Saint Andrew Avellino, born in Sicily, was ordained a priest at the age of 26 and held the office of lawyer at the ecclesiastical court of Naples. After telling a lie when pleading the cause of a friend he felt deep remorse and renounced his profession as ecclesiastical lawyer. He was then commissioned to reform a convent in Naples, resulting in the monks not being happy with his discipline and assaulting him. He then joined the Theatines, founded more Theatine monasteries, and served as a superior to some. One day when about to begin Mass he was seized with an attack of apoplexy at the foot of the altar, and having received the sacraments of the Church, he calmly expired at the age of 88.
