Francha the Virgin

ON SAINT FRANCHA THE VIRGIN,

ABBESS OF THE CISTERCIAN ORDER AT PIACENZA.

YEAR 1218.

Francha, Virgin, Abbess of the Cistercian Order, at Piacenza in Italy (St.)

By D. P.

Two distinguished persons in sanctity and miracles, at the beginning of the 13th century, the Church of Piacenza raised to the heavens; namely, Saints Raymond and Francha: under whose appellations a twin church was built and named in the 16th century, [At almost the same time they flourished at Piacenza and are venerated in a similar way,] which serves the Offices of the Cistercian Virgins, who have a double cenobium in that city. Saint Raymond has his feast and Ecclesiastical Office on 28 July: Saint Francha on 26 April, or outside her own church on the following day, lest the feast of Saint Mark be impeded. Each Office was inserted in the old Piacenza Breviary, but was omitted when that was reformed by Pius V, then a new one was assumed under the rite of Double, with the approval of the sacred Congregation of Rites, in the year 1610. Their Lives the very Reverend Father Alexander Fiaschi, Rector of our College at Piacenza, had copied from the MSS of the monastery of Saint Francha in the year 1673, Saint Raymond and Saint Francha: at the request of those desiring them, with the help of Father Camillus Hectoreus, Professor of Rhetoric there. But the Life of Raymond is in Italian, in place of which we wish and still await the original Latin text, such as Ruffinus, Canon of the church of the Twelve Holy Apostles (which with his body also afterward kept the name of the Saint), wrote in the twelfth year after his death, and handed over to the Poor of the Hospital erected by the same Saint. The Life of Saint Francha, as it has been written in Latin, so also as transcribed is here given: but illustrated in our manner.

[2] The author names himself Brother Bertram Reoldi, and professes himself a Cistercian by profession, whose Life was written in Latin by Brother Bertram expelled from Milan because of his zeal for the Catholic religion, while he was pleading the case of his Morimond monastery at Parma and Piacenza before the Apostolic Legate, to have come to the notice of that holy Abbess, then still resting in the monastery of Pittolo founded by her outside the city, and to have written her Life in the year 1326, year 1326, from the report of both the Benedictine and Cistercian Virgins, whose monasteries she had successively ruled, and from various public Instruments, as well as from the faith of those who under oath attested to miracles done on themselves or others. That life in the last century saw the light once and again, but in the Italian idiom: and in the present century, reaching up to year 18, both this and the other of Saint Raymond Petrus-Maria Campi, Canon of the Cathedral church, composed anew and illustrated in many places, published three times in Italian by others. and augmented with memorials of things done after the first writing — the same being the most accurate compiler of the Piacenza history afterward published in three volumes; by whose industry and diligence in searching out all things I was able in the observations and notes to the Life to elucidate every minute detail. Therefore I will not be more prolix in the preface, for whatever concerning the cult of the Saint, the churches and chapels and altars erected as witness, ought to have been brought forward, is supplied by the last two chapters of the Life written by him, which we have rendered into Latin as an Appendix. Appendix on the cult from Petrus-Maria Campi. The same prefaced his work with a proemium like a Panegyrical oration on that text of Ecclesiasticus 24: "I like a vine have brought forth sweetness of fragrance," adapting it to Saint Francha, who was called by the cognomen of her paternal family "de Vite-alta" (of the high vine).

[3] Though not yet enrolled in the number of the Saints, yet to be called Holy like very many others of both sexes, since she is venerated by Ecclesiastical Office with the permission of the Apostolic See, She was not, at least solemnly, canonized: Ferrari judged in the Notes to the Catalogue of the Italian Saints. But Petrus-Maria has no doubt but that she was expressly enrolled among the Saints: but because the memory of such an action is lacking, he seeks the author and time of that canonization in chapter 2 of the Life; and at length concludes (for within the year 1266, when the body was elevated; and 1326, when the Life was written, he establishes it must have been done) that it is most likely that Gregory X, a Piacenzan by nation, and the closest in blood relation to Carentia the first Abbess after the Saint, in the year 1273, in the preparation of the Council of Lyons, having delayed not a few days at Piacenza in the month of October, having seen and examined the documents on the life and sanctity and miracles of Saint Francha, permitted her to be honored by the erection of altars and the annual celebration of a feast. Yet he deservedly judges that the thing was done with no great noise, and probably by oracle of the living voice. but perhaps by oracle of the living voice through Gregory X. For how otherwise could it have been, that a Milanese monk, having been for forty-two years in the Cistercian order, would have marveled, as he himself relates, at the sight of the image and the hearing of the name, as of a Saint of the Cistercians? How also would not the whole Order immediately have undertaken to venerate her, as the first foundress and propagator of the institute in Lombardy, solemnly canonized by Apostolic diploma in ceremonies? Moreover, this deduction of Petrus-Maria, which

cannot rise above the authority of a more than probable conjecture, seemed to Luke Castellino so clearly to have demonstrated the matter, that he had no doubt in his treatise On the Certainty of the Glory of the Canonized Saints, page 437, to enroll Saint Francha, as canonized by Gregory X, among those inscribed in the Album of the Saints with public and solemn rite, of which he weaves a rather large Catalogue.

[4] Proper Office among the Piacenzans and Cistercians, Brother John d'Assignies, a Religious of Cambron, in the Lives of the Saints and Blessed of his Cistercian Order, published at Mons in Hainaut in the French language in 1603, had nothing else to follow but the Lessons and Antiphons of the Cistercian Breviary, published, as he prefaces, in 1501; which together with Brother John's French interpretation Petrus Maria Campi republished at the end of his Italian Life; and it appears that they were collected from the Life written by Bertram; just as from the same they had previously been collected, and still are, though much shorter, the Lessons of the new and old Breviary of both the Piacenzan and Cistercian for the day 26 April. Since it is established concerning these, and it is no less shown that Francha has and had nothing less than the greatest Saints as regards arguments of public cult among the Piacenzans and neighboring peoples, and the whole Cistercian Order; there is no point in enumerating the Calendars published by the private authority of monastic writers, name in the monastic calendars: in which the name of the same Saint is inscribed on this 25 April, and these are: the Calendar of the Cistercian Order printed at Dijon in 1617, Hugh Menardus in the Benedictine Martyrology, Henriquez in the Cistercian, Bucelin in the Benedictine Menology, and the already above-cited Philip Ferrari, to say nothing of other writers of Cistercian affairs who mention her in passing, and likewise with the aforementioned are by name cited by Arthur du Monstier in the Sacred Gynaeceum. To whom finally is added Claude Chalemot in the Series of the Saints and Blessed of the Order.

[5] Feast of the Translation on 28 August. Moreover, omitting these, as well as the eulogies to be read in them, it deserves especially to be observed that not only the Birthday of the holy Virgin, this day in which we are or if this is impeded the following day; but also 28 August, was annually celebrated with religious solemnity by the nuns of Saint Francha; and this because of the memory of the elevated body translated to the altar in the year 1266; as is established from the Indulgences which a hundred years ago, for the new temple of Saint Francha within the Piacenza city, ten Cardinals proposed to be obtained there. That Translation is accurately described by the author of the Life, and made by the authority of the Ordinaries, sufficed for the canonization of that time; even granted that the express approval of the Roman Pontiff was never required.

PRELIMINARY LETTER

Of Brother Lanfranc, a contemporary Prior.

on the glory of Saint Francha revealed to a certain monk.

Francha, Virgin, Abbess of the Cistercian Order, at Piacenza in Italy (St.)

BHL Number: 3092

a

BY LANFRANC FROM MS.

CHAPTER I

[1] To Lady Carentia, Abbess of ^b Loco-santo, and to all the virgins and widows serving Christ in the same place with her, He protests that from affection of pure charity, Brother Lanfranc, humble Prior of Ponte, the consolation of the Paraclete. With how great sweetness of affection I love you in the charity of Christ, and with how great solicitude I am eager to serve your progress, to acquiesce to your petitions, to obey your orders, Christ himself is witness, to whom whether absent or present we strive to please: for of this chaste love I have no other witness, nor strive to have another, because I shall never find a like one. Faithful witness, who, immersing himself as worthily as sweetly in the innermost recesses of the very conscience, both causes us to love, and rewards what we love. The unanimity of all the Saints, having attained the glory of this testimony, did not sufficiently attend to what unbelievers believed of themselves, and reckoned the reproaches of those reproaching as nothing. which he learned from an eyewitness, I have briefly run over these things, because I know that there will be many detractors from this little work; and those incredulous of divine miracles, tearing at God's kindness toward us with rabid mouth. But we, taking confidence from the religiosity and purity of the Brother, who both heard these things with his ears and confirmed them with his sight, passing over the venomous hisses with deaf ear, have decided to comply with your will. Therefore I will begin the narration from this; and this simply and purely, as I received it from the mouth of the same Brother, changing neither sense nor words; except only this, to write in simple style. that what he expressed to me in the vernacular, I have put down in letters; preferring to incur the mark of rusticity rather than to commit the crime of falsehood: for I did not think it worthy to obscure the purity of the theme with ornaments of words, or to veil with the cosmetic of secular eloquence the simple truth.

