ON BLESSED SIMON OF TODI, OF THE ORDER OF HERMITS OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, AT BOLOGNA IN ITALY.
IN THE YEAR 1322.
PrefaceBlessed Simon of Todi, of the Order of Hermits of Saint Augustine, at Bologna in Italy (B.)
By D. P.
[1] Todi, a city of Umbria situated on the Tiber, once flourishing by civil liberty, now subject to the Ecclesiastical dominion, has given to the Church and to the Augustinian Order many distinguished men, among whom is numbered Blessed Simon Rinalducci of Todi. The family of the Rinalducci His family is described by various writers as one of the most distinguished in the city of Todi, both for nobility and for piety. From his earliest youth he showed himself apt for letters and devoted to divine things; and having entered the Order of Hermits of Saint Augustine, in the convent of Todi, he so advanced in virtue and learning that in a short time he was held worthy of the highest offices of the Order.
[2] He fills various offices in the Order He taught sacred theology in various convents of the Order, namely at Todi, Perugia, Bologna, and elsewhere; and acquitted himself with such applause that his lectures were heard with the greatest attention by students flowing from every side. He was also Prior of several convents, and Provincial of the Roman province of his Order; and in these offices he so conducted himself that he was held as a model of religious discipline and prudence. His humility was such that he always considered himself the least of all; his obedience, such that he never resisted the command of superiors; his charity, such that he was dear to all, and sought by all for counsel and consolation.
[3] His preaching at Bologna At length he was sent to Bologna, where the Order had a great convent near the church of Saint James, and where he preached the word of God with such fervor and such fruit that he drew many to penance and to the reformation of their life. His sermons were filled with the unction of the Holy Spirit, and moved even the hardest hearts to compunction. He was especially zealous against the vices of the times, against usury, against strife, against the enticements of luxury; and he was heard with reverence by the magistrates and citizens of Bologna, who regarded him as a prophet of God.
[4] His death and burial At length, in the year 1322, on April 20, worn out with labors and penances, he rendered his soul to God in the convent of Bologna. His body was buried in the church of Saint James, where it is honored to this day with great veneration by the faithful. Many miracles are said to have been wrought at his tomb: the sick were healed, the demoniacs were freed, those afflicted with various troubles received consolation and help. His cult, preserved by continuous tradition in the Augustinian Order and in the city of Bologna, was approved by the Holy See: and his memory is celebrated in the said Order and in the city of Bologna on the day of his death.
[5] Authors who treat of him Of this Blessed treat Torelli in his Secoli Agostiniani, Herrera in his Alphabetum Augustinianum, Augustine Bermegge in the Menology of the Order, Masini in Bologna perlustrata, and others. All agree in praising his sanctity, his learning, his preaching, and the miracles wrought by him. In the city of Todi his memory is also cherished, and the house in which he was born is held in veneration. His writings, if any remain, are few and less known; for he devoted himself chiefly to preaching and the direction of souls, rather than to the composition of books.
ON BLESSED SIMON OF TODI, OF THE ORDER OF THE HERMITS OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, AT BOLOGNA IN ITALY.
IN THE YEAR 1322.
PrefaceSimon of Todi, of the Order of the Hermits of Saint Augustine, at Bologna in Italy (B.)
By D. P.
[1] The Augustinian Hermits, who until the year 1263 had their habitation outside the walls of Bologna, at the church of Saints Philip and James of Savena, as Thomas of Herrera proves in his Alphabet from the Pontifical Bulls directed there; in the following year migrated into the city, under the auspices of Octavianus Ubaldini, Bishop of Bologna and Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church; seventeen years before having attempted the same design without effect. There, houses and a tower having been bought in the year 1267 in the square of Saint Donatus, After his death most famous for miracles the foundations of a new shrine and church were laid: which at length having been completed in a beautiful structure in the year 1315, great celebrity was added through Blessed Simon of Todi, great in theological learning and preaching faculty, yet greater in sanctity. How great this was in his life, though scarcely any memorial of his life proves it, yet can be known from the miracles which followed his death, which, transcribed from the original instruments, the very Reverend Father Ludovicus Torellus, historiographer of the Hermit Order, sent to us; from whom, besides the volumes of the Annals partly already published, partly to be published, he has elogia of persons illustrious in sanctity, distributed in six centuries in Italian.
[2] Before we set forth these miracles arranged in our manner, repurged by the removal of the superfluities of formulas recurring over and over, in the Lives of the Brothers he is praised for his humble patience and reduced to a brevity suitable to this work, we must hear from Blessed Jordan of Saxony, book 2 On the Lives of the Brothers chapter 8, the elogium of the man, which alone remains as a monument of his living holiness: "Brother Simon of Todi, Lector, and formerly Prior Provincial, and local in many places, was a man of great reverence and sanctity. This man was gravely accused by certain rivals of his before the Prior General in the General Chapter, with me present, though he himself was absent: on account of which accusations, however so led forward, he endured many grave inconveniences and calumnious reproaches. But he, knowing that it is written: 'In your patience you shall possess your souls,' bore patiently all the grievances attempted and brought on him, because of him who for us suffered contumelies and terrors from his calumniators. Luke 21:19 He at length, sent to Bologna as a preacher, as gracious in speech, copiously instructed the people of God with the word of doctrine, and salutarily illustrated them with the example of his life. This man foretold his death in a public sermon, and so with a happy exit terminated his life, who also shone with several miracles." Thus far Jordan, who here bids it be appended how humility and patience strengthen charity and concord among the Brothers: "For," he says, "if the aforesaid Brother Simon of Todi had manfully set himself to defense, such a man as he was would have stirred his whole province, indeed a great part of the Order, and raised various disturbances."
[3] Joseph Pamphilus in his Chronicle wrote that he was Provincial of Umbria; who while living illustrated Umbria Umbria certainly he illustrated by his dwelling and as Lector. For John Baptist Possevinus in his book On the Blessed and Saints of Todi, in the elogium of this Blessed, testifies that "in the Augustinian Convent of Saint Praxedes of this city, is preserved a manuscript book on parchment, containing many sermons of this Blessed on the feasts of the Saints, full of learning and sanctity"; and Thomas Herrera says: "I read in the Roman archive an instrument on parchment, strengthened with a seal of white wax, of the year 1311, Indiction 8, the 27th day of May, in which Masseus, Bishop of Terni, hands over the church of Saint Bartholomew of Dursangnano, situated in the diocese or district of Terni, placed in a doubtful and solitary place, to the Friars Hermits of the Order of Blessed Augustine, of the Convent of Saint Peter of Tirlo of Terni, to be dwelt in by religious men, who there with the permission of their superiors might lead an eremitic and solitary life. And this he testifies to do chiefly at the prayers and grace of Brother Simon Rainalducci of Todi, Lector in the same order and dearest friend." Ughelli in Italia sacra names this Bishop Masseus, dying at Bologna and affirms that he showed his presence at the laying of the first stone of the Augustinian church at Spoleto, and that he sat in the see from the year 1297 to 1316. Moreover, as the living Simon won good for the Brothers of Todi, another like thing the people of Bologna can report as received by the merits of the same man now received into heaven,
for in the year 1323 the parish of Saint Cecilia fell to them and was united to their monastery, as Herrera writes: who, after having recounted various opinions of various writers about the year of his death, refutes them by the faith of the processes now about to be produced.
[4] where he is venerated as Blessed Then Herrera names the writers where he is venerated as Blessed by whom Simon is honored with the title of Blessed; and they are all of the Augustinian Order, except Possevinus mentioned above; and he testifies that his effigy shines with the splendors of the Blessed; and at the end laments that such a man, illustrious in so many miracles, through the poverty or carelessness of the Augustinian Religion has been neither inscribed to the catalogue of the Divines nor has his inscription been treated. To us it seems equally to be lamented, and much more to be wondered at, that with such a great frequency of miracles flowing copiously from his death onward upon infirm of every kind and condition, so that three Notaries had to be occupied in summarily receiving them; and the celebrity and fame of his sanctity suddenly diffused through all Italy, so that not only from the Bolognese territory, but also from Modena, Faenza, Florence, Milan, Reggio Emilia, and other more remote places they came, about to profess the grace received at his tomb in Bologna; it seems especially wondrous, I say, that none of the just mentioned from his contemporaries and familiars entered the thought of writing his Life, so that it might be left to the devout peoples and it might be known by posterity who that man was whose sanctity God so singularly illustrated.
[5] His feast, instituted not so much by any ecclesiastical decree as by popular piety, on the very day on which he died, April 20, by an annual feast, and with the body placed upon an altar in the years following was in the mouths and veneration of the crowd, as appears from number 60 and following. When and by what authority the body was elevated from the earth is committed to oblivion. This only we know from Antonio Paolo Masini (who in his Bologna perlustrata noted this day as an annual memorial to be recalled by the Bolognese), that the body of the Blessed man is preserved exposed to public cult above the altar of Saint Alexius, which belongs to the Orsini family. Torellus adds in his letter about these matters that the coffer is gilded and elegantly painted, whose head aptly closes a hole in the middle wall, and on either side these words are read: "HERE LIE THE BONES OF BLESSED SIMON OF TODI." The cult which had grown strong from his death was still more stirred up in these most recent times, when in the year 1666 the Most Eminent Jerome Cardinal Boncompagnus, Archbishop of Bologna, duly visited his body: for thereupon more frequent gifts were brought by various persons, and waxen and silver votive offerings, which are still seen hung at the altar; nor has a lit lamp ever ceased burning before it. So he.
[6] The miracles were signed in three instruments, drawn up at the same time: the first, written very hastily by the hand of Philip Papazon, has almost only the names of those cured, of the infirmities, and of the witnesses, How the miracles were recorded as though the notary, overwhelmed by the number (for he wrote more than seventy) was loath to explain at greater length the manner and reason of the miracle: two others, signed by the hand of Alberto Anselmi and John de Manelli, will more fully satisfy the reader: yet we shall set forth all in the same order in which they were sent to us, leaving to the judgment of the readers whether they wish to skip the first four chapters touched lightly on, or to unroll the latter three first. There are those who count four Processes: but what to them is the fourth, seems to us rather an appendix to the third, as being by the hand of the same Notary without notarial signature; perhaps because the intention was to await more things to be written, and then at last to reduce them all together into the form of a public instrument, as those are reduced which are contained in the six first chapters here.
MIRACLES
From the authentic manuscript processes.
Simon of Todi, of the Order of the Hermits of Saint Augustine, at Bologna in Italy (B.)
BHL Number: 0000
FROM A MANUSCRIPT PROCESS.
CHAPTER I.
Miracles done on the three days nearest the death of Blessed Simon.
