Simon was born in Cascia in 1285 from
a titled family Fidati.
After the meeting with a famous ascetic
Angelo Clarino, at the age of twenty,he
abandoned his philosophical and historical
studies to enter the order of Saint Augustine,
established in Cascia since 1256 , dedicating
himself to God and God’s things.
His biographers tell of the day Jesus
appeared to him and asked for simon to
drink from the Chalice he was holding.
After some years of education, he became
an ordained priest. He dedicated his
lifetirelessly preaching the Gospel throughtout
central Italy.
As a result he received many spiritual
rewards; particularly in Florence, where
he founded Saint Elizabeth’s monastry
in 1331.it is known as the “ the
Converted” because of the numerous
women who entered to do penance.
In 1345 on the outskirtsof town Saint
Gaggio’s monastry, dedicated to
Saint Catherine which still stands today.
He had many friends and spiritual sons,
among them the well-known politician
Tommaso Corsini and the painter Taddeo
Gaddi, Giotto’s follower. Simon
Fidati was an important theologian and
a prolific writer. “ de gestis
domini salvatoris” is his monumental
analysis of the Gospel in 15 volumes.
There are many of Simon Fidati’s
letters that have survived to this day
and they testify to his authority as
a spiritual headmaster.