CHAPTER II

[2] A certain Brother, of honest life and admirable simplicity, staying with us, though for a little time, being placed in the world, from the very time of his childhood had manfully renounced the acts of the world. When therefore on the sixth day after the solemnity of the Lord's Nativity, the other Brothers had betaken themselves to the Hour of Terce as usual, A certain one in the Chapter house suddenly becoming mute he sat outside the Choir. And when Terce being completed they entered the Chapter, as is our custom, he rose to ask pardon; but being raised from the ground, he spoke nothing whatever. I, supposing some weakness, ordered him to depart and sit. And when afterward I met him concerning this very matter in the hall, he nevertheless remained mute: and marveling greatly at the novelty, I sent him into the infirmary. Yet not desisting even so, I questioned him again and again, that he might tell the cause of this new taciturnity: who at last, overcome by our importunity, wrote that he was awaiting the coming of the Abbot of ^c Columba. after three days, before the whole Convent, But when evening had come, being stupefied, as I judge, by his thoughts and by the magnitude of the vision, he remained insensible until about the third part of the night. And when the third day at length had rolled by, and the Abbot was not yet coming; on the fourth day after refection he signed to me that I should have the whole Convent summoned. When they were called, his mouth was immediately opened and the bond of his tongue loosed, and sitting on the ground he spoke, blessing God: "Blessed are you, Lord my God, who have heard the prayer of your Virgin Francha. Blessed are you, Lord my God, who have opened my mouth and loosed the bonds of my tongue, the faculty of speech being received, to magnify your glory and the glory of your Virginity Francha." And when we all, stupefied alike, kept silence more and more, he, as if reading in a book, delivered everything clearly: and what is more wondrous, without changing the words, he often repeated this very thing, at my bidding. Now therefore let us return the point to the vision.

[3] So, as he was sitting on the ground, as was said, he added and said: "On Wednesday, when after Mass I was leaning in prayer before the altar of Saint Michael, he narrates that an Angel appeared to him, and had lifted my eyes to the altar, behold a most luminous cloud had entirely covered it: within which splendor, shining with excessive brightness, I was contemplating, fearful; and a voice came to me from the cloud: 'I am the Angel of the Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Virgin Mary, who have been sent by him from heaven with the army of Virgins. Now therefore diligently understand what I announce to you: for I preach good news of great joy to the holy Church, and to the Virgins of Christ; one Sister, of the Cistercian Order, the Abbess Francha, Virgin of Loco-santo, with how great glory and immense honor and great joy has been carried to heaven by the army of Christ, that he might explain that Francha has been received into heaven, and presented to Christ her Spouse in his glory. But I wish you to understand, that when the Virgin Francha was being borne to heaven by the army of Christ, the prince of the World on the opposite side with his army was there, and sought to disturb the way of Christ's bride: and finding nothing in her of his own, with great shame and immense sadness, confused, departed with all his company. Now therefore I wish to relate to you a part of those things on account of which the Virgin Francha has been joined with the holy Virgins of Christ in heaven. who, the world despised, from love of Christ entered the cenobium, From her childhood she despised the grandeurs, heights, riches, vanities, and glory of the world: since her nobility was such, that if these things had pleased her, she could have had them and used them. But she, for the love of Christ, despised and spurned them all: she loved Christ, and Christ loved her: truly she left the world, and entered a monastery, which monastery is in the City of Piacenza. She is now made the bride of Christ, and Christ has been made her spouse, and she has been made the mother of that monastery. What humility, what benignity, what patience was in her! How many prayers, how many tears did she pour out privately before the majesty of Christ, because of the desire she had, that she might be with Christ her Spouse in his glory.

[4] 'Therefore, while she was remaining in her monastery, a new flock of the Virgin Mary Mother of Christ was planted in the territory of the City of Piacenza. But where it was first planted, it did not please Christ that it should continue there, and he led it into the desert at ^d Monlana. Now the Abbess Francha was visited in her own monastery, that she should leave her flock in the city, and thence was directed to rule another outside the city and with the flock of the Virgin Mary Mother of Christ should proceed into the desert at Monlana, to pasture it. And she fulfilled the will of Christ. After these things, she in the desert at Monlana, with the flock of the Virgin Mary, being in works of penance; it pleased Christ to lead the Virgin Francha with her flock from the desert back to the place which Christ specially sanctified for her and for those dwelling there. Whence it is the will of Christ, and of the Virgin Mary his mother, that that place be called Loco-santo. While Abbess Francha was keeping and pasturing the flock of the Virgin Mary in that Loco-santo, then that he saw her in glory, Christ called her to himself. But you will see her; because with her two Sisters, that is, with two Virgins, she will come out to you, and you will diligently understand what she will speak to you.'

[5] Then therefore three Virgins suddenly proceeded from the cloud, clothed in white garments: whose inestimable beauty speech is not sufficient to express. On their heads shone most splendid crowns, on which the flowers of lilies bore the sign or rather the triumph of immaculate modesty. Then she from the midst spoke to me, saying: 'Brother, I am the Abbess Francha. Therefore you will say to the Abbot of Columba, that he may announce to my Sister Carentia and to all my Sisters, that they ought to rejoice over me, because I am joined, with the holy Virgins Iphigenia and Cyrilla; with these my Sisters in heaven, with Christ my spouse in his glory; whom with all my soul and all my mind I loved on earth.' And these things said, they likewise withdrew into the cloud,

These being taken away, the voice which had first spoken to me, again said to me: "Now I want you to know, who were those her two Sisters, who came forth together with her. One was Iphigenia, ^e daughter of King Agrippa, who was veiled by the hands of the Apostle Matthew: the other was ^f Cyrilla, daughter of a certain Roman Emperor, whose name was Decius Caesar, who caused many of the Saints of Christ to be killed. All things therefore which you have seen, and heard, and are about to hear, you shall announce to the Abbot of Columba, and commanded to relate these things, and to the Prior of Ponte, and to the whole Convent, that they themselves may be witnesses of her glory on earth. Again you will say to the Abbot of Columba and to the Prior ^g of Ponte, that they are to have all these things written. Furthermore, let the Abbot of Columba endeavor, either through himself or through his messengers, to announce to the Pope ^h, that it is the will of Christ and of his mother the Virgin Mary, [these being reported to the Prelates, that they may decree the cult of Blessed Franca.] that the Virgin Franca be honored on earth with the Virgins of Christ, who with them is honored in heaven: and it is the will of Christ, that her body be taken from the place where it is, and more honorably placed in the same basilica of the Virgin her Mother: for it is fitting that the daughter be associated with her mother. But if the Abbot of Columba shall be unwilling to obey the command of Christ, let the Prior of Ponte be zealous to intimate it to the Bishop of Piacenza ⁱ."

[6] When I had heard all these things, therefore, I silently pondered within myself: "If I say these words to me, they will not believe: because the malice and infidelity of men is so great, that it does not permit them to believe in the miracles of Christ and his Saints." And while I was turning these and other things over in timorous thought with myself, the voice again to me: "Do not," he said, "speak to me in your heart, but speak with your mouth whatever you wish; fear not." And I, fearing and trembling, said: "These words, Lord, will scarcely be believed by me, because men are incredulous, and perverse, and I am a vile monk and sinner: Cause, I beseech, to announce these things rather to Bishops or to any great Clerks." And he: "Hear," he said, "my Brother, Christ did not have his Angels evangelize his nativity to great Kings or Princes, or Priests; but to Shepherds, guarding the flock of their cattle; but also he revealed his resurrection to a woman who had been a sinner, he is deprived of voice. and she announced it to his Disciples; and you, because you wished to resist my vision, shall not be able to speak, until you have announced these things." And when he had said these things, he was silent, and all the vision suddenly disappeared.

CHAPTER III.

[7] Hence therefore Lady, hence, Holy Lady, ponder, and let your daughters ponder, with how great a glue of charity in the bowels of Christ we ought to love one another, because Christ has granted us to be sharers in your joys; namely that he has deigned to reveal in our monastery the glory of her whom you have deserved to have on earth as a living Mother, the writer's conclusion. It is fitting therefore that we be zealous with equal vow to imitate her footsteps; because if we shall be zealous followers of her humility and patience, we shall without doubt, Christ helping us, obtain forever her glory of blessedness and the summits of her sublimity. Amen.

