rebellious character. On the night of 19 April 1562, he was groping around in the dark after a night spent with some ladies when he fell down a flight of stairs and landed on his head. There he was found the next morning, unconscious and partially paralyzed. He later became blind, developed a high fever and his head swelled to an enormous size. In a moment of lucidity, he asked that he wanted to make a personal petition to Saint Didacus. Didacus's body was brought to his chambers. The prior of the convent placed one of Carlos' hands upon the chest of Didacus, whereupon the prince fell into a deep and peaceful sleep. Six hours later, he awoke and related that in a dream, he saw Didacus telling him that he would not die. The prince recovered from his brush with death. Other sources have Didacus's body laid on the prince's bed. Mechanical model The Smithsonian Institution holds a clockwork automaton of a monk. The model would perform a number of set actions, including the beating of the breast which accompanies the prayer. A possible provenance would be a presumed model of Didacus, commissioned by Philip II of Spain to Juanelo Turriano, mechanic to Emperor Charles V. Historical theories for why the friar was built include that: Philip II wished to share the miracle of his son's recovery with his people; or the clockwork friar provided a portable model of "how to pray" which could be displayed around the kingdom. See also San Diego, California Mission San Diego de Alcalá Alcalá de Henares Franciscan Order Noli Me Tangere (novel) Incorruptibility Notes References External links Catholic Encyclopedia: St. Didacus Catholic-Forum.com: Saint Didacus abcgallery.com: Bartolomé Esteban Murillo's La Cuisine des Anges abcgallery.com: Bartolomé Esteban Murillo's St. Diego Giving Alms Franciscan Order Cofradia Semana Santa San Nicolas del Puerto, Seville 1400s births 1463 deaths People from Sierra Norte (Seville) Spanish hermits Spanish Friars Minor Spanish Roman Catholic missionaries Infectious disease deaths in Spain Spanish Roman Catholic saints Franciscan saints Canonized Roman Catholic religious brothers 15th-century Castilians 15th-century Christian saints Burials in the Province of Seville Incorrupt saints People from Alcalá de Henares