[7] Miracles done on April 20 and 21 "In the name of Christ. Amen. In the year of the same Lord 1322, in the fifth Indiction, on the twentieth day of the month of April, Blessed Brother Simon of Todi, of the Order of Friars Hermits of Saint Augustine, died in the city of Bologna: by whose virtues and merits, after his death, many miracles and signs appeared in the same city of Bologna. But on the very day on which he died and the following, no miracles were written down; because in the church of Saint James of the Strada of Saint Donatus of Bologna, of the said Friars Hermits, there was such a multitude of people and such a clamor, that scarcely could one understand another, and blessed was the one who could touch his body. And they tore all his clothes from him: and from devotion to his body, blessed was he who could have some of his clothing. because of the confusion of people flowing to the body they could not be written And this lasted for those two days. After this, the following night, the Brothers seeing that they could not sustain so great a labor, sent for some of the major and better men of the aforesaid city, by whose counsel and help they caused the body of the said Brother Simon to be buried: which they could not have done without the power of those good men. And afterwards the day coming, the miracles and signs written below appeared, written by me Philip, son of the late Alberto Papazon, Notary deputed to this, in the months and days written below, as is contained below."
[8] On April 22, a certain woman named Thomasina, daughter of the late John of San Marino, who now dwells at Bologna in the parish of Saint Proculus, in the district of Miralsolis, A blind boy is cured said and by sacrament affirmed that for a full four months she had not seen the light; and had devotion to Blessed Simon, and by his merits and virtue was freed. These things were done at Bologna in the said church of Saint James, in the presence of the Lords Alberto Anselmi Notary, Peter de Saladinis, and Brother Angelo of Naples and several other witnesses called and asked for these things. And in this way the individual miracles are signed with three or four names of those who attended the deposition; whose attestation, since it makes nothing for rendering the miracle itself more certain, it seems superfluous to add this formula "These things were done" and the names of those present to each miracle: and we shall set them out hereafter consequently, adding only those witnesses of the deed itself, who deposed together about the same miracle.
[9] On the same day, a certain woman, named Lucia Aymerici, of Marano in the county of Bologna, said and by her oath affirmed that she was impeded and contracted below the waist, so that she could not walk except with a staff, now for three years or thereabouts; a contracted woman and had devotion to Blessed Simon, and by his merits and virtue was freed. A certain woman, named Donna Billixena, daughter of the late Peter Pexalana, of the parish of Saint Leonard, said a certain woman's arm that for a good sixteen years she had had and was having her right arm dry and stiffened; and from said time onward she could not help herself with the said arm; and from the great devotion she had in Blessed Simon, by his merits she was freed. A certain woman named Oliva, daughter of Barnabas and wife of Betinus Guidolinus, of the parish of Saint Leonard, said a weak foot that she suffered in her foot a great illness, so that she could not walk, and had devotion to Blessed Simon, and by his virtue and merits was freed from her infirmity.
[10] one deprived of walking A certain woman, named Catherine, daughter of Ymelda, by the testimony and oath of her mother said and affirmed that for a good seven years she had been continuously impeded, so that she could not walk except on hands and feet on the ground, and could not rise up; and had devotion to Blessed Simon, and was made whole, so that she walked upright. A certain boy, named Franciscus, son of Don Landus of Montecatino, a boy with a rupture by the testimony and oath of his father, said that Franciscus was ruptured, and by the virtue and merits of Blessed Simon was freed: and Don Landus affirmed the aforesaid by his oath.
[11] On April 23, a certain woman named Donna Vinicia, of Don Ugnizonis of Lucca, who dwells at the district of Panichalis in the county of Bologna, said that for six months a woman variously sick blood had flowed continuously from her mouth, and she had bad sight of eyes, and had a pain in her side; and had devotion to Blessed Simon, and by his merits was freed from her infirmities. A certain woman, named Magdalena, daughter of the late Franchus, for three years contracted of the parish of Saint Martin of Aposa, said that for three years she had been impeded and contracted, so that she could not walk without a staff. And she had devotion to Blessed Simon, and by his merits and virtue was freed. Sister Agnesia, of the late Zaynus, of the parish of Saint Cecilia; Donadinus Franchi, of the said parish of Saint Martin, witnesses, by their oath affirmed the impediment and also the liberation.
[12] A certain girl, named Jacoba, daughter of the late Toniolus Bonaventure, of Ulmetula in the county of Bologna, from birth lame by the oath of Donna Ymelda, daughter of Donna Carbonus, wife of Gerardus; and also by the oath of Donna Benincasa, daughter of the late Bonaventure of the said land, they said and affirmed that she had limped from the day of her birth, and by the virtue and merits of Blessed Simon she was freed. A certain girl, named Catherine Chitadella, of the age of four years, who dwells at the hospital of Saint Peter the Greater of Bologna, by the oath of Donna Margaret, daughter of Donna Azzo de Bochinpanis of Ferrara, who guards the poor at the said hospital, said deprived of walking that for three years she had been impeded from the day of her birth onwards, so that she never walked and could not walk: and by the virtue of Blessed Simon she was freed. And Master Jacobin de Tronizonis, physician, who was treating her, by his oath affirmed the impediment and also the liberation.
[13] limping on both feet A certain girl, named Bona, daughter of the late John, son of Donna Rolandina de Porcis, of the parish of Saint Lawrence of the Porta Sterii, who was limping on both feet, from the day she had begun to walk onward: and by the merits and virtue of Blessed Simon was freed. Donna Mirabilis, wife of the said Rolandini, grandmother of the said Bona; Donna Francesca, wife of the late said John, and mother of Bona, by their oath affirmed the impediment and her liberation. A certain man of forty years of age and
more, lame in the right foot named Stephen, son of Master Albert of Burgundy, said that he was lame in the right foot, so that he could not walk without a crutch, for twenty-three months now, and by the virtue of Blessed Simon he was freed. Don Nicolas, son of the late Don Minus de Galixano; Bartholomew, son of Salviatus of Saliceto, by their oath affirmed that he was and had been lame from that time onward.
[14] A certain boy, named Nicoletus, son of Ghisilardus of Trento i, who now dwells at Bologna in the parish of Saint George of Pozzale, a boy nearly blind in the district of Durlecchi, who had spots or scales in his eyes, so that he could scarcely see; and by the merits and virtue of Blessed Simon was enlightened, so that he sees clearly. Don Ghisilardus his father, Simoninus of the late Nicoletus of Burgundy, by their oath affirmed concerning his infirmity and also his liberation. A certain girl, named Bexola, daughter of Brunitus Yvani of the parish of Saint Julian, was withered in the right arm for three years: a withered arm and by the virtue of Blessed Simon was freed. Donna Lucia, daughter of Don Dominicus de Tectacapris, mother of the said Bexola, and Donna Dulcis, daughter of the late Thomasinus, her neighbor, affirmed. A certain girl, named Joanna, daughter of Bonjohannes Taganelli, of the district of Panicale in the county of Bologna, was lame in the right foot from the day of her birth: and by the virtue and merits of Blessed Simon was freed. Donna Beatrix Azzolini, lame in the right foot daughter of Peter Bonjohannes; Bonaventura, daughter of the said Beatrix, of the said district of Panicale; Claudia, daughter of the late Master Lanzalotus the Physician, of the parish of Saint Donatus, affirmed.
[15] A certain young man, named Bonamicus, of the age of sixteen years, another in the left foot son of Don Ugolinus of the land of Cheve, in the county of Bologna, was lame in the left foot for six months and more, and could not walk without a crutch: and by the virtue of Blessed Simon was healed. The said Don Ugolinus his father and Jacob of Don Franchini affirmed. A certain young man of fifteen years of age, a young man blind in one eye named Petrinus, son of Jacobus, of Sion beyond the mountains, said that he did not see with his right eye for seven years and more: and by the virtue of Blessed Simon was enlightened, and sees clearly. Brother Blasius, of the late Don Graciolus Albert, shoemaker; Donna Valle of the late Don Antonius Auliverius, Notary, affirmed the aforesaid to be true, and that he saw clearly. weak in the loins A certain boy of twelve years of age, named Dominicus of the late Vinianus, of the parish of Saint Mary of the Temple, was full of pains and impeded, so that he could not walk without a staff, for two months and more: and by the virtue of Blessed Simon was freed. Donna Bartholomea, daughter of the late Don Stephen, his mother; Don Benvenutus of the late Martinus Strazarolus, affirmed.
[16] A certain girl named Checca, daughter of Compagnonus, of the land of Saint Mary of the Gifts, county of Bologna, deprived of walking was full of pains and "sgalonata" (lame in the hips), so that she scarcely walked from the day of her birth onward: and by the virtue of Blessed Simon was freed. Don Compagnonus, her father; Bitinus, son of John de Fabris, of the said land; Manellus of the late Don Zambonini de Manellis, of the parish of Saint Cecilia, affirmed. A certain boy, herniated named Bonfigliolus, son of Guidaccius of Certulum in the county of Bologna, was ruptured for two years and more, and by the merits and virtue of Blessed Simon was freed. Bellinus Aldrovandinus de Seta and Donna Beatrix wife of Bartholuccius of the said land affirmed. A certain woman, named Sibyllina, daughter of the late Bartholuccius, deaf of the land of Monte Acuto Alpis, was deaf, and said that for ten years and more she had not heard: and by the merits of Blessed Simon both her ears were opened, so that she clearly hears.
[17] lame in the right A certain young woman, of fourteen years of age, named Margaret, daughter of Master Grimaldus Paiolarius, of the parish of Saint Matthew de Accarixiis, was impeded in the right foot, so that she could not place her foot flat on the ground, for nine years: and she had very great devotion to Blessed Simon: and by his virtue and merits was freed. Master Grimaldus her father; Donna Ymelda, wife of the said Grimaldus, mother of the said Margaret; Martinus, son of Master Bonaventure; Cursinus of the late Bonaventure de Candelio, affirmed. A certain man, impeded in both feet of sixty years of age and more, named Franciscus of the late Don Jacobinus, of the parish of Saint Vitalis of Bologna, said that for eight years he was impeded in both feet; and had been continuously through all that time, so that he could not walk without crutches: and had devotion to Blessed Simon, and by his virtue and merits was freed. Piglus of Don Gerardus of the castle of Saint Peter; Rudolph Palmerius of the parish of Saint Cecilia; Bartholomew of the late Don Rodaldus of Mandina; Bartholomew Hentipiptus of Brayna, affirmed.
[18] A certain woman, named Thomasina, daughter of the late Rudolph, of the parish of Saint Mary Magdalene of Bologna, said that for six months and more suffering in the arm she had suffered great pain in the bone of her right arm: and by the virtue and merits of Blessed Simon was freed. Donna Dominica, daughter of the late Janboninus, and wife of the late Ugolinus de Rambace, affirmed the aforesaid to be true. lame on both sides A certain young woman of 16 years of age, named Richimilia, daughter of the late John, of Roncaglia in the county of Bologna, said that from the days of her birth onward she was lame in the hips and was limping on both sides, and was freed. Donna Chartilia, daughter of the late Don Simon de Buliveris; Donna Beatrix, daughter of the late Don Albergitius; Donna Bonafemina, daughter of the late Don Rolandinus Chambaldi, affirmed. A certain man of 28 years of age, named Gregory, an epileptic son of Master John the Tailor, said that he was ill with the falling sickness, and often stood stunned with much foam at the mouth, and did not know where he was: and unless there were people nearby who met him and helped him, he would often have fallen; and sometimes he fell so hard that they could not support him: and he was freed. Don John his father, Don Jacob of the late Bartholomew Bixillerius, affirmed to be true.
