Egidio and the miracles

Saint Egidio became famous for the miracles he made, before and after his death. Not all the miracles are listed here. There is a book that contains all his miracles, the book is "Life of the B. Egidio" of the P. Angelo Salvatore.
Saint Egidio made many miracles during 53 he lived in Naples. The miracles reported here, have been recorded in the books of the Canonical Trials. They are from testimonies of present people during the miracle.

Container of tobacco and plums

Eyewitness Anthony Di Lawrence, on page 427 number 18 of the Canonical Trials:
"My mother was pregnant when Brother Egidio came to our home. As usual, the Monk had brought his basket to collect alms. My mother immediately saw a plum with the green leaves in the basket. Then my mother said: "Monk Egidio, do you have out of season plums? No, Saint Egidio answered. Take a look! There is nothing inside, and he showed her the empty basket. As a matter of fact, in the basket there was a container of tobacco and a green handkerchief.
But the lady said: I thought that in the basket there was a plum with green leaves." Then Saint Egidio thought that it would be good to satisfy the lady. Then he began to pray. Soon he took out of the basket a magnificent plum with leaves, and he gave it to my mother offering it to her to eat. "Toh, he said, take and eat it". My mother ate it, but she saved the core and the leaf and showed them to Mrs. Ulloa. Everyone spoke of this marvelous fact for two days. In fact people had seen that the basket had been empty and knew it was not he season for plums, but it was Christmas time."

Genoese apple and birth

In January of 1810, Mr. Marcello of Troia and Scipione Mirabella both from Pozzuoli, testified at the Trial for the sanctification of Saint Egidio. Pag. 246, n. 105-106: "Mrs. Cecilia Capomassa was pregnant and her life was in danger. The situation was made worse by her pneumonia. The doctor Ferrajuolo and Terzuolo of Pozzuoli said that she would die. The family of the sick lady went to the convent of St. Pasquale at Chiaia and they brought Saint Egidio to Pozzuoli. As soon as he entered the house he told the lady: "Do not be afraid; you will be well. He prepared cooked and sweetened Genoese apples and give it to her". Then her relatives looked for some apples but they couldn't find any in the city of Pozzuoli. They told Brother Egidio that they had not been able to find the apples, but that they would go to Naples to buy them. But the Saint said: "You want to go to Naples for an apple? And, saying a brief prayer, he said: "The will of God will be done!" Then he took a fresh apple in the sleeve of his cowl. This surprised everyone. He said as he left, "Let her eat the cooked and sweetened apple, and at night she will give a birth to a beautiful boy". And it happened. Shortly after she ate the cooked and sweetened apple the lady immediately began to cough. Then, about four o'clock in the morning the pains of child birth began, and at five o'clock she delivered a beautiful boy.

St. Pasquale imprisoned

Monk Mariano of S. Stefano was a friend and contemporary of Saint Egidio. He said in his deposition at the trial - pag. 462 number 85: Brother Egidio returned from collecting alms and he had some fish in the basket. He took the fish to the brother who was the convent cook said: "Put it in water and salt and roast it, because it is for the workers" (it was the day of the party of St. Pasquale). But Brother Mariano was hungry and he and the other Brothers ate the fish. When brother Egidio returned to the kitchen, he asked for the fish. The cook answered: "What can I roast if there is no longer fish in the basket? ". Then Brother Egidio spoke to the relic of S. Pasquale and said - "Did your brothers eat the fish? Now I want you to return the fish so the workers can eat. I will put you in jail until you return the fish." Then he locked the relic of the Saint in the drawer of the table in the kitchen. Brother Mariano carefully watched the basket and the Monk Egidio, and was amazed when he noticed that there was some fish in the basket. It was the same quality and quantity of fish that was there before. Then he called Brother Egidio, who said: "Ah! You don't want to stay in jail. Did you bring me the fish? " He opened the door again and sipped the relic of S. Pasquale. Then he served the workers the fish that miraculously appeared in the basket.

