Nico

ON ST. NICO, HERMIT,

OF BESUTIUM IN THE TERRITORY OF MILAN.

Nico, Hermit of Besutium, in the territory of Milan (S.)

G. H.

Nico, a hermit at Besutium, a town of the territory of Milan, forty miles distant from Milan, led a solitary life. Eulogy from Ferrarius, And when he had paid the debt of all flesh, and shone forth with miracles, he was honorably buried in that town and began to be venerated. His body was translated by St. Charles Borromeo, Cardinal Priest of the title of St. Praxedes and Archbishop of Milan, in the year of the Lord's Incarnation 1566, and placed in its own chapel, there established by the Sodality called of Penance. His feast day is celebrated at Besutium on the 14th day before the Kalends of May. Thus from the monuments of the Church of Besutium Ferrarius in his Catalogue of the Saints of Italy, and in fewer words in the General Catalogue, citing the Life of St. Charles Borromeo, which is to be illustrated on November 4. Further in that one, which John Peter Giussanus wrote, book 2 chapter 11, St. Charles is said to have with great diligence sought and found the body, and the Life of St. Charles Borromeo. reduced to dust and ashes under the earth, placed in a stone sarcophagus: to have reverently collected the sacred ashes, and placed on another altar decently, to have enclosed them in the altar of the same oratory, adorned for this purpose; and from the concourse of men, the oratory itself to have been enlarged into a sufficiently spacious church. Bishop Brautius has these things about him in his Poetic Martyrology:

"Nico, unknown formerly, hid in the desert: Whose name and honor now everywhere flourishes."

If anyone can teach us more about the Life, Miracles and ancient Cult, from the monuments of the Church of Besutium or from the constant tradition of the inhabitants, he will suggest desired material for a supplement to be made afterwards.

ON BLESSED JAMES DE OLDO,

PRIEST OF THE THIRD ORDER OF ST. FRANCIS.

AT LODI IN INSUBRIA.

IN THE YEAR 1404.

James de Oldo, Presbyter of the third Order of St. Francis, at Lodi in Insubria (B.)

BY D. P.

Michael Angelus Seghitius, Bishop of Lodi, whom in volume 4 of Italia sacra Ferdinand Ughellus praises, because he never omitted anything which would be useful to the flock committed to him, Cult among the other cares of his Pastoral office considered the first to celebrate a diocesan Synod; by whose decree the Catalogue of the Saints and Blessed of Lodi was compiled, where among others is read: "Blessed James Oldus of the third Order of St. Francis." Then in the sixth year of his Episcopate of Christ 1621, the same Prelate, examining the churches of his city, decreed: "Let the bones of James de Oldo, and the elevation of the body, founder of the church of St. Julian, who by public documents and ancient images with head radiate, is known to have been so far marked with the name of Blessed, be lifted up from the depressed situation of the pavement, where they are read to have been transferred from the ancient church; and placed in a more fitting place beside the altar within six months, at the expense of those obtaining the patronage portions of this church, with the rite of the Provincial Councils observed, prescribed about the arrangement of sacred Relics." Thus, from informations authentically sent to him, Wadding in his Annals for the year 1404 no. 11, where at the same time he says the Life, described by his Confessor Sebastian Dardadone, a Minorite, in the year 1423, was sent to him: and he inserted a compendium of it into his annals for the year 1404 in which the Blessed one died.

[2] The Life composed by the Confessor, The same, with such an indication known, that we too might obtain it, was acted upon at Lodi through Francis Castiglionaeus, priest of our Society, at whose instance, he being now dead, it was extracted word for word, even as to orthography, by Lord John Peter Villanova, Doctor of Laws and portionary Chaplain of the church of St. Julian of Lodi, founded by the Blessed James himself with two chaplaincies, under the patronage of the lay Nobles of Villanova, Carrada, and Cadamosta: and he extracted it from the original, by the same Fr.

Bassanus, in writing, which exists in the keeping of Lord Jerome Sommativa, Doctor of Medicine and Decurion of the said city. Thus by his own hand the aforementioned Lord John Peter, it is given from the original Italian, in the title of the transcript sent to us, which, through Archangelus Portaluppus the Notary, he had fortified with the usual attestation of the College of Notaries, with seal and subscription, in the year 1673, on February 19. The style of the author, writing in the vulgar tongue, not very cultivated and with useless digressions fringed, had at times to be restrained in translating, but not to be ornamented: because as simple truth does not require paint, so it does not ask that every single thing be rendered verbatim, when a clearer sense can be had in fewer words. Therefore we give the meaning unchanged; if we cut away anything as superfluous, and importunately breaking the thread of the history, we give the cause of the omission in the Annotations, and thus we believe we have fulfilled the duties of a faithful interpreter.

[3] The year in which Wadding says the Life was written, he himself took from no. 24, where Fr. Bassianus says, that being often asked to write what he knew about the holy life and happy death of the Blessed, he had deferred to yield to those asking, being hindered by sermons to be given at home and abroad; until in the year 1423 forced by pain of the teeth to cease, he had some leisure for writing. But whatever it is that he then wrote, the final hand was not applied to it before the year 1448, in the author's own declining age, as is clear from no. 18, written in the year 1448, and from those things which he gathered about the Indulgences set up at Lodi and about the miracles of the Blessed after the Life, which make chapter 4 for us. Another afterwards had Aurelius Rubeus the Notary from public Acts append to the same writing at the end first the above-cited decree of Bishop Seghitius, then another document of this tenor: "We the undersigned Guardian and Brother Priests, of the Order of Minors of the observance of St. Francis of the family, of the Convent of the same Order in the city of Lodi, make faith and attest by oath, that in our church of St. Francis of the said city of Lodi, namely in the first and third column, to the right of the entrance into the said church, among the various old effigies of Saints and Holy Women, are found two ancient images, with the habit which the Brothers Penitent Tertiaries of St. Francis use, with their head everywhere radiate, with the inscription Beatus Jacobus Doldus. the cult of his images, But subscribing to the attestation on May 13 of the year 1633 were Fr. Archangelus Forettus the Guardian and eleven Brothers one by one; and finally the aforementioned Aurelius Rubeus Notary. Thirdly finally under the faith of the same Notary is described the exemplar of the Testament, on April 10 made by the sick Blessed James a little before his death, which we give as an Appendix.

[4] But neither from this nor from any place in the Life is the day of death certainly had. Wadding expressed the month of April, to which Arthur in the Franciscan Martyrology added day 20: doubtless from his own conjecture. But the author of the Life overturns this when he says no. 22, that in the year 1404 around the 11th hour of the night, on a certain Friday of the month of April, death on April 18 or 25. the Blessed one died: but in that year, having the Dominical letters F E, the first Friday after the 10th day of April was on the day following, the 11th of the same month, then the 18th and 25th; from which we choose the 18th, as being the middle between the two extremes. For this Blessed one has no proper or established feast for himself, nay not even any feast, and all his veneration consists within the limits permitted for the Blessed. The body of the deceased had been, Elevation in the year 1412, after most honorable exequies, buried in his church of St. Julian before the very altar; and when it shone with miracles there, with mother Flordonina taking care, dug up from the ground and found whole, after seven years, it was placed higher from the earth, within a monument built on the right of the aforesaid altar.

[5] The present place of the body, When the Episcopal decree testified it had been moved elsewhere, we asked of the aforesaid John Peter when and whether the decree had been committed to execution: he himself replied: "The decree of the Most Reverend Fr. Michael Angelus Seghitius, Bishop of Lodi, was put to execution by me, as the beneficed Chaplain of the said church: and according to the disposition of that decree, the body of Blessed James is now found placed in a wooden chest, set above the ground, yet within the wall, near the altar on the Gospel side within the enclosure of the Presbytery; with this inscription cut on a marble sepulchral stone, placed over the chest: 'The bones of James Oldo, from the old church of St. Julian, which he himself had founded, collapsed with age, into this church of St. Giles, which received the name of St. Julian, with the memory of the translation made in the year 1587. transferred in the year 1587 here rest.' Under this stone, namely, laid on the ground, the sacred bones were lying before the said Episcopal decree; and under this they had placed them, who had restored the church of St. Giles, under the new title of St. Julian, from the foundations: Faustus Rebalius, citizen of Lodi and Beneficed Chaplain of the same church, and afterwards Bishop of the city of Sessa, and Ludovicus Calamitus, likewise citizen of Lodi, and Chaplains there, and also Archdeacons in the Cathedral church of the same city of Lodi; daring nothing more, lest anything be committed against the recent decrees of the Council of Trent; and not even thinking that the title of Blessed, now due by the right of prescription, should be usurped. Whose excessive religion in this part the Bishop not approving, ordered what had been unnecessarily changed to be brought back to the ancient state; and by his mind an effigy of the Blessed was placed above the chest and the aforesaid stone, expressed in colors, with this epigraph: and of the elevation made in the year 1630. 'Of Fr. James Oldus of Lodi, of the third Order of St. Francis, in the third Synod of Lodi reckoned among the Blessed of Lodi, Institutor of the right of lay Patronage in the old church of St. Julian in the year 1404, hither with it destroyed legitimately translated with his body in the year 1587, an effigy shining forth, after ancient examples, set up in the more ample church of St. Francis of Lodi, John Peter Villanova, Doctor of Both Laws and Co-patron and Rector of this church, took care to have made, in the year of our salvation 1630.'"

[6] Meanwhile, if anyone should reprint the Franciscan Martyrology, other authors about the same Blessed on day 20, he can transfer either to this or to the 25th day Arthur's words, making memory of this Blessed thus: "At Lodi, of Blessed James Oldus, Confessor, Tertiary; who constantly intent on the works of mercy and charity, was exalted by the gift of prophecy and the grace of miracles." Arthur in the Annotations enumerates various writers, who in their lucubrations have mentioned the same Blessed with praise; but since they are all more recent, they contribute nothing to our purpose. James Thielmann would contribute to it, there cited, as if he had written two volumes on the Lives of the Saints of the Seraphic Order, if he should at some time come into our hands if published, or if the Manuscripts of unpublished works be indicated where they are. Cornelius Thielmann we knew in this our age, dead not yet fifty years ago, who from Latin rendered into Flemish, both many other things, and several Lives of Saints, which among the writers of the Order of Minors are praised by Wadding (to whom James of the same surname was altogether unknown), but reading the titles there enumerated you will find no trace of Blessed James. and on April 16. Besides, Jacobus Raps, Guardian of the Brussels Convent, published the Life of St. Francis with the Lives of the Blessed Tertiaries in Flemish at Brussels in 1655, in which, taken from the Latin of Wadding, what he has about this Blessed, where in the margin he noted the day April 16; undoubtedly no happier a conjecturer than Arthur, because he equally had no foundation on which he might rest.

LIFE

By Fr. Bassianus Dardadone of the Order of Minors, the Blessed one's own Confessor.

From an old Manuscript Italian Original.

James de Oldo, Presbyter of the third Order of St. Francis, at Lodi in Insubria (B.)

BY BASSIANUS FROM THE ITALIAN MS.

"O you, Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, Who willed to die to save us, I devoutly ask, that for your love You may give me grace to narrate well The Angelic Life of our citizen of Lodi, Fr. James de Oldo of San-Julian."

CHAPTER I.

Blessed James's conversion from secular life to the profession of the third Order.

[1] In the new city of Lodi, which has been built in Lombardy and in the parts of Liguria near the river Adda, Born at Lodi of his father Marchesius, there lived a certain honest man, named Marchio or Marchesius; truly such that he brought forth from himself a golden mark, as you shall hear. To him, from his wife Flordonina, also fulfilling the significance of her name, because she was a flower and mirror of every virtue, was born a son who shone forth like the sun, well called James, because according to the reason of his name he supplanted the devil, despised the flesh, and with it the world and whatever the world counts great. He, his father dead, had given himself wholly to worldly vanities, and first given to vanity, in the cultivation of clothes, in the exercise of music both by voice and strings, in the agility of body to be displayed through dances, according to the custom of his homeland second to none in these: by which he easily found a wife like in such habits, Catharine, herself also most vain. But it happened one night, James while sleeping with his wife, that he dreamed of a great treasure found by him under the earth, in the place where a chest stood. Therefore at once in the morning, with his wife getting up from bed, and going out of the house with her mother-in-law to the sacrifice of the Mass; he also leapt from bed, and with the chest removed began to dig the earth: and deceived by the dream, but finding neither gold nor silver nor anything of any value, he grieved that he had trusted the dream, and did penance for such a fault, by which he had succumbed to a most foolish temptation.

