Chapelle Saint-François de Paule

The Saint-François de Paule chapel has been listed as a Historic Monument since 1987.

Born in 1416 in Paula, Italy, to a Catholic family, Francis was the eldest of three children. As a baby, Francis was struck by a serious eye infection. Saint Francis of Assisi was prayed to again, as he had been for the first pregnancy of Fuscaldo's mother Vienne, who had become pregnant with her first child at an advanced age. The latter made a vow to send her son to a Franciscan convent as an oblate if he recovered from his infection. At the age of 13, Francis left for a year as agreed to the convent of San Marco Argentano in the province of Cosenza.

A year later, in 1430, he went on a pilgrimage with his family and realized that the splendor of the "eternal city" did not suit him, while all his encounters with the anchorites left their mark on him. Upon his return to his hometown, Francis decided to live as a hermit in a cave, which impressed the inhabitants.

One day, a fawn chased by hunters comes to hide in his cave. Francesco tames it and subsequently converts the same hunters who will become his first followers. Shortly after, more "frati" (brothers) join him and consider him as their spiritual guide.

Francis built a chapel and three dormitories with the help of his first twelve followers. Together they founded a religious order called "Les Minimes" ("the very small ones"). He was the first founder of an order to be only 19 years old. Together, they took a vow of charity and humility.

Many adhesions followed, which brought Phyrrus Caracciolo, archbishop of Cosenza, who approved the idea of ​​founding an oratory, a monastery as well as a church.
THE MIRACLES OF SAINT FRANCIS

When Francis was a child, he could move hot coals in the censer with his fingers without burning himself. He also fulfilled a prophecy that the city of Otranto would yield to the Turks and be reconquered by the King of Naples. Francis is also said to have restored sight to the blind, healed children, and raised the dead.

One day, Francis was called by Pope Sixtus IV to heal King Louis XI, who was seriously ill. He then crossed the sea by boat and arrived in Provence, which was ravaged by the Black Death. He first healed the sick inhabitants of the town of Bormes by laying on his hands, then arrived in Fréjus in 1482, where he also saved the town from the disease. There he founded the Notre-Dame-de-la-Pitié convent.

Since 1733, the bravado has been traditionally celebrated every year to honor Saint Francis of Paula.