Chris Kenny
St Cajetan
Construction with found twig
£365.00 (framed)
12cm x 18cm
August 7th
With the death of his mother, Mary Porta the Countess of Tiene, Cajetan inherited a great fortune. He did not take advantage of it, choosing instead to spend his time assisting in the hovels of the have-nots and embracing voluntary poverty. Other nobles were mystified but tolerated Cajestan's eccentric charity.
On Christmas Eve 1527, Cajestan had a vision where he was present at the birth of Christ and given the infant to hold from the hands of its spotless mother.
In response to Martin Luther's fulminations against ecclesiastical corruption, Cajestan founded an ascetic order of monks, the Theatine, with Giovanni Pietro Caraffa, Bonifacio da Colle and Paulo Consiglieri. They had no possessions and confined themselves to caring for the sick, comforting prisoners and bringing the sacraments to the laity.
He also started a non-profit pawnshop that became the Bank of Naples.
When Cajetan fell ill from exhaustion, he refused the attention of doctors. On August 7th 1547 he lay down upon some ashes and died.
Cajetan is the patron saint of Argentina, gamblers, document controllers, the unemployed and good fortune.
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