[2] Meanwhile his wife Catharine was carrying in her womb, and at the due time, with the most holy Father in Christ Pope Urban VI reigning, in the year 1387, she gave birth to a son, to whom the name of Anthony was given. Some time afterwards a pestilent air infected the city of Lodi, and the citizens, in fear of contagion, went out to their country houses and neighboring places and dispersed: on the occasion of the plague he goes out, among whom Lord James with his wife retired to St. Mark near Lodi-Vecchio, where his father-in-law Lord John Bocchone, father of the aforesaid woman, was staying: who received his son-in-law and all his family most lovingly, and held them with great honor at his house. Already he had remained there some time, when, with the tedium of domestic enclosure creeping in, he addressed his father-in-law, and asked for permission to take freer air for himself and his son Bassanus, and obtained it; but on this condition, that they should neither enter any tavern, nor approach any crowd of men where there might be fear of contagion. Therefore they went out toward Lodi-Vecchio, and having roamed around the surrounding plain, at length came to the church of the Holy Sepulcher, where James, looking at his relative, said, "I wish to try which was longer, Christ or I"; and lying down upon the sepulcher of Christ, and he stretched himself within

the cavity of that sepulcher.

[3] Scarcely had he done so, when, as if red-hot iron had been plunged into cold water, he was so inwardly changed, by the operation of the Holy Spirit, that with the ardor of his former vanities wholly quenched, he rose up wholly another, and returned to St. Mark. There, now illumined in mind, suddenly he is changed within. he set about a life wholly different from that to which he had been accustomed. No longer did his cithara, wont to make so many delights for him, lie in his heart: but in the church of St. Mark he was more frequent, where he painted the image of the Crucified with the Saints Mary and John standing by: and wholly kindled with divine love, he devoted himself to works of devotion, with so great humility, that he struck the greatest wonder into his father-in-law, his wife, and all his acquaintances with so great and so sudden a conversion of morals. He then wished to return to the city, where he had left his mother with two daughters, to see how she was, and commended his wife Catharine and son Anthony to his father-in-law. But his mother did not permit him to enter the house, shutting the door against him, and said: "Do not be surprised that you are not received here: but know, patiently he bears the death of his daughters, that your two daughters died yesterday, whom I immediately had buried, because they were extinguished by the pestilence. But do not let this matter disturb you or make you sad: but go back outside, and there rejoice."

[4] he gives himself to works of piety. Such things heard, James returned to St. Mark, and there devoutly remained until the mortality ceased, daily painting the images of the Saints, because in this art he was very strong. Afterwards, returning to Lodi, he began to hear Mass daily, which ended, he occupied himself in working wool by carding fleeces, and exercising himself in this labor whole days, and this with a mail shirt over the bare flesh, according to the word of St. Paul the Apostle, "I chastise my body and reduce it to servitude," namely to the spirit, that is, to the soul subjecting it with all humility. 1 Cor. 9:27 This life he led for seven whole years, of which he lived three without any use of carnal intercourse, although he slept with his wife in the same bed. Meanwhile going to the monastery of St. Martin of Lodi, with a certain Religious, he learns the divine office, who was called Peter Andrew of Bologna, he made a diligent confession of his sins; and there for some days he remained, ministering to the said Priest (who, on account of a certain grave infirmity, could not move himself from his bed) with such humility and charity, that it cannot be sufficiently explained in word or writing: but he in return was teaching him the divine Office, though he seemed little suited, as being very little lettered, and accustomed to no language except the vulgar. And indeed it did not lack wonder that he could be so quickly taught, with him presenting it who said, "I will give you mouth and wisdom, and it is the Spirit who shall speak for you."

[5] Him wishing to separate from his wife, Thus instructed, he signified to his wife, that his resolution was to leave this deceitful world full of various impostures, and to enter the third Order of St. Francis for better serving God. But this resolution of his was for some time hindered by his mother Flordonina. For fearing lest her daughter-in-law Catharine, young in age, could so easily restrain the concupiscences of the flesh, as her son overcame them, she firmed her as much as she could not to consent in this to her husband, aspiring to the full conversion of life, in the manner of foolish mothers, loving the conveniences of their children more than is fitting. his mother hindering him Therefore the most pious Lord, wishing to urge on further James's resolution on account of his good and fruitful works, offered a certain vision to his mother, in which the nature of the vain pomps of the deceitful world was most excellently expressed: which truly are nothing other than a certain empty smoke. On a certain night under dawn she seemed to see her son, locked in a certain chamber of her house, she is taught through a vision that she is doing injury to her son, struggling with a most dense and most troublesome smoke, and with breath almost cut off, crying out, "Woe is me! for I am being killed by the smoke." But she herself seemed to run around the chamber in aid of her son, if she could in any part either through the door or through the window make an exit for him: but in vain; since this was fortified with the strongest bars, nor could it be unlocked by any force. And pitying her son, whom she thought about to die, she lamented his fortunes and her own, who was compelled to watch the calamity of him which she could not relieve; but he applying himself to the iron bars and striving to wrench them away, said, "Be certain, dear mother, that you yourself are the cause of my death, to be undergone in this dark and most foul smoke."

[6] After his and his wife's continence proven for three years, At these words the terrified woman began to awaken, and recalling the series and manner of the vision made to her, without delay she rose from bed, to tell the same to Lord John Bocchone her son's father-in-law: and said that she no longer in any way wished to oppose the holy desires of her son, with which the pious spouses had proven the divine will to be sufficiently joined, since through three whole years they had abstained from carnal union even in a common bed, than which no more certain experiment of firm continence can be had from spouses, still set in youthful age, and to the wise words of the Apostle, "If you shall have lived according to the flesh, she consents that both should profess the third Order. you shall die." Rom. 8:11 Hearing these things, her father-in-law opposed nothing, himself also judging that no one should be drawn back from what was agreed to be better, nor hindered from serving God wholly, to whom to serve is to reign. But Catharine, consenting to her husband, received a similar habit, namely of the third Order of St. Francis, as did James's mother: whose separation from his wife was legitimately made by the Bishop of the place, with the counsel of certain religious men; on one side Flordonina standing surety for her son James, on the other for Catharine her father John. And so James was made a most devoted Brother, as you are about to hear.

[7] But his first care was to place both women in a certain house of his own property, neighboring the house in which he himself dwelt, where both led a most honorable life. Then he converted his chamber into a little church, which still survives, called of St. Julian: and thus the prophetic vision was fulfilled, which done, he converts his house into the church of St. Julian. of the one dreaming that an immense treasure had been found under the chest: for in the very place where the chest had stood, namely in the middle of the chamber, was erected an altar, at which the most precious of all treasures, namely the very sacrifice of the Lord's body, was daily handled. For the use of the same sacrifice Catharine converted all her ornament of silver, commissioning a beautiful chalice to be made therefrom, and on its veil weaving the gems which she had formerly used; but changing silk garments into Priestly paraments and palls to be spread before the altar. Luke 18:22 But he himself sold a certain possession of his and distributed the fourteen hundred pounds made from the price among the poor, and he distributed among the poor a sold possession. attending to the voice of Christ saying: "Go and sell all you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven"; likewise this: "Remove delays; it has always hurt to postpone things for those ready." But he left another possession after his death to the said oratory of St. Julian, for the sustenance of two Priests. But while he himself and the aforesaid women lived, they strove to divide almost all its income and of their other revenues to the poor of Christ, in food, drink, and clothing, as the necessity of each demanded. Indeed James himself was wont to visit hospitals and the hovels of poor men bedridden, spending abundant mercy on them, because he remembered that Christ had professed: "What you did to one of the least of mine, you did to me." Matt. 25:40

NOTES.

CHAPTER II.

Blessed James's conversation with neighbors, sojourn in suburban churches, rigor of life.

[8] James consecrated a Priest, He had learned, as I indicated above, to recite the divine Office, using as teacher the aforementioned religious Priest of St. Martin: but he had learned so well, that he was fit to receive holy Orders. Therefore not long after, consecrated a Presbyter, he began publicly to celebrate Masses with such devotion, that he inspired the same in all those present, using for this ministry his companion whom he had, called Fr. Francischinus. he chooses some companions for himself. And when the fame of his most praiseworthy life which he was leading, through the whole city of Lodi and the surrounding towns and the rest of Italy, was gradually diffused, nine companions soon gathered to him. But of those who for the sake of spiritual instruction repeatedly visited him, both seculars and religious, from the Franciscan Order and others, the number was very great; all of whom withdrew most excellently edified by the example of so absolute a humility: especially when they understood, how from the vanity of the world, which he had followed, to the service of God he had been converted: nor did anyone recede from his countenance sad, but as though he had been thought worthy of an angelic gaze and address, with wholly cheerful and tranquil mind.

[9] He leads a Lady of Mirandola to religion. Among these was a certain most noble matron, the Lady of Mirandola, who coming to Lodi with a distinguished company of several men and ten maidservants, and betaking herself to the church of St. Julian, after she had spoken with the aforesaid Brother, and beholding more intimately and admiring his distinguished holiness, determined to bid farewell to the world; and having sought permission to enter the monastery of the Clarisses of

Lodi, for this end only, that she might more intimately know the manner of life there wont to be observed, she approved it exceedingly; and after she had had the whole Life of St. Clare described for her, she returned to Mirandola to dispose of her affairs; then migrating to Milan, she instituted the order of St. Clare in the monastery which is called of St. Ursa; and having been made a nun, she gathered there many noble girls and women; whose Abbess being made, she so ruled and instructed them, that, by the odor of the most exact discipline which was observed there, and I hear is still observed today, very many nobles, drawn by it, came to visit her and her nuns.

[10] Such good successes did not lack the envy of the demon, wont to tempt those who give themselves to divine service: but faithful is God, promising in the Gospel help and saying: "I will not suffer you to be tempted above that which you are able"; through the envy of the Franciscans as though he were saying: Promptly and eagerly pass into my service, all you who love virtue: for I shall not suffer you to be more vehemently assailed by the world, the flesh, or the devil, than you are able to bear and overcome with my grace helping you, with great increase of your merits. For it is to be known that the demon is very weak, and conquers only those who wish to be conquered, by consenting to sinful delight. This one therefore, about to tempt Fr. James also, put it into the heart of the Franciscan Brothers, dwelling in the neighborhood of the little church of St. Julian, to say among themselves, "What shall we do? for Fr. James, through that so great fame of his virtue and sanctity, draws all to himself: and we fear lest with that new Order of his and the exact observance of the Franciscan Rule, he grow to our harm, and with respect to him we may be marked among the common people as less religious and observant; and so our church may be deserted, and the one which is now a very small building be enlarged to the greatest extent. What then? We shall accuse him before the General or Provincial of the Order, and say that it is not fitting that within the same city there should be two Orders of the same Rule."

[11] he is compelled to depart with his own. No sooner said than done: they summon from more distant parts some Provincial with some Religious, and before him measuring the distance between the churches of St. Francis and St. Julian, by a few paces less than the laws allow, they caused it to be ordered that James migrate outside the city. But when the citizens of Lodi had heard this, they denied that they would permit him to be torn from them. But he himself, pretending the obedience prescribed by the Rule of St. Francis, while he persisted in his resolution of migrating, was begged by the same, that he should not at least go outside the territory of Lodi. Which he kindly and willingly granted to those asking; and retired to Lodi-Vecchio, to the church of St. Bassianus near Sellera: where daily he said Mass with a great outpouring of tears and much wonder of those present. There he made a wooden Crucifix, and afterwards another to be placed in the cemetery, which is now at St. John outside the royal gate near the way of Milan, to the suburban church of St. Bassianus, where now the Franciscan Brothers of the Observance of Fr. Bernardinus dwell. He also made a third Crucifix, which is now to be seen above the altar of the chapel of St. Julian, and is most beautiful; and in such pious and holy works he was passing the time.

[12] thence he migrates to another of St. Mary, After some space of time, having left the place of St. Bassianus, he crossed over to the neighboring church of St. Mary across the Sellera: and there he began to attend to preaching the word of God, so solidly and usefully, that for hearing him there was a concourse not only from the Lodi but also from the Pavia and Milan districts, with the peoples saying, "Oh what a change of the right hand of the Most High! Who has seen, who has heard such a thing ever?" Truly it can be applied to this holy Religious, what Paul about himself writes to the Galatians: "I make known that I was storming the church of God above all my contemporaries: with great edification of all, but when it pleased him who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, I did not yield to flesh and blood; but considering that if I should wish to follow the pomps of worldly life, I would have to be condemned to hell, and by the inward breath of the Holy Spirit, I chose to become a preacher and amplifier of his very church." Gal. 1:15 For this most devout Brother remembered that truest saying: "One does not go to the stars by delights": therefore he proposed for himself to imitate the most austere life of St. Mary Magdalene and of other Saints named in the Scriptures.

