Saint Alexius
![[Saint Alexius]](sainta26.jpg "18kb jpg detail from the painting 'The Discovery of the Body of Saint Alexis', by Georges de La Tour, c.1640, oil on canvas, National Gallery of Ireland at Dublin Ireland")
- Also known as
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Alexis
The Man of God
- Memorial
- 17 July
- Profile
- Only son of a wealthy Christian Roman senator.
Wanted to devote himself to God, but his parents arranged a marriage for him.
On his wedding day his fiancee agreed to release him and let him follow his vocation.
He fled his parent's home disguised as a beggar, and lived near a church in Syria.
A vision of Our Lady at the church pointed him out as exceptionally holy, calling him the "Man of God".
This drew attention to him, which caused him to return to Rome where he would not be known.
He came as a beggar to his own home.
His parents did not recognize him, but were kind to all the poor, and let him stay there.
Alexis lived for seventeen years in a corner under the stairs, praying, and teaching catechism to small children.
After his death, his family found a note on his body which told them who he was and how he had lived his life of penance from the day of his wedding until then, for the love of God.
- Died
- early 5th century
- Name Meaning
- defender; helper
- Patronage
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Alexians
beggars
belt makers
nurses
pilgrims
travellers
- Representation
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dying man with a letter in his hand
man holding a ladder
man in a pilgrim's habit holding a staff
man lying beneath a staircase
man lying on a mat
- Additional Information
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Google Directory
New Catholic Dictionary
Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
Our Sunday Visitor's Encyclopedia of Saints, by Matthew Bunson, Margaret Bunson, and Stephen Bunson
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