NOTES.

ACTS

By Brother Bertram Reoldo. From a Piacentine MS Codex.

Franca, Virgin, Abbess of the Cistercian Order, at Piacenza in Italy (St.)

BHL Number: 3093

By BERTRAM FROM MS.

PREFACE.

On the acts, morals, miracles, and life of Lady Franca, holy Virgin: which Preface, although to some in some things it may deservedly seem odious, yet in future times considered, is presumed to be fruitful in very many, like the chestnut from its husk.

CHAPTER IV

[8] About to describe the morals, life, and miracles of Franca, the holy Virgin and Abbess of the Cistercian Order, in the manner of many who have written the Acts of the Saints, it seemed good to me too, wishing to open more clearly the cause of this writing, first to take up the testimonies of Divine authority; which seem able to be applied both to her of whom they are written and to me presuming. For as Isaiah wrote, "Unless the Lord of hosts had left us a seed, we should have been as Sodom, and should have been like to Gomorrah"; and when, according to David, "men rose up against us, and when their fury was enraged against us, perhaps they would have swallowed us up alive; but blessed be the Lord, who has not given us to be a prey to their teeth; for our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth." Is. 1:9; Ps. 123:4; Ibid. 6

[9] For when in the time of Lord Pope John ^b the twenty-second a most grievous error enveloped Milan ^c and many cities adhering to it, the writer driven from Milan, it happened to me, Brother Bertram Reoldo, vilest of monks and a sinner, an unworthy Priest, that by the zeal of the Christian faith and also a fragrant zeal of ecclesiastical right, on the last day of the month of May, in the year of Christ's grace one thousand three hundred and twenty-four, certain chief heretics and favorers of heretics opposed themselves against me. Who when they had commanded me at once to depart from the monastery ^d of Morimondo, in which I had now lived for forty-two years, and I did not consent; immediately I was assigned to six ^e "malandrini" (brigands), who, beating me severely, despoiling me, and injuring me, by force dragged me out of both the monastery and the cloister, for the zeal of religion, and atrociously threatened me lest I should further return, and that I might not return, they set several brigands in the same monastery: and thus I was made "a stranger to my brothers, and a pilgrim to the sons of my mother, because the zeal of the Lord's house has consumed me." I left not only that place, but sorrowing I left also my country, because I could not do otherwise. But with the good will, and letters of commendation of the Officials and Seniors of my House, I was transferred to the monastery of Ponte Trebbia, that to Lord Bertrand, ^f Cardinal Presbyter of the Title of St Marcellus and Legate, who then was at Piacenza, and with the Cardinal Legate, I might be able more freely to have recourse, and declare to him the state of my said monastery; which I did, as long as he stayed at Piacenza.

[10] But after that Lord betook himself ^g to Parma, my Prior and Cellarer led me there, that from the same Lord we might seek counsel and help concerning the care of our monastery. proceeding to Parma, And while we stayed there for some time, when we often came together in the church of St Quentin ^h for the sake of prayer; as I was considering the figures of Saints affixed there, there met my eye the image of a certain Saint, in a white habit, with a black veil, holding a Pastoral staff in her hands; which appeared like a new prodigy ⁱ in my eyes, because I never saw such a thing, nor heard anything similar from anyone. he sees the image of St Franca, Therefore pondering for many days what this might signify, through myself I could not weigh it, because no name was affixed to the figure; and burning with thoughts, desiring to know what it meant, I asked the Priests of the church: who said that she was St Franca, Abbess ^k, but whence she had been, or what she had been, they did not know. Over this response I grieved, and to God that he would deign to manifest it to me, I supplicated with sufficient desire.

[11] The Lord, therefore, hearing the desire of the poor, returned thence to Piacenza, revealed it to me in such ways, and by now indeed forgetful, and not speaking nor thinking about it. For when a little time afterward I had returned to Piacenza, a certain venerable man, a great and powerful Cleric, Doctor of Ecclesiastical Law, Chaplain of the Supreme Pontiff,

and Advocate of the Cistercian Order, who had left Milan on account of the faith of the Church, and had followed the Lord Legate, speaking with me concerning the conditions of our Order, among other things said that he desired to see the monastery of Ponte, because since he had been at Piacenza, he had not seen any monastery of the Order, except that of Plettolis, in which St Franca lies, he learns where she is buried: and for whose sake alone he had visited it. Hearing this, immediately the fire of my desire, which had now grown lukewarm, began to warm again and to ask, what kind of Saint that was. And when he had related many good things concerning her, he said he wondered that I did not know her, because she was of the Cistercian Order, and Abbess of the House in which she lies, of the same Order.

[12] My spirit therefore was anxious beyond the usual, so that scarcely ever have I conceived so great a desire to obtain any temporal benefit, as to know this more profoundly. But because I was a guest, and having proceeded there, and timid especially of entering a women's dwelling, delayed too long, at length I scarcely received permission to go there. And when I had hoped there to have to stay less than one day, delighted by the amplitude of what was related to me in words, and shown in writing, it was necessary for me to be wholly occupied for six days, around the Nativity of Blessed John the Baptist. And there, but also elsewhere in the monastery of St Syrus, although with humbler testimony than was expedient, yet because I was now senior in age, and also burdened by a modest time, and having been taught many things concerning her life, I learned for the most part by feminine speech what I propose to write; satisfying not so much only my own vow, as also that of the Convent itself, and of those desiring these very things to have been written from the beginning. But since never had such things with such desire appeared to them as to me; therefore I was asked to write them by the whole Convent: which Convent was of sixty-five nuns ^l, of whom many had persisted more than fifty years in that house, and had seen those who conversed with Blessed Franca.

[13] Turning over in mind the saying: "He who readily believes is light of heart," I was being delayed, while the Scripture says, "He that believes let him not make haste": and Isaiah suggesting, "He that is unbelieving, his soul shall not be right in him": but also Christ sounding terribly in the ears of my heart, "He that believes not is already judged"; I was animated to write. Ecl. 19:4; Hab. 2:4; Is. 28:16; John 3:18 But I did not presume, until Paul, who ascended to the third heaven, came saying, "Charity believes all things," and so on. 1 Cor. 13:7 Compelling therefore no one to belief by authority, which I lack; but persuading by truth, with which I burn; he decides to commit her to writing, I exhort to the reading, not so much to confirm the authority of the Church, as to occupy time in spiritual things; and if any building up of the spirit can thence be obtained by any. For I myself, refreshed thereby, rejoice and chant with the Psalmist: "In the voice of exultation and confession the sound of one feasting." Ps. 41:5 For how should I not rejoice and exult, and praise God in his Saints? who seeing the world perishing, and as an axe laid at the root of the faith, with the flood of errors so filling all, that we seem worthy of damnation from every side both in the world and in religion; I have found an ark newly fashioned in the Cistercian Order and also laid up, reckoning that to this he was led by God, for contemplating and declaring which, I believe that God has heard me in the hidden place of tempest.

[14] And although he has proved me at the waters of contradiction, yet he has led me wondrously to the harbor of desired quiet; first indeed through the said Lord Legate, providing for me, more harshly despoiled, from the care of the living fountain for two months, in which I was refreshed with clothing beyond my thought. Before this, and when God lifted me up, and placed me as in the Paradise of delight, the monastery of Ponte, which is called "of Quartizzola": where how charitably I was and am treated, he alone knows, who is true charity, God; the same true peace, and established in a place of quiet: the highest peace, "which surpasses all understanding," to enjoy which continuously I supplicate for that same, however small it be yet divine, monastery. Hence I knew, hence I perceived, that to us Cistercians especially the seed of faith, hope, and charity has been left; and lest perhaps the fourth tablet should seem to be lacking, I have from thence been led to behold and embrace, and at the same time to set forth the appearance of new sanctity; filled with which, and refreshed wondrously beyond what can be believed, I extend my hands for setting forth the voices of inmost delight; suggesting to all, and induced to write by no other human affection. that they not believe me moved to this by flesh or blood goading me, since I am wholly far from them. Because both she, about whom I am to write, was of Piacenza, in generations long past, utterly unknown to me; and I a Milanese, far off and unknown to them. Nor let them suspect me to do this for any temporal benefit: because I, a sexagenarian and reckoned a monk, desire nothing beyond food and clothing, except to save my own and others' souls, if it be granted. Which may he himself deign to grant to me, who knows that I willingly labor in spiritual things for this purpose, that I may in some small way compensate past losses with some subsequent good things, even if less suitable; by his grant, to whom is all virtue, honor, and glory, for ever and ever. Amen. ^m

NOTES.

DIVISION OF CHAPTERS.