[13] living in the greatest austerity: From the time that he assumed the habit of St. Francis, never did he taste meat, never wine: but for drink he had water boiled with myrrh and incense, to which boiling, when a third part had departed, he himself mixed a little honey, to temper somewhat the bitterness of the myrrh: and this was to him for wine. But after the mail shirt was broken, with which he was clothed over the flesh; in its place he took a hair shirt, woven of knotty cords; which he tied around his body with three cords, in honor of the most holy Trinity; but of these cords, one was made of hog's bristles very sharp, another of horse's tail hairs, the third of goat's tail hairs, so that it might more afflict and chastise the body, and reduce it to the servitude of the spirit. His bed was composed of twigs, and for a pillow he had hard and cold marble, in honor of our Savior, who hanging on the cross, and pierced with a crown of thorns, had not where to lay his head. And he kept this manner of dressing and lying, as long as he lived on earth, that he might say with Paul: "I am crucified with Christ." Gal. 2:29

[14] he resolves on a fast of the whole of Lent, He once proposed to pass an entire Lent without bodily food, and in fact he spent the first eight days thus, content with the reception of the Lord's body alone: at which time Fr. Francischinus, his companion, remembers that with the Brothers eating, he would take food in his hand and as it were bring it to his mouth, yet not put it into his mouth; and sometimes he would withdraw to the garden, whither Fr. Francischinus himself following him, when he would say that the Brothers desired his presence; James would answer that he would shortly be there, and again called, he would humbly command, that without regard to him they should dine: which done, he himself not dining would remove the table, as though the least of all and minister to all. Fr. Francischinus therefore, seeing that he did not eat at all, began to fear lest he die of hunger. by his mother's command on the eighth day he interrupts it, Meanwhile James's own mother came to Lodi-Vecchio for the Indulgences, and hearing of this abstinence of her son, and herself also fearing lest he fail, rebuked him. Who, while out of reverence for his mother promising he would do what she commanded, she prepared him a porridge; which out of obedience he consented to take, yet so that he diluted its delicate flavor by mixing his myrrhed water.

[15] The meal finished, Francischinus rose, and coming to Lodi related to the Bishop, then at the Bishop's command, what abstinence James had begun, and how he had at his mother's command interposed the eating of porridge tempered with a myrrhed liquor. But the Bishop, having heard such things with wonder, ordered that Fr. James should be at once called. And with him humbly obeying and coming, the Bishop commanded that he take food once a day thereafter. And when James humbly excused himself, and prayed not to be compelled by so severe a command to take a more copious refreshment than was truly needed; since he trusted that from God strength would be with him, he takes food three times a week: to continue the rigor of the abstinence begun; the Bishop willed and expressly commanded that at least three times a week he should be refreshed. And to this precept James humbly obeyed, and held such a manner of eating, not only that Lent, but through all his life thereafter, eating only on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday, but without the use of meat and wine; so that he could apply that saying of Aristotle, "Study made me ingenious, but abstinence chaste."

[16] Moreover Fr. James was moderate in gait, look, speech, and every action; always showing a lofty and cheerful mind, time usefully occupied, and offering to others an example of virtues: sweet in correcting, gentle in teaching, never carried away by the impetus of fury and anger, but fervent in charity, nor had he conversation except with honorable or religious persons. But since the admonition of St. Jerome is, "Always do something good, that the devil may find you occupied"; James now prayed, now turned over by reading the Lives of the Fathers, now clung fixed in contemplation of divine things; from which, lest he be hindered by an importunate and excessive flow of citizens, not rarely he shut himself within the sacristy, most fond of solitude. and there devoted himself to divine praises and considering the benefits of the Creator scattered among creatures. This was indeed for him a cell, of which Basil speaks in his book On the Solitary Life, saying: "O cell, the delight of holy minds and the inexhaustible sweetness of inmost taste! For the cell is a paradise of delights, where, as of fragrant species of spices, or flashing flowers of aromatics, so fragrance breathes the odors of virtues."

NOTES.

for entrance under the same common vault, added to the enlarging of the church by the venerable Religious Father Gerardus de Mayocchi, Rector and Beneficed there in the year 1435, and this from the testament of the same James, willing that after the death of the said women the very chamber should thus be united. We have chosen to remove this digression from here, because it was interrupting the context of the history; and here from it to infer, that besides the testament to be given below, where nothing is said of such a chamber, a certain codicil afterwards added must be understood: then that the said two women had died before the year already noted, or at least had yielded their right of usufruct.

CHAPTER III.

Returned to Lodi he helps captives, and thence with disease contracted, he dies: his body is elevated.

[17] With the discords of Italy burning, At the devil's instigation and God's permission, through all Lombardy a great fire of discords blazed, on account of enormous sins, born of obstinate hatreds, among those to whom this common saying had not been in heart:

"If you wish a good life and reputation, Do not follow factions according to Solomon: For the Guelf party and the Ghibelline party Shall be chastised by divine power, In this life with an accumulation of sighs, In hell with the pains of martyrdoms."

Therefore the aforesaid Fr. James, he foretells the devastation to be inflicted on the territory of Lodi. by divine inspiration foreseeing the great commotions that were imminent, on a certain feast day preaching to the people, began to say: "O noble citizens, O matrons, O men of whatever age and condition, whether you be natives or foreigners, I ask and beseech you as much as I can, that, with the fields left, you betake yourselves to your cities, castles, and towns, before such and so great evils as are imminent seize you: nor despise what I tell you, for I speak by the command of God. Do not, I pray, wish to die before the time, but by the example of Christ himself, when the Jews wished to stone him, who hid himself because the hour of his passion had not yet come, take counsel for yourselves, while it is allowed and you can."

[18] and about to give to others an example of fleeing, But seeing that they were not moved nor feared by such an admonition, again with loud voice he said: "O my brothers, O sisters, if you are not now willing to depart when you have time; I with my Brothers am going away to Lodi": and the sermon dismissed, delaying no longer, together with his own he began to set forth. But with the inhabitants of the village running up, and asking him to stay with them, because they were about to fortify the church against any sudden incursions; he would not consent, but went whither he had begun. The people therefore terrified by such speed of flight, also themselves began to gather their goods, to load carts, and to transfer themselves and their families to Lodi: he retires to Lodi with his own: but some persisted in the place, who shortly after regretted their incredulity, when they were plundered and captured by the enemy, with all the houses outside the walls overthrown or burned; which during the wars remain in that desolation to this year 1448, nor was there for any safety of life or liberty outside the city gates: but those whom the danger seized were led away into various and distant captivities; and in turn many from hostile lands were brought to Lodi, and thrown into prisons.

[19] he devotes himself to the service of captives, Then Fr. James and his Brothers, especially Fr. Francischinus, pitying the unhappy condition of the captives, went round through the houses of more powerful citizens, and of those to whom the severity wont to be exercised against the wretched was displeasing, and for the love of God they gathered alms to be distributed among them, carrying a wallet of loaves, skin bottles full of wine, with cooked meats, and ministering with their own hands to those who, hindered by the weight of manacles and chains, or weakened by the enormity of their wounds, could not help themselves with their own hands. And in this exercise of Christian charity and humility whole days were passed from morning to evening, with the highest humility and charity, while meanwhile James himself cleansed the clothes of those wretched ones from vermin, covering them for the time with his own clothes, whence he brought back to his house no light torment to his own body, seeking material on all sides for afflicting the flesh. It cannot sufficiently be explained in words with how great ardor the holy man was engaged in these things, having always before his eyes that saying of the Gospel, where in the person of Christ it is said: "I was in prison and you came to me." Matt. 25:36 But so much progress was made by this his solicitude, that nothing of things necessary for life was lacking to any of the captives; since he went now to these houses, now to those, as the bound are wont to be kept in various places, as those experienced know, as many as have ever lived among such wars.

[20] and for the salvation of many to be destroyed otherwise by hardships But it sometimes happened that some among the captives fell sick, whom James, with many prayers begging the custodians, would himself carry to the hospital, and there tend. But if he could not obtain this freely, but inhuman soldiers would demand one and sometimes two ducats; he would go round through the houses of devout and wealthier persons, until he had begged enough to placate the soldiers' avarice: and by this means he rescued many from the squalor of the prisons. Among these was one whom he had cared to be brought to the hospital of St. Elizabeth, whose shin, horribly affected, had almost entirely rotted, and scarcely clung to the rest of the body by the nerves alone, he ordered a certain silver instrument to be made for him, and so dexterously treated the sick man, that the incurable part being cut off, he preserved the rest of the man: who afterwards did not cease to praise God and his servant James, by whose mercy he had been retained among the living.

[21] These calamities lasted for a long time; which, when they were producing daily and greatest labors for James, hence with a disease contracted, I have no doubt but that the infirmity into which he fell was the fruit of those same labors. But it was a grave infirmity: but he bore it with peaceful and cheerful mind: and men of every condition and sex, coming to visit him, he received with joyful face. There came to him also once a certain little old woman, a magician, and said: "If you will, Brother James, I will make for you a sign by which you may recover health." But he: "Away," he said, "for I prefer to die just than to live unjust": and so should anyone speak who wishes to live according to the law of God, and so in such a case St. Bernard is said to have answered another little old woman, offering a similar remedy for his disease: nor can those be sufficiently blamed, who so trust to diabolical incantations for bodily life, that they count for nothing losing the eternal salvation of the soul. But the warnings which James gave to those coming to him chiefly regarded mutual charity, since he constantly inculcated that saying of Paul: "We are all Brothers in Christ": he predicts the death of his companion and warning these things he seemed to laugh, so that all marveled at the serenity of his countenance in a sick body, when they considered the pains he was suffering: for indeed a rejoicing heart makes the face cheerful, as Solomon testifies; and James rejoiced wholly in the Lord. Prov. 15:7 Nevertheless his companion Francischinus was sad: wherefore wishing to console him, James said: "Do not, I pray, mourn, Brother; for the Lord invites you equally with me." Nor was such an admonition vain: for a few days later the said Brother was seized by disease, and died of it, on the third day of his infirmity, and is buried and rests among the Friars Minor in their cloister.

[22] he himself too dies piously At length James himself, after the exercise of long and wondrous patience, in which he never gave any sign of pain or trouble, never showed a more contracted countenance, received the Sacraments of the Church with as much devotion and reverence as he could, such as no one can explain in words, before a numerous multitude of both secular and religious persons standing around, in the year 1404, about the 11th hour of the night on a certain Friday of the month of April. Then he began to comfort all who were present, 1404 on Friday. and with eyes and hands lifted to heaven he said: "You have broken my bonds, Lord"; and saying this he expired, the same cheerfulness of face remaining even after death, with which he seemed as it were to smile upon all those running to the spectacle: of whom early next morning the number was greatest, when the body of the dead man lay in the atrium of the house in religious habit, as is the custom of such, visible on the bier. Nor was there anyone who did not believe, that so decorous and graceful an appearance and most like to a living man, was an argument of that beatitude, which his soul already then possessed in heaven. But among the others who came reverently were the mother and wife of the deceased, with his son Anthony aspiring to the Priesthood.

[23] most honorable exequies are performed for the deceased: Then I, Fr. Bassianus Dardadone, of the Order of Friars Minor of St. Francis and Confessor of the most devout Fr. James, before all the people, raising with my hands the hands of the deceased, showed them through all the joints of the fingers so handleable and moveable as though still animated with whole life, as a sign of his greatest sanctity. Nor much later, the Clergy coming with much honor and reverence, buried him under the earth, before the altar of St. Julian in his own church. But because God said to his Apostles: "Preach the Gospel to every creature, announcing virtues and vices"; I had a sermon on the virtues of the deceased. Further, in that place of first burial the body lay for seven years: the body after 7 years is elevated intact. but afterwards his mother told some Religious and seculars, that she wished to have her son's body elevated from the ground, into a monument to be built for this purpose; which she also did, beside the aforesaid altar on the right hand. But the body dug up gave forth a most sweet odor from itself, as if the place had been filled with abundant spices: and some of those present lifted his hands, and again as before found them handleable and moveable, although with the flesh consumed, only the skin remained drawn over the bones, firmly clinging to each other.

