Michael de Sanctis

Saint Michael de Sanctis, born Michael Argemir on September 29, 1591, in Vic, Catalonia, Spain, was marked early by sorrow and grace. Orphaned while still young, he was apprenticed to a merchant, yet his heart longed for God. At only twelve he went to Barcelona and asked to be received among the Trinitarians. After years of formation he professed vows in 1607 at Zaragoza, but soon felt drawn to a stricter, more penitential path. With permission, he entered the Discalced Trinitarians in Madrid, embracing a life of deeper austerity, prayer, and study in Seville and Salamanca. Ordained a priest, he served with humility and was twice chosen superior at Valladolid. His holiness shone especially in his ardent love for the Holy Eucharist; tradition recalls moments of ecstasy during the Consecration, as if his soul could not contain its reverence. He died in Valladolid on April 10, 1625, and is venerated as a model of innocence, penitence, and love for God. He is a patron of Vic. His feast day is April 10.