James Salomoni

James Salomoni, born Giacomo Salomoni in 1231 in Venice, was an Italian Catholic priest and a professed member of the Order of Preachers. He is recognized for his profound asceticism and frequent ecstatic states, which contributed to his reputation for prophetic abilities. After serving as a prior in several Dominican convents, including those in Faenza, San Severino, and Ravenna, he settled in Forlì. There, he lived from 1269 until his death on May 31, 1314, and became widely known as the "father of the poor" due to his charitable works and reputation for healing.

Life and Ministry

Born into the noble Salamon family of Venice, Giacomo Salomoni's early life was shaped by the deaths of his father and his mother's subsequent entry into a Cistercian monastery. He joined the Dominican order in 1248. His ministry involved administrative roles as a prior in various locations, but his spiritual life was marked by deep prayer and mystical experiences. In Forlì, he became a central figure, revered for his spiritual guidance and his role in ministering to the less fortunate. He is notably recorded as having received the confession of Carino of Balsamo, the assassin of Saint Peter of Verona, and subsequently became his spiritual director.

Beatification and Legacy

Following his death, a brotherhood was established in 1315 to promote veneration for Salomoni. His cult was confirmed by Pope Clement VII, who officially beatified him on June 26, 1526. Later papal approvals extended the recognition of his veneration to Venice in 1568 by Pope Pius V and to the entire Dominican order in 1622 by Pope Gregory XV. Although he suffered from cancer, he was miraculously cured some time before his death. His remains were initially conserved in an urn in Forlì and were later translated to Venice in 1939, where they are kept in a chapel in the basilica of Santi Giovanni e Paolo. A shrine to him also exists at the Saint Catherine of Siena church managed by the Dominicans in Manhattan.