[24] Which, since they offered a certain testimony of the excellent sanctity he had obtained in life, I Fr. Bassianus Dardadone was often asked by the mother and many others, to describe his blessed life and death. But I could not comply with them, since I had no leisure from sermons to be given in our convent and outside the city through various

churches; until in the year 1423, compelled by a grave pain of the teeth to cease from preaching, I was able to attend to writing, and to consign to letters these few things, which my memory suggested to me about him: not doubting at all that many other things most worthy of being written were done by the same, which did not come to my notice. There are also many things whose memory old age has obliterated: for I experience that the same has become very slippery for me; by the common fault of senile age... Considering further that all must die once, whether in youth or in old age, I add this final admonition to all: Whatever you would wish to have done at the hour of death, do while you are sound in body, turning away from vices and exercising virtue, if you wish to enter into eternal life. Thanks be to God: that is, I Fr. Bassianus give thanks to God, who deigned to grant me grace to commit to writing this blessed Legend, for the honor of God and the edification of any who wish to live well, as this devout Religious lived, namely Fr. James de Oldo: and with him to rejoice without end for ever and ever. Amen....

NOTES.

CHAPTER IV.

Miracles performed after the death of Blessed James.

[25] The aunt of the Blessed suffering with pains of the stomach is healed, Here I wish to describe certain miracles, done through the devoted Fr. James de Oldo in the city of Lodi after his death: of which let this be the first. When the body still stood visible on the bier, a certain Antoniola, mother of Presbyter Ugo de Menna, who for twelve years had suffered a grave pain of the stomach, and was the aunt of the same Fr. James, made this prayer to him: "My son, if you have so great grace with God, I beseech you that you may wish to free me from this pain of the stomach which I suffer": and she felt herself master of her petition before the body was consigned to the earth, nor did that pain any more return, she being most perfectly freed.

[26] There was also a certain man from under St. Nicolinus of Lodi, seized by paralysis for two years, who when at night in bed he did not sleep, likewise a paralytic, but lay thoughtful, saw someone approaching him who said: "In the morning go to my church, and take care to have three Masses said there, afterwards you shall be sound." He answered: "But I do not know which your church is." And he said: "I am Fr. James de Oldo: go to St. Julian's." Again he: "But how shall I go who cannot walk?" "You shall go," the other replied. And in the morning he who had been paralyzed went; and took care to have the Masses said, as he had been ordered, and returned home wholly sound.

[27] and a dying man, There was also another citizen of Lodi, called D. Bassianus de Gorgonzella, dwelling in the borgo of the Cremonese gate in the neighborhood of St. Paul: who from a most grave infirmity lying in bed, deprived not only of bodily but of tongue's motion, devoid of almost all food and drink, was held as given up by the physicians, foretelling his nearby death: and therefore his household, after they had mourned him as dead, had taken care to have a bier made for his burial. But it is to be noted that the aforesaid sick man, feeling himself so weighed down, by God's grace was reminded of the blessed soul of the aforementioned Blessed Fr. James de Oldo, whose companion he had been in life once, and began within himself to address him in this manner: who invoking Blessed James in his heart "O glorified soul of Blessed Fr. James de Oldo; whom I most certainly believe to stand before almighty God, I beseech as heartily as I can, that you may wish to intercede for me with blessed Christ, that if it is profitable for the salvation of my soul, he may deign to restore to me bodily health: and I in turn promise the same, that for all the rest of my life, as much as is humanly possible, I shall strive to avoid all sins: which promise indeed, if its effect shall follow, is dearer to God than any other vow whatsoever, which a man or woman could pledge to God." The aforesaid D. Bassianus added also certain devotions and offerings to be made by him in the church of St. Julian.

[28] These things thus done, on the following night soon around the bed of the sick man appeared blessed Fr. James de Oldo, by the same appearing clothed in the grey mantle of the third Order, and three times called the name of the one lying there, saying: "O Bassianus. O Bassianus. O Bassianus." Though he was much weighed down then, yet he asked who it was who thus repeated his name. To whom he: "I am Fr. James de Oldo, who, moved by your great devotion and fervent entreaty, have supplicated for you the most high God, and from his grace and mercy I have obtained that you shall not die from this infirmity, and may thus be able to fulfill your good will, and those devotions to which you have bound yourself with sincere mind to God and me, that is, to my church. Take comfort therefore and be certain, the miracle done on him is ordered to be published: that you shall shortly be freed from this infirmity which you now suffer and from every anxiety, with great joy of all. But I command, that, as soon as you can take a step, you come to my church of St. Julian, and openly relate whatever has now happened to you; and this during the sacrifice of the Mass, when there is a more abundant people there, so that on the occasion of this blessed miracle, the glorious God, for us suffering and dying on the cross, may be praised always and forever."

[29] as after 4 days he does in the church of St. Julian It should be known that four days from then, the aforesaid D. Bassianus came to the church of St. Julian, at the same hour at which a certain Franciscan Brother was putting on the sacred vestments to say Mass. With this finished, D. Bassianus asked the Brother himself to call all those who were there, begging that no one depart, and saying that he wished to narrate to him a beautiful miracle of Blessed Fr. James de Oldo, which had recently happened to him: and he began minutely to set forth each of the things indicated above; nor did he moderately increase the devotion of all those present toward the Blessed. It is further to be known that with the people departed with great satisfaction, and he is led to see the chamber of the Blessed, Lady Flordonina, mother of the said Blessed, took the said D. Bassianus by the hand and led him into his house, that is, his little chamber, where the Blessed one himself was wont day and night to pray, and to turn over with diligent contemplation the books on the lives of the holy Fathers; and there she showed him in a certain corner a bed composed of twigs bound together, and the hard marble which had been for her son as a pillow, and also his hair shirt and the three cords with which he bound it to his body... But the aforesaid miracle in the person of D. Bassianus happened in the fourth year after the death of the Blessed: and he afterwards lived for forty-two years.

[30] offspring is obtained for a sterile matron. A noble matron, named Aloysia, wife of Aloysius de Vinea, noble citizen of Lodi, had lived with her husband four years without offspring: and she had now laid aside the hope of conceiving, although she was still young. However, having heard the fame of this devout Religious, she set about making certain devotions, and began to pray him with intimate affection of heart to obtain for her from God, according to his good pleasure, sons or daughters. With the devotion she had undertaken completed, she soon conceived a daughter, and afterwards in order other children: and she asserted that all her prayers had always been heard by the Blessed one.

[31] Lady Joanna de Paternis, a matron of Lodi, grievously bore that her son Daniel was being consumed and withered by incurable consumption, a consumptive boy recovers so that he was nearer to death than life. But on a certain morning, having gone out of the house to hear Mass, she commended him to her daughter Cometa; afterwards returning, she found her son lying in bed in such a way that his head hung outside it. Wherefore she thought him dead (for she could not perceive any breath of his), and placed his head upon the pillow. But behold, the little boy awakening began to complain of his mother, saying, that this had happened to him importunately: "For," he said, "Fr. James de Oldo was now present to me, and said that I should tell you on your return home, to go to his church, and there to offer a wax infant, and so I should recover." The mother did as the son had warned: and from then on the boy was as well as if he had never suffered any evil.

[32] Another Joanna also, a woman of Lodi, had for some days been so ill affected, that she could take no sleep in her eyes. and a woman, both after seeing the Blessed in sleep. To her there was a brother, called Otto, of the Order of St. Dominic, Master in Theology; who

after he had been present to the dying John Patarinus until he rendered his spirit, reciting the sacred prayers over him, on his return to the monastery turned aside to visit and console his sick sister; to him asking how she was, the household replied, "She is resting a little." I therefore waited there for a while, and then entering the chamber of the sick woman, asked her also about her state: who replied, "I have slept somewhat: but while sleeping Fr. James de Oldo was present, admonishing me to take the habit of the third Order: and to him inculcating the same often, when I refused to promise this, at length he said I should be healed; and for certainty of the matter he gave a sign, saying, that at the same time Master John Patarinus had died." Truly her brother confirmed this, nor did he doubt that his sister had understood this divinely, since he himself had been with the dying man, and with no delay interposed had come to the sick woman, so that no messenger meanwhile about such a death could have reached her. Finally the truth of that vision was confirmed by the health, following within a short time.

[33] a boy afterwards touched is suddenly healed. A certain Bartholomew de Fasulis, at the time of mortality sleeping with his mother, as boys are wont, a grave fever came upon him, and produced a pestilent swelling. He awakening, and feeling himself greatly weighed down, and reaching his hand toward his hip, felt an unusual swelling; and wailing cried out to his mother. She asked what was troubling him; and at such a time suspecting what the matter was, began feeling to explore the body of the little son; nor did she find the evil less than she feared. But because she nourished a great confidence in God and that blessed man, she made a vow, that if the boy should be freed from that danger, she would offer some part of her goods. Nor was more needed: for early in the morning, inspecting the place before affected, she found it wholly sound and without stain or swelling, with the fever taken away, and the boy as lively as if he had suffered no evil.

[34] Another woman, called Facina de Longhis, wife of John Gallus, lay dangerously ill, having her body affected with nine great wounds, of whose cure the physicians despaired. So to her lying and sad, and almost placed outside the use of reason, likewise a woman ulcerated; there seemed to stand two Brothers, one clothed in grey, another in black; one of whom calling her by name, "Rise," said, "Facina." To her denying that she could rise, he replied, "Come, stretch out your hand to me"; and having taken her hand, he seemed to lead her around the chamber. At this the woman awakening, related the vision to a certain intimate friend of hers. Who confessed that, being very solicitous on her account, she had insistently supplicated Blessed Fr. James, because she had experienced him as present advocate in every necessity. From then on, from day to day the sick woman began to have it better, until she recovered full health, praising God and his servant James.

[35] another from a rising of bile to the head and obstruction of urine, Lady Bartholina de Somaripis, from bile diffused through her body was gravely sick, and noxious humors lifted to her head so swelled it, that her womanly appearance in it, so great, could hardly be recognized. There came a persistent obstruction of urine: and afflicted with these two evils, she turned herself to invoking God and the devoted Fr. James de Oldo, to whom she had always been piously affected, promising some offering to be made to him, if he should grant the grace of health. Scarcely had she uttered the vow, when in an instant she marveled that she had been so perfectly healed, as though she had suffered no discomfort.

[36] likewise a dying man in the year 1438 A certain citizen of Lodi, called Martin Gallus, after a grave infirmity of eighteen years had been reduced to such a state, that besides a little sugar confection he took no nourishment whatever, and was held by the physicians as given up. To him so lying came a kinswoman of his, named Thomasina, and said: "I wish for you, my kinsman, to pray Fr. James de Oldo, that if he has any grace with God, he may restore your health." At this admonition he himself also for himself the following whole night asked for the same grace; adding a vow about a wax head to be brought to the Blessed's church if he should recover. But the following day he sent his kinswoman with the wax head to the church, and suddenly rose up sound. This happened in the year 1438.

[37] Thomasina delli Bocchoni, a most honorable and pious matron, daughter of the noble man John and kinswoman of the same Blessed Fr. James de Oldo, and in the year 1445 the kinswoman of the Blessed is restored to her right mind. about the year 1445 fell into such an illness, that the physicians confessed it to be unknown to them, and since she spoke nothing aptly, but one thing for another, she was believed to be possessed by an evil spirit. Exorcisms therefore were applied by Priests: and when by these too nothing was accomplished, she began at length to be held as mad. Her sons and other household, seeing her so affected, and that from day to day the madness grew, and at length had taken away every use of reason from the unhappy woman, despaired that she would ever be restored to sound mind: but two of her nieces had greater confidence in God and his Saint, and began most blandly to urge their aunt, to place some hope in that devout Fr. James, to whom she had so often and so devoutly supplicated. And when the other women of the household suggested the same, and did not make an end of repeating such things and praying for the sick woman; so much did her sound mind return to her, that she could say: "O Lord, Fr. James, servant of God, deign to bring me help in this my affliction": then she was so sound in all her senses in a moment, that no trace of the previous passion could be noticed in her: and thus she praised God and the aforesaid Fr. James.

