St. Cajetan of Thienna (7 August): Butler's Lives of the Saints

About this sermon

Discover the extraordinary life of Saint Cajetan of Thiene (1480–1547) in this reading from Butler’s Lives of the Saints. Born into a noble family, Saint Cajetan could have pursued wealth, prestige, and worldly advancement. Instead, he devoted his life to Jesus Christ, prayer, service to the poor, reform of the clergy, and complete trust in Divine Providence. From childhood, Cajetan was taught to imitate the humility, meekness, purity, and virtues of Christ. His love of prayer and eternal things gradually detached his heart from the world and inspired a remarkable compassion for the poor, sick, and afflicted. After studying theology as well as civil and canon law, Cajetan entered the ecclesiastical state. In Rome he became associated with the Confraternity of Divine Love, whose members sought to promote the honor of God and renew Christian life. But Cajetan desired something even greater: a renewal of the clergy according to the spirit of the Apostles. Together with John Peter Carafa, the future Pope Paul IV, and other companions, Saint Cajetan helped establish the Theatines, an order of Clerks Regular dedicated to preaching, assisting the sick, defending the Catholic faith, encouraging frequent reception of the Sacraments, promoting sacred studies, and restoring holiness and discipline among the clergy. Their dependence upon Divine Providence was extraordinary. Rather than accumulating revenues or actively begging for their needs, they sought to imitate the poverty and confidence in God exemplified by Christ and His Apostles. Saint Cajetan's faith was severely tested during the Sack of Rome in 1527. His community was attacked and its house plundered. Cajetan himself was scourged and tortured by soldiers who falsely believed he possessed hidden riches. Yet suffering did not extinguish his zeal. He continued serving the Church in Venice, Verona, and Naples. His charity became especially evident during plague and famine, while his preaching and example contributed to the reform of both clergy and laity. Saint Cajetan teaches us to fight avarice, cultivate detachment, serve those in need, seek holiness above worldly success, and place our confidence in the Providence of God. 🙏 Saint Cajetan of Thiene, pray for us! 00:00 St. Cajetan of Thiene | August 7 00:18 Noble Birth and Catholic Upbringing 00:33 Dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary 00:49 Called “The Saint” From Childhood 00:57 Prayer, Recollection and Eternal Truths 01:23 Charity Toward the Poor and Afflicted 01:37 Studies in Theology and Canon Law 01:53 Cajetan Enters the Ecclesiastical State 02:09 Journey to Rome 02:23 Pope Julius II and the Papal Court 02:39 The Confraternity of Divine Love 03:01 Return to Vicenza 03:17 Choosing the Poor Over Worldly Honor 03:34 Serving the Sick With His Own Hands 04:01 Ministry in Venice 04:26 “A Seraph at the Altar” 04:33 Return to Rome 04:51 The Need for Catholic Reform 05:06 Renewing the Clergy 05:22 Founding an Order on the Apostolic Life 05:30 The Future Pope Paul IV 06:05 Radical Detachment From Wealth 06:30 Trusting Completely in Providence 06:54 Following Christ and the Apostles 07:16 Pope Clement VII Approves the Order 07:24 The Mission of the Theatines 07:56 The Order Begins to Grow 08:14 The Sack of Rome 08:30 Rome Falls in 1527 08:51 Horrors of the Sack of Rome 09:07 St. Cajetan Is Captured 09:14 Tortured for a Treasure He Did Not Possess 09:31 Escape to Venice 09:49 Cajetan Becomes Superior 10:03 Charity During Plague and Famine 10:35 Mission of Reform in Verona 11:00 St. Cajetan Goes to Naples 11:17 Refusing Wealth and Property 11:25 Reform Through Preaching and Example 11:33 Six or Seven Hours in Prayer 11:50 The Future Pope Paul IV 12:07 Cajetan’s Final Years 12:16 His Final Illness 12:25 “My Savior Died on a Cross” 12:33 St. Cajetan Dies on Ashes 12:48 Miracles Through His Intercession 12:57 Beatification and Canonization 13:04 Relics of Saint Cajetan 13:11 The Christian Battle Against Avarice 13:27 Detachment From Worldly Goods 13:41 Avarice Against Charity 13:50 A Lesson for Priests and Christians 14:05 Warning Against Covetousness 14:21 The Virtue of Holy Detachment https://sensusfidelium.com/the-lives-of-the-fathers-martyrs-and-other-principal-saints/august/st-cajetan-of-thienna/ Get Butler's Lives of the Saints here: https://loretopublications.idevaffiliate.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=102&url=1 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 Support Catholic Businesses here - https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ Sensus Fidelium Press - https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ Sensus Fidelium Apps - https://sensusfidelium.tv/ Support Sensus Fidelium - https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 #SaintCajetan #StCajetan #SaintCajetanOfThiene #SaintOfTheDay #August7 #CatholicSaints #LivesOfTheSaints #ButlersLivesOfTheSaints #AlbanButler #DivineProvidence #Catholic #CatholicFaith #CatholicChurch #Catholicism