[19] A certain small girl, named Thomasina, daughter of Master Francis de Dentibus, blind in one eye did not see with her right eye for four months: and by the virtue of Blessed Simon now sees clearly with the said eye. Don Francis her father affirmed to be true. contracted in the foot A certain boy named Thonius, son of Nicholas, of the plebs of Cento, in the county of Bologna, was contracted in the left foot, so that he could not walk: and was freed. Albert Renduccius of the said plebs of Cento affirmed that for four years he was thus contracted, and was freed.
NOTES.
CHAPTER II.
Other miracles of the same year and month of April up to May.
[20] On April 24, a certain man of full age, A lame man is cured named Bonincontrus, son of the late John, who dwells in the land of Argelata, county of Bologna, said that for four months he had been impeded from the belt down, so that he could not walk without crutches: and was freed. Benvenutus of the late Zambonelli of the parish of Saint Mary Major, Dominic, son of the said freed Bonincontrus, Tura of the late Don Matthew of the said parish of Saint Mary, affirmed. A certain girl of 12 years of age, named Francisca, suffering fistulas in her throat daughter of Plassellinus de Plassellis, of the parish of Saint Joseph, of the district of Galeria of Bologna, said that for two years she had fistulas in her throat, so that she could scarcely hold up her head; and had great pains in her sides: and was freed. Donna Francisca, daughter of Don John of the said parish; Donna Bartholomea, daughter of the late Souranus Guido Victorii; Donna Benvenuta, daughter of the late Don Corvolinus, affirmed. A certain small boy, named Bonaparte, son of Jacob, of the land of Ulmetula in the county of Bologna, was ruptured for a year and more, and was freed. Master Jacobinus de Zovezonibus, who was treating him; Don Jacob, father of the said Bonaparte; and Donna Beatrix, daughter of Rolandus de Raygosa and wife of the said Jacob, mother of the said Bonaparte, affirmed.
[21] A certain young woman of 15 years of age, named Margaret, daughter of the late Furniolus of Badalia, weak in walking in the county of Bologna, said that she was impeded from the belt down, so that she could not walk without a staff and even without the help of her mother, for three months and more, and was freed. Donna Vinicia, wife of the late Furniolus, mother of the said Margaret, affirmed. A certain small boy, ruptured named Dominic, son of Francesco Tacconi Becharius, of the parish of Saint Joseph of the district of Galeria, was ruptured for a year and more: and was freed. Donna Mona, wife of the said Francesco and mother of the said Dominic, Don John Dominici Atrazarolus of the said parish of Saint Joseph, Bartholomew of the late Francesco Gessadelli of the parish of Saint Synesius affirmed. deprived of walking A certain boy of 10 years of age, named Peter, son of the late Canto of the land of Plumatium in the county of Bologna, was impeded, so that he could scarcely walk, for...
six weeks and more, and was freed. Benvenuta, the late wife of the said Canto, mother of the said Peter; Donna Thomasina, daughter of the late Don Petrobonus Aiguabella, aunt of the said Peter, affirmed.
[22] nearly blind in an eye A certain woman of full age, named Bona, daughter of the late Curtius, of the district of Mirassolis, and wife of John the well-digger, said that for a good thirty years she had not seen clearly with the right eye: and by the virtue of Blessed Simon was enlightened, and sees clearly. impeded on both sides A certain girl of 11 years of age, named Bonafemina, daughter of the late Jacobinus, of Barga of the county of Lucca, who now dwells at Bologna in the parish of Saint Mary of Muradellis, was impeded and contracted on both sides, so that she could not walk without crutches, for three years: and was freed. Donna Bonaventura, daughter of the late Matthew of the said land, her mother; Messina, daughter of the late Vannus of Monte Fregasexe of the county of Lucca; Anthoniola, daughter of the said Donna Messina, affirmed. a possessed woman A certain woman of full age, named Donna Benvenuta, daughter of the late Don Bonhominis of the parish of Saint Gervasius, said that she was possessed by a demon for three years and more, and was freed. Bona her daughter, and daughter of the late Bernardinus; Jacob called Muzolus, of the late Maynardinus, of the parish of Saint Columban, affirmed. weak in the right hand A certain girl of about 10 years of age, named Felixia, daughter of Agnesina, of the parish of Saint Prosper of Bologna, was weak in her right hand, and continuously kept her fist clenched, except the finger next to the thumb, which she kept straight continuously; and she could not extend the other fingers in any way: and was freed. Donna Nuta, wife of Andreas de Prato, her neighbor, affirmed.
[23] somewhat deaf On April 25, a certain boy of 8 years of age, named Michilutius, son of the late Monte, of the land of Monte Rumixi in the county of Bologna, was somewhat deaf from the day of his birth, and had great devotion to Blessed Simon: and his ears were opened and he hears. A certain man of 60 years of age and more, named Brother Bitinus of the late Albert, of the parish of Saint Mary Major, who dwells in the district of Pollicini, of the Order of Friars of Penance, said in the power of the Holy Spirit and by his oath affirmed lame in the right side that for seven years he was impeded in his right foot and shin, so that he could not walk without a crutch: and being in the church of Saint Peter the Greater of Bologna, he had great devotion to Blessed Simon, and was freed. A certain girl of 12 years of age, named Agnesia, contracted daughter of Don Boninsegna de Mesciazano, was contracted in her feet and hands, so that she could not walk, nor help herself, for five years and more. herniated A certain boy of 6 years of age, named Nicholas, son of Dominic of the late Don Floravantis, of Marano in the county of Bologna, was ruptured for two years. full of pain A certain woman, named Donna Thomasina, daughter of Peter of San Domnino and wife of Pion, of the said place, said that for two years and more she was full of pains, so that she could scarcely walk. And all these, freed by the virtue and merits of Blessed Simon, were affirmed by the witnesses of their infirmity or impediment and liberation, whom we have omitted to name, as also hereafter we shall attach only the names of those cured and the infirmity here consequently.
[24] A certain boy of 10 years of age, named Michael, son of Jacob Aldrovandi, deaf who dwells in the Guardia of the city of Bologna at the cross of Gissus, was deaf for two years, and his father had been sending him to school, but after that misfortune befell him, he no longer wished him to go to the schools. A certain woman, named Guilelma, daughter of the late Ventura, who was of Barga in the county of Lucca, a possessed woman and now dwells at Bologna in the parish of Saint Mary Major, said that for about four years she had been possessed by a demon. contracted in the right arm A certain girl of 7 years of age, named Catherine, daughter of Albertuccius of the late Bencevennis Casarenghi, of the land of Ulgiani in the county of Bologna, had her right arm and hand contracted, so that she could not open or close her hand. A certain man of 55 years of age, named Gherarduccius of the late Peter of Bagnarola, lame in the left side who now dwells in the land of Alcetus in the county of Bologna, said that for fourteen years he had been lame in the left side, and limped strongly, and continued to limp from that time onward, so that it was necessary for him to walk with a staff. A certain boy of 5 years of age, named Franciscus, son of Jacob Bidelli of the parish of Saint Salvator, had a certain abscess in his body, from which came such a great discharge that the physicians could not cure him, with an abscess and said that he could not escape, and abandoned him. A certain boy of 12 years of age, named Guizardinus, son of Baudinus of Fregnano, herniated said that for four years and more he was ruptured.
[25] On April 26, a certain young woman of 24 years of age, named Margaret, possessed daughter of the late Joachim, of Persico in the county of Cremona, who now dwells at Bologna in the parish of Saint Mark, was possessed by a demon for five years and more. A certain girl herniated of 8 years of age, named Lucia, daughter of Bertolinus, of the land of Altedum in the county of Bologna, was impeded and "sanchata" on both sides and "corporupta" in front, from the day of her birth onward. A certain boy of 4 years of age, named Peter, contracted in the hand son of Francesco of the late Albert, of the parish of Saint Barbatianus, was contracted in his right hand, so that he could do nothing with it, for three years. A certain woman of 23 years of age, named Margaret, possessed by a demon daughter of the late Rolando Bondi Ayguinae, of Roffeno, and wife of Henrigistus, son of John Henrigisti of Fregnano, said that she had been possessed by a demon for a year and more, and was full of pains and "fittis" (stabs), so much that it seemed to her that dogs were gnawing her bowels: and when the evil mounted, she would cast herself into a well, into a fire, or into water, wherever she could most quickly, unless people had held her—and by the merits of Blessed Simon she was freed, as the preceding and the following.
[26] limping On April 27, a certain young woman of 18 years of age, named Joanna, daughter of Lawrence the Smith, of the parish of Saint Joseph of the district of Galeria, who dwells outside the circle of the said district, said that she limped strongly on the left side, because a certain cart had run up over her hip; and she had suffered this infirmity for seventeen years. A certain man of 45 years of age, named John of the late Jacob, who was of Parma and now dwells in the land of Ronchagle in the county of Bologna, said that he was contracted in his left foot and hand, contracted in foot and hand so that he dragged his foot across the ground, and could not bring his hand to his mouth, except with the help of the other hand, for twenty-four years and more. A certain man of 40 years of age, named Ugolinus of the late Ugolinus, of the land of la Mole in the county of Bologna, said that for ten years and more he had had a pain in his left hip, and from excessive pain he limped strongly on his left foot, lame and walked with great labor with a staff. He said also that he could not raise that foot so much from the ground that he could ascend one step, unless he first ascended with the other foot: and he had the greatest devotion to Blessed Simon and by his virtue was freed, like the rest; but this one before he went to the sepulcher: of which in others there is no mention; yet all seem to have been healed going to it.
[25] an arm full of fistulas A certain boy of two months old, named Peter, son of Johannetus Naxelli, of the parish of Saint Mary Magdalene, had three fistulas, having five wounds in his right arm, for a month; and by the merits of Blessed Simon was freed, as Master Jacobinus de Zovezonibus and Master Bologitus Ricardi de Cussolara, lame on the left physicians, who were treating him, affirmed. A certain girl of 10 years of age, named Joanna, daughter of the late Bettinus, who dwells at Domi-fabrorum in the county of Bologna, was impeded in the hip on the left side, so that she limped strongly, from the day she began to walk onwards. A certain girl of six years of age, named Zavola, another on both sides daughter of the late Ghibertellus of the parish of Saint Mary Major, was contracted and impeded on both sides, so that she limped strongly and had her feet twisted back, for four years: and by the merits of Blessed Simon was freed, like the aforesaid boy.
