Jakov of Zadar

Blessed Jakov of Zadar
The corpse of Blessed Jakov of Zadar in Bitetto
Born	c. 1400 Zadar, Kingdom of Croatia and Dalmatia (now Croatia)
Died	April 27, 1485 Bitetto, Kingdom of Naples (now Italy)
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church
Beatified	December 29, 1700
Feast	April 27

Jakov of Zadar (Italian: Giacomo Illirico or Giacomo Varingez; c. 1400 – April 27, 1485) is a blessed of the Roman Catholic Church, Franciscan monk and patron of the Italian town of Bitetto.

Jakov was born in Zadar around 1400 to a Croatian family of Leonardo and Beatrice Varinguer. At the age of 20 he joined the Franciscan order as a brother assistant.

In year 1438 his Franciscan deputy-provincial was requested to partake in the general chapter of the Franciscan Order in Bari, and chose Jakov to accompany him. After they arrived Jakov decided to stay. He lived in various Italian monasteries for 12 years, serving as a cook, before settling in one in Bitetto. Jakov was specially devoted to the Passion of Christ and Virgin Mary, he was carrying by a penitential act, delivering the long-term prayers and contemplation, and even fell into raptures few times. Jakov was also in charge of collecting alms, and this led him to numerous travels. During a plague epidemic of 1482 he cared patients infected with the plague.

Jakov died on April 27, 1485 in Bitetto with a holy reputation, and was buried in a chapel built for him. He was publicly honored since 1505. In 1700 Pope Clement XI beatified him, and approved his veneration to the Franciscan Order. Pope Leo XIII allowed the Archdiocese of Zadar to venerate him.

Missal of the Croatian-speaking Franciscan community contains texts for liturgical veneration of the blessed Jakov. In 1990, the diocesan process for his canonization was completed, and documents handed over to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. He is celebrated in the church of St. Francis where believers from Bitetto brought his picture and reliquaries in 1989.