Martyr

ON THE BLESSED MARTYR

ANTHONY PAVONI

OF THE ORDER OF PREACHERS, AT SAVIGLIANO IN PIEDMONT.

IN THE YEAR 1374.

Antonius Pavonus, of the Order of Preachers, Martyr at Savigliano in Piedmont (B.)

By G. H.

Ambrose Taeggio described the deeds of illustrious men of the Order of Preachers in several volumes, which we found at Milan in the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie of the same Order, Compendium of the Life. and in the manuscript codex marked with the letter L, book 3, distinction 3, we transcribed what we here give concerning Brother Anthony Pavoni, Title of Saint and Blessed Martyr, whom the author calls Saint, Holy Martyr, Blessed Anthony, and Blessed Martyr; whose venerable body rests in a chapel, and with candles burning is publicly honored, and his patronage invoked. Michael Pius, in the Lives of illustrious men of the Order of Saint Dominic published at Bologna in 1620, asserts that the chapel in which he rests is dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene, and there this epitaph hangs at his sepulchre:

Read, whoever comes: here lies Anthony, Epitaph, honor and right norm of the nourishing religion, Pavo. Vindicator of heresy, guard of the faith and of God * or, of salvation, laurel of martyrdom, seeks the heavenly kingdoms. Father Haymus Taparellus bade his bones be kept, who shone on earth, now holds the heights of heaven. You, whom the pious people of Savigliano venerated, proceed to celebrate the Father with voice and mind.

Michael Pius adds that Haymus Taparellus was born of the noble Lagnasco family, from which likewise was Briantius Taparellus, who, having obtained a benefit, arranged by vow for a candle to be placed at the tomb of the said Martyr. Pius moreover writes that the said Haymus Taparellus lived in the Order of Preachers with great reputation of sanctity, and became famous by miracles after his death, and that he took care that the blessed body of Anthony the Martyr should be buried at Savigliano; just as he himself was laid under the same altar, under which lies Blessed Bartholomew de Cerveriis, to be commemorated on April 21. The same from Pius relates John Rechacus in volume 3 of the Lives of illustrious men of the Order of Preachers, page 850. Anthony was slain in 1374, on Low Sunday (Dominica in Albis), when by the Cycle of the Moon 7, Time of martyrdom. of the Sun 11, Dominical letter A, Easter was celebrated on April 2, and consequently Low Sunday fell on April 9. Bzovius in his Annals places his death in the following year 1376; but Taeggio, Pius, and Rechacus, with the Acts of the martyrdom themselves which we give, assign it to the preceding year. Bzovius adds that, in order that both the Bishop of Turin and the Count of Savoy should pursue the murderers, the Roman Pontiff prescribed this on the thirteenth day before the Kalends of April, namely of the year 1375. And for this reason it seems that he referred the martyrdom to the following year. Over the universal Church at that time was Gregory XI, Pope of Rome; over the See of Turin, Bishop John, sprung from the Roman family of the Orsini; over Savoy, Count Amadeus son of Amadeus, who by some is held the fifth, by others the sixth of that name.

* or, "salutis" (of salvation).

COMPENDIUM OF THE MARTYRDOM,

From the collection of Ambrose Taeggio.

Antonius Pavonus, of the Order of Preachers, Martyr at Savigliano in Piedmont (B.)

