Prayer for the Intercession of
Blessed James Salomoni
April 30, 1995
Brother John Raymond
James Salomoni was born into a noble family in Venice, Italy, in
1231. While he was still an infant his father died and his mother
entered a Cistercian Monastery. James was placed in the care of his
grandmother. When he was old enough the grandmother encouraged him
to pray the Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which he remained
faithful to. James was put under the care of a Cistercian monk for
his spiritual direction. As a teenager he was impressed by the
Dominican preachers. James entered the Order at the age of 17. He
distributed his substantial inheritance to the poor.
After being ordained a priest Fr. James spent the next twenty
years working in Venice. After a while he was sought out for advice,
prayers and spiritual direction and openly venerated as a living
saint. Fearing to lose humility with all this veneration he
requested and obtained permission to leave Venice. At the age of 37,
in 1269, Fr. James was assigned to Forli, near Bologna.
In Forli the holiness of Fr. James again attracted attention. His
preaching used to draw crowds who after hearing him would go to
confession. In the protection of their city in 1282 the Forli faught
the French. The Forli were victorious but eighteen thousand people
had died in the process. Fr. James helped the people to get over
this bitter tragedy. He organized the people to help in the enormous
task of burial. He had an expiatory chapel built in memory of the
dead having Holy Mass celebrated every Monday for them. The people
were very appreciative of his charity during this event.
Fr. James spent 66 years as a Dominican. Not only did he observe
the Dominican rule but he added other voluntary penances. For 50
years, he let it slip out, he had never taken a drink of water
between meals, except five times. He refused to seek warmth in the
winter or coolness in the summer. Fr. James at times would go into
ecstasy during his celebration of the Holy Mass. He had promised the
Blessed Virgin that he would be faithful to Her in his sermons and
in the confessional. Also, in Her honor he would help all who came
to him for material or spiritual help. Fr. James had a special
devotion to St. Ursula, a virgin and martyr. He had a devotion to
the Holy Souls in Purgatory and prayed the Office of the Dead daily.
He liked to go and venerate the relics of various saints and
martyrs. One time upon arriving at the catacomb of St. Sebastian he
found the doors closed. Fr. James knelt down and prayed. The doors
miraculously opened and he was able to go in and venerate the
saint's relics. Fr. James preferred to be with the poor and sick to
comfort them in their needs and troubles. Because of this he has
come to be known as the father of the poor, the needy and the
suffering.
Fr. James had an extraordinary gift of healing. He was known to
heal many tubercular persons, lepers, the blind and even raise the
dead. By just making the Sign of the Cross Fr. James would cure
cancer patients. He cured spiritually ill people too. He had the
gift of prophecy. Many prophecies were fulfilled to the letter.
Another gift he possessed was the reading of souls. A novice of the
Servite Order was surprised when Fr. James revealed to him his plans
to leave the Order. The novice had not told anyone. Fr. James
encouraged him to persevere in his vocation.
Fr. James developed malignant cancer of the chest in 1310.
Although sick he continued in his ministry as though nothing was
wrong for the next four years. He didn't complain and for the most
part hid his illness from others. He kept on curing people almost up
to his death. A few days before he died he blessed a woman with
cancer of the throat and she was instantly cured. On May 13, 1314,
Fr. James was forced to remain in bed because of failing strength
and a fever. His fellow friars dressed the wound that had developed
because of the cancer. Fr. James said he had no fear of death at
all. On Friday, May 31, 1314, he died. His cancer wound miraculously
disappeared. During the procession to the grave people touched his
body and were cured. Miracles continued to take place at his tomb
such as a drowned child coming to life. A little over two years
after his death 388 authenticated miracles had been attributed to
him. In 1622 Pope Gregory XV declared Fr. James Salomoni Blessed. He
has been considered one of the patrons of cancer patients.
Prayer
O Blessed James, who during your life received with utmost
tenderness those who came to you with their afflictions of body and
soul, consoling them with kind words, even to the point of working
miracles in their behalf; now that you are in Heaven, listen to my
petition and out of your goodness, help me in my needs with your
unfailing intercession. Obtain for me the grace to imitate your
virtues, especially your generous love of God and neighbor, your
profound humility, your devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and to the
Blessed Virgin. Obtain also for me patience in adversity, fortitude
in suffering and the favor of being preserved from cancer (or cured
from it), for which you are invoked as a special protector.
May your assistance help me to live a holy life on earth that I
may deserve to be with you some day in the glory of Heaven. Amen.
Prayer for the Canonization of Blessed James Salomoni
O God, who through the ministry of your faithful servants,
manifest Your power and give relief to the afflicted of both soul
and body, by the same chosen souls give us encouragement to practice
the virtue of charity following in the footsteps of Blessed James.
Hear our earnest prayers that soon he will be raised to the honors
of the altar through canonization for Your greater honor and glory
and the salvation of souls. Amen.