St. Francis of Paola (not to be confused with the more famous St. Francis of Assisi) was a vegan, adhering to a diet free from meat, fish, eggs, dairy, and other animal products, and founded the Minims order, whose members took a vow of non-violence including this strict, plant-based diet as an expression of humility and compassion for all creatures. In contrast, while St. Francis of Assisi advocated for respect for animals, he was not a vegetarian and did eat meat, though he is sometimes incorrectly associated with modern veganism.
Minims Order:
He founded the Minims, a religious order whose two main charisms were radical humility and non-violence, which was expressed through this vegan diet.
Vow of non-violence:
The Minims took a vow of non-violence, refusing to harm or eat any creature.
Austerity:
His lifestyle was known for its austerity, living simply and embracing humility.
Vow of veganism: St. Francis of Paola was a Roman Catholic friar who founded the Order of Minims, a religious order characterized by humility and non-violence.
A historical vegan: Members of his order took a vow of "Lenten living" which required strict veganism, abstaining from meat, fish, eggs, butter, cheese, and milk. This makes St. Francis of Paola and his followers some of the earliest Catholic ethical vegans.
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