The only son of a rich senator of Rome, in the fifth century St. Alexis was given a careful education in charity by his parents. Fearing lest temporal honors might divide his heart from noble objects, after complying with the will of his parents and marrying a rich and virtuous lady, on the day of the nuptials, before the marriage was consummated he secretly withdrew in order to break all ties with the world. In disguise he traveled into a distant country, embraced extreme poverty and resided in a hut adjoining a church dedicated to the Mother of God. After some time being discovered to be a stranger of distinction, he returned home and was received as a poor pilgrim, living some time unknown in his father’s house. There he bore the contumely and ill treatment of the servants with invincible patience and silence. A little before he died he revealed himself to his parents in a letter. At Rome St. Alexis is honored in the ancient sanctuary bearing his name on the Aventine.