Saint Egidio restores 200 eggs

This miracle happen in the district of Toledo. The witness to this event is a teenage boy Michael Fiorillo.
One day as Michael was going to school he noticed a disturbance in the street Porto. As he went to investigate he came upon a crowd that had gathered in the street. At its center was a poor man crying. Curious as to why this man was crying he asked what happened. They had told him that the man had brought his eggs to town so he could sell them. On his arrival he slipped in a wet spot in the road and all of his eggs had broken when he fell. Michael affirmed this fact having seen the mixture of shells and yolks in the street. Many of the on lookers felt compassion for the man, but there was nothing that they could do except look and feel sorry.
When Brother Egidio arrived the crowd begged and pleaded with him to help the man who had fallen. They also told the man to go to the “holy Monk” and to ask for help. As Brother Egidio approached the big omelet that lay in the street he told the man: “Pick up your eggs and place them in your basket”. But the man just looked at him and did not move. At that the Saint repeated the order with more authority: “I tell you, pick up your eggs”. Startled the man proceeded to scoop up the mixture of shells and yolk with his hands and place the mess in his basket. As soon as he placed the mixture in the basket, his eggs were restored and numbered around 200.
Everything happened before my eyes, replied Michael, and the eyes of the people who bought those eggs through their devotion.
On many occasions miracles like this happed but only this account was recorded in the trials to pag. 444 ns. 52.

Bad melons

One morning in the streets of Toledo, not far from the Stigliano building, Brother Egido was comparing melons of a local merchant as he did every morning before the market opened. The merchant normally a charitable man would let Brother Egidio have the melon that he selected. But that morning the merchant mumbled theses words in a condescending tone: "But you have not given to me the time to make the sign of the cross". Upon hearing these words and the tone in which they were said, Brother Egidio was mortified. He placed the melon back in the basket where he had found it and went on his way. When the market opened the merchant noticed that all his melons had gone bad and were not marketable. The merchant immediately understood why his melons had gone bad rushed off to find and apologize to Brother Egido. When he found the monk he pleaded with him for forgiveness in his refusal of the melon. Staying were he was, Brother Egido took a piece of twine that the merchant used to keep the melons cowl together and blessed it. The melons immediately returned to their original freshness and were sold in a short time.

This is the testimony of Mr. Palm and the owner of shop Cagarella who saw the miracle. (Canonical trials pag. 432, n. 26)

Wine returns in the barrels

Pietro Ciotola was the owner of a vineyard and worked for Baron Callotta of Soccavo. Pietro was also an acquaintance of Brother Egidio, and on one occasion was in serious need of the Saints help. Without the assistance of Brother Egidio, Pietro would have lost that seasons whole wine crop. The following is the testimony he gave as listed in the Canonical Trials page. 457, n. 72.
Pietro had a wine cellar with many barrels of wine in the district of Soccovo. For some unknown reason the iron bands that secured the barrels were loosening and the wine had started leaking. By the time Pietro called for the local artisan Salvatore Cervolio the wine was flooding the cellar floor. Salvatore was best known for his ability to repair leaking barrels, but even he was unsuccessful at repairing these barrels. Finally in desperation he though of the Monk Egidio and went off to find him. When Pietro found him he was at the Convent of Chiaia. After telling Brother Egidio of his dilemma he persuaded him to come back to his wine cellar. When they arrived Brother Egidio removed a relic of St. Pasquale that he had been carrying with him. He then proceeded to bless the wine barrels with the relic as they made there way into the cellar. At the bottom of the stair case the monk turned to Pietro and said: “ Have trust in St. Pasquale and do not worry about your wine leaking anymore. At this the miracle happened, the cellar floor was dry the wine barrels full and they were no longer leaking.

Two broken swords

Father Francesco Maria of the SS. Savior, Custodian of the Province of the Franciscan and president of the Convent of St. Pasquale to Chiaia, declared that: "The same day in which Brother Egidio's dead body was exposed in the church, in the near cloister he saw a soldier crying. When he asked to the soldier why he was crying and the soldier answered: "Father, the dead monk is a great Saint and I have a proof. One day I was near Capodimonte and I was dueling with a rival of mine. I saw Brother Egidio and as he came toward us he shouted: "Stop fighting, in name of God and St. Pasquale".
But we were stubborn and both of us refused to obey him. Then he said: "If you will not obey me, the sabres will obey me and they will break". In fact, as soon as Brother Egidio went away, the sabres broke in our hands (Canonical Trials page. 466, n. 90)