[26] On April 28, a possessed woman a certain woman of 45 years of age, named Albarina, daughter of the late Don Bernardini de Argellata of the parish of Saint Mary Major, and wife of Don Prohenzal of the late Don Florinus, of the land of Argellata in the county of Bologna, said that for 15 months and more she had been possessed by a demon: and from the day she was impeded onwards, she never could behold the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, and it did not allow her to perform her natural functions: and on a certain day that enemy of God cast her into a certain well, and while she was there she began to cry out: and a certain daughter of hers ran toward the well and extended a certain hook to her, and she began to cling to the hook, and drew her forth out of the well: and she did all acts as demoniacs do, and by the merits of Blessed Simon was freed. Don Prohenzal her husband, Bonaventure their son, and Isabetta their daughter affirmed.
[27] On April 29, contracted in the hand a certain boy of 7 years of age, named Bartholomew, son of Peter de Fondacia, of the parish of Saint Christina, was contracted in the right hand from the day of his birth onward. A certain girl of 10 years of age, named Mina, daughter of Pighus, lame of the land of Saint Martin in the county of Bologna, was impeded in the left hip, so that she limped strongly on the left foot, from the day she began to walk onward. A certain boy of 9 years of age, named Peter, contracted in the arm son of Francis, son of Don Pax Pelliparius of the parish of Saint Mary Major, who was dwelling in the house of Brother Bonutius de Argellata, was contracted in the right arm and hand, for
two years and more, so that he could not help himself: and by the merits of Blessed Simon they were freed.
NOTES.
CHAPTER III.
The remaining miracles of this year and of the three following.
[28] On May 1, a certain woman of 35 years of age, named Essicha, A lame woman is healed of the land of Saxi-mussarii in the county of Bologna, who now dwells with Don Albert de Saviolis, of the parish of Saint Gervasius, was contracted on the left side so that she limped strongly, for sixteen years and more: and she had devotion to Blessed Simon: and as she was devoutly coming to visit the tomb of Blessed Simon, she was freed at once on the way: and this she said and affirmed by her oath. And three persons from her neighborhood affirmed that for a year and more they had known and seen her limping, and now freed.
[29] On May 3, a certain young woman of 21 years of age, named Magdalena, contracted in the arm daughter of Peter Marianus and wife of Albericus Ligucius, of the parish of Saint Mary Major, and dwelling at Puglola near Avexella, said that for a month and more she had her left arm contracted, so that she could not raise her hand to her mouth. A certain young woman of 16 years of age, named Belda, daughter of Zeno de Frenis of the parish of Saint Leonard, with arthritis had her left shoulder swollen, full of drops and humors, so that people called her, "O hunchback!" for eight years and more: and they were freed by the merits of Blessed Simon; and these things those who knew the impediment and the liberation affirmed by their oath to be true; and the same is to be understood of all the following as also the preceding.
[30] herniated On May 4, a certain boy of six years of age, named Bencevenne, called Cevenellus, son of John called Nanne, of Sayana in the county of Bologna, was ruptured for four years and more on the left side, and was in great danger, because his interior parts came out of his belly daily. A certain woman of 40 years of age, named Donna Luchisina, daughter of the late Palmirolus and wife of Salvierus son of the late Andriolus, a possessed woman of the parish of Saints Simon and Jude, said that she had been possessed by a demon for 30 years and more, so that she could not do anything, nor did it allow her to behold the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ: and eaten by cancer and she had a cancer in her shin having four "mouths" and the whole shin swollen, so that she could not walk without great labor; and it seemed to her that dogs were gnawing her whole body, for two months and more: and she had devotion to Blessed Simon, and by his merits was freed, as also the aforesaid boy.
[31] contracted in the arm On May 7, a certain woman of 40 years of age, named Donna Joanna, daughter of the late Master Tomasinus of Modena, and wife of Bartholomew de Grassis, of the land of Argelae in the county of Bologna, who now dwells in the said land of Argelae, had her left arm contracted, so that she could do nothing with her hand, nor perform any exercise, for seven months and more: and this she said by her oath, and had devotion to Blessed Simon, and by his merits and virtue was freed.
[32] dangerously sneezing On May 8, a certain young woman of 18 years of age, named Bonafemina, daughter of the late Bellondus, of the castle of Aglarius of Fregnano, and wife of Petricinus Don Albertinus de Semelsana, said that she was burdened with a certain great infirmity, namely that it often happened to her, that when she sneezed she fell to the ground, and much blood came out of her nose, and foam came to her mouth, for two years; an abscess of the shin and contraction of the arm a certain woman of 40 years of age, named Carissima, daughter of Peter Raymundi of Castroleone in the county of Bologna, had her shin full of fistulas and with an abscess, and her right arm contracted, so that she could not help herself, for twenty-five years; nor could she raise her hand to her head, for four months: and by the virtue of Blessed Simon they were freed.
[33] On the last day of May, a certain young man of 18 years of age, named Gandulfus, weak from a broken shin son of Don John Finelli de Perdiveclis, of Roncori in the county of Reggio, said and by his oath confirmed, that three months before he had fallen from a walnut tree, so that he broke his shin: and from the fracture three pieces of bone came out: and he stayed a year in the care of physicians: and could not be freed and continually went with crutches, nor otherwise could he walk. And he had devotion to Blessed Simon, and came to visit his tomb, and by his merits and virtue was freed.
[34] deprived of walking On August 8, a certain man of 32 years of age, named Peter of the late Don Guido of Cremona, who now dwells at Bologna in the parish of Saint Lucy in the district of Aurum, said that for three months he had been continuously contracted and impeded, so that he could not walk without crutches: and he had devotion to Blessed Simon, and was freed. Andreas of the late Gerard of Parma his neighbor, and Donna Joanna, daughter of Manfredus of the parish of Saint Lucy, by their oath affirmed all the aforesaid to be true, and that he was freed.
[35] In the name of Christ, Amen. contracted In the year of the Nativity of the same Lord 1323, Indiction 6, on April 23, a certain woman named Joanna, daughter of Jacobinus, of the castle of Brittorum in the county of Bologna, was impeded and contracted on the right side, so that she could not walk without crutches, for several years. On December 26, Don Master Albert of the late Don Rolandinus of Muglum, Smith, weak in the leg of the parish of Saint Felix, a man of 50 years of age, said that for 30 years he had suffered in his right leg a certain great illness, so that he could scarcely walk: and many times he had taken the counsel of physicians, and could never be freed: and by the merits of Blessed Simon was freed. an epileptic In the year of the Lord 1324, Indiction 7, on April 15, Donna Benvenuta, daughter of the late Don Gherardinus Rustighelli and wife of the late Johannellus Rolandus, of the land of San Giovanni in Persiceto in the county of Bologna, who is of 55 years of age, said that for two and a half years she had been burdened with the infirmity of the falling sickness, and she vowed to God and to Blessed Simon that if by his merits she were freed, she would come to visit his body and tomb, and by the virtue of God and the merits of Blessed Simon was freed.
[36] In the name of Christ. Amen. In the year 1325, enduring most grievous pains of stone Indiction 8, on May 5, Donna Clara, wife of Rudolph of the late Palmerius of the parish of Saint Cecilia, together with Hostia her daughter, who is of seven and a half years of age, said, and the said Donna Clara her mother by her oath affirmed, that the said Hostia her daughter, for two years, had had the stone disease continually, and emitted urine continually day and night, and wetted all the clothes of the bed where she lay, and when she wished to urinate she could not, and then suffered great pain, and cried out strongly, so that it was wonderful. And when she was with her said daughter in the house of John of the late Jacob Simon, on the feast day of Saint Peter Martyr, April 29 of the present year, and was suffering great pain, and said that it seemed to her that dogs were gnawing all her bowels, and she cried out so that the whole neighborhood ran. And then the said Donna Clara said: "O Blessed Simon, help me with this my daughter, or beg God to send her death." And then by the merits and virtue of Blessed Simon the said Hostia emitted a good two quarts of urine, and a stone in knots, as large as a walnut: and immediately after this she had a great flow of blood: and was freed and is from her said infirmity.
[37] On June 14, a boy crushed by a cart Don Joachim de Bencevenis de Curionibus, of the parish of Saint Cecilia, together with Jacob his nephew, who is of 16 months of age, said that while that Jacob was on the public road, a certain man with a cart loaded with wood and two oxen passed by the way: and one of the said oxen struck the said Jacob with its snout, and he immediately fell before the said ox, and the wheel of the said loaded cart went up over the kidneys and the loins of the boy, and at once the whole neighborhood ran, believing that Jacob was dead. And then Donna Nivis, wife of Bonafidei son of the said Joachim and mother of the said Jacob, vowed him to God and to Blessed Simon, that if her son escaped, she would have a figure and image of the said Blessed Brother Simon painted, and would offer certain other oblations. Which vow being made at once, by the grace of God and the merits and virtue of Blessed Simon, Jacob was made whole and free. And the mother with three witnesses said that they saw all the aforesaid, and all to be true, and Jacob to be whole and unharmed.
✠ Subsignature of the Notary "I Philip of the late Alberto Papazon, Imperial Notary by authority, all the aforesaid written above, as they are written, I have publicly written and reduced to public form, from the authority and license granted and given me by the Reverend Don Roger Cacia, Vicar of the Venerable Father Don Ubertus, by the grace of God Bishop of Bologna, written by the hand of John of the late Don Paul Lazarini, Doctor of Decrees and Notary."
NOTES.
CHAPTER IV.
The second process of miracles of Blessed Simon.
[38] In the year 1322 the cures began to be written In the name of Christ. Amen. These are the miracles of Blessed Brother Simon of Todi, of the Order of Friars Hermits of Saint Augustine of the city of Bologna, which appeared and were done after the death of the same Brother Simon, who in the year 1322, Indiction 5, on April 20, migrated from this world to the heavenly homeland, by the merits of the same Blessed Brother Simon, in the persons written below, suffering the infirmities written below, in diverse parts of their persons, before the death of the said Brother Simon, who were freed from their infirmities; witnesses worthy of faith having been diligently received upon these matters with oath, as they are described in order below, and written by me Alberto Anselmi Notary, from the authority given me by the Reverend man Roger Cacia, Vicar of the Venerable Father Uberto, by the grace of God Bishop of Bologna, in the years of the Lord 1322, on the days and months written below.
[39] On April 22, Donna Egidia, daughter of the late John Bernardini and wife of Lambert, a demoniac and weak woman of the land of Argellata in the county of Bologna, was possessed by a demon, and was so weakened in the right side that she could not help herself, and could not walk without a staff: which calamity she had suffered about ten months. She was led to the tomb of the said Brother Simon with great devotion; by whose merits she was manifestly freed: she left her staff at the said tomb and so freed departed. Witnesses of the said miracle, Donna Francesca of Master Jacob and wife of Gerardinus de Guarinis, and Donna Lucia, daughter of Tadeus de Bernardinis of the land of Argellata, both of the parish of Saint Lawrence de Guarinis, swore corporally on the holy Gospels of God that they knew the said Egidia, suffering the said infirmities, and that she was freed from the said languors. Done at Bologna in the church of Saint James of the Friars Hermits, at the altar where the bells are, in the presence of witnesses.
