Saint of the Day

01 · Read · A life to discover

St. Cajetan

Cajetan, also known as Gaetano, trained in law before becoming a priest. His concern for people in need included the establishment of a hospital at Vicenza, while his concern for the Church led him to pursue reform through the shared life and pastoral work of priests.

His service at the papal court preceded his more direct work of religious reform. Legal education and experience of public affairs made him familiar with the institutions he hoped to renew. The hospital for incurable patients demonstrates that his concerns extended beyond the internal discipline of the clergy.

The name Theatines derives from Carafa’s episcopal see of Chieti, known in Latin as Theate. The community grew slowly and was displaced by the sack of Rome in 1527. Its survival and later expansion required sustained work after the enthusiasm of its first foundation.

In 1524 he helped found the Theatines with companions including Giovanni Pietro Carafa, the future Pope Paul IV. Their vocation combined religious discipline with active ministry. After the sack of Rome, Cajetan’s work continued in other Italian cities, including Venice and Naples. He died in Naples in 1547 and was canonized in 1671.

This saint is included on this recurring date in the U.S. Roman Rite calendar published by the USCCB. This reading guide gives U.S. calendar saints priority; the Mass celebrated on a particular year’s date can differ because of Sundays, seasons or higher-ranking celebrations.