[1] Brother Anthony Pavo of Savigliano, Inquisitor of heretical pravity, at the place of Breycharaxium near Savigliano, while in the said place he was carrying out the office of inquisition, Slain in hatred of the Catholic faith; at the hour of Tierce, when Mass had been celebrated at which he had devoutly preached the word of God in the public square of the said place, while the people were looking on, by seven heretics and satellites of the devil, as by most bloody and cruel wolves armed with manifold kinds of weapons, was pierced with many wounds, lacerated, and killed, patiently and humbly bearing martyrdom for the defense of the Catholic faith, and gloriously ascended into heaven, on Low Sunday, in the year of our Lord 1374. This man was most holy in life, by Order a Priest, by religion a professed one, by office a Gospel Preacher and most constant Inquisitor; exterminating errors, pursuing heretics, and tearing out, scattering, and destroying all vices; a strenuous champion and defender of the Catholic faith, a diligent cultivator of justice, and of most clear doctrine, he foresaw and foretold his death. as he had before foretold: For not many days before his passion, he said to a certain barber: "I am to go to certain nuptials to be celebrated in this place, to which I have been invited: I beg that you make me handsome with your art." But he said, "This village is very small, and if nuptials were to be celebrated, it would certainly not escape me, since in my shop almost all reports are retold: hence I fear I am being mocked." But the Saint said, "Fear not, for I speak the truth." And thus it was done: for on the following Sunday he deserved to be led into the nuptials of the Lamb in the wedding garment. He is famous for miracles. But after his death he was famous for many miracles: of which I shall relate one, which the religious man Brother Peter Sereni, Master of Sacred Theology and Inquisitor of heretical pravity, narrated and wrote, which he asserts happened in his own time. A certain noble man, who was Lord Briantius Taparelli,

was called, of the Lords of Lagnasco, being in a certain great litigation with a more powerful man, when judgment was about to be given against him for a very great sum of money, a lost thing is found, because a certain public document could not be found, which was very necessary for this cause; though he had diligently caused a search to be made in every place of his house, and especially among the other writings of the house, he made a vow to Blessed Anthony Pavoni, by a vow of a candle at his tomb. that he would have a candle of fifty pounds placed at the chapel where his venerable body rests, if by his merits and prayers that document could be found. A wondrous thing! On the following night, as the same nobleman was resting in his bed, he saw the Blessed Martyr Anthony saying to him: "Go, and the document you seek, seek in such a place, and you will find it." In the morning he sought, and found the document under a certain bed, as the Saint had said, giving thanks to God and to his holy Martyr Anthony. When it had been found, he rejoiced to have in his favor the judgment which he had feared would be against him, devoutly fulfilling the vow made.

SENTENCE AGAINST THE MURDERERS.

From the Chronicle of the Order of Preachers.

[2] To all the faithful of Christ, to whose notice the present shall come, we wish it to be made known: that the most unspeakable crime in the place of Breycharaxium, by the sacrilegious patricides, namely John de Gabrielli, against the 7 Murderers James de Marmita, Francis Tarditus, James Tarditus, Anthony Tarditus, John Buriascus, and Peter Buriascus, cries out in the ears of the Lord of hosts, that the same Lord may say to each of the said detestable criminals: "The voice of the blood of thy brother Abel," that is, of this Brother, blood poured out demands judgment. namely Anthony of good memory of the Order of Preachers, Inquisitor of heretical pravity, lately slain by thee, cries to me from the earth, with those of whom it is written under the throne of God: "The saints cry out: Avenge, O our God, our blood." Apoc. 6, 2 Almighty God nevertheless seems to direct the aforesaid word to every minister of justice having spiritual and temporal jurisdiction, or both, over the avenging of this most wicked crime, that he may say to each: "The voice of the blood of thy brother Abel cries to me from the earth." And if it be asked, how long shall it cry, we believe that he will answer by divine voice: "Until justice is turned into judgment." Ps. 93, 15 For then is justice turned into judgment, when, according to divine and human laws, according to the quality of the fault, the sword of punishment is inflicted. This is the sword which the Lord came to send upon the earth, that he might scatter and destroy the peace of sinners, by which audacity and obstinacy are restrained, equity, virtue, and innocence are defended and guarded; and if, according to the most sacred oracle of divine and human justice, all evils are to be struck with the sword of judgment, how much more the most horrible and wicked crimes which are committed against God, the contempt of the holy faith, the public detriment, and the vituperation of the holy universal Church. For never does such a sin seem to have happened in Israel, that is, in the Christian people. on account of the height of crime committed. For if the condition of this venerable Father slain is considered, he was a Priest, by profession a religious of so excellent an Order, namely of the Brothers Preachers, by which, as by an immovable pillar, the whole fabric of Mother Church is upheld and sustained. If the office is sought, he was a Gospel Preacher and a suitable Inquisitor, exterminating errors, pursuing heretics, and tearing out, scattering, and destroying all vices. If the cause of death is sought, we truly reply, because he was a faithful champion of Christ, a strenuous defender of the faith, and a diligent cultivator of justice. Behold an execrable sin, where homicide, patricide, and sacrilege alike accompany! Behold the unbridled audacity of the most unspeakable satellites, who on the feast day, namely Low Sunday, at the hour of Terce, coming from Mass in which he had gloriously preached the word of God in the public square, as the people were watching and looking on, like the most cruel wolves, most atrociously, with a manifold kind of weapons, did not fear to stab, lacerate, and kill the worshipper of God. What faithful Catholic would not hasten to avenge so horrible a crime? We will invoke heaven and earth, that is, the spiritual and material sword, contemplative and active men alike, against the execrable authors of such great wickedness. And although for definitive sentence, notwithstanding their absence, The sentence is pronounced by which as is clear from the Constitutions of the venerable Dom Guido Grossi, who was afterwards Pope Clement IV, and from the definition of the Council of Toulouse, which determinations have been confirmed by the holy Apostolic See, we could have proceeded; yet we have decreed, by the counsel of religious and prudent men, for good and useful reasons, to proceed gradually as follows.

