Feast day: January 18
Saint Charles was born in Sezze, which is southeast of Rome. He was inspired to join the Franciscans and held small, humble jobs in the order. Examples of these positions included cook, porter, sacristan, gardener, and beggar. When Charles’s superior instructed him to give food only to traveling friars who came begging at the door, Charles disagreed but listened to orders.
When the superior’s new rule went into effect, the alms to the friars started decreasing. Charles persuaded his superior to resume giving alms to everyone who came to the door begging, and alms to the friars started increasing. He was also well-known for his writings. He wrote several religious books, including his autobiography. Saint Charles of Sezze passed away in Rome and was canonized in 1959.
(Image Antonio Sicurezza, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)