Chap. V. Here begins the Life of Lady Franca, venerable nun, Virgin and Abbess of the Cistercian Order, of Piacenza.

VI. A miracle done concerning the legumes of wine.

VII. That she might more easily bear afflictions and persecutions, she kept the head of a dead man on her table.

VIII. How Carentia Visconti was made a nun, and how.

IX. How Lady Franca was transferred to the Cistercian Order.

X. When the church was constituted: where, by what name called, and for what cause.

XI. What right the Ladies of St Syrus have in St Franca.

XII. By the merits of St Franca and Carentia the place grew.

XIII. That she passed the night after Compline not in bed, but in the oratory.

XIV. A monk Chaplain tested and saw what she did by night.

XV. A kinsman of Franca revealed himself to have died in error, and to be carried by the devil to hell.

XVI. The devil wounded the heel of St Franca.

XVII. The devil struck her on the mouth and teeth, with blood.

XVIII. From three roots three drops of blood came forth.

XIX. St Franca died prophesying, and was first buried.

XX. The first Translation of the Saint, when and why done.

XXI. The second Translation of St Franca, when, for whom, why, and how it was done.

XXII. One was drawn out from prisons by St Franca.

XXIII. A man contracted and forsaken by the physicians was freed by St Franca.

XXIV. A lame man, with his crutches left behind, was freed by St Franca.

XXV. A Milanese woman, blind for two years, was illumined through St Franca.

XXVI. A brigand deprived of sight, cured thrice through St Franca.

XXVII. A woman agitated by evil spirits, freed through St Franca.

XXVIII. A blind man who had been so for two years, but illumined through St Franca.

XXIX. A little boy made blind was illumined through St Franca.

XXX. A mark on the eye of a nursing girl was removed by the merits of the Saint.

XXXI. A swollen and hanging arm is restored to health.

XXXII. A drop of rheum cured through the Saint.

XXXIII. A Priest freed from the shipwreck of a river through the Saint.

XXXIV. A blind man because of the fall of hedgehog-burs, freed by the faith of his wife.

XXXV. A certain man deprived of sight by a husk of oats was freed.

XXXVI. A blinded man, made so and freed, offered one bowl and bucket.

XXXVII. One could not carry the reliquary of the Saint outside the monastery.

XXXVIII. A drop of the thigh was cured through St Franca.

XXXIX. A blinded girl, freed through St Franca, was made a nun.

XL. Pain of the ear and jaw cured by the merits of St Franca.

XLI. That a medicinal water from her bones was found to flow forth, as often as they were visited.

XLII. A bone of meat was cast out from the mouth of a nun in peril, by the merits of St Franca.

XLIII. A Milanese blind for two years, illumined through St Franca.

XLIV. The breast of a sick nun freed through St Franca.

XLV. On a lamp which burns continually.

XLVI. Blindness, arisen on the occasion of squirrel-furs, cured through St Franca.

XLVII. On a woman contracted in the hands and many blind freed through St Franca.

XLVIII. A bone of meat is drawn out from the throat by the merits of St Franca.

XLIX. Of one freed from poison taken and the disease that followed.

L. A contracted paralytic cured.

LI. A Genoese blind woman illumined.

LII. A nun cured of an infirmity of the eyes.

LIII. That a fire of the mill was extinguished, by the Relics being set against it.

LIV. Thieves repulsed and a fire extinguished by the setting of the Relics against it.

LV. An old blind man was made seeing through St Franca.

LVI. A woman who had lost her sight, recovered it.

LVII. A little one blind from birth is illumined.

LVIII. A nun suffering quinsy cured through St Franca.

LIX. Many miracles done, which are not written.

CHAPTER I.

The birth of the Saint, her religious life, her Prelacy of St Syrus, disposition for the Cistercian foundation.

CHAP. V.

[15] Lady Franca the holy is said to have been born of the noble family of the Counts ^a of Vidalta, of the City of Piacenza, of whom many nobles and powerful men still remain, both in the world and in Religion: to her mother it appeared several times in a vision, that she had a little bitch in her womb, which gave great barks. At which the terrified mother, her discreet ^b Confessor, with whom she took counsel, persuadingly answered: "You shall bring forth a faithful and sagacious daughter, who having a medicinal tongue shall with her barks put sins to flight, and shall preserve the faithful in God's service." Conceived therefore from her lawful Lord, Franca was born and baptized, and as soon as she was of fit age, her parents had her imbued with the Scriptures and with divine morals; eager to fulfill what had been signified to them beforehand. seven years old, she indicates that she wishes to become religious, But the Holy Spirit so wondrously advanced her, that before seven years complete she was declaring to her parents that she must renounce the world, and totally serve God in Religion. Her persistently importuning them, her parents offered her to the noble Monastery of St Syrus ^c of Piacenza, where also she was received with cheerfulness and devotion, with the greatest alacrity of all. She, conversing there in the habit of a little girl, in the manner accustomed to Religion, until the fourteenth year of her age, aged 14 professed in the monastery of St Syrus, so graciously conducted herself, that she appeared wondrous to all beholding: for in knowledge, morals, and abstinence, and in the other regular observances she excelled all.

[16] In all of which being very well proved, when in the same year, regular profession having been made, she was to receive the sacred veil from the Bishop ^d, to a certain relative of hers of the Confanonerii there appeared an Angel, who was veiling her; that it might be given to understand, that her consecration was being done divinely, which not only adorned her head, but hid her mind and body from all vices, and dedicated them to God's service. Which thence the more appeared, she advances excellently in virtue, because from then, as if transformed into a man, she took on a manly disposition and mind; so that thereafter she was vigilant in prayers day and night, shunning and abhorring all puerile, lascivious, and vain things; and she was always unceasingly occupied in divine offices, or prayers, or the labors ^e of her convent, and the services of the sick; always prompt and prepared for obedience, and in the works of charity she was never found to be wearied. Fasting three days each week on bread and water, she was not content with the common and regular fasts: all Lent of her monastic life she fasted continuously, so that she ate nothing cooked but bread; and lived most abstemiously: of which bread she ate the crusts very often with raw herbs or legumes, without salt with water; reserving fragments of bread to be distributed to the poor, for whose fostering she was piously solicitous. For although she was merciful and bland to all, sweet and benign, yet she was cruel and harsh to herself, and she not only observed the aforesaid form of abstinence when subject, but much more strongly as a prelate; except that on account of the infirmity of the stomach, with which she was weighed down from excessive abstinence, by the command of the Abbess and the exhortation of her companions, this remedy was made for her, all frequenting of physicians being refused. For Vezzolus, which is properly called artemisia ^g, or its seed, was boiled in wine, which she then drank, with all substance rejected; and so she was refreshed a little.

[17] Elected as Abbess, But when it pleased God to set a lighted candle upon the candlestick, the Abbey of St Syrus being vacant through the death ^h of her predecessor, all the nuns, who were about fifty, inspired by the grace of the Holy Spirit, concordantly elected as their Abbess and Ruler the gracious and holy Franca herself. Whose election by the Bishop ⁱ was rather graciously accepted, confirmed, and at the same time approved, and she was promoted and blessed to that office, that thenceforth for the honor of Christ, and for the honor of that monastery, she should bear the Pastoral staff; and by the subarrhation of a visible ring, be more amply and perfectly joined to the heavenly bridegroom, through merits of faith and virtues. she restores regular discipline: So therefore as the little bitch of Christ, now free, she began to cry out, and to drive away vices together with all harmful things from souls: so that nothing illicit was permitted to any of her subjects, nothing distorted remained in them unavenged. So solicitously she preserved to Christ unhurt from all evils and dangers, bodily and spiritually, that sacred flock of hers, in herself no less harsh than before, gentle and sweet in bearing and removing others' necessities and wants: not fearing losses or dangers of her own body, as long as she could effect the advantages of her Convent. Whence it happened that the Convent of those Ladies, both in spiritual and in temporal goods, was multiplied in her time, and was more devoutly loved and honored by the whole city.

CHAP. VI.

[18] But when those nuns had been accustomed, after the first water was boiled out, to change the legumes which they were cooking into wine, in order to prepare them for the convent's delicacies; Wine customarily used for cooking legumes, on a certain occasion while the venerable Abbess was at prayer, the Sisters running to the cask, which they had left as if full the day before, to take wine for the occasion of such change to be made; found the cask empty, so that they could draw no wine from it. The cause of which being questioned against the Officials and the ^k cellarers, how so much wine had been thus spent or rather lost; at Franca's prayer it fails, they all ran turbulently to the Abbess, complaining most harshly. Over which reproving their prodigality, she said, that this happened not because of the fault of the Officials, but because of the superfluity of delicacies. "But I trust," she said, "in the Lord Jesus, that if doing penance for the past you propose to amend in the future, and devoutly ask the Lord for grace, he will quickly restore to us the necessary wine." and on the sisters promising amendment it is restored. They therefore doing penance, and thus promising to amend, and devoutly turning themselves with the same venerable Abbess to prayer; at once the vessel appeared full of wine.