[40] a lame girl On the same day, Donna Avenante, daughter of Martinus di Vignaji, of the parish of Saint Mary "in donis" in the county of Bologna, limped strongly on the right side from her birth onwards, and Donna Maxima her mother, hearing of the miracles of the said Blessed Simon, with great devotion led her said daughter to his sepulchre: and by his merits and virtue she was freed, so that she walked straight: and so freed she departed. Dominicus, son of Zivininus of the land of Possicinum in the county of Bologna, said in the presence of me the Notary and of the witnesses written below, that he had walked with crutches for six years and more, and could not walk without them: boys deprived of walking who hearing of the sanctity of the said Blessed Simon and his miracles, with great devotion came to Bologna to his tomb: by whose merits he was freed, so that he walked straight; and he left his crutches at the tomb. Benvenuta, daughter of Placitus, of the district of Punicalis said that she was impeded in her feet and knees, contracted at the knees so that she was unable to walk without crutches, which infirmity she said she had suffered about eighteen months: hearing of the miracles of Blessed Simon and his sanctity, she came with great devotion to his sepulchre, and with bent knees praying devoutly, by his merits was freed, and departed freed, leaving her crutches at the tomb.
[41] Zunta of Guido, of Caxalieso Reni, said a weak man and woman that he was impeded and could not walk without crutches: hearing of the miracles and sanctity of the said Blessed Simon, he went to the tomb, and praying devoutly was freed from the said infirmity, leaving his crutches at the tomb. Lucia Aymerici of Mazano in the county of Bologna, said that she was impeded from the belt down, and could not walk without a staff or crutch, and she had suffered the infirmity for about three years, who came to the tomb of the said Blessed Simon, and freed left the crutch. a demoniac Jacob of the late Donatus of the land of Idix in the county of Bologna, was possessed by a demon, and did the deeds which demoniacs do. No one could hold him. When questioned, he said: "I am the devil." He was led by force to the tomb of Blessed Simon: who, standing for an hour on the coffin, was freed by the merits of the said Blessed Simon, returning to his prosperity, health, and good memory and understanding. This Jacob, being freed, asked by me the Notary below how he had incurred the said infirmity, answered soundly and with good memory, that in making a certain "pergolare" (vine-trellis) it seemed to him that an evil spirit entered into him: and that he was wholly terrified, and lost sense and memory for two years, and until now he had not been in his senses or understanding: saying that he was most well freed, praising God and the said Blessed Simon, by whose merits he confessed to have been freed, departing with joy.
[42] On April 27, lame ones Antony son of Nicholas de Cagalanis, of the plebs of Cento in the county of Bologna, of 6 years of age, was weakened in the left foot, so much that he did not walk straight, rather limped strongly; and he had suffered this infirmity, as Donna Berta his mother said, about four years: who led him to the tomb of Blessed Simon and he was freed. On April 28, Peter son of Albertus Ferrarius, of the land of Plumatius in the county of Bologna, 12 years of age, said a deaf boy that he did not hear unless people cried loudly in his ears. His parents led him to the sepulchre of Blessed Simon, and by his merits he was freed, hearing clearly and openly, and he heard men speaking plainly to him as other persons hear. Castellanus, son of Ubertus, of the land of Marani in the county of Bologna, 20 years of age, said that his feet were swollen so that he could not walk, for three years: swollen feet and because he could not work, no one wished to employ him; so that he could not earn his living. He came to the tomb of Blessed Simon, and by his merits was freed.
[43] On April 29, Zaninus son of the late Massolus of the land of Soragra in the county of Parma, 43 years of age, said that on April 28 he played at games of chance and lost: and from grief at the play and the loss of money he blasphemed God and his Mother and derided the said Brother Simon, a blasphemer of Blessed Simon and joked about him, saying: "How could this Brother Simon straighten the withered? It cannot be. I believe that they are jests that he has such virtue, nor do I believe him to be a Saint, is punished and healed nor do I wish to believe what is said of him"; and made other mockeries of him. These things said and he having supped, he went to bed with this most evil faith. And in his first sleep he was seized and cast from the bed upon the floor: and at once he lost his speech, and stayed mute from that hour until noon, and could not speak. And moved by repentance he repented of what he had said about Blessed Simon: and with great faith and devotion and tears came to his tomb, by whose virtue and merits he was diligently freed, remaining in his first health, praising God and Blessed Simon.
[44] On the last day of April, Donna Maria, daughter of Michael, a demoniac is freed of the land of Fanum in the county of Bologna, was vexed by a demon, and did the deeds that demoniacs do: and it was necessary to bind her, so that she could do no injury to herself or others. And her kinsmen, learning of the miracles of Blessed Simon, led her by force on a cart with great faith and hope: and this happened to her three days ago, while she was at table and eating. She, being at the tomb of Blessed Simon, by his virtue and merits was freed from the said vexation, making great reverence to the said tomb and praising the said Blessed, A swollen throat is cured remaining in her health and good understanding. Franciscus, son of Rolando de Mongardino in the county of Bologna, of six years of age, had his throat swollen on the left side, and Donna Jacobina mother of the said boy led him to the tomb of Blessed Simon: and there praying faithfully for her said son, and placing him on the coffin, by his merits and virtue he was freed, remaining whole in his throat.
[45] On May 2, Benvenuta of the late Majus Gardinus, of the parish of Saint Columban, lame 16 years of age, said that she limped strongly on the right foot, and could not put on her shoe except with the help of another, for six years; she came to the tomb of Blessed Simon, and was freed, walking straight in the sight of all who stood there, giving thanks to God and Blessed Simon. an injured hand John of the late Blasiolus of Locha, 12 years of age, of the land of Reggio said that he had been wounded in the left hand by a certain boy with an awl for sewing shoes: from which wound he lost his hand and could not help himself, for three years. And Carmaninus de Locha his paternal uncle vowed the said John to God and to Blessed Simon on April 26. And the said John, having great devotion and faith in Blessed Simon, offered himself to visit his tomb, and to offer a wax arm with the hand. And on the following night, having the greatest devotion and brightness of faith to be freed, roused from sleep and rising, he found himself wholly freed in the said hand. And rising for joy he went in the morning to his paternal uncle's house, showing himself freed: and by all his neighbors it was held as a great miracle. Among all, that miracle ran through the city of Reggio. And the aforesaid things were reported to the Reverend man Don Guido de Abaixio, Bishop of Reggio: who at once sent for the said boy; and touching the freed hand, gave thanks to God and Blessed Simon, admonishing him that he should come to Bologna to visit the tomb...
of the said Blessed Simon: and with great devotion, giving thanks, offered a wax arm with the hand, as he had promised at the tomb; causing this miracle to be written for the honor and glory of Blessed Simon. John Zenardini Canevarius, John Salvoni, Carmaninus de Locha, all citizens of the city of Reggio, swore that they had seen him weakened in the said hand, and that he was now diligently freed.
[46] On the 3rd of the said month, Egidia of the late Pax, of Camagnano in the county of Bologna, now dwelling in the parish of Saint Proculus, 50 years of age, was vexed by a demon, and was weakened especially in her left foot and hand; three possessed women and did the deeds which the "adversate" (possessed) do, and could not do her own affairs; saying that her husband would not remain with her after she was thus troubled: and she had suffered this for twenty-four years. She came to the tomb of Blessed Simon, and by his merits was freed. On May 7, Bonafante, called Fantina, daughter of Hentigiptus Sighicelli, of Manzolino in the county of Bologna, 11 years of age, was possessed and vexed by a demon: and this happened to her in a certain level field: who from that time onwards was not in her senses or memory or understanding. She was led by force to the tomb of Blessed Simon, and was freed, remaining in her senses and good memory. On May 23, Prixiata, daughter of Nicholas Jacob of the land of Castrileone in the county of Bologna, and wife of Guiduccius of the land of Gazi Castrileone, was possessed by a demon, and did the deeds of a possessed person, going hither and thither, and going without sense and understanding; which vexation began 18 months before: and this happened to her eating a Regina pear and not signing it: and when she had eaten it, immediately her body became swollen. She was led by force to the tomb of Blessed Simon: and while she was on the coffer of the said Saint was freed, and persisted in her health and good mind.
[47] On June 14, Julian, son of the late Deomelda of Migareto in the county of Faenza, possessed by a demon was as though possessed, and lacked sense and understanding, and from the Easter of the Resurrection onwards lacked the sight of his eyes, and on the 12th of the present June came humbly and devoutly to Bologna to visit the body of Blessed Simon, that he might be freed from such languor. When he had been at the tomb of the said Saint, offering most humble prayers with great faith, he was diligently freed from the said languors by the merits of the same Saint. On June 18, Zanzonus Tiburtini Bonzi, of the land of Dugloli in the county of Bologna, said that he was suffering in his right leg, saying that he had it wholly swollen and had several fistulas with several wounds, from which came great and infinite putrefaction, so much that his wife and sons could not dwell with him. a fistulous leg And this infirmity he said he had suffered about six months, and could in no way be freed. Hearing of the sanctity and miracles of Blessed Simon he had great faith in him that he would free him, and vowed himself to him, praying that he would free him from his infirmity. And he made this prayer at his home in the land of Dugloli: and was freed. He, seeing himself freed, for joy came to Bologna, to give thanks to the body of the same Saint, and to honor him humbly.
[48] On June 26, Francischinus, son of Cresmus of Barbagna, a Milanese citizen, mad from poisoning who dwells at the gate Gomesana in the place called Postoreno, said that a certain woman of the city of Milan was asking something from him which he denied her, and that woman invited him to sup with her: he agreed, and in the evening supped with her: and when he had supped she gave him to drink, and afterwards he departed from her. And when he was at home, he was made as though demented from that drink, and lost sense and understanding, and did the things that fools do. And he said that sometimes he perceived and knew that he was doing the deeds of a fool, and was not ashamed: and went rather naked than clothed, and rather stayed in a filthy place than a clean one, and shook all over, and sometimes could not stand straight, and tore his clothes; and he said he had suffered these things for seven months. He was led to the tomb of Blessed Simon, and continually being there was perfectly freed from his infirmity: and said that he was freed by the merits of Blessed Simon, giving him thanks.
✠ "I Francis of Albertus Anselmi, Notary by Imperial authority, and sent to write down the said miracles and to reduce them to public form, from the authority and license given to me by the Reverend man Don Rugerius Cacia… Written by the hand of John of the late Don Paul de Cospiis, Doctor of Decrees."
NOTES.