[38] A matron suffering a cancer in her breast, To another woman, called Lady Daria, wife of the noble citizen of Lodi James de Fissiraga, there came an incurable cancer in the right breast, which within two years so corroded her, that a wound of the size of a host was open, and for filling it there was need of several pieces of linen cloth cut in a circle, while meanwhile medicines were being applied around the edges of the wound itself. But by these not only was nothing accomplished, but with the torments always growing, as the evil crept more widely day by day, the physicians denied that any other means of healing remained beyond the cutting off of the very breast, if she wished life to be preserved, unless perhaps by an express miracle the merciful God should aid her. So judged Master John of Bergamo, Master Christopher Bocchonus, Master Martin of Cassino, Master Aloysius Paul; Master John Gamba, Doctors of Medicine and John Parasso, surgeon. With such their judgment heard, the woman, who had long known many things about the most devoted and most holy life of Blessed Fr. James de Oldo, which the physicians judged should be cut off, rather than consent to the cutting off of the breast, preferred, with all human medicines rejected, to place her entire confidence in him who raised Lazarus four days dead from the tomb, hoping to propitiate the same for herself through the intercession of Blessed James.

[39] It is to be known that among those who had persuaded Lady Daria to turn to invoking Blessed James, was Lady Thomasina, the kinswoman of the same Blessed man. at the persuasion of the aforesaid kinswoman she invokes the Blessed, For as often as she came to visit Lady Daria, she inculcated in her devotion toward her Kinsman, from whom she also herself had previously obtained the benefit of health. Therefore instructed by her persuasions, Lady Daria, when she saw the matter brought to this pass; after she had on her own part omitted nothing which was expedient for the salvation of soul and body... finally seized this last anchor; and piously invoking Blessed James, made a vow of a certain offering to be offered at his church: and at the very instant she felt as it were a certain fiery heat depart from her breast: and she began, as if now certain of the obtained health, to give thanks to almighty Christ and his mother and Blessed James: and from then on she was seen by the experience of their own eyes daily to progress to perfect health. But what augments the miracle is this. Daria was carrying a child in the womb, and along with the childbirth she is freed from the disease, and the physicians had said that the nearer she came to childbirth, the more the cancer by which she was eaten would be aggravated and irritated: but the wholly contrary happened, that as much as the fetus matured in the womb, so much the evil was diminished; so that when the time of giving birth came, she was wholly free from it, with only the traces of the former wound remaining, without any feeling of pain at all. And this happened in the year of the Lord's incarnation 1448 a few days before the Lord's nativity. And thus the present miracle is ended: praise to God, peace to the living, rest to the dead. Amen.

[40] To the praise and glory of almighty God, to the exaltation of the name of Blessed Fr. James de Oldo, who took care of erecting the present church of St. Julian, let it be made manifest to all, that the said Blessed Fr. James through his merits has newly worked a great miracle, in the person of the noble man Master John de Populo, citizen of Lodi: likewise a man suffering a cancer in the mouth, and in this manner. The aforesaid Master Aloysius was suffering from a grave infirmity, which the physicians literally name Ad colla malignus, and is a certain species of cancer, which had grown in the same Master Aloysius within the mouth itself on the left side. As he was gravely afflicted by it, nor did the physicians judge the matter to be far from the danger of death, among the friends who came to visit the sick man, some began to relate the miracle, which in a noble matron laboring with almost a similar disease Blessed Fr. James de Oldo had performed, devoutly invoked by her. Not with deaf ears did Master Aloysius receive that narration, but with his mind lifted to God and his servant, he vowed, that if he should obtain a similar grace, at a similar vow suddenly he is healed, in the year 1449, he would take care to have Mass celebrated and a wax head offered in honor of the Blessed. And behold, with no delay interposed, the affected part burst within, and Aloysius spat out a piece of withered flesh of the size of a larger nut, and at the same time the whole evil with which he was weighed down, with no trace of the same remaining. Wherefore this also seemed not to be passed over in silence, so that the devotion and reverence of all toward Blessed James may be increased, as toward any other Saints of God, who through his merits similarly works miracles, and thereafter may be able and willing to work in several persons about to invoke him devoutly. But the matter happened in the year 1449 on the 12th day of February.

NOTES.

APPENDIX

The Testament of the Blessed himself from the Latin Original MS.

James de Oldo, Presbyter of the third Order of St. Francis, at Lodi in Insubria (B.)

[41] Wishing to dispose maturely of his goods In the name of the Lord. Amen. In the year of His nativity 1404, Indiction 12, on the 10th day of the month of April, in the city of Lodi, in the house of the habitation of the undersigned testator, namely in his bedchamber, situated in the neighborhood of the church of St. Giles: with the presence of Lord Ottinus de Fissiraga &c... Since death and life are in the hand of God, and because it is better to live with the fear of death, than with the hope of living to come to a sudden death; and elsewhere Scripture says: "We shall all stand before the tribunal of Christ, about to render an account of our own deeds which we have done in this life, whether good or evil, whatsoever it shall be"; and elsewhere it is said: "While in the state of health the course of life is revolved, a man ought wisely to dispose and order his goods and affairs, so that when Our Lord Jesus Christ shall will him to depart, he may not be reckoned impious on account of negligence, but praised pious on account of good work." Rom. 14:10 Therefore the venerable and religious man Fr. James de Oldo, son of the late Lord Marchesius, citizen of Lodi, Brother of the third Order of Penitence of the Friars Minor of the Convent of St. Francis of Lodi, he makes his testament, sick, 1404 April 10 sound in mind and understanding and of good disposition and memory, although he suffers some infirmity in his body, willing and desiring to make a testament and to dispose and order his goods in such a way, that among the survivors, to whom he wishes them to come and pertain, no strife or discord after the testator's death may arise; makes and made this his present nuncupative testament or last will, which he willed and wills to be valid and to hold in perpetuity and at all times...

[42] In the first place, the said testator cancelled, invalidated and annulled all other testaments, codicils &c,... but in all his goods movable and immovable, names and rights of names and actions, wherever they are and may be found, by which he instituted his son as heir, he instituted as his universal heir Anthony, his own legitimate and natural son, naming him by his own mouth, under this condition, that if the said Anthony should die without legitimate children descending from himself legitimate and surviving Ladies Flordonina the mother of the testator himself, and Catharine the legitimate wife of the said testator, that the said Ladies should enjoy and use all the inheritance and goods of the said testator while they lived: and after the death of the said Ladies all the inheritance and goods of the same testator should come into the church of St. Julian, and if he, before his mother and grandmother, should die without children patronal and founded from the proper patrimony of the same Fr. James, as he said, situated in the city of Lodi, in the neighborhood of the church of St. Giles: and that church, in that case supervening, he substituted as heir to the said Anthony his son. Willing however and ordaining, that the said Ladies, through all the time of their life, should be bound and obliged to maintain one Chaplain or Presbyter, who every day should celebrate and ought to celebrate one Mass in the said church, at the expense of the fruits of the goods of the said inheritance. After their death, the church of St. Julian, But after the death of the said Ladies he wishes, establishes, and ordains, that by Laurence de Corradis, Ottobellus de Cagamostis, Fr. Anthony de Populo, and Bettinus de Villanova, citizens of Lodi, whom he chose and names as patrons of the said church, two Chaplains should be maintained, who every day should make residence in the said church, and who should celebrate and ought to celebrate Mass in the said church, in case the resources of the said inheritance should suffice for the aforesaid... Likewise he left to the said church of St. Julian, with the said son of his living and leading a lay life, ten gold florins every year, at the rate of thirty-two imperial shillings each, for the cause of paying the salary of one Chaplain or Presbyter, who every day should celebrate one Mass in the said church. And this is the testator's last good will...

NOTES.

ON BLESSED JOHN THE EPIROTE,

MARTYR AT CONSTANTINOPLE.

15TH CENTURY

John the Epirote, Martyr at Constantinople under the Turks (B.)

D. P.

[1] A sacred history, taken from the great Menaea of the Greek Church, translated into Latin, corrected by observations, Raderus had prepared a Greek history from the Menaea, illustrated with explanations, by Matthew Raderus, Priest of the Society of Jesus, was prepared for the press already from the year 1631, and would have filled an honest folio volume, when to the same there was added an Auctarium of all Saints, gathered by the same author from almost all the Fasti, Martyrologies, proper Breviaries of all churches. This was the title of the work, magnificent indeed, and more equal to the vast desire of the diligent man, than to the measure of the prepared thing. For the history indeed contains nothing other than eulogies of Saints, gathered from the Menaea, such as are commonly found in those books which we call Menologies or Synaxaria, without the Canons or Odes and Contacia and Troparia pertaining to the proper Office of each Saint, which besides are found in the Menaea. But the Auctarium is a bare Index of names, arranged in alphabetical order, so that in the nearest small columns the State, the Laurel, the Place, the Time, the Day, the Month, and the Author are noted for the individual names — either all or some — as far as Raderus could obtain knowledge of those circumstances.

[2] which is still preserved in MS. There was lacking someone to undertake printing in Bavaria so great a mass, as at first sight the eight paper codices seemed to contain; and the heir of the Plantinian Press when requested, John Moretus's son Balthasar, great-uncle of that Balthasar who now possesses it as the third of this name, demanded that to the Latin version the Greek context be added, prudently conjecturing that otherwise it would not be desired by the learned. Meanwhile at Munich the author ended his last day at the end of the year 1634, and into the hands of our Bolland the autograph came, with the Superiors judging that nowhere else would it be more usefully deposited, than with him who was known to have undertaken the cultivation of the same Sparta. Yet up to now this matter has been of small use to us, with Annotations, having the very sources and far more abundant ones, not only in printed books, which alone Raderus had, but also in very many manuscripts. The Annotations of Raderus have happened to be cited a few times: but now for the first time an occasion is offered of bringing forth something from that labor, nowhere else to be found, and yet most worthy of the reader's knowledge.

[3] Raderus therefore writes in the above-praised History for April 18: "On the same day of St. John the Younger the Epirote Martyr": then in the Observations he notes thus: "This John is absent from all the Menaea and Menologies: in which the history of John the Epirote, whom however I did not judge should be passed over in silence, since on this day in the Anthology or Florilegium of the whole year, his life and death and martyrdom are described at length in Greek, from which I set before you the same with the prologue in Latin." This Anthology must have been some MS. of Constantinople of more recent age, like the Chiflet one; enlarged by some fuller history of one or another Saint, mixed with briefer eulogies of other Saints. taken from some Synaxarion of Constantinople, For that which was published by command of Clement VIII, collected by Arcudius in the year 1598, the new Anthologion, has nothing of the kind, being very contracted like a Latin Breviary, for the use of Greeks traveling, who do not have at hand twenty volumes, containing the whole office of the Greek Church. But I say that it was of more recent age; because the Mahometans, under whom for the faith of Christ John endured death at Constantinople, occupied that royal city only in the year 1453. Indeed it is also probable that this Anthology was composed for some church of the united Greeks, who dwelt at Pera among the Genoese: for the schismatic Greeks would not have honored a man of Epirus, and so tenacious of the Roman faith and union, as we do not doubt John was, by proposing his martyrdom to be read among the Lives of the Saints.

[5] The calumny against John, contrived by his fellows of the same trade which he himself professed before the Turkish Magistrates, as if once he had passed from the faith of Christ to the superstition of Mahomet, The cause and occasion of the martyrdom under the Turks at Constantinople. is precisely the same which at Damascus from his master endured Elias of Heliopolis among the Saracens; whose Martyrdom, transcribed from the Parisian Chancellor's codex, because it pertained to the Kalends of February already published, we lent to Francis Combefis, that together with the Acts of Hyacinthus of Amastris and Bacchus the Younger it might be published in Greek and Latin, which was done

at Paris in the year 1666. such as was that of Elias Heliopolita at Damascus under the Saracens. This also is common between Elias and John, that as his master, an apostate from the Christian faith, accused the former; so John seems to have been accused by none other than schismatic Greeks or those fallen to Mahometanism (for these were almost the only ones at Constantinople to have the whole gain of civil arts, with the Turks devoting themselves to warfare alone), to whose envy, noted in the Acts, I would believe goads were added by hatred of the Latin union, to which the Epirotes adhered, at least from the time when the most valiant Scanderbeg vindicated that whole tract from Turkish servitude by his arms, and joined it to the orthodox.

