Saint Didacus - San Diego

Saint Didacus - San Diego. . , San Diego de Alcala (St Didacus) was born in San Nicolas del Puerto in the Spanish province of Andalusia in 1400. When of age, he joined the Franciscan Order as a lay brother and went to the Canary Islands as a missionary. In 1450, Fray Diego travelled to Rome and served as infirmarian at a Franciscan friary and many miraculous cures occurred during his stay. Fray Diego returned to Spain in 1460 and became the infirmarian at the University of Alcala near Madrid where he cared for students and the poor. Fray Diego died at the University in 1463 and was buried there. , On April 19, 1562, Carlos, the son of King Felipe II of Spain, was severely injured in a fall and was close to death. The century-old incorrupt body of Fray Diego was placed in bed with Carlos while the Franciscans prayed. In the morning, Carlos awaked and attributed his recovery to the vision of a Franciscan friar he had seen while unconscious. , King Felipe II and his son petitioned Rome to have Fray Diego declared a saint. Pope Sixtus V canonized Fray Diego in 1688. Known as St. Didacus in Latin and English, San Diego's feast day in November 7.