11 Facts About Domenico Spadafora

Domenico Spadafora was an Italian Roman Catholic priest and a professed member of the Order of Preachers.

Domenico Spadafora is best known for being the first superior of a church he oversaw construction of in Monte Cerignone after receiving the papal approval of Pope Alexander VI to commence such work.

Domenico Spadafora was born in 1450 in Randazzo to nobles that came from Constantinople.

Domenico Spadafora was born as the third of five children to the Baron of Maletto Giovanni Spadafora and his lower-class wife Marina.

Domenico Spadafora joined the Order of Preachers at the convent of Santa Zita in Palermo after returning following the dissertation when his superiors recalled him.

Domenico Spadafora participated at the General Chapter of the order in Venice in 1487.

Domenico Spadafora was supposed to be assigned to a convent in Messina in 1487 but the Father General of the order Gioacchino Torriani decided to have him as his collaborator in Rome; in 1487 he participated in the General Chapter in Le Mans in the Kingdom of France.

Domenico Spadafora was known for his intense devotion to the passion of Jesus Christ.

Domenico Spadafora founded the convent of Madonna delle Grazie - that housed a miraculous image of the Madonna - in 1491 in Monte Cerignone and served for the remainder of his life as its first superior.

Domenico Spadafora died after the celebration of Mass and asking the forgiveness of his brother Dominicans for his mistakes; the ailing priest received the last sacraments and died at sunset as his fellow brothers sang the "Salve Regina".

Domenico Spadafora's beatification was confirmed on 14 January 1921 after Pope Benedict XV granted formal approval to the recognition of the 'cultus'.