"My death - your health"

Mr. Anthony Chirico lived next to the Convent in the building called Marotta. He had a daughter named Carolina and she was born crippled. The child didn't succeed in walking and she was forced to drag herself on the ground. A lot of times the poor father and the mother had asked for her healing from Brother Egidio and he had always answered: "Let's recommend her to the Madonna of the Well". But a few years before his death, the saintly monk changed his answer and told the child: "My death, your health". The first time no one understood what those words meant. But when Monk Egidio died, then everybody understood that his death would have guaranteed the recovery of the girl. Then, the day of the death of Monk Egidio, the parents of the child asked him to help Brother Michael if it was possible to approach the dead body of the Saint Monk with the child. The girl hardly had any contact with the Saint and she began to get excited and then she quickly walked alone: she was healed. Dr. Panza a local physician affirmed that the recovery of the child had been miraculous. (Canonical trials pag. 35, n. 22)

In the same way Mr. Gennaro de Crescenzo had been born crippled and also he travelled by dragging himself on the ground. But one day, Monk Egidio saw him next door and handed to him a baton, he said: "Stand up and go to work". And the child, took the baton with his hands, got up and he was healed. (Canonical trials pag. 217, n. 52).

Recovered Cancer

(My friend now I want to see if you are a Saint!)
Mrs Carmela Bagnacani had a tumor on one of her breasts, and the left breast was much larger than normal. She suffered severe pain, and all the remedies of medical science had been useless. Then the doctors decided to operate and remove the cancer.
The ill woman was resigned to go through the operation but first she wanted to view a picture of Monk Egidio. She put the picture on the breast with the cancer and she said this prayer: "My friend, I want to see if you are a Saint now. Make me a miracle and help me to avoid the operation". When the Dr. performed the surgery he found the breast already had been opened and that it had lost much of the liquid substance that was making it so large. But as soon as the wound was closed the pain returned. The ill woman again invoked the Monk and, with confidence she said: "What a beautiful miracle you made me. I returned as before. "But she kept holding on tightening the picture of Saint Egidio on her breast". She kept on hoping, crying and praying. This happened for the whole day and for a part of the night. In the middle of the night she realized that she was all wet and dirty. With the help of her mother she changed her bedclothes and she could tell that were two holes on her breast, from which liquid drained. The breast returned to its normal size with no swelling, or pain. After three or four days she was perfectly recovered and healed. Everyone understood that the miracle had been granted through the intercession of Monk Egidio. (Canonical trials page. 366, n. 33)

"I am not Monk Egidio… "

We can affirm that Brother Egidio helped many pregnant women. There were many births that were made easier for women through the intercession of the Monk. In the canonical trials several miracles of the Saint monk were reported. In this document only the following miracle is reported.
Mrs. Maria Giovanna De Sanctis had given birth to twins. After the birth Mrs Maria Giovanna had severe stomach problems. Her stomac inflated and the midwife, was worried and asked for the assistance of Dr. Bruno Amantea a surgeon. The doctor said: "There is nothing that I can do, she will die in a short time." Then he told her relatives: "Pray for her soul". In fact the woman was almost dead when the wife of the Butler of the Marquis of Vasto, Vincent Mugnano, suggested they call monk Egidio. The monk went to the ill woman. But before meeting her he stopped next to the twins and he said: "This is Francis and this is Pasquale", subsequently the children had names from then on. The twons had not been baptized yet because of the illness of their mother. Then the Monk Egidio told the ill woman: "Stand up and walk, lazy”. Let her walk because she has become lazy". And while he said this he blessed the ill woman with the relic of S. Pasquale and he left the baton on the bed.
The gravely ill mother had been sick\ for eight days. But one night, when the bell of the convent of S. Pasquale rung, the woman started to feel much better. She had a good nights rest and awoke the next moring and breast fed her newborn twins.
When the dott: Amantea went back to her in order to verify her death the woman informed her that the Monk Egidio had intervened. Then the doctor, full of wonder said: "In my opinion this was woman was going to die, but certainly I am not Monk Egidio". (Canonical Trials pag. 431, n. 24)

