Benedetto Sinigardi, also known as Fra Benedetto di Arezzo or Sinigardi di Arezzo (1190 - 1282) was a Franciscan friar, and is considered to be the author of the

Angelus FIle:Jean-François Millet (II) 001.jpg, ''The Angelus (painting), The Angelus'' (1857–1859) by Jean-François Millet The Angelus (; Latin for "angel") is a Catholic devotion commemorating the Incarnation (Christianity), Incarnation of Jesus ...

prayer.

Life

He was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Sinigardi a noble and wealthy family. In 1211, after attending a sermon given by

Francis of Assisi Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone ( 1181 – 3 October 1226), known as Francis of Assisi, was an Italians, Italian Mysticism, mystic, poet and Friar, Catholic friar who founded the religious order of the Franciscans. Inspired to lead a Chris ...

in the Piazza Grande in Arezzo he decided to enter the order. In 1217 he was appointed Provincial of the Marches and set off a missionary to Greece, Romania and Turkey. In 1221 he arrived in the Holy Land and stayed there 16 years as Provincial.Piero Della Francesca: Artist and Man. James R Banker. Oxford University Press 2014. p.54 He returned to Arezzo and spent his last years in the convent of Poggio del Sole (now demolished) where he died in old age. He was buried in the Basilica of San Francesco, Arezzo. He is considered the author of the

prayer. This tradition found a surprising and authoritative advocate in

Pope John Paul II Pope John Paul II (born Karol Józef Wojtyła; 18 May 19202 April 2005) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 16 October 1978 until Death and funeral of Pope John Paul II, his death in 2005. In his you ...

who, on 23 May 1993, prayed at the tomb of Benedetto before reciting the Angelus. He said, amongst other things ''We are in the place where, according to tradition, was born the custom of reciting the Angelus ...'' He is remembered on 13 August each year.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sinigardi Franciscan saints 1190 births 1282 deaths