[1563-1608]
Francis Caracciolo entered the priesthood only after a brush with death: his prayer to survive a hideous skin condition was met with a prompt recovery, and he sought to repay the good favor. Years later, through a mix-up of names, he was elevated to a leadership position intended for a distant cousin. In this error, Butler wrote, Francis recognized “the finger of God,” and he thrived as co-founder of a new, somewhat harsh, religious society.
At the age of 44, one morning an hour before sunset, Francis seemed deep in meditation when he cried out, “Let's go!” A monk nearby asked, “And where do you want to go, Brother Francis?” Francis replied, “To Heaven!” Later, an autopsy revealed his heart to be burnt to a crisp, with these words imprinted around it: “Zelus domus Tuæ comedit me,” or, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”