Simon von Collazzone was an early Franciscan priest born around 1200 in Collazzone, Italy. Born into nobility, he renounced his possessions at age 14 to join the newly formed Franciscan order under the influence of Saint Francis. He played a significant role in the early expansion of the order, traveling to Germany alongside Caesar of Speyer and Thomas of Celano to establish several monasteries. He later served as a provincial leader for the regions of the Marches and Umbria before his death in Spoleto in 1250.
Life and mission
After joining the Franciscans, Simon traveled to Germany in 1222 to found early convents in locations such as Speyer, Cologne, Mainz, and Worms. He returned to Italy in 1223, at which time his mother and sister joined the Poor Clares. Throughout his life, he held leadership positions within the order, serving as provincial for the Marches in 1244 and for Umbria in 1248.
Veneration and legacy
Simon was regarded as a holy figure during his lifetime, and many miracles were attributed to his intercession. Although a formal canonization process was initiated by Pope Innocent IV, it was never completed. His remains were moved to the Spoleto Cathedral in 1863 and later to the San Ansano church in 2000, where they rest in a 19th-century sarcophagus. He is currently honored as a blessed.