, Spain. He was orphaned and became the apprentice of a merchant. At 12 years old, he tried to join the Trinitarian monastery in Barcelona. He took his vows at age 15 at the monastery of Saint Lambert at Zaragoza in 1607. He later felt drawn to the more austere Discalced Trinitarians and began his novitiate in Madrid and studied in Seville, then took vows in Alcala, Spain and became a priest. He led a life of prayer and great mortification. He was especially devoted to the Holy Eucharist. He was considered by his brothers to be a saint in life. He died on April 10, 1625 in Valladolid, Spain. He was canonized on June 8, 1862 by Pope Pius IX.