[19] Which receiving with joy (as many assert), after a short time had elapsed, forgetful of what had happened, the Sisters returned to their former ways; little valuing the admonitions of the holy Mother, as of a vile and dissimulating person. Perceiving this, he "who neither sleeps nor slumbers," the Lord, again on another occasion caused the Sisters to find another vessel similarly empty. About which no less troubled than before, after the sharper rebuke by their Abbess that followed; again turning to prayer with the same, under a sure promise of abandoning that vice, and so that abuse is corrected, asking the Lord, they found the cask again full, and they utterly forsook that vice. As however this vice of prodigality, so also other vices often through her admonishing, chastising, and praying, Christ powerfully and miraculously corrected and drove out from that monastery. Yet in process of time, the flesh, which dominated in some, not able to bear such great zeal of fervor and spirit in the new woman, at the instigation of the malign spirit, who envied her happy acts, at the suggestion of a certain fellow-cloistered nun, who according to the world was, as truly, the sister ^l of the Bishop, noble and powerful and shining with industry, whose mind the devil had kindled into ambition of that office, her nuns were moved against holy Franca, assailing her with various and harsh responses and manners.

CHAP. VII.

[20] O how blind ambition always is! which has taken away the Priesthood, profaned the holy temple of God, confused order, dishonored the kingdom, corrupted whatever was of religion; whatever of law, of life, of morals, of faith, of discipline. For after the dragon saw that, through the heavenly conversation of the holy woman, he was cast out as from heaven into earth; through Sisters loving and seeking laxity he persecuted the woman, who had brought forth a male, namely a manly disposition and purpose, as was said. And the serpent cast out of his mouth after the woman water as a river, moving against her not only the Bishop of the city, but also the people and the clergy: because "as the ruler of the city, so also the inhabitants in it." O with what insults, annoyances, and offenses was she assailed! with what afflictions distressed! the head of the factious sisters against Franca, And she who had decreed to sit quiet from her infancy; now made more mature, is forced to run not only outside her own, but also through foreign cities and places. We would tell wonders if we thought it expedient; not being ignorant of many causes, nor of the names and surnames of the persons. But though we are commanded to praise God, wondrous in his Saints; yet we are not permitted to judge blameworthy other servants, "who for their own Lord stand or fall"; and therefore we have believed these things suffice for those, who know from a few things to weigh greater.

[21] For the devil was procuring such things, that he might cause her to be drawn from the river, whom he himself could not draw to sin by himself. vehemently troubles her: Yet nothing could he for this, because she always advanced from good to better: who to show that she despised all things, was zealous always to have death suspected before the eyes of her mind. Because, as the Ladies of St Syrus say, she kept the head of a dead man before her on a dish. And the dragon enraged against the woman, because he could not prevail against her; went forth to make war with the rest of her seed. For with Reuben divided against himself, "the contention of the great-minded was found"; for "contention was poured out over the princes,"

namely of each woman, the one possessing and the one coveting, the relatives ^m and in-laws; and caused them to err not in a small but in a great thing. These immense dangers of bodies, of things, and of souls propelled Franca to no other refuge than to Christ. For the more she was troubled, but God consoles her in various ways. not so much because of her own contempt, as because of the social and fraternal charity with which she saw her companions in such things to be in peril, the more strongly by psalms and prayers, privately and publicly, day and night, she lay prostrate; and sending a continual embassy of tears, she entreated the things which were of peace; accustomed incredibly to these, sorrowing to be a Prelate and bound by the cares of others, she daily aspired how she might lead a quiet life, and free from cares exercise a solitary life. Whose desire was not wanting to him, who is wont to hear the desires of the poor, God: but by revelations he most often instructed her, and refreshed her saying: "Be of stout heart; it is near, that you may be freed by him, who does the will of those that fear him, and will hear their entreaty."

CHAP. VIII.

[22] That God might show her prayers to have been heard, especially through Carentia, about the year of the Incarnation of Christ one thousand ⁿ and two hundred, there arose a certain girl, by name Carentia, daughter of certain ^o Viscounts of Piacenza. She, exercising a presage of the future, entered the schools up to the fourteenth year of her age, and most copiously learned all philosophical and moral knowledge. Whence it happened, that as "by the word of the Lord the heavens were established, and by the spirit of his mouth all their virtue"; so this one also conceived in her heart, and daily treated with herself, how she might better despise the pomp and life of the world, to which she was incited by words and examples by parents and relatives, and consecrate her virginity to Christ and to his mother the Virgin. who by her counsel, About which, the fame of the Virgin and Abbess Franca having come to her, she would more often run to her; and intimating to her her purpose, she solicitously asked counsel from her. And she, perceiving this to be a gift from God, who through this seemed to wish to satisfy her desire, since of the Cistercian Nuns, whose Religion was ringing everywhere, there was then none at Piacenza; persuaded Carentia to set out, and to place herself at one of the monasteries of the Cistercian Order, of which there is and was a great plenty there; and manifesting her desire to some Holy women, about to explore the Cistercian Order, to learn and approve from them the monastic life. But the blessed Franca, thinking, that the holy form of the Cistercian Religion will so greatly please Carentia, that she cannot be moved from it, by agreement with her arranged, that if that life pleased her, she should return to her; and should intimate to her before professing; "because with you," she said, "I think, if you persevere in that holy purpose, to converse, and to receive the effect of my desire: for I know that if you persevere, God will be with you, and through you your parents will build a monastery pleasing to God, in which we will converse together, and gather and win many souls for Christ our Savior, according to our pious and holy desire."

[23] she takes the habit at Rapallo, By such counsels and admonitions, accustomed and as if divinely taught, Carentia, with merchants and two Friars Preachers [p] accompanying her, set out on her way and according to the aforesaid counsels had recourse to Rapallo [q], a monastery of the Cistercian Order of women: in which, as divinely embraced, she lived laudably for a year; and she was taught all regular discipline with all sweetness of spirit; and so through messengers she sent word to her parents, that they should provide a suitable company for her, because she wished to return home. Over which the parents being made joyful, they did not delay to accomplish it, honorably leading her home: thinking that she had changed her purpose of religion, because she was so quickly returning from thence.

[24] and returning thence to Piacenza, But after Carentia returned, after a few days she wished to see the venerable Lady Franca, whom she most affectionately loved, as a most reverend mother in Christ. Having seen her, and after a very long and sweetest conversation having been held, she related how she had learned the morals and the order, which pleased her most devoutly as an Angelic life; and she asked from her counsels, how she should bear herself henceforth. Therefore taught by her, and more by the Holy Spirit, when she was being solicited by her parents to be joined in matrimony to a noble man, to which she was sought by very many nobles; not once but always she most constantly answered, that she had vowed her virginity to God, she persuades that a monastery should be founded from her dowry. and therefore could consent in marriage to no man. "But if you wish," she said, "to honor and preserve yourselves and me, give what you would give me in marriage, that I may build a monastery of the Cistercian Order, in which I have resolved to accomplish my purpose." Although therefore grieving and wondering, yet unwilling to resist the spirit which was speaking, they decreed to consent to her. And she together with St Franca, co-laboring for several years, gathered one Garizia [r] de Tuna and several other noble Ladies of Piacenza; who with Carentia, now made eighteen years old, resolved to accomplish that monastic life, by the example of St Franca herself.

NOTES.

p Again Peter Maria fears lest there may be some error, because the Order of Preachers was only confirmed in the year 1216; and he doubts whether to choose these or to say they were ecclesiastics, preachers by office; or then not yet religious, but so named anticipatorily from the Order which they afterwards took up. I prefer the first conjecture, because the first companions of St Dominic, whom he had sixteen when he chose the Rule of St Augustine, were from Spain or Narbonese Gaul: and I think those Preachers were Cistercians, going from the Pontiff to the army of the Crusaders. Yet it could easily have been that, after the name of Preachers, common to all preaching the Cross against the Albigenses, the greater part of whom were Cistercians, passed specially to the Order instituted by St Dominic; the very author of this Life did not know how to distinguish, and erred by referring it to the signification known in his time in preference to the other.

q Rapallo, distant from Genoa toward the East about 18 miles, and lending its name to the inlet of the sea over which it stands.

r Peter Maria calls her "Galitia."

CHAPTER II.

The institution of the Cistercian nunnery: and in the government of the same the remaining life of the Blessed and her happy death.

CHAP. IX.

