Sainted Boniface the Merciful, Bishop of Firentium (Florence)

Commemorated on December 19

Sainted Boniface the Merciful, Bishop of Firentium (Florence): [trans. note – his very name "Bonifacius" in Latin means "good-doer", and hence "merciful"]. From his very childhood he was distinguished by his non-covetousness and love for the poor. On the street when he saw a destitute man, he took his own clothes and gave them away to those in need, to the chagrin of his widowed mother. One time he gave away a year's supply of the bread grain, but the Lord worked a miracle through his prayer, and the granary was again full of grain. Saint Boniface became bishop of the city of Firentium (Florence), situated to the north of Rome (Tuscany region). And even with his lofty position as bishop he remained totally non-covetous and merciful towards people, and wisely he directed his flock, exhorting it to attend to even its least among neighbours.