Blind recovered

The small Annarella was the daughter of Mr. Di Domenico Russo and Mrs. Nicoletta Olivieri. They lived near the Tannery and they had a shop in the district of St. Anna di Palazzo. The child had been ill with smallpox and due to this illness she had become blind. The most famous oculist doctors had given their verdict: "…nothing to do; the pupils were destroyed therefore every human remedy would have been useless". Then her desolate parents asked for help from the “celestial doctor”. They went to Monk Egidio, of whom they were benefactors, and they said these words: "We would like the girl to return with her sight, as she had been born or we ask God to take her to Him. But if having sight will allow the girl to sin, then God can take her to Him then as well". The Monk, who had compassion for her parents and the child, said: "I will tell this to our Mother this night, and Our Lady will make the miracle." Then he went away. During the night, the child recovered her sight and her parents were full of joy and emotion. The Monk had healed her. (Canonical trials page 431, no. 24)

But the Saint that recovered patients, straightened the crippled and gave sight to the blind, also resuscitated from death animals and men.

The animals: the eels

Gaetano De Grazia possessed some boats and he told this miracle to which he was a witness. It is reported on page 425, no. 15 of the Canonical Trials: "I was 17 years old - he told the witness - and my father Anthony was partner to the fishmonger, Pasquale Rogiero whose nickname was Zuccariello. They had bought fourteen baskets of eels on the beach of Terracina, in order to sell the eel in Naples. With our boat, we berthed on the beach of Saint Lucy in Naples. On the boat were the baskets of fish. The next day, my father returned to the boat and he realized the eels were dead. It is easy to imagine how my father was desperate because he had lost the fish. At that point they considered asking help from Monk Egidio and then they begged the monk to go on the boat. As soon as Monk Egidio reached the boat he said: "Anthony! Anthony! Do not be frightened...they are sleeping". Then, the Monk blessed the fish with the relic of St. Pasquale and he told the eels: "Wake up small animals of God! Please do not scare Anthony". As soon as he said these words, the eels resuscitated before our eyes. All cried for joy.

Tiny... wake up!

It was Christmas Eve and Monk Egidio had gone out, as usual, to pick up the alms. He had reached the district of St Brigida, where a Christmas fair was being held. Fish and eels were sold at the fair. The Monk drew near to a seller of eels, and he asked for some eel as alms for the monks. But the seller sent away Monk Egidio in a bad way. Brother Egidio was mortified and went away. It happened however that the eels all died in a moment. Then the seller understood that it happened because of his refusal. Then the fishmonger ran after Brother Egidio and begged the brother to help him. Brother Egidio drew near to the basket of the eels, blessed them with the rope of his tunic and said: "In name of God, wake up, tiny". Suddenly, the eels started again to stir. They were resuscitated.The facts can be read on page 421, no. 11 of the Canonical Trials in the testimony of Mrs. Maria Giuseppa Orsino that was present to the miracle.

Resuscitated Catarinella

This is the most famous episode that happened in Saint Egidio's life. The Monks of the Convent of Saint Pasquale had a small calf that walked alone through the streets of Naples. Everyone knew the calf, called Catarinella, because it wore a metal nameplate on its forehead on which was engraved the name of S. Pasquale. The beast went out alone in the morning and returned to the convent in the evening. Unfortunately, one evening Catarinella didn't return to the convent. The Monks were very sorry and they wondered how to go about finding Catarinella. Everyone thought that Monk Egidio would be able to solve the problem! The next day, Brother Egidio went straight to a butcher in Pignasecca and, without any preambles or compliments, he told the butcher in a severe tone: "Take the key and the lantern and follow me into the cave. Where have you put Catarinella?"
The rascal, faced with such an order, started trembling but he obeyed. But what would happen if the calf had already been cut in pieces?
They went down into the cave or underground (in that era refrigerators didn't exist and, to preserve the fresh meat, they used the caves). The Monk stretched the skin of the calf, on the floor and placed each piece in its natural place. He then knelt by the skin and made the sign of the cross with a cord.
Speaking loudly he said: "In name of God and S. Pasquale, stand up Catarinella and go to the Convent!"
With that, there was suddenly a great bellow, Catarinella’s limbs shook and the calf jumped up alive, flourishing as before.
The news of the miracle quickly spread across Naples, and it was a problem to contain the enthusiasm and the delirium of the crowd that drew near to Brother Egidio to kiss his hands or to touch his clothes. The calf was accompanied, in procession, from Pignasecca to the Convent of S. Pasquale to Chiaia.
This event was reported by the noble Luigi Monopoli, who was present at the time. This miracle happened in 1788 and 1789; it is reported in the Canonical Trials to pgs. 448 nos. 60.