[6] His homeland was Joannina The homeland of the Martyr is said to have been Joannina, the chief city of old Epirus, which many wish to have been called Cassiope by the ancients; but that it was also the royal seat of Pyrrhus, I would not maintain; since many attribute this prerogative to Ambracia. This is certain, that about the year 1300, in the reign of Andronicus Palaeologus the elder, the city of Joannina, when it was a Bishopric subject to the Metropolitan of Naupactus, was honored with the rank of Metropolis, as is said in the list of Bishoprics subject to the Patriarch of Constantinople then drawn up, the Episcopal city of Epirus which is presented in Miraeus book 3 Episcopatuum orbis chapter 2, where it is numbered 53 among the Metropolises. Geographic tables of those parts present it beyond Mount Pindus as Janna, a large city in the middle of a lake, between Tricca of Thessaly to the North, and Ambracia of Epirus to the South: but so that they seem to attribute it rather to Thessaly than to Epirus, dividing both by Mount Pindus, which perhaps was not always so. Ferrarius in his Geographical Lexicon establishes the city as still today Archiepiscopal, and the seat of the Turkish Prefect.

ACTS

From a certain Greek Anthology brought forth by Matthew Raderus of the Society of Jesus.

John the Epirote, Martyr at Constantinople under the Turks (B.)

FROM MS.

"He was born in the city called Joannina, which formerly was the royal city of that ancient King Pyrrhus in old Epirus; as with consent the historians relate. Afterwards it was the seat of the last Lords; but it was called thus from a certain John, Joannina named from a certain Lord of its own Lord of those parts, who gave the name to the city from his own name through ambition, so that it should be called Joannina; as Constantine the Great called Byzantium Constantinople, and Hadrian among the Odrysians Hadrianopolis, and many other Kings did the like. But Joannina was formerly most celebrated for its piety and Catholic religion, and other infinite goods; and abounded and flourished with an abundance and multitude of things and of the best men and the greatest worshippers of Christ. But nothing equally of all these adorned and illustrated it, the homeland of this John and still adorns it today, than this its nursling and citizen John, illustrious Martyr of Christ: who though in years quite a youth, but in contests suddenly undergone for Christ an old man and great, and in valiantly done and most noble deeds to the praise of God performed, was easily first among his own.

[2] And indeed the city deserved to be ennobled and honored by such a citizen: but John was allotted pious parents also and special worshippers and lovers of the Divinity, who, living by manual labor at Constantinople, content with modest and sober fortune. Then bereaved of his father almost still a boy, he betook himself to Constantinople, where he obtained his living by handicraft. But indeed the neighbors and partners of the same trade and craftsmen, moved against him as a foreigner by the stings of hatreds, greatly envied him. For the young man in speaking used sincere liberty, and without all fear before all spoke what was true, and displayed a kind of boldness joined with great confidence, which even more kindled their envy. the envy of rivals companions in the same trade, Therefore they took to seeking an occasion and, like wild lions, laid in ambush, if they could seize by calumny some at least specious cause, by which as by certain bonds they might entangle the young man: which also they accomplished in deed, as in the progress of the narration will be more openly shown.

[3] perceiving himself to be in peril John, when he perceived that ambushes were being set against him by them, judging it beautiful himself for Christ to meet with them, first goes to his Spiritual Father, (this was the great Protopapa Calothetus) and because then the great day of Parasceve was being held, he laid out his sins to him through confession, and at the same time the malice of those setting snares against him, and his resolution of professing the faith. But he felt that he did not incline very much to such counsels, he reveals the matter to his confessor, but rather admonishing him to spare himself and pay attention, and to hold suspect the snares of the devil: "For he is wont," he said, "to suggest such thoughts to many, by which he drives them to martyrdom, that he may then give them as a laughing-stock to the whole world when they fail, as those who were unable to resist him until the end." Then the young man: "I, however," he said, "trusting in my Christ, and his desire for martyrdom, plainly hope that it shall be that he will not suffer me to become a laughing-stock to my enemies, as you say: but he will come to my aid, so that he may be basely overcome by me, and I may triumph over him, and bring back a noble trophy." At these sayings of John again the religious man: "Mark, my son," he said, "that the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak, as the most holy oracles of the sacred page teach, and that such matters need a certain preparation, who is commanded to deliberate maturely and alacrity of mind and body. Matt. 26:41 They desire assiduous fasting, they need perpetual prayers, which pious practices if you shall have used to wipe away every stain from your mind, by God himself it will be signified to you what must be done, for God is wont so to insinuate himself to pure minds. Attend therefore to yourself, and go in peace, and I pray God that he may make you victor over all your enemies, men I say who meet your eyes, and devils who do not appear, and superior to all." And with these words he dismissed him.

[4] The young man returning the next day to the religious Father with serene countenance, said: "Reverend Father, and animated by a nocturnal vision know that in the midst of flames, through a nocturnal vision in sleep, I exulted and danced; not otherwise than the three boys once did in Babylon. Therefore I am full of the best hope that I shall be helped by heavenly aid, and that the matter shall have a happy end and outcome. But I ask you to arm me with your prayers." "God," said the religious Father, "may confirm you, son, so that you may be able to conquer the infernal wolf — I mean the invisible dragon — and for Christ's sake bring back the palm of martyrdom": and so with favorable prayer he dismissed the young man. Whom, returned to his workshop, when those envious ones saw, they conferred among themselves: "Is not this," they said, "he who at Tricca (it is a city of Thessaly) openly renounced and denied Christ? He boldly confesses Christ: How then does he now again show himself a Christian, and is so, and appears so?" Here the young man, regarding them with a fierce countenance: "Are you saying such things of me, or of someone else?" And they: "Of you," they said, "and no other, and are we not speaking the truth?" "God forbid," he said, "that God should ever have deserted me so that I should deny my Christ; neither at Tricca nor elsewhere, nor in any place whatever have I renounced him: far be it from me ever to have done this. For in Christ I live, and shall always live, but with him and for him willingly and gladly I shall meet death."

[5] At which things heard, condemning his liberty of speech, as if he had said that not from confidence in Christ but from imprudence, at once all rose up from their workshops; and having exhorted one another, with a conspiracy made among themselves singly, as they are wont, as though having devised a certain trick and fraud, they seize the young man and drag him by force to the tribunal of the Judge. But he, if the truth is to be told, was dragging rather than being dragged, and with so cheerful a forehead was following them, that he seemed rather called to a wedding than to the cross. And they indeed brought forth calumnies or accusations by way of argument, themselves at the same time, as this kind of men is wont, accusers, he is falsely accused: witnesses, and judges. But after the accusations they feigned themselves moved by compassion for the accused and to grieve for his lot, and with greatly placated minds they tried to lead him to this, that he should confirm himself guilty and changed, and urged him to confess that he had renounced Christ. But after they saw their madness to be refuted by him, testifying and entreating that he should confess himself guilty that he had never put off or cast aside the worship and faith in Christ. Then indeed they turned to threats, and after these to abuse, reproaches and contumelies. All of which that noble athlete utterly despised.

[6] But they, advancing from words to tortures, most atrociously tortured him. He is urged by words and tortures, But when they accomplished nothing, they were all occupied in devising punishments, and meanwhile they granted him space to deliberate, and shut him up in prison. But on the next day, led out again they asked whether he had changed his mind? And when they saw him constant in his resolution, and in nothing changed from before, then they command him to be beaten again with rough rods, which they call double, those cruel ones. The lictors therefore inflict blows without end: but in vain: but he, like untameable adamant, bore the blows so silently, as if another were being beaten, not himself. Meanwhile with generous and undaunted breast he was exhorting himself, and for the contest to be undergone for Christ, as an athlete, having prayed to God in silence, was anointing himself; and such things within himself, as is fitting to believe, he was saying to himself: "Confirm me, O only powerful God: having prayed to God silently, Give me strength, give me force and vigor, and stretch forth a helping hand from your holy dwelling." And these things he said perhaps silently to God. But to his enemies, who can worthily relate his replies, joined with the highest prudence and liberty? Or how he beat down the haughtiness and shut up the mouths of his truculent adversaries, raging against him as though to swallow up an innocent man. "Nothing," he said, "of those things which are in the world, whether reckoned good or bad, he testifies that he will persevere, shall ever be able to turn me from my purpose. God forbid that I should ever think anything other than what Christians think. God forbid that I should either yield to flatteries or be frightened by threats. What seems best to you, do, and snatch me from this life as soon as possible, that all the more quickly you may send me to that eternal one. I am a servant of Christ, I follow Christ, with Christ I die and shall live."

[7] He is led back into prison Here the Judges too, seized with fury, ordered him to be torn from them as soon as possible. But the attendants dragged him off, and drew him by the hair this way and that, struck his cheeks with blows, and what did they not say at length? What did they not do? Dragged back into chains, they shut him up in a cage, intending to repeat the interrogations the next day. Again led out the next day, they ask on what he was relying to show such

obstinacy. After they heard him replying constantly just as before, and repeating the same things as he had said before; again they order him cruelly to be beaten. Then, as though a robber, they throw him on the ground, and monstrously beat him. on the next day he endures new tortures: And the lictors indeed beat him with as much force as they could, but he himself with mind and eyes lifted to heaven, lying on the ground, was singing that solemn song of the Church: "Christ is risen," and what follows there. And his body indeed was to be seen wholly cut by lashes, the pavement was flooded with blood. But this truly noble young man, often raising his head, kept addressing the executioners: "Beat," he said, "beat, and with all your strength redouble the blows: but you shall never deter me from my mind, nor shall you ever subject me to your opinion or will."

[8] When therefore they saw his patience in enduring tortures and his unconquered mind, at length macerated for some days they were ashamed of being defeated by a young man, but under the pretext of religion more enraged, for the present they thrust him again into custody, and afflict him with all the discomforts of prison, that at least by long continuance of evils they might bend his mind, and render him obnoxious to themselves, and at length compel him to yield. After some days, therefore, when they had led him out of prison, intending again to take trial of him; and saw him the same as he had been before, constant and persevering in his opinion, they condemned him to death by pyre and flames. Accordingly they dragged him like a beast, he is condemned to the fire: or rather, as more correctly I may say, like an innocent lamb to the victim, they led him to be immolated to Christ to his death, and meanwhile by the way they monstrously tore him with contumelies, beat him with blows, loaded him with abuses.

[9] leaping into which of his own accord When they came to the place of punishment, they kindled a pyre, and bring him to the fire, into which the young man, exulting of his own accord, leaped with quick foot. But him leaping into the flames, intending to spare him, by the very chains with which he was bound, they pulled back. But he, bearing this ill: "Why," he said, "do you not leave me in the flames? Why do you not let me be offered to my Christ as a holocaust and pleasing sacrifice?" But the Judges, he is drawn back unwilling although they knew the punishment of flames to be both grave and bitter, yet as though they were to spare the fire itself, as, in the Persian manner, they seemed to be worshippers of fire; lest, drenched with Christian blood, it should be polluted, they signified by a nod to one of the lictors, and he is beheaded, that with a sword he should sever the head of the innocent. The trunk of the body falling to the ground, the remains of the burned body Christians collect, was thrown into the pyre together with the head, and wholly consumed in the fire as a holocaust, with a few relics found in the ashes together with the head, which certain religious among the pious Christians gathered, and honored with great piety and veneration.

[10] And in this manner the iniquitous Magistrates did libation to their wrath: the applause of the Angels in heaven follows but the young man attained the end which he had desired. But I think and am wholly persuaded that his soul was taken up by Angels as those of the earlier Martyrs also, and with great applause, joy, and dance was led into heaven. Luke 15:7 For if, as Christ himself said, the Angels rejoice over one sinner doing penance, how should they not exult over a Martyr dead for Christ, and especially one so generously running and finishing the stadium of Martyrdom in early youth. Truly they proceeded with all joys, applauded the Martyr, and celebrated with all praises and hymns Christ who supplied strength to the Martyr. But I would also affirm this, on earth of the best example that by his example and virtue he stirred many fellow soldiers to martyrdom, and to posterity added by his death the greatest strength of mind for undergoing death for Christ, and made them hidden, so to speak, heirs of the heavenly kingdom. For many of us have been stirred up, and confirmed and strengthened by his example, lest we so easily, as before, should renounce our religion. for the confirming of the more faint-hearted. Therefore we pay due thanks to Christ our God, who effected such things in this young man; and so to the holy Martyr John himself, through whom in these our times quite unlike those we have been affected with so great a benefit: through whose prayers, clement and kind God, have mercy on us."

NOTES.

ON BLESSED ANDREW,

OF THE ORDER OF HERMITS OF ST. AUGUSTINE.

AT MONTE-REGALE ON THE CONFINES OF UMBRIA AND ABRUZZO.

IN THE YEAR 1479.

Andrew of Monte-Regale, of the Order of the Hermits of St. Augustine in Abruzzo (B.)

