Giuseppe Maria Tomasi
Italian Roman Catholic cardinal
Feast: 1 January (not on the universal Roman calendar; kept in the Roman Martyrology or local calendars)
Who they were
Giuseppe Maria Tomasi was born at Licata, Sicily, on 12 September 1649, eldest son of the Princes of Lampedusa, and was destined by his family for the court of Madrid as a Grandee of Spain. Drawn to God and to study, he became a Theatine and was ordained in the Lateran basilica on 23 December 1673.
Longing to renew divine worship, he spent almost his whole life seeking out and publishing ancient texts of the sacred liturgy, and he taught the catechism to children. Out of humility he gave up high office in his order; he was made a cardinal.
The miracles
The Dicastery's biography does not describe the miracles approved in the cause.
Why that counted as sanctity
A prince who became a humble Theatine scholar of the liturgy and a catechist of children.
Connected on this site
- Angelo Paoli Blessed“This extended to his friend Cardinal Giuseppe Maria Tomasi and to Popes Innocent XII and Clement XI, who both offered him the cardinalate, which he refused.” — Wikipedia
- Pius VII Servant of God“Tomasi was beatified by Pope Pius VII in 1803, and canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1986.” — Wikipedia
- Dicastery for the Causes of Saints - biography: Giuseppe Maria Tomasi
- Wikidata Q772122 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — Giuseppe Maria Tomasi (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.