Blessed Odoric of Pordenone

Memorial: 3 February
Profile: Franciscan in 1300. Hermit. Preacher in northern Italy, drawing large crowds to his services. Missionary through the Near and Far East, preaching in Persia, China, Java, Ceylong and Tibet from 1316 to 1330. First European to reach the capital of the Dalai-Lama. Known as a miracle worker in China. Died en route to Avignon to report his findings to the Pope. The written description of his travels were used as a manual for geographers of his day.
Born: 1285 at Villanova, Friuli, Italy as Odoric Mattiussi
Died: 1331 at Udine, Italy of natural causes
Beatified: 1775 (cultus confirmed)
Additional Information: Wikipedia
Catholic Encyclopedia
For All The Saints, by Katherine Rabenstein
Saints Alive, by Father Robert F McNamara
Discoverer's Web
New Catholic Dictionary
Print References: The Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
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