CHAPTER V.
The third process of miracles of Blessed Simon.
[49] a In the name of Christ. A possessed woman is freed Amen. In the year of the Nativity of the same 1322, Indiction 5, on May 20, Benella Michael of Castrileone in the county of Bologna, 25 years of age, in the presence of me John the Notary and of the witnesses written below, corporally swore on the holy Gospels of God b, that from the feast of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ lately past onwards, she was and had been vexed by a demon, and did the deeds of demoniacs almost continually. Yet once only, in the present month of May being in her senses, and hearing of the miracles of Blessed Simon, she vowed herself to God and to the said Saint, asking God that by the merits of the said Blessed Simon he would restore her to the former state of health. Which said she at once felt herself freed, and from that time onwards suffered no illness. And therefore, wishing to visit the body of the said Blessed Simon, she came to his coffin with a wax image, which she left on the said coffin, humbly and devoutly praising him, and remaining in her health and good understanding. c All and each of the above-mentioned things the said Benella said, swore, and testified to, at Bologna in the church of Saint James of the Strada of Saint Donatus of the Friars Hermits, next to the coffin of the said Blessed Simon, in the presence of witnesses: who all also by oath said that they had seen Benella sick and now free.
[50] On June 1, Benvenuta of the late Jacob de Andreis, of the land of Saint Agatha in the county of Bologna, who used to dwell with Don Jacob and Missottus de Saladinis, and now dwells with Donna Bartholomea de Guidozaynis, who is 40 years of age, swore that for 10 years and more a swollen throat she had had a goiter and her throat swollen very strongly: and the said Benvenuta hearing and seeing the miracles of Blessed Simon, vowed herself wholly to God, asking him that by the merits of Blessed Simon he would take care to free her from the said infirmity. Which done she went to the coffin of Blessed Simon, and was freed from the said infirmity. On June 3, Donna, daughter of Pax and wife of Martin Gratia, of Florence, of the populus of Saint Lawrence, who is 30 years of age, swore that she being in the city of Florence, suddenly in the month of May last past there happened to her a certain illness in her left hand in the index finger of the said hand, maimed in the left so and in such a way that she could in no way move the said left hand, nor could she help herself with it: and it seemed to her that she would die, and that the physicians knew no counsel to give her. She so stopping, remembering Blessed Simon, with heart and soul vowed herself to God that by the merits of the said Blessed Simon he might free her from the said languor: and if he freed her, that she would personally come to visit the coffin of the said Blessed Simon. Which vow being made, at once she felt herself freed. And therefore wishing to fulfill her vow, today she presented herself at Bologna at the coffin of the said Blessed Simon, praising him, and remains wholly freed from the said infirmity.
[51] d On June 11, Gerardus Gosmari, a paralytic boy a tailor of the parish of Saint Lucy, who is 30 years of age, father of Gosmarinus his son, 5 years of age, swore that the said Gosmarinus his son was impeded in his legs and shins, so and in such a way that he could in no way move: and thus he remained burdened with the said infirmity for the space of two years and more. And also while in the said sickness, his left arm and hand were invaded by disease, so and in such a way that with the said arm and hand he could not help himself. And also he was suffering from the falling sickness. Seeing the miracles of Blessed Simon, the said Gerardus vowed his said son with whole heart and soul to God, saying that if God, by the merits of Blessed Simon, should free his son from the said languors, he himself...
would lead him to the coffin of the said Blessed, with a wax image, and would leave the said image upon the said coffin. This vow being made, immediately the said Gosmarinus began to be freed. Seeing this, the said Gerardus at once led his said son to the coffin of Blessed Simon daily for three days: and so the said Gosmarinus, by the virtue of God and the merits of Blessed Simon, was freed; and Gerardus his father today led him, wholly freed and without any languor, and presented him with the vow at the said coffin, praising God and Blessed Simon.
[53] On June 13, Ghisella, daughter of the late Zanis and wife of the late Andrew, of the parish of Saint Anthony, weak in the shins who is 30 years of age, swore that for four years she had and was having her shins and legs wholly broken, so and in such a way that in no way could she bear clothes next to them, and scarcely walked: and any remedy she made for them did nothing. Hearing and seeing the miracles done by the merits of Blessed Simon, she vowed herself to God and Blessed Simon, asking our Lord Jesus Christ that by the merits of Blessed Simon he would care to free her from the said infirmity. Which vow she made ten days before: for she, having been heard in the said petition, was freed. Not wishing however to be ungrateful for the said benefit, today she presented herself at the coffin of Blessed Simon.
[53] On June 21, Nicolinus Emonitii of Bentaxio in the county of Savoy e, swore that in the month of May last past, a shipwrecked man is freed being at sea to fish in a certain ship of Gambacurta, the said ship, from a storm and danger, was in peril and sank in the sea, so and in such a way that all who were in the said ship died suffocated. But Nicolinus, being in the said danger in the ship, remembered the miracles which he had heard said of Blessed Simon: and with whole heart and soul vowed himself to God and to Blessed James, asking them that by the merits of Blessed Simon they would free him from the said danger, asking also Blessed Simon that he should offer his prayers to our Lord Jesus Christ, that by his merits he might escape from the said danger: and if he escaped, he would come personally to visit the body of the said Blessed Simon, with an iron staff f in his hand, joined with an iron chain, with an iron collar around his neck. Which vow being made, immediately, at that very instant, almost before he had well completed the vow, there appeared to the said Nicolinus a plank g of wood coming before him: who seeing it at once seized it, and cast himself upon it with his breast: and by the virtue of God and of Blessed James and the merits of Blessed Simon, with the said plank he came out of the sea, and escaped from the said danger. Wishing therefore to fulfill the vow made by him and his promises, today, June 21, with the said staff in his hands, joined with an iron chain, with an iron collar around his neck, he presented himself at the coffin of Blessed Simon, magnificently praising God and Saint James and Blessed Simon, and leaving the said staff, chain, and collar upon the said coffin, testified all the aforesaid.
[54] and a possessed woman On August 24, Donna Mixina, daughter of the late Relo wife of Bert, of Butrio, who dwells in the land of Galixani in the county of Bologna, 25 years of age, swore that it had been about fifteen days, that she being in her house in the land of Galixani and drinking, had been seized by a demon; and it seemed to her in that drinking that she was drinking a demon. And immediately she suddenly began to do as the possessed do, crying out and doing other things as the possessed do, so that no one could hold her. Yet she said, that she being on August 13 in her good senses, both she and her mother vowed themselves to God, asking God that by the merits of Blessed Simon he would free the said Mixina from the said infirmity. Which vow being made, immediately on Saturday August 14, the said Mixina was led, not yet freed, upon a cart to the coffin of Blessed Simon, and there remained possessed and afflicted until the following Sunday after dinner: and on the said Sunday after dinner, by the virtue of God and Blessed Simon, she was freed. And therefore wishing to make the above public, today she presented herself at the coffin of the said Blessed Simon, whole and freed from the said infirmity; praising God and the glorious Virgin Mary and Blessed Simon, and remaining in her true and good senses.
[55] In the year 1323, Indiction 6, on March 1, Donna Sandra and Donna Rossa sisters, and another and daughters of Franchus de Sambuca, who now dwell at Bologna in the parish of Saint Catherine of Saragossa; of whom Donna Sandra is 24 years of age, and Donna Rossa 35 years of age, swore that Sandra was possessed and afflicted, and so remained for the space of four years and more, so and in such a way that she almost continually did as the possessed do; and moreover she was so seized by a demon, that in no way did she go, nor would she go, nor could she go to any church, nor would she or could she behold the Body of Christ. And also on Thursday, February 24 last past, on the day of Saint Matthias, she suddenly lost her sight, so that in no way could she see. And thus being, the said Donna Rossa on Sunday, the next-to-last Sunday of February last past, seeing Donna Sandra her sister so burdened, said to the said Sandra: "My sister, I wish you to offer prayers to God, that by the merits of Blessed Simon he may free you: and I also, though unworthy, ask him with whole heart, that by the merits of his most glorious Mother Mary and of Blessed Simon he may deign to free you." And then she had the said Sandra led by force on the said Sunday to the coffin of Blessed Simon, and there they remained with her until yesterday, the last day of February, at the hour of None. And on the said day, at the hour of None, she was freed from her loss of sight and from the seizure of demons, rising, and afterwards with bent knees before the coffin of Blessed Simon and placing herself before the Crucifix, praising God and the glorious Virgin Mary and Blessed Simon and all the Saints of God devoutly and benignly: and there at the said coffin she remained until today, and she saw the body of Christ, praising him and commending herself to him.
[56] a boy is saved from being crushed by an ox and a cart On March 22, Donna Lucia, wife of Francesco Ugo of the parish of Saint Leonard, mother of Bartholomew her son and son of the said Francesco, which son of hers is 2 years of age, swore that her said son Bartholomew being on March 19 of the present month, on the public road of Saint Vitalis with a little rod in his hands, two oxen with a cart were passing along the said road, and one of the said oxen struck the said boy with its horns, and cast him to the ground before it, and placed one of its feet upon the face and head of the said Bartholomew, and the other upon the body of the said boy: and so as the ox went on, the wheels of the said cart passed over the body and arms of the said boy, and over the rod which he had in his hands. And then the said Donna Lucia, who was under a portico before the said road, seeing this, cried out with a great voice with all her heart: "O Saint Simon, help my son whom I commend to you." And immediately she arose and went into the road, and took her son, and raised him from the ground, thinking him dead: and found him whole without any evil or languor, and the said rod which the said boy had in his hand was wholly broken by the wheels of the cart. And therefore, not wishing to be ungrateful for so great a benefit and to hide the above, today she presented her said son at the coffin of Blessed Simon, with a wax image the size of the said boy, which image she left upon the said coffin.
[57] On March 29, Blasius of the late Peter Pasaselate, who was of the land of Funus in the county of Bologna and now dwells in the land of Ronci, father of Jacob his son, another deprived of walking is healed and Donna Bartholomea wife of the said Blasius and mother of the said Jacob, which Jacob is 6 years of age, swore that the said Jacob their son had remained for the space of five years unable to walk, and at the time of the death of Blessed Simon was thus impeded. And the aforesaid being in the said land of Ronci, and hearing of the miracles of Blessed Simon, they vowed their son to God and to Blessed Simon, and led him to the coffin of Blessed Simon, and there remained for the space of two days, and afterwards departed with their son not freed. And after this, remaining in their home and again hearing of the miracles of Blessed Simon, they vowed him to God and to Blessed Simon with whole heart and soul, saying, that if their said son, by the virtue of God and the merits of Blessed Simon, should be freed, they out of their poverty would offer a wax image upon the coffin of Blessed Simon. Which vow being made, at once within three days after the said vow, the said Jacob being in their house, suddenly began to walk and was well freed, and walks rightly and well, and remained without any languor. And therefore wishing to keep the vow, today they presented their said son with the image at the coffin of Blessed Simon whole, praising God and the glorious Virgin Mary and Blessed Simon.
