Saint Paschal
Baylon spent one half of his life as a shepherd and the other as a religious
brother in the monasteries of Spain.
Without formal schooling (he taught himself how to read and write), he tended
his flocks in the countryside of Aragon. He was born in the town of Torre
Hermosa, Aragon, and according to local custom was named after the feast
day or season during which one was born. He was named Paschal in honor of
Pascua de Pentecosta (the Easter Pentecost).
He was hired out as a shepherd to tend the sheep of strangers by his father
to help support the family. Early in 1564 he joined the Franciscans.