ALL SAINTS: ⛪ Blessed Joachim Piccolomini

A Rich Boy Who Chose to Be Simple

Blessed Joachim Piccolomini was born in 1258—we don’t know the exact day—in Siena, a beautiful city in the middle of Italy with hills and stone streets. His family was rich and important. His dad came from the Piccolomini family, a big name in Siena, full of people who owned land, fought in battles, and helped run the city. His mom raised him in a fancy house with tall walls, big windows, and rooms full of soft rugs and shiny things. Siena was a busy place back then—its streets were loud with merchants selling cloth, horses clopping by, and bells ringing from churches like the big one with black and white stripes. The air smelled of bread baking, leather from shops, and flowers growing on the hills outside. In the 1200s, Italy had lots of little cities like Siena fighting each other, but it was also a time when people loved God and built beautiful places to pray.

Joachim was a little boy with dark hair and bright eyes, running around his family’s big house. He wore nice clothes—soft shirts and shoes that didn’t wear out fast. His life could have been easy, with servants bringing him food like roasted meat, sweet fruits, and bread with honey. But even as a kid, he didn’t care much about all that. His mom and dad taught him about God early. They’d sit together in a room with a wooden cross on the wall, saying prayers in Italian. Joachim’s small hands held a rosary—maybe one with pretty beads because his family could afford it—and he’d listen to stories about Jesus and Mary. This tells us: God can call you even when you have a lot, and a rich kid can learn to love simple things.

The Piccolomini family had everything—big tables full of food, warm fires in every room, and piles of coins to buy whatever they wanted. When he was six, around 1264, life seemed perfect, but Siena was always arguing with other cities, and that made things loud and busy. He didn’t feel happy with riches, even as a little boy—something inside him wanted more than fancy stuff. At 10, in 1268, he started learning, probably with a teacher who came to the house. He learned to read, write, and count, and he heard about saints who gave up everything for God. At 12, in 1270, he got quieter, spending time alone, looking out windows at the hills or sitting in the family’s chapel. Siena was changing—people were building more churches, and groups like the Servites, who loved Mary, were growing. At 14, in 1272, he heard God calling him, feeling like he didn’t belong in a big, rich house—Readers, look here: fancy things don’t always fill your heart, and a kid can find God’s voice in a noisy world.

Leaving Home for God

Joachim didn’t want to stay rich forever. At 14, in 1272, he joined the Servites, a group of men who lived simple lives to serve God and Mary, Jesus’ mom. They had a house in Siena, not big like his family’s, but small and plain with just what they needed. His mom and dad weren’t happy—they wanted him to be a leader or a knight, not a poor friar in a brown robe. But Joachim begged them, and they let him go. He walked away from his soft bed, his nice clothes, and all the food he could eat. He traded them for a rough brown robe, sandals that let in the cold, and a little room with a hard floor. He gave up everything, even his big family name, to be close to God—This says loud: you can leave stuff behind for God, and giving up makes you free.

The 1270s were tough in Italy—cities like Siena fought over who was boss, and people got sick a lot. At 16, in 1274, he learned to be a friar, living with the Servites. They taught him to pray all day, help poor people, and love Mary like she was his own mom. He scrubbed floors with his hands, carried water in heavy buckets, and ate plain food—maybe bread and a little soup. He didn’t complain, even when his feet got cold or his stomach growled—he smiled instead. By 18, in 1276, he was good at praying, sitting in the Servite church for hours, talking to God and Mary quietly. People started noticing him, saying he was different—his eyes looked happy even though he had nothing—This tells us: simple living can make you happy, and praying helps you stay strong.

Living for God and Others

Joachim kept going with his simple life. At 20, in 1278, he worked harder, helping sick people in Siena. He’d sit by their beds, bringing them water or just holding their hands when they were scared. He didn’t care if they were dirty or poor—he loved them anyway. He saw God in them, believing every person was special—by 25, in 1283, he got even quieter, spending more time praying alone. Sometimes he’d see things—like Mary smiling at him—or hear God’s voice telling him to keep going. He stayed little, not wanting anyone to think he was big or important—Italy was busy—fights kept happening, but the Servites grew—Joachim prayed with his rosary, a plain one now, feeling close to God—This says: helping others brings you to God, and staying small keeps you holy.

The years went on—Siena got richer, but Joachim stayed poor. At 30, in 1288, he got sick, maybe from working so hard or not eating much. His body hurt, but he didn’t stop—he kept praying and helping. By 40, in 1298, he was famous in Siena, not because he wanted to be, but because people saw how good he was. They’d ask him to pray for them when they were sick or sad, and sometimes they got better. He didn’t take credit, saying, “It’s God, not me”—at 47, in 1305, he got weaker, his body tired from years of giving—This tells us: giving all you have makes you special, and God works through simple people.

The End of His Road

Joachim’s life was almost done—on April 16, 1305, at 47, he died, lying on a hard bed in the Servite house in Siena. He went peacefully, his last words something like “Mary” or “Jesus”—they buried him there, in the church where he prayed so much—he became Blessed on March 31, 1609, his day is April 16—Siena cheered—people said, “He’s with God now!”—This shows: dying simple can make you big, and a quiet end helps others.

Helping People Today

Joachim’s story didn’t stop—Siena remembers him, his grave a place where people pray—he helps folks who love Mary, and anyone trying to live simple and good—Italy changed, cities grew, but his way stayed—Today, he says: be kind and small, friends, let love lead you. This sings: one plain guy can shine forever, and being little beats being big.

A Friend for You Now

Joachim’s life talks to us today—he had everything but picked nothing, just to be with God. That shows you don’t need a lot to be happy. You don’t have to give up your house, but you can give up being selfish or wanting too much. He made simple holy, showing God loves you no matter what you have—people loved him fast, calling him Blessed not long after he died—he helps you be good, great for anyone who wants to pray more or help others—God can make a saint from a rich kid who chose to be poor, and He can make one from you too. Just give Him your heart—This says: God turns little into big, and you can be holy if you try.

How He Helps You

Joachim’s story pulls you close—his rich days say look for God, stuff doesn’t matter; his simple life says stay free, God’s right there. His hard work says be tough—keep going when it’s hard, faith holds you up. His end says trust—die happy, God’s your prize. He left in a plain robe—live so you shine at the end, and rest with Him. Walk his way: help someone, pray when you’re tired, let God lift you.

A Prayer to Blessed Joachim Piccolomini

Dear Blessed Joachim, friend who left riches for God, you lived simple and loved big, your life a song in quiet times. Show me how to let go, so I can follow with your good heart. Teach me to trust easy, stay strong when life’s tough, and feel peace when I’m worn out. Help me drop my wants, my fears, and sit close to God, my heart ready for Him and Mary. Give me your love for helping, your brightness, so my days help Him shine. By your place in Siena, listen to me, and with your holy words, let me live small, brave, and real, showing His light till I’m done. Amen.

SAINT OF THE DAY

Saints in April

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Apr 16, 2024

⛪ Blessed Joachim Piccolomini