[58] likewise a weak man On April 9, John son of Francesco master of Julianus, of the land of Gazani in the county of Bologna, who is 25 years of age, swore that in the year last past, in Holy Week, he being in a certain field to hoe, there suddenly came to him the greatest pains in his hips, so that he could in no way walk or move: likewise a weak man and so he remained impeded with the said pains until the time when the crops are reaped. And so being, hearing of the miracles of Blessed Simon, he vowed himself with whole heart to Blessed Simon. Which being done, within a few days in the said land of Gazani he suddenly arose and was freed. And therefore unwilling to be ungrateful for the said benefit and grace,
today he presented himself freed at the coffin of Blessed Simon, with a large "bottaglia" (bottle or cup), which he offered and left upon the coffin of the said Blessed Simon.
[59] On April 11, Agnesia, daughter of the late William de Cluxuriis of Archoato in the county of Piacenza, who is 15 years of age, as they assert, and an epileptic girl swore that for a year and more she had suffered from the falling sickness, and on the day of the feast of the conversion of Saint Paul last past she came to stay in the city of Bologna, with Donna Joanna of the late Henry of the parish of Saint Vitalis and Donna Bisina de Castrofranco: and in the said house she frequently had the said infirmity. And thus being, the said two Ladies Joanna and Bisina told the said Agnesia that she should vow herself to God and to Blessed Simon, that he might free her. Agnesia, hearing the aforesaid, with whole heart and soul vowed herself to God and to Blessed Simon, offering prayers to them that he might free her from the said infirmity. Which vow she made two months before, and from that time onward she had not suffered the said infirmity, which she used to have twice in the week and twice in the day.
NOTES.
CHAPTER VI.
The other part of the Third Process.
[60] An epileptic girl is healed On April 20, Donna Bartholucia, daughter of the late Bandinus and wife of Sumentinus de Orto, who dwells at Rocca Maggiore, mother of Juliana her daughter, who is 5 months old, swore that the said Juliana had suffered from the falling sickness and had suffered for the space of two months and more, and she had this evil at least twice in the week: and for three weeks and more she had made a vow to God, that if by the merits of Blessed Simon he would free her daughter, she would have the said Blessed Simon painted. Which vow being made from that time onward, her daughter did not suffer the said infirmity: and therefore she truly believed her to have been freed, because as she said above she had been suffering the said infirmity at least twice in the week. And as she had vowed, she caused the said Brother Simon to be painted, and presented her daughter at his coffin. On the same day, Martin Acursius of the parish of Saint Anthony, laborer, and Egidia his wife swore that Cursius their son, who is 4 years of age, was born ruptured, and so remained until the month of January or February last past, continually wearing a "brachirolum" (truss). And so remaining, in one of the said months, they remembered the miracles of Blessed Simon; a herniated boy and made a vow to God and to Blessed Simon, that they would present their son at the coffin of the Blessed today on the day of his feast, and would leave at the coffin the truss which he was wearing, and would affix the said coffin with a wax "statuale" (candle). Which done, immediately the said Cursius was freed, and from that time onward remained freed, and so today they presented him, as they had vowed, at the coffin, and left the truss, and affixed the coffin, praising God and Blessed Simon.
[61] On May 3, Donna Bartholomea, daughter of the late Boninsegna and wife of Mercadantis Bazallenius, another herniated of the parish of Saint Aegidius, mother of Antony her son and son of the said Mercadantis, which their son is 9 years of age, swore that her said son on occasion of a certain "sorevarli" or "chazetina" (garment or the like), was ruptured eight years before, and so remained ruptured and devastated until the time of the death of Blessed Simon. And Blessed Simon being dead, she and the said Mercadantis her husband, seeing the miracles of Blessed Simon proceeding from above, vowed and made a vow to God, that if their son by the merits of Blessed Simon should be freed from the said infirmity, they would have a lamp burning at the coffin of the said Blessed. And immediately they began to have the lamp burning, and for three months and more their said son, by the virtue of God and the merits of Blessed Simon, has been freed. On May 14, Antony Jacob Ortolanus, of the parish of Saint Anthony, swore that a certain son of his, named Nannes, who is 40 months of age, a third at the beginning of Lent last past fell strongly on the ground, so and in such a way that he was ruptured and devastated. And the said Antony seeing this made a vow to God, that if by the merits of Blessed Simon his son should be freed, he would have the said Blessed painted at the said church of Saint Anthony. Which vow being made about three weeks or so, his son was and is freed. And he stayed until today to lead the son to the coffin of Blessed Simon, because he wanted to see firmly if he was freed: and so truly by the virtue of God and the merits of Blessed Simon he has been freed, and he presented the son at the coffin of Blessed Simon.
[62] On June 14, Donna Bartholina, daughter of the late Stephen Ortolani of Faenza, and wife of the late Ugolinus de Cassadello, taken in feet and hands who dwelt in the city of Faenza in the district of the Mountain Gate, swore that 25 months before or so, she being in the city of Faenza under the portico of a house of a certain neighbor, was suddenly impeded in her feet and hands and in her whole person, so that she could in no way help herself or move. And thus remaining, hearing the miracles of Blessed Simon, she had herself carried on a cart from the city of Faenza to the coffin of Blessed Simon, about four months before: and there she remained until the day of the feast of Blessed Simon in the month of April last past: and on the said day she was and is freed, so that now she helps herself with hands and feet, and goes where she wishes without any help. On June 26, Jacobinus of the late Amicus de Vauxio of Milan, healed after falling from a high place who is 11 years of age, swore that 26 months before, he being in the city of Siena working on a certain palace of those of the Saracini; he with many others fell from the palace to the ground: and the others who fell with him immediately died, and he escaped; yet all his bones were broken, and all his interior parts went down, and he could not help himself with his right arm at all. And yesterday when he had come to the city of Bologna, he newly heard of the miracles of Blessed Simon; and hearing them, he came with whole pure heart and mind to the coffin of Blessed Simon: and there he remained yesterday and today: and by the virtue of God and of Blessed Simon today he was freed in the said arm.
[63] On June 29, Donna Richelda, daughter of the late Gerardinus and wife of Bert, of the parish of Saint Mary of the Temple, who is 40 years of age, weak in the knees swore that for three years she had been unable to help herself in her knees, and in them had pains, so that she could not in any way stand straight, nor walk without a staff. And hearing the miracles of Blessed Simon, she vowed herself with whole heart to God and to Blessed Simon, asking God that by the merits of Blessed Simon he would free her. Which done she was freed, within about eight days after the vow, so that she walks rightly and without a staff and without pain everywhere. Wishing therefore not to hide the aforesaid, today she presented herself freed at the coffin of Blessed Simon, praising God and the said Blessed. On July 26, Donna Egidia, wife of Bernardus, of the parish of Saint Aegidius, swore that a certain son of hers, named John, for two months and more had been ruptured: which she seeing, on the 22nd of the present month, she vowed her said son to God and to Blessed Simon, that they would take care to free him. Which vow being made immediately and without delay her said son was freed: and therefore she presented him today at the coffin of Blessed Simon.
[64] On August 10, Francisca, wife of Jacob Victuralis, of the parish of Saint Cecilia, swore, that a certain son of hers, named Bartholomew, from the day of his origin was born with a very great "natta" (growth) in his head on the right side, a boy with a tumored head as large as a goose's egg, and that no remedy by the counsel of any physician could ever be made for him, nor could he be freed. Seeing therefore and hearing the miracles of Blessed Simon, Francisca made a vow to God, for six months or so, that if her son by the merits of Blessed Simon should be freed from the said infirmity, she would offer and present upon the coffin of the Blessed a wax head of a boy. Which vow being made, about fifteen days later, the son was wholly freed. Wishing therefore to fulfill the vow, today she presented her said freed son, with the wax head, at the coffin of Blessed Simon.
[65] frightened by a diabolical apparition On October 3, Rainaldus of Laurence of Florence, familiar of Marcus of the late Lanfranchus of Pistoia, who now dwells at Bologna in the lodging of Sottus the innkeeper, swore that on Friday last past, the first of the present month of October, he being in the said inn at night, heard the horses in the said inn quarreling with each other: and hearing...
these things immediately he rose to go to them. And going to the stables it seemed to him to see a man upon one of the said horses, and immediately he was so frightened that he fell to the ground and could not help himself, nor walk, nor even speak: and so remained until day. And when day came Don Marcus coming to the stable found the said Rainaldus lying thus, and that he could not help himself or speak; the said Marcus vowed the said Rainaldus to God and to Blessed Simon, and had him led yesterday morning thus sick to the coffin of the Blessed: and on the said day yesterday at the hour of None he was freed, and therefore today he presented himself. On October 4, Donna Pellegrina, wife of Francesco of the late Jacob de Apoxa of the parish of Saint Vitalis, a nearly blind girl swore that a certain daughter of hers named Cola, 25 months of age, from the day of her birth until ten days after, remained blind of eyes, and did not see: but after the said ten days had passed she began to see a little, but badly: and so she remained almost blind, unable to see, until one month lately past. Donna Pellegrina, seeing the miracles of Blessed Simon, vowed her daughter to God and to Blessed Simon, and led her several times to the coffin. And it has been fifteen days and more that she was freed: and today she presented her.
[66] An epileptic boy In the year 1324, Indiction 7, on April 16, Donna Massara, daughter of the late Damianus and wife of Bonaventure of John de Mascardis, who dwells in the land of Funum in the county of Bologna, swore that a certain son of hers, named Antony, who might be 3 years of age, was sick with the falling sickness; and seeing and hearing the miracles of Blessed Simon, she made a vow to God, that if by the merits of Blessed Simon her said son was freed, she would carry him to the coffin of Blessed Simon, and offer to him a wax candle of the size of the said Antony. Which vow being made, immediately he was freed: and it has now been eighteen months since then, in which he has not had the evil, which he was wont to have twice or once in the week. On the same day Donna Margaret Ghiberti, wife of Baldinus de Marciis, of Funum in the county of Bologna, likewise a girl nurse of the daughter of Veneticus de Personaldis, who is 18 months old, swore that on the 5th day of the present month of April the said daughter being in the courtyard of Margaret, suddenly fell to the ground on her left side, and immediately lost her left arm and hand, nor could she help herself. And then she carried her to a certain physician, thinking that her arm had been moved out of joint: and the physician found that the arm was not moved, and so she remained for a day and a night. Seeing this, she vowed her to God and to Blessed Simon, that if he freed her, she would lead her to the coffin of Blessed Simon, and give him a wax candle of the size of the said girl. And immediately the vow being made, she was freed and began to move her arm.