D. P.

Ambrose Coriolanus or Coranus (for by both names he is called by the writers) Prior General of the Order of the Hermits, elected at Rome in the year 1477, and there discharging his office and life in the year 1487 of the same century, The year of death in part 2 of his Chronicle according to Herrera and others writes thus for the year 1479: "Blessed Andrew of Monte-Regale shone in our times with many most evident signs and miracles: in Canon Law, Philosophy, and Theology most learned: in admonishing, in counseling the poor, in enduring injuries and all patience he showed the greatest example of sanctity." Indeed the year 1480, as the year of death of this Blessed, is noted in the Epitaph or inscription placed under his marble image: but that number seems altogether to have been taken from the autograph instrument of miracles, in which according to the Notarial style of that time, how is it said to be 1480? in use in Umbria and Etruria, as we have already elsewhere observed this month, the beginning of the common year is preceded by nine entire months, as taking the beginning of numbers from the day of the Annunciation or Incarnation of the Lord. But since the Saint died on the Octave day of Easter, which in the year 1479 of that century was celebrated on April 11, which day? it is fitting that, wishing to affix the anniversary of his, which otherwise is movable, to some certain day, we should take April 18. There is one indeed who marks the 10th day before the Kalends of May, as the death day of the Blessed man; but I know not what he followed, since the year 1480 of the century which he assumes had the Sunday in albis not on the 10th day before the Kalends of May, but on the 5th day before the Ides of April.

[2] The Life published in the year 1580, The Life first came out printed at Perugia in the year 1580 at Andrea Brescian, with Sanctius Riccetelli as author, which Nicholas Beatillus, Priest of our Society, formerly had, and sent to his old friend John Bolland an MS. epitome excerpted from it. It would have been much more pleasing to receive the very work: and therefore we had it sought for at Perugia and elsewhere, and we received it through the labor of our Penitentiaries of Loreto, Hector of Albada and Christopher Grinus: but reprinted in the year 1614 at Pisa at John Fontana, by Angelus Carezzanus of Tortona, with the approbation of Baptista of Asti, then General. with more recent writers omitted, Simplicianus a S. Martino, in the Lives of Saints of his Order, published at Toulouse in the year 1641, from it professes to have received what he writes. Simplicianus was used by Cornelius Dielman, who at Ghent in the year 1648 published in 8vo a Norm of monastic Life, delineated in some Men of the Order of the Friars Hermits of St. Augustine illustrious for knowledge and sanctity of life: The Life is given in Latin. whence we, because he wrote in Latin, had prepared the Life received from him for the press, with additions from Simplicianus in the Analecta, and our annotations according to custom: but having obtained the whole history from an older original Italian, with Dielman omitted, we have preferred to render it into Latin. But in doing this, we have learned that in the Archive of the convent itself there is still preserved a public instrument concerning twenty-seven miracles, performed within the first month from the Blessed's death, offered for obtaining canonization to Pope Sixtus IV, who survived Blessed Andrew only four years. So we have written again for an exemplar of those and other later ones, an instrument concerning the miracles is desired. if the memory of such is also extant. But the reply was that the Process is in the hands of the Most Illustrious Lord Anthony Maria Ricci, whose father long labored in the cause of the Beatification of the said holy man; but prevented by death he obtained only this, that he should be raised more highly. With him afterwards often and insistently it has been acted, both by the R. Father Prior of the Augustinians Charles Mevius, and by two of our Fathers who had gone there for the sake of Missions; but nothing could be obtained from the man, not sufficiently understanding how little the undiscriminating custody of monuments befits the duty left him by his father — not entrusted for any other purpose, than that the sanctity of Blessed Andrew might be made more known to the universal Church, and his cult and honor promoted. Yet we do not yet put aside the hope at least for the Supplement of this work of obtaining an exemplar, and if ever it should happen that he falls upon the reading of these volumes, we think he will willingly send of his own accord what now asked he imprudently refused.

[3] Joseph Pamphilus, Bishop of Segni, in the Chronicle of the Order printed at Rome in the year 1581, has these things for the year 1484: "Andrew of Monte-Regale, an Umbrian, a Theologian, and not moderately learned in the Pontifical law, led a life illustrious with signs of miracles: The state of the incorrupt body whose body, with the garment with which it is covered, still exists as though he had been deceased at this very hour." They are followed by Herrera in the Alphabet, Creusenius and other writers of the Order, after the author of the Life; who, treating of the monument of Master Sanctius Alexius, erected by himself, indicates that within the choir of the Religious the chapel of Blessed Andrew himself is proper. But what is here called Monte-Regale and is commonly so called even today, in the maps both of Umbria and of Abruzzo (for to this it pertains, and is situated on the borders of the latter) is named Città-Regale, the situation of the town on the way almost midway between Rieti and Ascoli, and distant by an interval of about twelve miles from the city of Aquila, neighboring it to the south-west, and has in its district the village of Masciuni, which was the homeland of the Blessed himself.

LIFE

From the Italian of Sanctius Ricetelli.

Andrew of Monte-Regale, of the Order of the Hermits of St. Augustine in Abruzzo (B.)

FROM THE ITAL. OF RICCETELLI.

CHAPTER I.

History of his life led in the Augustinian Order.

[1] In a certain small town of Monte-Regale, called Masciuni, from upright and pious parents Andrew was born in the year of Christ 1397, under the Pontificate of Boniface IX, and in a slender fortune, From pasturing sheep which to the boy

his father assigned to pasturing a small flock. But a desire for a better life, to which he was from eternity destined, divine Majesty opened a way for him, by taking care that a certain Father of the Order of St. Augustine, then Prior in this our monastery, called Augustine of Terni, should meet him: at whose knees falling down he said: "Let it please you, I beseech, Father, to make me a Brother of that habit which you wear; and I promise you, that with God's grace I will exactly observe the Rule of our holy Father Augustine." At these words the Prior, moved, whether because he saw such nobility in the boy, having passed to the Augustinian order, or because he was inwardly moved by God, who had caused him and the other to meet, took Andrew with him in the year 1411; in the time of that calamitous schism, in which the Church of God was wavering among three so-called Pontiffs, John XXIV, Gregory XII, and Benedict XIII, as one who was to dispel the darkness of errors, and to uproot the schisms sown by the prince of darkness in the field of the highest Father of the family.

[2] after distinguished progress in letters and virtue, He was in the fourteenth year of his age, when clothed in the sacred Eremitical habit, he began with the highest diligence to devote himself to the studies of letters and virtues alike; fasting three days a week on bread and water, namely Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, and in a short time he obtained a certain name of sanctity and learning among his contemporaries. Afterwards about the year of Christ 1421, which was the fifth of Martin V, when he was in the twenty-fifth year of his age, he was ordained Priest; and at length in the year of the Lord 1430, the last of the same Martin V, he becomes a Doctor of Theology, (in which very year the said Pontiff granted the Order the body of the glorious mother Monica, to be transferred from Ostia to Rome) in the General Chapter of Montpellier, by the consent of Master Augustine the Roman, then General, and the Definitory Fathers, he was created Doctor and Master in sacred Theology, being in the 33rd year. But so much did the fame of his learning and virtue advance among the Fathers of our Order, that in the Chapter of Rieti of the year 1444, with Eugene IV sitting in the 8th year, and Provincial of Umbria. by the common vote of all he was made Provincial of Umbria, and Definitor for the Chapter which was to be celebrated at Avignon, but afterwards transferred to Bourges, and there it was celebrated in the year 1445, when he himself was 47 years old.

[3] he leads a holy life. He preached the word of God for the salvation of souls, with great efficacy; not only in Italy, but also in France, for fifty continuous years. Clothed with a great and harsh hair shirt of horse hair over his bare flesh, he had his loins girded with an iron circle, and neither by day nor by night did he put it away from himself. On as many nights he raged against his body with sharp scourges, and struck his breast with a hard stone, nor did he sleep except upon a straw sack, propping his head with a stone: but the greater part of day and night he spent in the church intent on prayer. And indeed he divided all his time in praying, preaching, teaching, or otherwise helping his neighbor: whence it came about that, with the rumor of his holiness spread abroad, an almost infinite people ran to him, asking and reporting help and solace.

[4] He was never seen either to go to spectacles or seen laughing. he has the spirit of prophecy, Those stubborn in evil he terrified with his authority, and received the penitent lovingly and kindly. That he was endowed also with the prophetic spirit appeared: for the day and hour of his death he foretold; and turning to the Fathers standing around he attested, saying: "Preserve all my books and writings: for shortly there will come after me a certain one, who will be an ark of sciences." Which the event proved: for about thirty years after he had been aggregated to the Order, R. P. Master Sanctius Alexius; who was truly such in learning as the Blessed had foretold; and deserved a special monument in our church, having died in the year 1561.

[5] and he dies piously. Further, the Blessed full of merits began to be sick, and religiously fortified with the Sacraments of the Church, on the seventh day of his infirmity, which was the octave day of Easter, gave a distinguished sermon to the Fathers standing around, exhorting them to the observance of the Christian life and of the Augustinian rule. Then with weeping eyes he recited the seven Penitential Psalms; and with these finished he gave up his spirit, pronouncing these words: "In peace in the same I will sleep and rest"; in the year of the Lord 1480, of Sixtus the Fourth the 9th year, of his own age the 83rd. But our elders say, they have heard from those who were present at his death, that at his departure angelic songs were heard, and the bells, with no one moving them, gave a sound by themselves for twenty-four whole continuous hours.

[6] The body of the deceased for thirty days stood exposed to public veneration in the church, the body unburied for more than 30 days, embalmed with no balsam: and yet always of sound odor and lively color, it stirred not only the wonder of those running up, but also shone with miracles. Afterwards it was placed in an iron chest in a certain chapel of the choir. But in the year 1568, and in the year 1568 translated. that it might be more conveniently seen by all, it was transferred to another chest and placed under the main altar, where it can even now be seen, as intact as on the first day from death: although now a hundred years have passed. Twice a year it is shown to the people flowing in great numbers, namely on the octave day of Easter and on the feast day of St. Jerome at the end of the month of September.

[7] The relics of his garments, His tunic is preserved and shown as a Relic in the land of Vissi. His hair shirt, brought to the sick and possessed, works wonders: whence it came about that from it not only to almost all the cities of Italy, but also to Lisbon itself, the metropolis of Portugal, particles have been brought, and only the chest part has remained with us intact with difficulty. His image is seen painted at Bologna, Perugia, Padua, and the images, Venice, and in many other places, but especially at Monte-Regale before the front of the church of St. Mary in the forum, and in the choir of our church, with the greater part of the miracles painted around it and with this epitaph: "Here rests intact the body of Blessed Andrew, of the Order of Hermits of St. Augustine of Monte-Regale, great and innumerable miracles daily at hand: who by the sanctity of life, with a eulogy, asperity of body, Catholic doctrine and honeyed preaching, and the greatness of miracles, shining in all the cities of Italy and the Gauls, beloved of God and men, for the honor of Religion, the ornament of his homeland, the utility of his neighbor, and for the age preaching the Word of God for fifty continuous years, was and is of great help. He died in the year of the Lord 1480, in the 83rd year of his age."

NOTES.

CHAPTER II.

27 miracles, noted within the first month from his death.

[8] On April 23, while the body of the deceased stood on his bier to be gazed upon, the dead man with arm lifted blesses his devotee. a certain devout woman, called Martomima Capacchii, Tertiary of the Order of St. Francis, standing beside the holy body with many other men and women, greatly grieved that she had never confessed her sins to him, although by inward impulse she had often felt herself led to this. And so with weeping eyes, asking pardon of this negligence from the deceased, and praying him to obtain the remission of her sins from God, she approached to kiss his feet. When behold, with all looking on, the dead man seemed to raise his arm, and in his accustomed manner to bless his suppliant. Without delay: as many as were present published the miracle, crying out, "Mercy, mercy."

[9] he heals a longstanding pain, This cry, sounding through the whole town, reached the ears of a certain citizen. His name was Joannellus: who, asking the cause of the cry from his wife, and understanding that it was moved on account of the miracle which at that very hour Blessed Andrew had done; he himself who was afflicted with a longstanding torment, with great tenderness of mind turning to the Blessed, said: "Ah, glorious Saint, pray God for me: and I promise that I will go to visit your body, and offer to it a wax image." He said, and freed from every evil suddenly, as he was, rising from the bed, barefoot and covered only with his shirt, he came to the church together with his wife, crying out: "Mercy, mercy."

