ON BLESSED JOHN OR JOAGNOLO
TERTIARY OF THE ORDER OF SAINT FRANCIS, AT CAGLI AMONG THE PEOPLE OF URBINO IN ITALY.
ABOUT THE YEAR 1370
PrefaceJohn or Joagnolus, Tertiary of the Order of Saint Francis, at Cagli among the people of Urbino, in Italy (Blessed)
BHL Number: 0000
D. P.
[1] From the first times of flourishing Christianity, Cagli, adorned with Episcopal dignity, then Callium, sent Bishop Gratian to the Council of Rimini, whose immediate successors are mostly unknown, and all the predecessors handed over to oblivion. Her dignity remained to her name, even after the city was transferred from its former place to another neighboring one, by the command of Nicholas IV in the year 1289; and although it itself, as the same Pontiff had ordered, should thereafter be called Saint Angelus Papalis, it could not be established in common speech. With the migrating citizens also migrated most of the Religious, In the time of Thomas Sferrato Bishop of Cagli and among these the holy Order of Saint Francis, after twenty-six years it was endowed with city status: to which thereafter it gave several Bishops, commended for the best administration of their office and the holiness of their morals. One of these was Brother Thomas Sferrato, translated here from the Bishopric of Citta di Castello in 1353, and died in 1379 after the completion of a distinguished work, the cathedral. "While he lived," says Ughelli in his Bishops of Cagli, "Blessed John de Satiatis, of the Order of Saint Francis, distinguished for the glory of miracles, flew to the heavens."
[2] Arturus referred him in his Franciscan Martyrology to this 16 April, died with great reputation for sanctity, citing the Annals of Luke Waddingus for the year 1379. Who although nowhere mentions the day, and the people of Cagli themselves deny either that the day of his death is known, or that any certain day is observed more festively in his honor; nevertheless they suggest those things which prove a certain perpetual cult of his among the people of Cagli; not only among the people of Cagli, but also among neighboring peoples. For every year a certain Confraternity comes from Gubbio to venerate his sacred bones: just as in the year 1649 Henry Lindanus, our countryman, then Penitentiary at Loreto for the Belgians, afterwards famous for Apostolic labors and a glorious death among Catholic soldiers in Denmark, and most dear to the King himself, though non-Catholic, he is venerated as Blessed, for his title of indefatigable charity and eminent sanctity, wrote to us. Into whose hands had come the Annals of Cagli of Doctor Francis Bricchi, Episcopal Theologian then living, he transcribed from their volume 1 what he had read there for the year 1372, as though the Blessed had died in that year, and in that same year his body was placed under the altar: which seems to us less probable. Nevertheless we note the same year, because we do not know how long he may have preceded him by dying. The words of the Annals rendered from Italian into Latin, and very conformable to the context of Waddingus, are these.
[3] "This same year was memorable for the death of Joannino de Satiatis, and he shines with miracles: who died with the reputation of great virtue and Christian perfection: whence also as time proceeded, held to be Blessed, he obtains today public veneration. He was born at Cagli in the region of Saint Augustine, whose parents if they were humble in condition and lineage,
he himself was sublime in merits and morals, and an emulator of the religious life, so far as he was able, under the habit of the third Order of Saint Francis. Through the intercession of the deceased, many favors and miraculous healings were obtained divinely by various persons piously invoking him; and especially at the time of pestilence raging at Cagli, when very many had hope, not vain, of recovering their health in him, and felt their prayers heard, as also various others in their diverse necessities having recourse to him: just as appears from the authentic process, which, written in the year 1374 by the hand of Bartholomew Guido of Imola, is preserved in the archive of the convent of Saint Francis in our city.
[4] The body rests in the church of the same convent above a certain altar, the body in the altar of the Advocates where the following inscription is read, composed in verses, of a rude age and rude style.
"This Saint shines with miracles, as always appears: Whom the God of Gods called to the kingdoms of the poles. This work was made by Master Anthony of Castro, to the honor of Blessed Joannino, in the time of the Guardianate of Semperino of Urbino, 1372." Master Anthony of Castro, most celebrated cutter and sculptor of stones and rocks, as here above for the year 1372.