[67] On May 5, Donna Verdillia, daughter of Benvenutus de Tizanum in the county of Bologna, and wife of Martin Honebenis of Cor in the county of Bologna, swore another lame that a certain daughter of hers named Bartholomea, who is 4 years of age, was born lame, and so remained for the space of three years. And the said Donna Verdillia hearing of the miracles of Blessed Simon, vowed her daughter to God and to Blessed Simon about a year before, and about a year before had carried her upon the coffin of Blessed Simon; and there she remained for the space of one day. And so being at the coffin, the said Bartholomea was freed, and she carried her home freed, and she remained until today looking to see if she remained freed. Seeing therefore that she remained freed and is freed, a swollen shin lest the above be hidden, today she presented herself at the coffin of the said Blessed with a wax image, leaving it upon the coffin. On July 11, Donna Agnesia daughter of the late Bartholomew and wife of Albertus Batanus of the parish of Saint Sigismund; and Egidia her daughter, 14 years of age, swore, that the said Egidia from the feast of Carnival-privation last past until through the whole of June last past, remained sick with the gravest infirmity: and that on the right side she had her body wholly swollen, and her leg and shin with a very great swelling, so that she could scarcely walk. And thus remaining, they had the counsel of several physicians, who all said that it was necessary to make a plaster and to place it over the said evil, that it might make a head, so that it could be cut. Hearing these things on the 1st of the present month of July, both the aforesaid made a vow that, if the said Egidia were freed without an incision, they would give and present at the coffin of Blessed Simon a large wax shin, and would have a Mass said to the honor of God and Blessed Simon. Which vow being made, immediately she began to be freed, and felt herself freed.
[68] On July 28, Peter Jacob of Castagnolo Maggiore, a herniated boy who now dwells in the land of Ronci in the county of Bologna, swore that a certain son of his, named John, on Saturday the vigil of Saint Catherine last past of Lent last past, from a certain squasso (jolt) was ruptured. And then he led him to Bologna to a certain physician, and had him treated well for a month, and he could not be freed. And seeing that he was not being freed, Donna Texola, his wife and mother of the said John, about a month before, made a vow to God, that if her said son by the merits of Blessed Simon should be freed, she would carry him to the coffin of Blessed Simon, and offer upon the said coffin a wax boy, and that all the time of her life she would fast the vigil of the said Blessed Simon on bread and water. Which vow being made, after a few days the said John was freed, and today is freed.
✠ "I John Nicholas de Manellis, Notary by Imperial authority, have publicly written all the said miracles written above, as they are written, and reduced them to public form, by authority etc. as above."
NOTES.
CHAPTER VII.
Appendix of miracles to the third Process.
[69] Healed: a twisted foot In the name of Christ. Amen. In the year of the Nativity of the same 1324, Indiction 7, on the 11th day of September, Donna Sania, daughter of the late Fugerius and wife of Benvenutus Michael Leci, who dwells at Guazarellum in the county of Bologna, before me John de Manellis Notary below and the witnesses placed below, corporally swore on the holy Gospels of God, that a certain son of hers, named Michael, 4 and a half years of age, being in his home, in the month of July last past, one morning there came to the said Michael his right leg, from the knee down to the foot, wholly twisted almost in the manner of a bow, and he could scarcely walk: and when he walked, he carried his right foot wholly twisted. And the said Donna Sania seeing this, carried her said son often to physicians, and found none who could free him or knew how. Seeing then that he could not be freed, she remembered the merits of Blessed Simon; and being in her home, with whole heart and soul made a vow to God, that if her said son by the merits of Blessed Simon should be freed, she would lead him to the coffin of Blessed Simon, and cause to be offered upon the coffin a wax leg with the foot, and would have said and celebrated a Mass in honor of God: which vow she made in the month of August last past, one evening. And the vow being made, immediately in the morning her son rose and was freed from the said infirmity. Wishing therefore to fulfill the vow, today she presented her said freed son at the said coffin of Blessed Simon with the aforesaid vow, praising God and Blessed Simon: all which she said and testified in the presence of Master Tomasinus of the late Master Lanzalotus, Peter Gerardi the shoemaker, and Masimbene of Albertus, as Witnesses.
[70] On October 8, Don Franciscus of the late Don Pascha the draper, of the parish of Saint Lucy, eyes dashed out and Donna Joanna his wife, swore, that a certain son of theirs, Nicholas by name, 4 years of age, being under the portico of their house, on Holy Week of the year last past; another son of theirs, named Antony, being upon a certain horse of the said Francesco, and leading it through the porticoes and running, the said horse struck the said Nicholas so and in such a way that it threw him to the ground, and on a certain little wall he struck with his head, so and in such a way that his eyes wholly came out of his head, with a great effusion of blood: and at once they sent for many physicians, who all concordantly said that he had lost his eyes and sight. And then the said Donna Joanna, hearing the above, with heart and soul made a vow to God and to Blessed Mary, that if by the merits of Blessed Simon her said son were freed, she would lead him to his coffin, and offer to him a wax image.
And the vow being made he began to be freed, and on the day of Easter Sunday following in the morning, he was wholly freed. On the same day, place, a vehement fever and with the same witnesses, Don Francesco by his Sacrament said, that on the 3rd of the present month of October, he being in bed, suddenly there came to him very great fevers, so that he believed he would die at once: and so being in the tremor of death in bed, he remembered Blessed Simon. And then he made a vow to God and to the glorious Virgin Mary, that if he by the merits of Blessed Simon were freed, he would have the said Brother Simon painted: which vow being made, immediately he was and is freed. On November 24, Donna Francesca, daughter of the late Spinelli and wife of Jacob Benvenuti, of the parish of Saint Mary of the Germans, swore that a certain son of hers, named Julius, 7 years of age, for about two years was ruptured and devastated, nor could be freed: and for about two months she had made a vow to God, a grave hernia that if her said son by the merits of Blessed Simon were freed, she would continually for one year have a lamp burning at the coffin of the said Blessed: and that a month and more her said son has been and is freed.
[71] In the year 1325, Indiction 8, on March 15, Donna Jacobina called Mina, swelling of the eyes daughter of the late Jacob and wife of Nicholas the Smith of the parish of Saint Blasius, swore, that a certain son of hers, named Francus, 20 months of age, when he was 3 months old, his eyes grew very large and swollen: and afterwards she had him treated: and at the end his eyes were wholly "descolated" (discharged), and the physicians were all agreed, that they were wholly discharged and he could never see: and so he remained for four months not seeing. And seeing this she made a vow to God, that if her said son by the merits of Blessed Simon should be freed, she would with her own hands carry him to the coffin of the Blessed, and upon the coffin offer a wax image of the size of Francus, and that she all the time of her life would fast the vigil of Blessed Simon: Which vow being made, almost on that day, her said son opened his eyes with the clearest light, and was and is freed.
[72] On March 24, Guido Bitini Capelli of Crevalcorio in the county of Bologna, who is 20 years of age, swore that in the month of May last past, a grievously affected throat suddenly there came to him in his throat on the left side a certain ailment which is called Noli-me-tangere (Touch-me-not), so and in such a way that he almost died from it. And seeing this, a certain aunt of his, named Donna Bona, made a vow that if the said Guido by the merits of Blessed Simon should be freed, she would lead him to the coffin of the said Blessed, and would affix the coffin with a wax candle: which vow being made, immediately on the same day he was freed.
[73] On the same day, Albertinus Honenbene Terclarius, of the land of Galeriae in the county of Bologna, and Donna Laurentia his wife, swore that in the month of February last past, in the time of carnival, suddenly there came to the said Albertinus, in his chest on the left side, a very great swelling, pain of the side so and in such a way that he could scarcely rest. And then they came to Bologna, and took counsel with the physicians of the city of Bologna, who all said that he was dead and could not escape: for they said this was the infirmity called Noli-me-tangere; and that they did not know what counsel to give him, except that he should go to the shrine of Saint Anthony of Vienne. Hearing this they departed from the city of Bologna, and were going home weeping, not knowing what to do, since they had four small sons. And today three weeks, remaining and believing to die, they made a vow to God and to the Blessed Virgin Mary, that if the said Albertinus were freed by the merits of Blessed Simon, and if they would restore him freed by his merits to his four said small and needy sons, they would come personally to the coffin of the said Blessed, and would offer to him four wax images, as they had four sons. Which vow being made he began to be freed, and after the vow in the space of eight days he was legitimately and well freed and is.
[74] On the same day Rainerius son of the late Peter the shoemaker of Modena, of the cinquantina of Saint Mark on the inner side, swelling of the leg who is 27 years of age, swore, that in his left leg there came to him a certain very great infirmity, so that it wholly strongly became swollen, so and in such a way that twice in the said infirmity he was cut by Master Peter called Medighini, son of Master Henry Cardellini of Modena, physician; from which infirmity and incisions, though solidified, the said leg and nerves remained retracted, so and in such a way that the said Rainerius could not walk without crutches, and so he remained for two months. Seeing then that he could not be freed, and remembering the sanctity of Blessed Simon, he made a vow to God and the glorious Virgin Mary, that if he by the merits of Blessed Simon freed him, he would come personally on foot to visit the coffin of the said Blessed Simon: which vow he made in the month of May last past. Which vow being made, about six or eight days after the said vow, he was legitimately freed, and walks freely everywhere.
[75] a dying boy On April 10, Donna Jacoba, daughter of the late Gerardus and wife of Guido the shoemaker, of the city of Modena, of the cinquantina of the Butchers, swore that a certain son of hers named John, 11 and a half years of age, being in bed on Sunday, on the feast of Saint Lazarus last past, suddenly there came to him that he lost his sight and speech: and so he remained well from morning until None almost in transit. Seeing this she began to cry out and weep, so that all her neighbors, men and women, were passing to her: and some of them went for the physicians of Modena. Which physicians, when they saw and touched him, said he was in danger of death, and in no way could they open his mouth or his hands; and he did as those do who die. She seeing and hearing that her said son was in danger of death, remembered Blessed Simon, and before all her neighbors, men and women, who were in her house with her to see the above, she with a loud voice and whole heart began to cry and say: "O most holy Simon, I beg you, that it may please you to return my son to me, if it is for the better, and to free him." And this said, immediately, before all her neighbors men and women and many other persons who had come through there, believing her said son to be dead, her said son rose from his bed without any languor, and began to dress himself, and said to his mother: "Where have those great lights gone, which were just here?" And when he was dressed, he went outside freed. Which seen, all who were there, with bent knees praised God and Blessed Simon. And therefore unwilling to be ungrateful for the said benefit, but to visit the body of Blessed Simon, she came from the city of Modena with her said son on foot and barefoot and in a hair-shirt to the coffin of Blessed Simon: and today with her said son she presented herself at the coffin, narrating the above, and most devoutly praising God and Blessed Simon: all which she said in the presence of Guido Antonii Sartor who was of Modena, John Dominici of the parish of Saint Vitalis, Matinus Jacobini Barberio, and Raido Albertini of the parish of Saint Sigismund as witnesses.