[25] Therefore, conference being made, and bringing together one mind concerning their temporal goods, with the counsel and help of Almighty God, and by the donation and pious offering of the Christian faithful, they acquired that place which is called ^a Mons-lana (Monte della Lana). To which coming Carentia with ten companions, A monastery being constituted at Montelana, with the counsel and help of Lord Bajamonte Visconti, Abbot; and of the monks of Columba, under whose counsels and governance they had placed themselves, in the year of the Lord one thousand two hundred and fourteenth, as their spiritual Mother they unanimously chose Lady Franca aforesaid; and calling her Abbess, as she already was, and constituting her their Ruler, with the consent also of the Bishop ^b of Piacenza, she was transferred from the monastery

of St Syrus, in which she had already lived for thirty years and more, to the aforesaid Place of Monte-Lana, Franca is chosen Abbess: in the same year in the month of October. And hence "two great wings were given to the woman," Carentia especially, and that Lady de Tuna, upon which she rested, as the ark of Noah upon the mountains of Armenia, that she might fly into the desert into her place, and they might feed her for a thousand two hundred and sixty days. The woman therefore fled in this just way into solitude, where she has a place prepared by God, "long before through the Prophet promising, I will lead her into solitude, and there I will speak to her heart": and there she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time from the face of the serpent.

CHAP. X.

[26] For, living in this place in great poverty and grave austerity for about two years; and migrating with her new flock, since "the earth helped the woman," it pleased her parents and neighbors to lead them back near the city: and they led them back to St Gabriel ^c de Vallera; where staying for a little time ^d, it did not please the Cistercian Chapter that they should stay there, because they were too near to the monastery of the monks of Ponte Trebbia. Wherefore they were compelled to move themselves to the place of ^e Plettoli, where now the monastery is situated. There they sowed fields, planted vineyards, at last she settles at Plettoli: and brought forth the fruit of birth; and the Lord blessed them, and they were multiplied exceedingly. For in the year of the Lord 1217 ^f, on Friday, the tenth before the Kalends of April, in the sixth indiction, by Lord Vicedominus ^g, Bishop of Piacenza and Count, where in 1218 a church is erected. was first constituted ^h a church in the court which was called of Opizo de Tuna, in honor of God and the Blessed Virgin Mary, at the instance and petition of the persons of the Cistercian Order, with the name then imposed on that place of St Mary "de Tertio-passu" (of the Third Step), namely at three steps, because before that as it were that convent rested, they had directed their steps to the aforesaid three places.

CHAP. XI.

[27] O Ladies of St Syrus, note, I say, note and consider, that to the translation of Lady Franca, your Abbess, the Bishop of Piacenza consented; for on this aforesaid day she was then living, when the very Church was being founded. For when it was now the thirtieth ⁱ month or so, that Franca had left you, ^k for whom also in your Monastery Binia was immediately substituted in her place while she was living, there is no doubt, with Binia, the Saint's rival, holding the government at St Syrus: that what had been done concerning her subject sheep, the Bishop could not be ignorant of. While therefore he tolerates her, and founds a new church for this one; it is plain that he accepts what has been done. Let therefore your ^l complaints now cease, since what is conceded by the authority of law, is so confirmed by divine providence, that by prescription passed of a hundred and more years, no access any longer lies open to you for moving a complaint against the persons of those justly possessing. and the Benedictines not having anything to complain of, Rejoice rather with us, and congratulate us, that such, as Saints Robert ^m and Franca, have come forth from you Black ones, who have honorably adorned us White ones. For if those your monasteries had not been good plants, such fruitful sprouts could not have come to us from them. but rather to congratulate, Therefore, since your honor is the rising and giving of such, because to give is more blessed than to receive; but our fruit is the end of those and the praiseworthy advance; let us rejoice concordantly, and exult in the Lord, who by communicating your dear ones to us, willed us to be "one heart and one soul" in Christ, both in Unity and in Trinity, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, magnifying for ever through infinite ages of ages. Amen.

CHAP. XII, CHAP. XIII.

[28] In the three aforenamed places therefore, holy Franca was devoutly conversing, no less harshly and religiously than was said above in St Syrus, on account of the advancement of the new monastery, but much more and more; so that her life, pleasing God, provoked many persons to admiration of her, and imitation. But also the life of the said Carentia, who had been constituted Prioress, incited the neighboring men and women to emulation of holiness; by whose solicitude, with her companions, this place last located grew in amplitude of possessions, and multitude of nuns and religious women, imitating the holy life of Blessed Franca. And rightly. For this Blessed one, wondrous in her life, besides what is written above, although after Compline she entered the Dormitory with the other Sisters, under Blessed Franca accustomed after Compline to pass the night in the church: yet she was never seen to enter the bed; but as was divulged through the whole convent, after she felt the Sisters to have gone to sleep, first having taken the keys of the church from the hands of the Sacristan, she entered the oratory, and there passed the night, until she herself should rouse her companions early enough for the Matinal hour. When she was doing these and similar things too grave and great, on account of the stomach pains which she had incurred, as was said, the Prioress and other Sisters were solicitously careful, that the Sacristan should not again allow her the keys of the church. The Sacristan observing this diligently, nevertheless she entered the oratory in the usual way, with Christ opening the doors to her, who is "the key, which opens and no one closes."

CHAP. XIV.

[29] Such things being divulged in that Convent, a certain monk of Columba, remaining in that monastery as Chaplain, said that he would not believe, unless it happened that he should approve this very thing with his own eyes. which exploring the incredulous Chaplain, He presumed therefore with excessive avidity on a certain occasion after Compline secretly to remain in the Oratory; where after a short time passing, he perceived and saw holy Franca coming, and bringing forth from her bosom, before the conventual altar, the head of a dead man. Having placed it on the Altar, a little book, which they say was a Psalter, she bound to her left arm, hanging down; so that if ever she should fall asleep, he saw her sleepless before the altar, she might also be roused from sleep by that little book shaking her: and thus the whole night before the sacred altar, with great and wondrous weeping, tears, and fervors, she was deploring now Christ's passion, now the glory of paradise, to which she sighed; now she declared her own and the people's sins; now she commended the dead, now the living to the Lord; sometimes she sought the suffrages of the Saints; now she repeated the punishments prepared for sinners; now especially with groans she implored refreshment for those in purgatory. to indulge in pious acts. While she thus continuously repeated these things all night long, and the monk was wearied to behold and await such and so many things together; at length, while she was rousing the Sisters for the vigils, the doors being opened as he secretly entered, so also he went out clandestinely; after Masses relating to those to whom he could, that they had not known the half of her affliction and sanctity nor had related it to him; relating more distinctly what he had seen in detail.

CHAP. XV.

[30] While she was conversing in this same last monastery, and passing the night in vigils, as was said, on a certain night there appeared to her a certain kinsman of hers, He understands a kinsman dead in heresy and damned: whom she loved very much, whose name and surname, although well known, yet out of reverence for the kindred is kept silent. This one therefore began to cry out and say: "O Blessed Franca, I am such a kinsman of yours, who across the sea, to which I had gone for the sake of trade, have died in heresy and in error, and therefore since your prayers weigh more heavily on me, do not weary yourself further for me, because the devil is carrying me into hell, where I am condemned by divine judgment." But she, raising her eyes, with groaning of heart and grief, saw and recognized the devil enormously carrying that kinsman of hers on his shoulders. He disappearing, immediately on the same day her convent being called together, she announced to them that her kinsman had died across the sea in error, wherein he was damned, and therefore they should not pray in vain for him, lest, which be far from it, they should be found to resist God. It was proved, and so it happened, manifestly shown.

CHAP. XVI, CHAP. XVII.

[31] In the same monastery it was many times heard by the nuns, that this Blessed one contended at night with the devil. Which when she concealed as much as she could, she is wounded by the devil, at length by divine permission, on a certain night while she was persisting in prayer in the usual manner, before the altar of St Michael, the devil wounded her heel so grievously, that on account of anxieties and pain she could not conceal it; nay it was necessary to show that heel, and for three artificial stitches to be sewn. On account of which being multiply questioned, she could no longer conceal, that the enemy of the human race, who had often struck her and was zealous to trouble her, had now so wounded her. Also on another occasion before the same altar of St Michael so the devil cast her weak and weary to the ground, and afflicts her to the earth: that from her mouth much blood visibly came out, and her teeth were loosened for many days, but not cast out; and her mouth also swelled much; which she concealed as long as she was reasonably able, but with necessity urging, she had to cautiously reveal it to some.

CHAP. XVIII.

