The Beggar and Wanderer of God 

In our era he may have been called a globetrotter because he loved to visit the main Sanctuaries of Europe on foot: from Santiago de Compostela to Loreto, from Rome to Gargano. He is Saint Benedict Joseph Labre, known as the beggar or wanderer of God. In less than fifteen years, it is estimated that he traveled thousands of kilometers until he settled in Rome. At first, he found refuge under an arch of the Colosseum and people brought him alms which he promptly distributed to those he considered poorer than himself. He then found a place near the Basilica of Saints Sylvester and Martin, in Rome’s Monti district.

Benedict Joseph was born on March 26, 1748, in Amettes, in the north of France, the firstborn of fifteen children. From an early age he lived the faith so much so that his family thought he would surely become a priest. He studied for six years with his uncle, who was a parish priest, then, at the age of 18 he decided to enter a monastery. He chose to Carthusians, but it didn't go well, so he tried the Trappists. Unfortunately, the superiors didn't think it was appropriate to include him in the community because he wasn't in good health and was considered a bit too austere. Despite these refusals, he never lost hope in Divine Providence, sure that if God had inspired him to follow Him, He would show him the way to do so. At 21, he wrote to his parents: "I will always have the fear of God before my eyes and His love in my heart."

He then began to wander the paths of Europe as a beggar and pilgrim, without forgetting the needy. His fame for sanctity spread wherever he went. He entered the Third Order of Franciscans and devoted himself unreservedly to prayer and contemplation.

On April 16, 1783, Holy Wednesday, Benedict Joseph became extremely weak and despite his desire to listen to the story of the Passion in the church of Santa Maria ai Monti, he could not walk, to the point that he collapsed on the steps of the church. He was taken to the home of the butcher Zaccarelli, who knew him well, and there, he received the last rites and died. He was only 35 years old. During his funeral, people crowded the church. Many children began to run through the streets shouting that “the Saint”, “the pilgrim of the Madonna”, “the poor man of the Forty Hours”, “the penitent of the Colosseum” had died. Pope Pius IX, on May 20, 1860, beatified him and on December 8, 1881, he was canonized by Pope Leo XIII. On that day, the poet Paul Verlaine composed a poem in honor of the new Saint.