[5] The altar itself in this year 1641 became more enlarged and more ornate at the expense of the Lord Advocates, now renovated more splendidly. who claim the chapel, long since endowed by themselves, as their own, on the left side of the high altar; and it is the first along the wall of the church, leading from the altar to the door. There, before this new and beautiful splendor of marble and paintings had been added, there was a little window, within which very often a lamp burned, kindled in honor of Blessed Joannino, commonly called Joanniolus: whose body rests at the foot of the new icon, above the said altar, in a chest artfully wrought. Moreover the altar itself is adorned with a beautiful and large marble structure, which with bases, columns, architraves, cornice of Corinthian work, surrounds the image, by the design of Benedict Genestra of Fossombrone, most experienced in forming such works for the elegance of aspect.
[6] Thus far the Author of the Annals, who both explains more clearly and distinctly the favors obtained through the intercession of the Blessed, and somewhat more diffusely than Waddingus: but according to our custom we have asked for the original Acts themselves from Cagli, and through our now Penitentiaries at Loreto, Hector ab Albada and Christopher Grinus, the former for the German, the latter for the English nation, it was effected that the much Reverend Lord Anthony Gucci, who then perhaps when these things were sought was present at Loreto, having come from Cagli for devotion's sake, and who said he was of the kinship and family of the Blessed, took upon himself the care of seeking documents of this kind: which at length he happily found, and as described from the one surviving copy are given.
SIX MIRACLES,
Consigned in public instruments.
FROM A MANUSCRIPT.
[1] In the name of the Lord. In the year 1373 before Bartholomew Guido the Notary Amen. Be it manifest to all who shall inspect this present public page, that in the year from the nativity of the same Lord 1373, Indiction 11, on the 23rd day of the month of November, in the time of the most holy Father in Christ and our Lord Gregory XI, Pope by divine providence, Lady Clare, daughter of Matthew Amador of Castro Honesti, and wife of Stephen Alexius of the village of Mulio, of the territory of the city of S. Angelo Papalis, together with her said father, husband, and Lady Gilia wife of Matthew and mother of Lady Clare, personally existing in the church of Saint Francis of the said city, before the venerable body of Blessed Joagnolus of the said city, wishing to acknowledge the favor which she had received from the Omnipotent for the prayers of the said Blessed, so that this miracle to the perpetual memory of the matter might be divulged to everyone; by her oath, personally rendered in the hands of me the undersigned Notary, verbally said: That when in the month of October just past, from a very great fever and two bubos on her body, from the epidemic then raging, she labored in extremities; on account of which she had lost the sight of her eyes and speech, the woman who had labored under the plague, believing for certain that she was then passing away; and with her said father and mother and husband standing by there, in the house of her said husband in the village of Mulio aforesaid, believing at that very moment that the same Lady Clare was giving up her vital spirit (just as they, father, mother, and husband, with their oaths, bodily and personally rendered in the hands of me the undersigned Notary, in the word of truth said and affirmed); the said Lady Clare, with the memory of the aforesaid Blessed coming to her, in her heart cordially offered prayers to the same Blessed: namely that he would deign to supplicate Jesus Christ, freed by a vow made to the Blessed, that He would free her from the aforesaid death and infirmity: and that, when she was freed, she would come to the aforesaid church to visit the body of the same Blessed; and would offer to him the tunic and other clothes then around her body, which her mother and other women had dressed Lady Clare in, so that she might be buried in them. And when the said prayers and vow were made, immediately the aforesaid Lady Clare began to see and speak and recover: and from that hour onward she recovered from day to day; and with a healthy and cheerful face at the tomb of the said Blessed, she discharged the same with the greatest devotion and contrition of heart, she offered and left her tunic, inner garment, cloth, headband, shoes, a certain beautiful purse with belt, and one new double-weight of wax: Lady Clare and her father, mother, and husband begging me, that concerning the aforesaid for the future memory of the matter I would draw up a public document.