[32] On a certain Sunday of Lent, on account of the stomach pains with which the Venerable Franca was tormented, Lady Carentia the Prioress with the nuns induced the afflicted Abbess her abstinence from more delicate food, to grant that parsley roots be cooked for her, and she eat them. At her long refusing, at length overcome by their prayers and insistence, she consented that it be done. And so the nuns, serving the Abbess, at the exhortation of the said Prioress and others, cooked three roots of parsley ⁿ in water quite artificial, and presented them before her in the common refectory. Which she gazing upon for a long time, in silence supplicated God, that he would deign to show what pleased him more; namely whether she should follow her accustomed abstinence, she causes to be proved by miracle. or that she should condescend to receive this refreshment, which was advised to her by her companions, being ready to obey his known will more quickly and more willingly. These things said, silently with grief of heart she cut the roots. And behold immediately from each of those roots drops of blood came forth: which showing to the Sisters, and manifesting that it was not the will of God, that she should consent to such delicacies; these being rejected she returned to the accustomed harshness of foods already long ago above mentioned, and the Sisters wondering at this ceased to importune her.

CHAP. XIX.

[33] In the year of the Lord 1218, in the month of April, she began to be gravely ill; and affirming that she was dying, finally sick, daily with words and works she admonished the nuns, to live honestly and holily, rendering glory and honor to the heavenly bridegroom Christ, and to his blessed mother the virgin, and to all the holy

Cistercian Order, for the observance of which she did not doubt that those reverently loving her should be crowned with eternal glory. To these and similar words she very often added: "This place is holy and pleasing to God, bury me in it; she disposes concerning her burial; nor permit my body to be transported from here in any way: except only, if to you or to this monastery the Priory ^o of St Victoria should at some time be given: then and in that case I grant that my body may be transferred there, and buried with that Saint, my sister. Otherwise I adjure you as much as I can, that you by no means permit my body to be transferred from the fellowship of my Sisters, lying in this holy place. For I foretell to you that, if in this holy place the following generations and you also live honestly, so may the Lord preserve you, and fortified with the Sacraments, that by none can you be grievously oppressed intolerably." At length with the illness growing heavy, Lord John [p] Visconti, the Venerable Abbot of Columba, was called. He being present with several of his monks, confession being most devoutly prolonged with the same Abbot, and all the divine Sacraments being duly celebrated over her, that holy soul was freed from the flesh on the day of St Mark the Evangelist, having held the Abbacy of the Cistercian Order praiseworthily for three years and six months; she dies on 25 April. and on the same day by the same Lord Abbot she was buried in a wooden chest, before the altar of St Michael, which is in the oratory of that monastery, as was said, a little namely on the left side of that altar.

NOTES.

p Peter Maria always names him Bajamontes: but that his first name was different appears from no. 74 of our copy, where in writing the first name a blank space was left.

* nay the fifth,

CHAPTER III.

Double translation of the body and various miracles of the deceased.

CHAP. XX.

[34] After some time passing, when Lady Carentia, Her tomb suddenly becomes deeper, lest it be trodden on: first elected Abbess after Saint Franca, was to be blessed in the same church, as is the custom by the Bishop; the earth of the aforesaid burial was ^a sunken all around, so that no one could conveniently pass by there; except that several planks were placed over it, lest those going from thence to the greater altar be hindered. This happened because of the defect of the said chest, which had now grown worthless, as is said; or rather by divine ordination, which not so much through ^c this, as through a revelation made in those days to a Monk of Ponte, showed that she wished that body to be more reverently honored. the bones transferred to a bronze chest, Wherefore with the counsel of the Lord Abbot of Columba, the Sisters had a little chest made of bronze, and so with reverence gathering the bones, and the dust of the body now consumed, they placed them in a somewhat more decent place, a little removed from the former next to the wall, through which there could not be so great a passage of persons. And because they feared lest, by force or theft by some threatening, at the insistence especially of the Ladies of St Syrus, grieving that they had lost such a treasure, they are buried deeper: those Relics themselves should be taken, they buried them much more deeply and secretly than before, under the earth by several arms' length. Where when for several years she had quietly lain, St Franca herself began to appear to the Sisters in visions, and to say that it pleased God that she should be moved thence and still more venerably stored. Which when the nuns often revealed to each other, they did not dare to reveal these things to strangers, nor to effect any novelty; awaiting that God would better deign to provide otherwise.

CHAP. XII.

[35] In the year of the Lord 1266, on the feast of St Bernard the Abbot, which is on the 20th day of August, a fragrance being poured out from the tomb, such a wondrous fragrance bloomed forth in that church at the time of the nocturnal vigils, that it could scarcely be borne by the Sisters. And so animated they sent to Lord William de Quadrogis, Abbot of Columba, asking that he would deign to come to see the wondrous things of God, and to provide what should thence be done. Which Lord Abbot when he had seen the messenger still silent, the Abbot of Columba is summoned, forewarned by the vision of Franca herself, said: "I know why you have come"; the cause of that journey through the same messenger being expounded, the messenger affirming it. For as he himself afterward related, Franca herself had appeared to him, admonishing that her body should be moved from there, and more fittingly buried. That Abbot William came therefore, with two venerable monks, to the monastery of Tertio-passo, and having learned where the aforesaid chest with bones and relics had been placed, they also perceived the fragrance. And those three being clothed in sacred vestments, with the nuns standing far off awaiting, the Abbot began to dig the earth with a hoe: and immediately the earth sounded, as if he had struck the chest. Wondrous thing! For although it had been most deeply buried, as was said above, the bones being raised of themselves, like a feather in the air, so that chest suddenly appeared more unexpectedly raised; so that it befits the Abbot to say: "I have labored little, and have found much rest," not only for myself, but also for my whole Order.

[36] For on the day of St Augustine the Bishop, which was the 28th day of the month of August of the aforesaid year, first called and present being the Lords Valentinus ^e Bishop of Piacenza, and also Bernard de Valle-Tarii, Abbot ^f of Ponte, with several devout companions; the said Abbot William, accompanied by his monks, with what reverence they could, raised the bronze chest; the whole place, and those dwelling and present being wondrously divinely filled with fragrance. When they had opened the chest, and found to float in oil, they saw and found it full of water, as if colored with oil; and the bones of St Franca swimming above. Over which wondrously stupefied, they had many empty glass vessels brought, in which they collected the very water, and devoutly placed them in the sacristy: and so, a small altar being constructed, the little chest

containing bones and relics, he places it under the altar. they with reverence placed in that altar, which is in the oratory near the altar of St Michael, of which she was devout both here and in St Syrus. And as this small spring, like Esther of old hidden and lifted up, was found to have grown into a river and overflowed into many waters, all these things were divulged and published throughout Piacenza and its diocese; so that the whole city began to run to see that holy place, and to know the wondrous things. The sick were brought, the blind, the lame, and the weak from everywhere, many are restored to health: who appearing as believing, and faithfully approaching, were touched with the aforesaid water; and either immediately, as is said, or shortly after, were cured of whatever illness they were held. And thus was fulfilled that saying of the Psalmist: "The stream of the river makes the city of God joyful, the Most High sanctifies his tabernacle." Ps. 45:5

CHAP. XXII.

[37] Gabriolus Pallestellus was a relative of St Franca, who also has several consanguineous women in her monastery, A captive commending himself to the Saint and especially Ladies Francisca de Rigolo, now Abbess, and Ermelina de Arcellis, who had been with the Abbess of the monastery of Castrarquato for three and a half years, and has devoutly persevered in the Order for fifty-eight years past. These two Ladies together with all their convent openly attest, bringing signs to it, that when in the time of the war of ^g Zavatarolo, in that castle the said Gabriolus was held in harsh and dark prisons, bound and chained, and saw no other hope of escaping; he had recourse, as he afterward related, to St Franca, and with devotion and the obligation of a vow he asked her to free him from there. When he had done this for about eight days, with no one helping, wondrously his chains were gradually loosed, and the doors of the prison opened, so that going out, even with his enemies and the prison guards watching, and not opposing him in anything, with his bonds loosed, he goes away free. he hastened to his own home with his boia (shackles); announcing to his own, how he had been freed by his Saint Franca the kinswoman. Whose parents, before he took any food, led him to the altar of St Franca; where when he had prayed for a long time, and offered from his goods, he moreover ^h left his shackles there, which are still there. And his kinsmen being called, and the whole convent of that place, he published how by the merits of his St Franca he had been freed. And this same thing was afterwards testified by Lord Philip de Lando; who was the custodian of the prison, as he asserted and was greatly amazed, that thus unharmed, with him and others watching, he escaped.

CHAP. XXIII.