[3] Having first invoked the name of Christ, we, Brother T., of the Order of Preachers, Inquisitor of heretical pravity, by the authority of the holy Apostolic See, with which we are functioning in this part, and with the consent of the Reverend Father Dom John, Bishop of Turin, the houses of the murderers are to be destroyed, sitting in judgment and in these writings declare and sentence the aforesaid sacrilegious patricides, enemies of the Church, as below. First, we command that all and each of their houses, within the walls of Breycairaxium and outside, be demolished utterly, with all the goods that are found in them, without hope of rebuilding; commanding all and each of the Lords of Breycairaxium, in whose jurisdiction the said satellites are, that they should fulfill this, with the whole people being called together with banner and arms, with the noise of bells and proclamation, standing by and universally stretching out their hands to the said work; and this under pain of excommunication and a hundred marks of silver for each of the aforesaid Lords. Their fields are to be deserted Likewise we sentence and judge that all their fields, vineyards, meadows, gardens, and whatsoever other possessions of all and each of the aforesaid murderers, shall be perpetually sterile and without cultivation of anyone, so that they may bear thorns and thistles and become perpetual dwellings of serpents—those who were once to the thorns destined for eternal burning the supports of life. If there are any fruits actually in any such possessions, we will that the curse remain in them: so that it shall not be lawful for any Catholic to touch such anathema, under the pain of excommunication and of twenty-five pounds for each one and each time, concerning the aforesaid fruits. Nor shall it be lawful to nourish brute animals in them as in pastures, under the aforesaid penalties, to be inflicted on the shepherds and their masters. Likewise we sentence, judging, and judge, sentencing, that the aforesaid seven sacrilegious patricides, as favorers of heretical pravity and defenders of the same, first cited by us by the oracle of living voice, [They themselves are to be seized, to be exposed before the doors of the churches:] then at the church of Breycairaxium in writing, afterwards, when all the terms had passed, as rebels and contumacious in the matter of faith excommunicated publicly through the churches, if it should happen that they can be seized, shall all bound in one chain, with hands tied behind the back, with a sufficient and safe multitude of men, be led through all notable places of Piedmont, which places will be expressed by us in other writings; and shall be led through the public streets, and at the hour of Masses from dawn to Terce, stand before the doors of the principal churches, always with armed guards present, so that thus or in some measure they may restrain by fear of their confounding penalties from committing the like, a fatherland so horribly defamed by them. Finally, we command that they be shut up in the castle of Pinerolo in a narrow prison, not together, To be shut up in prisons, but singly and apart, with most safe and faithful custody, until the Council of the Magnificent and Illustrious Prince, Dom Count of Savoy, our lord, and the Reverend Father and Dom Bishop aforesaid, together with the Inquisitor or Inquisitors, and to be punished according to the judgment to be passed, shall decide definitively what is to be done with them. But all and every expense in these matters we will and command to be paid by the Commune of Breycairaxium.