Italy: the Incorrupt Body of a Saint Disappears in a Fire

The church of Santa Maria di Gesu, erected in 1426 by Blessed Matthew Guimerà and located next to the convent of the Friars Minor in the city of Palermo, Sicily, was completely razed by a great fire.

In addition to the loss of the building, the faithful deeply regret having lost in the fire the incorrupt body of St. Benedict of Palermo, which was preserved there: only a few bone fragments were saved.

Benedict the Moor or Benedict the Black or Benedict the African (1526-1589) was an Italian Franciscan, born in Sicily, of slave parents. He entered the Reformed Friars Minor of Strict Observance in a convent near Palermo in 1578, when he could neither read nor write. He was elected superior of the order for 3 years.

He received a particular gift from the Holy Ghost which gave him the knowledge to explain Holy Scripture, the intelligence to solve theological questions, and counsel to help all who come to consult him. Towards the end of his life, he asked to be relieved of his duties and allowed to return to his work in the kitchen. He died at the age of 63, and his body remained incorrupt.

Although St Benedict is co-patron of Palermo, his veneration in the region is not very widespread. This is due to the abundance of other saints who have blossomed in the country, which has made this humble Franciscan friar go relatively unnoticed.

However, his devotion spread in an astonishing way thanks to the sailors who carried the faith with them on their journey to the New World. It was in Brazil that St Benedict gained a large number of followers.

His cult is very popular in the Americas. He is the patron saint of blacks in North and South America. The Palermo parish has become a place of pilgrimage for hundreds of Latin Americans.

Although the firefighters were informed of the incident as soon as possible, they were unable to respond quickly. The faithful sought to save the church by their own means. Presently, the convent and church of Santa Maria di Gesù, located on the slopes of Mount Grifone, are threatened by a devastating fire that is spreading uncontrolled.

The church houses the body of Blessed Mateo Guimerà, the architect responsible for its construction. The community is on high alert, hoping that efforts to control the fire will be successful and that the church’s historical and religious heritage, as well as the remains of Blessed Mateo, will be preserved and protected.