November 13
This saint was born in Cremona, Italy, and his original name was Omobono Tucenghi. His name was later Latinized to Homobonus. Both the Italian and Latin forms mean “good man.” He was a cloth merchant and believed that God allowed him to work so that he could give more money to those who were poor. He and his wife lived and dressed simply and gave much of their money away. His program of life was both honesty in business and living out the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy. He became known as a peacemaker who helped settle disputes between families and neighbors. He also took care of those who were abandoned at the time of death.
At midnight every night, Homobonus would go to the church of Saint Giles to pray Matins (Morning Prayer) and then participate in the morning Mass. He died while at Mass in this church on November 13, 1197, and was canonized only fourteen months later, due to the insistence of the people of the city of Cremona. The church of Sant’Omobano in Rome is dedicated to him. Saint Homobonus certainly fulfilled the meaning of his name! To every appearance, he lived an ordinary life, but he lived it in an extraordinary way. Saint Homobonus is an excellent reminder that our resources do not belong only to those of our own family but to all who are in need.
(Image © Karmakolle, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons)