Giovanni Liccio was born around 1430 in
Caccamo to a poor farmer. His mother died during childbirth. His father neglected the child; he fed him crushed pomegranates, all he could afford. Liccio's cries led to a female neighbor taking him to her home to feed him and left him next to the bedside of her husband who was paralyzed. As soon as Liccio was placed near him, the husband found that he could move. The neighbor told Liccio's father but the latter was dismissive and more concerned with the fact that she had taken his son without his permission. As soon as the child was taken the husband could no longer move. Liccio's father took this as a sign of the divine and allowed the neighbours to care for his son while he worked. After a short time, the man was once again able to walk. As the child grew older, he was cared for by an aunt. Before he turned ten he was able to recite the
canonical hours. On a trip to Palermo he went to have his
confession heard in the church of
Saint Zita of Lucca; the Blessed
Pietro Geremia heard his confession and suggested that Liccio take Holy Orders. Once he was ordained he was sent to establish a priory devoted to Saint Zita of Lucca in
Caccamo. He lacked funds for the construction, but in a vision an
angel told him to "build on the foundations" that now existed. Finding an abandoned foundation of a church – Santa Maria degli Angeli – he took over the site, assuming this was what the angel meant. Liccio became prior at Caccamo. Liccio gained the reputation of being a miracle worker for his healing people's deformities and injuries. On several occasions – for the workers – he doubled the amount of bread and wine available. He was made the provincial of all Dominican Sicilian houses. He was called to preach in
Vicenza (1466–67) and in
Naples (1479). Liccio died in his hometown on 14 November 1511. ==Veneration==