Madam, be happy he will be born a boy

Brother Egidio went to Torre Annunziata often in order to ask the alms or to buy the pasta for the Monks. An extraordinary occurrence happened to him. To be honest, every time Brother Egidio went to Torre Annunziata, the bells of the houses of his benefactors rang, as they wanted to greet brother Egidio.
However the miracle to be reported is this: Gesualda Galviria was Andrew Scafa's wife and she was pregnant. She had implored Brother Egidio often to have a serene birth. Brother Egidio answered: "Donna Gesualda, do not be afraid, be happy, do not doubt." However, when the nine months were over, she had a hard labor and a difficult delivery. Her husband raced to Brother Egidio whom, authorized by the Superior, went to Torre Annunziata. Brother Egidio brought a relic of S. Pasquale to the woman and he told her "Madam be happy because he will be born a boy and her he will be named Pasquale."
But, as it happened, the woman gave birth to a stillborn, male child. The unhappy woman was desolate. They reported the fact to Brother Egidio, who returned to her and he placed the relic of S. Pasquale above the small body of the newborn. Then he said: "Pasquale,” happily, S. Pasquale caused a miracle. At that point, the child sneezed and returned to life, at the amazement of all who were present.
The Monk returned to Naples the same evening to avoid the enthusiasm of the crowd that would have heard about the miracle. (Canonical trials pg. 248, no. 108)

Miraculous cooked bread

Mister Luca Parrella was a friend and a benefactor of the Monks and a good friend of Monk Egidio. Because of his job, Mr. Parrella went to the area of Capua where he became infected with malaria. Very quickly his condition worsened and the doctors reported that nothing more could be done for him. As he neared death his wife and children were very upset. The assistant priest of the Parish of S. Giacomo of Italians gave him the last Eucharist.
After he died the priest left his house and the workers came to prepare the house for the funeral. While they prepared the mortuary room, his child Gaetano looked out the balcony window and saw that Monk Egidio was passing by. The youngster ran immediately down the road until he reached the Monk. Crying, he told Monk Egidio that his father was dead. But Monk Egidio answered: "No, no, your father is sleeping, he is not dead". The young child insisted: “Brother Egidio, my father is dead indeed and the priest that assisted him, has already left!" The Monk answered, "I assure you that your father is sleeping, he is sleeping! Come with me, go in and you will see”. Monk Egidio took him by the arm and they entered house. Everyone ran toward Monk Egidio crying. He told them: "He is sleeping, he is sleeping". Then he went to the dead body of his friend calling: "Luca, Luca! ". Obviously, there was no answer; Luca Parrellas body was cold and stiff. Then father Egidio said smiling: "Ah, don't you want to answer?” He then took three pieces of hard and dry bread from the sleeve of his cowl and gave that bread to the widow asking her to make cooked bread. Meanwhile, Monk Egidio covered the body with his mantle and began to pray.
When the cooked bread was ready, he took a spoon and he put some cooked bread on the lips of the dead body, saying: "Luca, in name of God and St. Pasquale, wake up! ". Mr. Parella’s teeth were so rigid that only some water from the cooked bread bathed the gums. The people present were astonished, wondering if a corpse could eat. However, after a few minutes, Luca opened the eyes. He looked around frightened like someone who wakes up suddenly. All were amazed and full of confusion. Some cried, others howled, someone shouted that it was a miracle and others ran away in fear. The corpse was resuscitated. But Monk Egidio simply explained: "I had told you that Luca slept and that he was not dead. You have witnessed a beautiful miracle of God and San Pasquale. He then took his mantle and returned to the Convent. Mr. Parella lived for another thirty years. He went back to his work and he was declared "a living corpse." His wife, his children and himself report this fact in the canonical trials on page. 470, n. 105.