And these things were done in the aforesaid church, in the presence of religious men Brothers Stephen and Anthony vicar of the place of the said church of the said city, and of other Brothers of the said place, and also of Anthony Bernard of the village of Mulio aforesaid, and Vannes Cursius of Aquaviva-montis of the territory of the said city, and of several other witnesses existing there, called and asked for these things. And under this form, in exception to the following miracle, besides the aforesaid Brothers, there attest Dominic Angelucius and Sanctes Nannis, of Cagli. In the third instrument Brother Stephen, Vannes Pelonghe, Nannes Justini of Fano, Marianus Vannis of the quarter of S. Angelo, Dominic Venturella of the quarter of Saint Francis of the said city of S. Angelo: who or some of them are also noted under the fourth, fifth, and sixth instrument. But each is individually concluded with a Notarial subsignature in this manner: "I Bartholomew Guido of Imola, by Imperial authority Notary (added in the rest, except in the first, and now Chancellor of the aforesaid city of Cagli) to all and each of the aforesaid, while they were thus being done in the said church, was present, and being asked to write, I wrote and published, and affixed my accustomed sign, in testimony of truth. ✠"
[2] In the name of the Lord. Amen. In the year from the nativity of the same 1374, Indiction 12, on the 11th day of the month of September … Be it manifest … that Benedict Jacomitti of the castle of Vallis, of the territory of Spoleto, coming personally into the church of Saint Francis of the city of Cagli, in the year 1374 the same things are attested on 11 September. in the presence of the honest man Brother Jacob of the city of Saint Leo, Guardian of the place of the said church, Brother Francis Brocard of Cagli, and Brother Paul Vannis of S. Angelo in vado, Conventuals of the said place, before the tomb and body of Blessed Joagnolus of Cagli, with his sacrament rendered in the hands of me the undersigned Notary, with great devotion, said: That when, already eight years ago or thereabouts, the same Benedict in the time of the mortality then raging in his said castle, a certain Benedict already anointed for death, was suffering a bubo in the shin or thigh on the left side next to the body, and a great fever, and was in extremities, so that he had already lost speech, and people had already gathered to him, with Lady Jacobetta his mother, believing him then to be giving up the spirit; and the Priest had come there with Unction to him; and with the same Benedict hearing his said mother saying then that the same Benedict was dead: the same Benedict, recalling to his memory the miracles which he had already heard concerning the said Blessed, vowed himself then to the said Blessed, and in his heart with devotion said in supplication, that the said Blessed would deign to supplicate Jesus Christ, that He would free the same Benedict from the said evil; and that if he were freed, he himself would come to the said city of Cagli, to visit the body of the same Blessed, and would offer him two ounces of wax. And when the said vow was made, the aforesaid Benedict felt himself standing somewhat better, and from that hour onward to recover: and thence after a few days he was freed, and with great devotion at the tomb and body of the said Blessed he offered three candles of the weight of two ounces of wax and more; asking me, etc.
[3] On the 11th of May … be it manifest … that Dominic son of Joannino, formerly of Faenza and now inhabitant of Fano, on 11 May a certain citizen of Fano coming into the church of Blessed Francis of the city of Saint Angelo Papalis, before the tomb and body of Blessed Joagnolus of the said city, and before Brother Stephen of the said city, of the Order of Saint Francis, conventual of the place of the said church, with his sacrament bodily rendered in the hands of me the Notary, said: That when, already four years ago or so, he was suffering from an immense fever and acute pain of the head in the said city of Fano, out of the devotion which he had for the said Blessed Joagnolus, he vowed himself to the said Blessed Joagnolus that he would deign to free the said Dominic: and that he would come to the said city of S. Angelo to the said church, to visit the body of the said Blessed: and would offer at the tomb of the said Blessed one beautiful head of wax. And when the said vow was made, the said Dominic immediately began to rest and sleep: and thus while resting it seemed to him that someone was removing the hood from his head: and immediately he awoke, and felt himself freed from the fever and pain of the head. And before the said Brother, because the same Dominic could not then have any image of a head of wax in the said city of S. Angelo, he gave and offered at the said tomb pennies for the value of the said head, as Brother Stephen and the aforesaid Dominic said, asking etc.
