JAMES SALOMONIUS, BL.

Dominican, known also as James of Venice; b. Venice, Italy, 1231; d. there May 31, 1314. His parents were Adam and Marchinina of the patrician Salomonius family. After his father's death and his mother's profession as a Cistercian nun, he was reared by his grandmother. At 17 he joined the dominicans in the priory of SS. John and Paul, Venice, after distributing his patrimony to the poor. As his reputation for holiness grew, people became importunate, and at 21 he was sent to Forlì, but even there a grille had to be erected around his Mass-altar to restrain the devout. Except for periods when he was subprior at Faënza, San Severino, and Ravenna, he remained at Forlì until his death at 83 from a heart attack while in choir. A recollected and prayerful religious of a happy disposition, admired and respected by his brethren and by laymen alike, he showed a solicitous care for the poor, which won for him the title of "father of the poor." He inspired men by his words and is said to have worked miracles. His cult, tacitly approved by john xxii, was formally approved by clement vii, June 26, 1526; the observance of his feast was extended to the whole Dominican Order by gregory xi, 1622.

Feast: May 31 or June 5.

Bibliography: j. l. baudot and l. chaussin, Vies des saints et des bienheueux selon l'ordre du calendrier avec l'historique des fêtes, ed. by The Benedictines of Paris, 12 v. (Paris 1935–56) 1:763. Acta Sanctorum May 7:450–456. Année Dominicaine, May 2 (Lyons 1891) 815–824. Analecta Bollandiana 12:367–370. Archivum Fratrum Praedicatorum 10 (1940) 109. c. desmond, Blessed James Salomoni; Patron of Cancer Patients, Apostle of the Afflicted (Boston 1971).

[b. cavanaugh]