San Francesco Caracciolo, June 4, 2025 / Today we celebrate the Patron Saint of Chefs with festivities in Abruzzo

Every year, on June 4 , the Church celebrates Saint Francis Caracciolo , Protector of chefs for a series of historical circumstances that link him to the Italian culinary tradition. First of all, his birthplace, Villa Santa Maria, in Abruzzo , traditionally known for having given birth to numerous chefs and for the presence of culinary training workshops since the 13th century. These characteristics have made the town famous as the "Homeland of Chefs" . Furthermore, the Saint had a predilection for the Eucharist which is also called "the Bread of Jesus".

The saint's baptismal name was Ascanio : the child was born in Villa Santa Maria , in Abruzzo, on 13 October 1563. His parents, Isabella Barattucci and Ferdinando Caracciolo, were rich, but much more noble of heart and raised their son in the name of Christian values ​​and good education.

Ascanio, from an early age, based his existence on love for the Virgin Mary and the Eucharist, renouncing every weakness, passion and vice. At only 22 years old he fell ill with elephantiasis, a terrible disease that disfigured him: in the days of suffering he drew even closer to the Lord, making the decision to consecrate his life to God. This is what Ascanio did when he recovered: he went to Naples where, after studying theology, he embarked on the path of priesthood.

In the city of Naples he exercised his apostolate with dedication and passion, assisting convicts at the Hospice for the Incurable and performing miracles among the sick . One day Ascanio mistakenly received a letter from a certain Agostino Adorno , a nobleman from Genoa who wanted to found a religious institute, which would become the Minor Clerics Regular .

Even though the letter was addressed to his namesake, Ascanio immediately accepted and, together with Adorno and Fabrizio Caracciolo, he retreated inside the Camaldolese Convent for 40 days , during which he contributed to writing the rules of the institute: Ascanio also defined the three rules to which all the members had to adhere, namely obedience, chastity and poverty .

The three companions obtained the approval of Pope Sixtus V in Rome and returned to Naples, where, during a solemn procession, Ascanio assumed his new name, Francis . The new congregation expanded throughout the kingdom and even into Spain , despite the opposition of King Philip II: in fact, it managed to found an institute even in the Spanish city of Valladolid.

Francesco Caracciolo worked amidst difficulties and calumnies spread by those who greatly envied his position, but he always bore everything with humility, thanks to prayer, strict fasting and continuous works of charity. He never failed to collect clothes and food for the poorest, dedicating much time to the catechism of children. Death overtook him in the year 1608 in Agnone : in 1807 Pope Pius VII declared him a saint.

In 1996 , at the request of the Italian Chefs Federation and with the approval of over thirty diocesan Ordinaries, the Holy See proclaimed Saint Francis Caracciolo Patron of Italian chefs . This decision recognized the widespread veneration among Italian chefs and the historical and spiritual connection of the saint with their profession.

The celebrations at Villa Santa Maria with many chefs from all over Italy

In Villa Santa Maria , on June 4th , San Francesco Caracciolo is celebrated with the arrival of a large delegation of chefs who bring as a gift the oil with which the votive lamp will burn for the whole year. Then there are liturgical celebrations, the procession with the sacred relics of the saint and three days of tasting the dishes prepared by the chefs themselves. Villa Santa Maria is one of the stops, together with other towns such as Agnone, Roio del Sangro and Montelapiano, of the Vocational Walk dedicated to San Francesco Caracciolo. Many believers, on the occasion of the celebrations, try this route of about 30 km, in the heart of the green mountain landscape of the Sangro.

Other Saints of the day

On June 4, the Catholic Church also celebrates other blesseds and saints in addition to Saint Francis Caracciolo , among whom we remember Saint Buriana of Cornwall, Saint Optatus of Milevi, Blessed Varnerio, Saint Petroc, Blessed Menda Isategui, Saint Philip Smaldone, Saint Alonio and above all the Blessed Virgin Mary "Salus Populi Romani", to whom Pope Francis was very devoted.