[4] On the 10th day of the month of December … be it manifest … that Anthony Cicolus Rigusius of the city of S. Angelo Papalis and the quarter of Saint Augustine, on 10 December a man of S. Angelo formerly of Cagli concerning his little son coming into the church of Saint Francis of the said city, personally presented Paul his son, of the age of four years or so, healthy and joyful: and there in the presence of venerable
men Brothers Stephen and Ascanius, Vicar of the place of the said church of the aforesaid city, and of many other Brothers and men of the said city there gathered together, he stripped the same Paul of all the clothes and shoes which the aforesaid boy had about his back: and these, and a certain wax candle lighted, of the length of the stature of the said boy, he offered and left, in honor of the body of the said Blessed: and by his oath bodily rendered in the hands of me the undersigned Notary, as of a public person, in receivable word said: That when his above-said son in the month of November just past was suffering from the mortal epidemic disease, who had had three pestilential carbuncles, then raging in this city, namely three bubos, one namely on each side of the groin, and another on his body, and also a most acute fever; and was laboring in extremities, so that he in no way hoped for him to escape from this; out of the greatest affection which Anthony aforesaid had for the Blessed aforesaid while he was among men, as a neighbor and friend of the same Anthony, and on account of the good and holy works of the same Blessed, and the miracles manifestly shown after his passing to those who with devotion had recourse to him, he cordially and affectionately turned himself to the aforesaid Blessed and humbly supplicating said these words, namely: "Blessed John, I beseech you to deign to free this my son from the aforesaid pestilential disease and lest he die from it: for I promise you that when he is freed, before your body at the aforesaid church I will personally present him, and there in reverence of you to all wishing to see I will strip him, and his clothes, shoes, and one wax candle of the length of his stature I will offer and leave." And when these things were said, standing a little while, the boy visibly began to recover, and the fever to cease: and thence in three following days the said two bubos of the groin opened of themselves, and the other existing on the body vanished: and he recovered from day to day so that he presented him as above. And so that perpetual mention might be had of a true miracle of this kind, the same Anthony asked me the undersigned Notary, that I would make a public document of the premises.
[5] On the 12th day of the month of August … Be it manifest … that Brother William son of John Tavernarii of the land of Monda of the Duchy of Valentinois, on 12 August Brother William freed from a quartan fever. coming into the church of Saint Francis of Cagli, before the tomb of Blessed Joagnolus of Cagli, before the presence of Brother John Massi, and Brother Ascanius Batis of Cagli, conventuals of the place of the said church, with his oath rendered in the hands of me the undersigned Notary, spontaneously and with great reverence said, that when he was suffering a quartan fever in his person, for the year now just past; and in the month of July just past he had arrived in the said city of Cagli, he himself then going to Assisi to Saint Francis; having heard the fame of the aforesaid Blessed Joagnolus, with the greatest devotion he vowed himself to the said Blessed, while Brother William himself then suffered the aforesaid fever, and said that he asked the said Blessed, that he would supplicate Jesus Christ, that He would deign to free the same Brother William from the aforesaid fever, and if he received this favor, that from Assisi he would return to Cagli, to visit the body of the said Blessed, pilgrimaging in reverence of that Blessed; and would offer to him at his tomb one wax candle, of the value of six pennies. And when the said vow was made, he then entered the said church, and made his prayers before the tomb and body of the said Blessed: and immediately he felt himself recovering, and from that hour onward the same Brother William did not suffer that same fever. And thence he departed to Assisi to Saint Francis: and thence returning he came into the said city of Cagli into the said church before the said tomb and body of Blessed Joagnolus, before the presence of the said Brothers: and with the greatest reverence and devotion revealed the aforesaid things, and offered before the said tomb one wax candle of the value of six pennies.
[6] on 26 April another from the plague. On the 26th day of the month of April … Be it manifest … that Christopher son of Peter of the castle of Honesti, of the territory of the city of S. Angelo Papalis, and Lady Ceccha, wife of the late Angelo of the said castle, coming personally to the church of Saint Francis of the said city, before the tomb and body of Blessed Joagnolus of the said city, existing in the said church, personally presented themselves, before the venerable men Brother Anthony Baldachini of the said city, Guardian of the place of the said church, and Brother Anthony Batis of the said city, conventual of the said place: and with their oath bodily rendered they said: That when Christopher was suffering a very great fever and one bubo under the right armpit and pain of the head, and was on the point of death, and despaired of by the physician, the said Lady came to the said Christopher, and vowed the same Christopher to Blessed Joagnolus aforesaid, that he would deign to ask our Lord Jesus Christ that He free the said Christopher from the said infirmity. And then the said Christopher, understanding the aforesaid words spoken by the said Lady, vowed himself from a pure heart to the said Blessed, and offered to offer to the said Blessed one arm of wax: and the said Lady offered to give one beautiful cloth. And immediately the said Christopher, the said vow being made, felt himself recovering: and from that hour onward the said Christopher from day to day recovered, and was freed thence after a few days. And the aforesaid cloth which the said Lady had promised she gave and presented to the tomb and body of the aforementioned Blessed.
Thus far the Instruments in the order in which they were collected, not in which they were made; all except the first pertaining to the year 1374, in which it is clear that "anguines" is said for pestilential carbuncles, "sustellam" for armpit.