Our Featured Priest & Saint for February:  We Celebrate His Feast on February 18

“What you have received as a gift, give as a gift.” - Fra Angelico, the Patron Saint of Artists

More About Fra Angelico  [Download Our Saint Pamphlet]

To take those words of Christ from Matthew 10:8 to heart, one must have a true love of God and an understanding of the sacrifice He made for us. How many people use their gifts for their own enjoyment or profit only! Thankfully, Blessed John of Fiesole was one of those rare individuals who used his talent as an offering to his Heavenly Father.

Guido di Pietro was born in Tuscany in 1387 and early on it was recognized that he and his brother had obvious artistic capabilities. They studied painting and joined the Dominican Order at Fiesole in 1407, with Guido taking the name John (Giovanni). Both brothers were at once put to work illustrating manuscripts. John came to see painting as his way to “preach” the love of God, and it is said that he never picked up a paintbrush without first praying. He
had a pious but simple heart and is credited with saying: “He who does Christ’s work must stay with Christ always”.

As his gifts became more and more apparent, John was commissioned to do paintings and frescoes in Florence and Rome, with his brother often acting as his assistant. Blessed John of Fiesole was able to capture the adoration and sublime love for Christ on the faces of those he painted. The beauty of his artwork, and the spirituality of his life which contributed to that beauty, led him to be named “Fra Angelico” or the “Angelic Friar”. He died in Rome at the age of 68, and influenced artists for generations after. Pope John Paul II beatified Fra Angelico on July 8, 1983.

- From Our Saint Pamphlet