[10] On April 26, at Mariniano, one of our small towns,

to a certain woman Sanctia Nicolai of Cascia, spinning thread, the injured hand, the needle of her spindle was so driven into her right hand, that she was in peril not only of losing the use of that hand, but even of her life, in the judgment of Lord Ludovic de Augustinis, a most expert physician. For, from the injury of the nerves and bones meeting in that part, pains and convulsions born from there increased continually. But as she, amid such torments, turned her eyes to heaven, her mind to the Blessed, and invoked his name; in a moment she was restored to health.

[11] weak eyes, Julian de Impaccia of Mariniano had long lain sick and was much diminished in sight, whose remains the disease was grinding more and more, so that he was now almost blind: but on the same day on which the aforesaid woman was cured, hearing of this and other miracles performed, he asked some of his relatives to lead him to the church, where the sacred body stood exposed. Soon, as he fixed a kiss on the feet of the Blessed, he began to see both far and near as one who sees best: and thanks were rendered to God by all those standing around.

[12] he punishes one detracting from him, On the same day passing through the church of St. Augustine, Lucian Matthaei de Verrico, one of the four Priors of our town, seeing the great crowd of the common people around the deceased, said contemptuously: "Why do you gather around this body: was he not a man equally with us? Why then is he not buried?" But on the following night lying in bed, he was snatched outside it by evil spirits and miserably handled, he called to memory what on the preceding day he had spouted against the honor paid to the Blessed: and with true penitence turning to the same, and he frees the penitent. he had him appearing to him: who having driven away the demons by his presence, led him back by the hand taken up to his bed, and consoled him with most sweet words. But early in the morning he came to visit the body, and crying "Mercy, mercy" before more than a hundred witnesses he narrated whatever had happened to him that night.

[13] With the fame of the miracles multiplying at the sepulcher of the Blessed spread abroad, he heals a withered arm of one, it stirred a certain woman of Albania to seek a remedy there for her right arm, whose use she had lost. The name of the woman was Clara Gentilis. She came: and with her prayer made, she began to move and extend her arm, useless till then, as if she had suffered no discomfort ever.

[14] and of another; On the following day, which was April 29 of the aforesaid month, Jacob Damiani de Saviniano came to the sepulcher with a wax arm; which he had promised he would offer, that similarly he might recover the lost use of his right arm, and he asserted that he was made partaker of his vow at the very entrance of our church. Marianus Prosperi de Colle, from the very beginning of his birth blind in one eye, a one-eyed boy afflicted his father with no light grief: by whom as soon as he was led to the church of St. Augustine to honor Blessed Andrew's body, his dull pupil began to be illumined, equally as, and more than, the left; and this happened on the last day of April.

[15] On May 5, in a certain conflict against the Sgherri, Santillus, from the county of Acumoli, was caught, and received from one of those enemies of his a wound so copious in the left arm, one gravely wounded in the arm, injured by the blow of a knife, that no means was found of stopping the blood copiously flowing. Admonished therefore to invoke Blessed Andrew of Monte-regale, whose fame had begun to be most celebrated throughout all Abruzzo, he devoted himself to him; and soon seized by sleep, he seemed to see the Blessed himself, who imprinting the sign of the Cross upon the injured arm, not only stopped the blood, but restored full health.

[16] an energumen, Petruccia Nicolai, possessed by evil spirits, was brought by her relatives to the presence of the sacred body: and the impure ones, unable to endure the power going out from it, before all the multitude were compelled to leave the dwelling they occupied, and to depart with great stench.

[17] an arthritic woman On the same day in several members was healed Marinuccia Cervelli de Saviniano: who was not only deprived of their use by arthritic pains, but even had lost the hope of longer life in the judgment of the physicians. But a vow made by her relatives on her behalf brought health to the wretched woman, and amplified the glory of the Blessed.

[18] a man suffering in head and eyes, On the same day Sanctes Buccii, from Labia, of the county of Monte-regale, confessed that by a vow made to the Blessed he had been freed from all trouble, which a vehement pain of the head had brought for five continuous years, with almost the total loss of sight, which thereafter he had clear and unhindered.

[19] a shin ill affected, Christopher Benedicti, a citizen of Rieti, for ten continuous years had suffered certain cold and painful humors, so that he was compelled to drag one of his shins behind him as he walked: but having heard the miracles of the Blessed, he ordered a horse to be sought for him with which to come to Monte-regale, and having arrived there on the twentieth day of April, he received health, as soon as he gave a kiss to the sacred feet.

[20] On the fourth day of the month of May Lady Antonella Marini, of Aglione of the county of Monte-regale, a woman weakened in her whole body, having suffered great pains in her whole body for a whole year, so much so that she could neither dress herself nor undress, nor even make two steps in walking, vowing that as soon as she recovered her health she would go to visit the body of the Blessed; she was received soon as she had spoken the words: and rising from bed, at once presented herself as bound by her vow.

[21] On the same day a great and memorable miracle happened in Nicholas Spechioli de Mariniano, a pleuritic man, whom an incurable pleurisy had reduced to such a state, that with the Parish priest having read the commendations of the soul, it was believed that he was about to expire. But when his tearful parents had commended him to Blessed Andrew, soon opening his eyes, now closed in nearby death; with cheerful smile he looked at those grieving, and said that in those straits the Blessed had appeared to him, and had taken away all pains: which words were received by the common cry of those standing by, doubling "Mercy, mercy."

[22] fistulous breasts, On the sixth day of the aforesaid month Lady Pascha, of Cagnano of the county of Aquila, having breasts so swollen and fistulous, that not only could she not nurse her son, but on account of frequent spasms and convulsions was almost despairing of life; as soon as she devoted herself to the Blessed, she and her son received timely relief.

[23] one lying with an incurable disease, On the following, that is, the seventh day, Peter Colucciae of Marano, of the county of Monte-regale, lying from a long and incurable disease, promised that he would go barefoot to the body of the Blessed if he should recover; and suddenly healed he leapt from bed, and accompanied by all the inhabitants of the whole town, fulfilled his vow.

[24] Stephen, a noble of Albania, but dwelling at Ascoli, suffering long torments of the head with perpetual ringing in the ears, one wasting from pain of the head, was brought to this state, that with the faculties of hearing, seeing, and resting lost, he presented more the aspect of a dead man than a living one, to those considering his face. But when on May 10 with his companions accompanying him he came to the body of the blessed man, and devoted himself to him, at once color returned to his face, and all dullness of the senses, with the pain of the head driven out, departed.

[25] The wretched son of Bartholomew Bucciarelli, of the county of Mopolino, had his whole body infected with leprosy, a leprous boy, from the soles to the crown, so that his horrible appearance alienated not only strangers but also his household. But his father, on the 13th day of the aforementioned month, conceived firm hope of obtaining health for his son through the merits of Blessed Andrew, and vowed to lead him to his body: and at that very instant he saw the boy's flesh cleansed and restored, as though he had suffered nothing evil.

[26] At the same time at which the earlier things happened, Nicholas Petrucilli of Fanum was wholly deaf: a deaf man, and led by his own to the body of Blessed Andrew, suddenly with his ears opened he began to hear as wholly as anyone. On the 21st day of the aforesaid month brought to the presence of the sacred body, another taken by an unknown disease, Bernardinus Mei, of Pizzolo of the county of Aquila, as best could be borne, recovered before all from a certain unheard-of infirmity, which, shaking all his bones, made them resound like nuts.

[27] At the same time Lady Justa Petri Pauli de Paganica, one with maimed right hand, from Forcone of the county of Aquila, who had lost the use of her right hand, as soon as she heard the miracles of Blessed Andrew narrated, did not wish to interpose any delay, not even a little one to return to her house: but immediately came to Monte-regale, asking for the restoration of her hand before the holy body, and deserved at once to be heard.

[28] Lady Pina Dominici, of the castle of St. Mary of the county of Norcia, was held so bound by sorceries, a woman vexed by maleficium; that on the first day of every month she was agitated in every way like a demoniac; her eyes flashing, her mouth foaming, her face and neck swelling, her voice wailing, and rolling on the ground. She had suffered thus for thirty years, when it came into her mind with a vow made to visit the body of the Blessed: she did, and from then on was free.

[29] a woman laboring with headache, In the same month of May Lady Gentiluccia, of John Dominici de Verrico, of the county of Monte-regale, having suffered a continuous pain of head for a whole year, and finding no means by which she might receive even a little remission of the evil; turned to making a vow to the Blessed, and was immediately heard.

[30] A certain great and long infirmity, which Sanctes, son of John Paschini of Aquila, had suffered, had so dismissed him for the past two years, that it had left him deprived of the use of his left arm. This one therefore, as soon as he heard the talk of the Blessed Andrew's miracles growing, ran to the holy body, prayed, and brought back the desired grace.

[31] On the same day on which this one was healed, Lord Nicholas Benedicti of Assisi, one who had drunk poison, whom the most expert physician Master Dominic of Camerino had pronounced incurable from poison drunk, both because already the whole skin was beginning to flow off with its native color lost, and because the deadly virus was now approaching his heart, and was drawing him to swift death; yet by a vow made to the Blessed earned remedy and life, and suddenly recovered.

[32] Finally on May 23, Lady Antonella Montanara de Verrico, devoting herself wholeheartedly to the same Blessed, with the astonishment of all present in the church, recovered the light of her right eye, of which she had been utterly deprived for wholly six years.

NOTES.

CHAPTER III.

The author's Epilogue and Appendix on more recent miracles.

[33] Public instruments about these miracles, These twenty-seven miracles, orderly described by me, happened within those thirty days in which the body of the deceased stood exposed to public veneration in our church; with the inhabitants of neighboring and distant places flowing together: concerning all of which miracles one by one, by the mandate of our magnificent University and of our reverend monastery, a public instrument was drawn up, by the distinguished Notary Jacob de Laurentiis of Monte-regale, before Jacob Anthony Santis, Alexander Rentii, Nardo the Notary of Gabriel, Judges deputed for contracts, with the subscription of witnesses, who were present when the miracles themselves were done. Which public instruments, described on parchment by the same Notary, offered to Sixtus IV, with the subscriptions of the said Judges and witnesses, were sent from our Magnificent University to Rome to our Holy Lord Pope Sixtus IV, for this purpose, that with regard to such evident signs he should deign to inscribe Andrew in the catalogue of Saints. But since His Holiness at that time was hindered by most grave business of the Church, he could not attend his mind to this matter; and with him dying the original remained in the Pontifical Chancery: where when the Bishop of Telese of happy memory, the most Rev. P. Master Cherubinus of Cascia, had found it, he brought it back to Monte-regale in the year 1560: are had, where it is preserved in the archive, so that it can be shown to anyone desiring to inspect and read it.

[34] other infinite things are passed over in silence. The same Blessed and glorious Andrew did almost infinite other miracles, and still does daily; not only in this our town, but in all those places in which his name is celebrated; which if I wished to relate all, instead of the small tract which I undertook to write, a huge volume would be born. Yet I am compelled to add two more, because they happened with me present along with many others.

[35] a paralytic boy is cured. In the year 1559, on the 3rd day of April, John Vincentii Paulucii, of Monte-Regale, was found through a grave disease of two years weakened in all his members, and with the use of his shins wholly shut off, so that he could neither stand nor walk. But the evil was not only beyond hope of remedy in the judgment of the physicians, but was daily growing worse, when the boy's mother and father, Vincent and Martha, remembered Blessed Andrew, and brought the little one to the chest of his body, vowing that he should be clothed in white in memory of the benefit, if they should deserve to bring him back sound. No sooner said than done. The boy suddenly stood upright on his feet, and all the people present cried out, "Mercy, mercy," when they saw the boy returning home on his own feet.

[36] The hammer of the bell falls without harm. On the same day, on which the already-mentioned boy so in a moment recovered, and through the whole church and town "A miracle, a miracle" was heard; when to us younger Brothers, who were then four in number, for ringing the bells, a great multitude of boys ran together, and filled the whole place beneath the bell-tower. When behold, the hammer of the bell, coming loose, is carried down like a thunderbolt, shattering whatever was in its way; and among us four it falls so in the middle, that it would have killed two of us, if it had bent ever so little to the other side: but what was even more marvelous, so many fragments of wood, boards, and bricks, as must necessarily accompany such a ruin, all clung to the last vault nearest to us: and so we all departed unharmed, renewing with greater fervor the cries already begun, "Mercy, mercy."

April II: 19. April

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