Saint Benedict the Black

Also known as

• Benedict of Palermo
• Benedict of San Philadelphio
• Benedict of Sanfratello
• Benedict the African
• Benedict the Moor
• il Moro

Memorial

• 4 April

Profile

His parents, Christopher and Diana, were slaves who had been taken from Africa to Sicily. Benedict was granted his freedom at age 18, but remained as an employee of his former master. Scorned and mocked by others as poor as himself, due to his origin and skin, he retained a natural cheerfulness.

He met with, and became enamored of a group of Franciscan hermits near Palermo. Benedict sold what little he had, gave away the money to the poor, and joined this group. Novice master and reluctant superior of the friars in Palermo. When his term ended, he happily returned to working in the friary kitchen. Benedict never referred to possessions as “mine” but always “ours.” He had gifts for prayer and the guidance of souls. His humility and cheerfulness set an example that helped reform his order. On his death, King Philip III of Spain paid for a special tomb for the simple friar.

Benedict was not a Moor, but the Italian “il Moro” for “the Black” has been misinterpreted as referring to a Moorish heritage.

Born

• 1526 at Messina, Italy on the estate of Chevalier de Lanza a San Fratello

Died

• 1589 of natural causes
• body reported incorrupt when exhumed several years later

Beatified

• 15 May 1743 by Pope Benedict XIV

Canonized

• 24 May 1807 by Pope Pius VIII

Patronage

• African missions
• African-Americans
• black people
• Negroes
• Palermo, Sicily, Italy

Additional Information

• Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
• Katherine Rabenstein
• Live of Saint Benedict, Surnamed “The Moor”
• New Catholic Dictionary
• Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
• Saint A Day, by Berchman Bittle
• Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church
• uCatholic

MLA Citation

• “Saint Benedict the Black“. Saints.SQPN.com. 25 May 2013. Web. 26 May 2013. <>