Blessed Simon Ballachi
![[Blessed Simon Ballachi]](saints4d.jpg "27kb jpg detail of an Italian holy card of Blessed Simon Ballachi, date unknown, artist unknown; please do not write to ask about the image")
- Memorial
- 5 November
- Profile
- Born to the nobility, the son of Count Ballachi.
His family had a close association with the Church clergy; two of his uncles became archbishops of Rimini, Italy, and a younger brother was a priest.
Trained as a soldier and in administration, he was expected to take over the family estates.
Against his family wishes, he joined the Dominicans as a lay-brother at age 27.
Assigned to work in the garden of his friary, something he knew nothing about but which he loved instantly.
He saw God in everything, and prayed constantly as he worked.
Noted for his simple life, his strict adherence to the Dominican Rule, and his excellent work as a catechist to children.
A visionary, Simon was visited by the devil, by Saint Catherine of Alexandria, Saint Dominic de Guzman, Saint Peter Martyr, and the Blessed Virgin Mary; other brothers saw his cell glowing, and heard angelic voices.
Blinded at age 57, he was nearly helpless during the last years of his life; he never despaired, and used the extra free time for prayer.
- Born
- c.1240 at Sant Arcandelo di Romagna, Italy
- Died
- 5 November 1319 in Rimini, Italy of natural causes
- Beatified
- 1817;
cultus confirmed by Pope Pius VII on 14 March 1820
- Canonized
- pending
- Additional Information
-
Ökumenisches Heiligenlexikon -deutsch
Kirken i Norge -norwegian
For All The Saints, by Katherine Rabenstein
- Print References
-
Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
Our Sunday Visitor's Encyclopedia of Saints
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