[38] A certain Piacentine baker ⁱ had for a long time been sick, and with limbs and bones contracted he was so much enlarged, a contracted man is raised up, that he could not bear any one to touch him, because of the excessive pains by which he was afflicted. He, left despaired of by the Physicians, was admonished by a consanguineous woman of his, a nun of the said Holy Place, to devote himself to holy Franca: and placed on a plank, he had himself carried, and placed before the aforesaid altar: where through all his limbs he was anointed with the aforesaid water of St Franca. And when it was a hot and long day, through half the day he stood there, weeping and wailing, and imploring the merits of the holy Virgin and help. Who at length visibly, on the same day with strength resumed, rose up by himself: and an offering being made, went home on his own feet, which,

CHAP. XXIV.

as it was great, so it was not hidden, but public. At another time a certain man could not walk around, except with two supporting staves, which are called crutches. He was led before the altar of St Franca: a lame man is cured, where when he had come and prayed, visibly and publicly he was freed there, with the greatest joy and wonder of all. He indeed, having left his crutches there, giving thanks to God and the holy Virgin Franca, departed rejoicing and exulting. Those who caused these things to be written down, narrated that they had seen with their eyes.

CHAP. XXV.

[39] ^k A certain woman of Milan, about forty years old, a blind woman is illumined, having heard the name of St Franca the virgin, coming from Milan to Piacenza, had herself led to her altar: which having visited with several, she afterwards, with one daughter about seven years old leading her, very often visited the place and altar, weeping, praying, and offering, that her sight be restored to her, which she lamented to have lost for the past two years. But that her faith might be more proved, for six months and more she stood blind at Piacenza. Who visiting the Saint very often, and remaining there at the same time, and passing the night sometimes for several days, was consoled and refreshed by the Ladies of the place. But her persisting long in her hope, at length finally she received her sight. Which benefit ascribing to God and the holy Franca, from whose water she had often been anointed, she gave thanks: and still for a year and more persisting at Piacenza on account of devotion, being freed she often visited the place, rendering immense thanks. And so after a long time, freed she returned to Milan, cheerful and glad. Those who caused these things to be written down, are very clearly in authority of having seen, heard, and given the Saint's water, and of having administered necessaries to her.

CHAP. XXVI.

[40] At a certain time, with war raging in the diocese of Piacenza, likewise a certain malefactor, about thirty malefactors collected together, who are also called brigands, on one night agreed to enter the holy place of Tertio-passu, and to rob it. When they were gathered in a meadow of that monastery, and treating of the spoliation to be made, some stood up among them dissuading them from doing this there, for reverence of the religion of the place. But one more wicked and more pertinaciously persisting was arguing against those contradicting, asserting that they could securely do this, because only women are within, who do not know us, inciting his companions to despoil the monastery, and cannot defend themselves from us. This being said, immediately to him speaking thus there appeared many and innumerable lights, like horn-lamps ^l or "panigarolae"; at which, when terrified he was amazed, he complained to his companions saying: "O how many horn-lamps! whence could so many of these come together?" his companions denying that they saw anything, suddenly he lost his sight, and the horn-lamps disappeared. At which all being troubled and terrified, one of them said to him: "This is because of the sin which he was compelling us to perform in this holy place. and therefore struck with blindness and repenting, For in it lies St Franca, doing wondrous things: whom if you invoke, I believe that she will free you, provided however that we do not wish to infest the goods of the monastery, which she preserves." Hearing this, he devoted himself to St Franca, that if she would free him, he would never commit any robbery; he was freed on the spot by the merits of St Franca; once, and they returned, no harm being done to that monastery.

[41] But in the course of time, that man forgetful of his vow, and delighted with the fellowship of evil companions, went with them to commit some illicit robbery elsewhere. Which being done, God, the Lord of vengeance, struck him with blindness: whence forced to return to his conscience, reckoning this to his infidelity, by which he had broken the promised vow, he did penance, and again invoked St Franca; promising that, if she succored him now, he would no longer violate the faith already promised. again, At this voice, being freed he recovered, and devoutly, but silently and revealing nothing, visited the place and altar of St Franca. But that the evil of ingratitude may be shown to be great, a short time afterwards, although he had forsaken robberies, yet with humors overgrowing, a certain infirmity arose around his eyes, by which terrified and compunct, running back to his liberatrix Franca, not now silently, as before, but publicly before all, he began to protest and confess to God, and to holy Franca and to her nuns, a third time he is healed. that he had obtained such and such benefits undeserving, and if again from this trouble he should be freed, he will be the perpetual servant of God, and of holy Franca, and of all that holy place. He also narrated his name, which through length of time is erased, and his surname; asserting that he was of the kindred of those ^m "of the Church." "I wish," he said, "that you know these things, and cause them to be written to the praise of your holy virgin Franca." These things said, his eyes were anointed with the Saint's water, and he recovered being freed; those who saw affirming these very things.

CHAP. XXVII, CHAP. XXVIII.

[42] A certain woman, agitated by evil spirits, of ⁿ Val Tidone, was led by force by several men to the altar of St Franca. Who when there she was scarcely held, a frenzied woman is restored to sound mind: she cast insults on the bystanders, and on those laboring to free her. And when the water of St Franca had been cast into her mouth, she did not retain it, but enormously cast it out, until with a certain "sbadagium" ^o her mouth was compelled to stand open. Then the aforesaid water cast into her mouth, because she could not reject it; as soon as it touched her throat, and descended to the inner parts, she returned to a sound mind; and returned healthy, who had come sick. From Val Tidone was on another occasion brought a man, who was blind, and had been so for two years and more. likewise a blind man is illumined, He visited the altar of St Franca, and for two days persisted there praying; and he who had come blind, departed seeing; promising and vowing, that for this grace, he would work one week freely at that church. Therefore, about to give thanks, and to fulfill his vow, in the following year he returned; but because no work was being done at the church, he departed without labor.

CHAP. XXIX, CHAP. XXX.

[43] A Piacentine woman at a certain time brought her nursing son to the altar of St Franca. This little one, a boy, as the grieving mother herself related, had wounded one of his eyes with a certain [p] spindle; on account of the anxieties and pains of which both his eyes were closed, so that by no person would he allow them or either of them to be opened. At the prayers therefore and insistence of the mother, the eyes of him weeping were opened with such force, that the aforesaid water of the Saint touched the lights of the eyes. The woman indeed going away with her son, in the hope of the refuge obtained; before she crossed the territory of that monastery, that little infant opened both his eyes and saw: as the mother, after a little time returning to St Franca, with thanksgiving, joyful related and exulting. Another Piacentine woman, a little time afterward, carried and presented her nursing daughter to the altar of St Franca. And when that daughter had a certain great mark in her eye from the first, and a girl. on account of which by entreating and supplicating she had brought her; being anointed with the Saint's water, before she departed from the altar, that mark was removed, with the eye remaining clear and sound.

NOTES.

p "Fusum," for an iron rod, we have had once and again in volume 3 of March, especially in the miracles of St Ambrose of Siena at no. 58.

CHAPTER IV.

Other miracles at the invocation of St Franca.

CHAP. XXXI.

[44] The Lady Ermelina de Arcellis aforesaid, An arm to be cut off by the counsel of physicians, as a testimony, said the following, approved also by her Convent. First that about the year of the Lord 1280, in the time of Lady Sibilia de Mancastolis as Abbess, Bonadonna, daughter of Lord Oddo de Mancastolis, brother of the same Abbess, when she was about nine years old, was infirm in her right arm, so that it had swollen up, and appeared as big as a roebuck, discolored, hanging, and black, full of burnings and pains. When her father for a long time had sought to have her healed by many physicians, it came to such great evil, that the surgeons and the physicians together agreed that she could not be freed, but her whole body was in peril, unless that arm were completely cut off. And so finally, preferring her life to her death by any means, with the consent of the parents they set a day and hour, in which that arm would be cut off. But as the day drew near, Lady Sibilia, the mother of the girl, on the preceding day sent word to the said Lady Abbess, saying: "Tomorrow," she said, "the physicians are to cut off the arm of your niece; she is commended to St Franca, whom lest she perish, pray to God and have prayers made." To whom at once the Abbess sent back quickly, that she should by no means permit this to be done, but commend and vow her daughter to St Franca, and she will truly be freed. This voice being received with the joy of the patient, they immediately commended and vowed themselves devoutly to St Franca. Nor was there delay, on the following night, about midnight, the girl began to call her mother, and to say: "O Lady mother, I feel my arm lightened, and the pains ceasing; and now I can move it well." And so with lamps kindled, and suddenly is healed. they saw the swelling of the arm had ceased, and the blackness had withdrawn: and they returned joyful to bed, and slept. When in the morning the physicians who were to cut came, and saw that the arm retained no sign of weakness, but was similar to the rest of the flesh, they were astounded, being unwilling to cut her further; but having heard what they had done in the name of St Franca, they persuaded them to lead her to that Saint with thanksgivings, and to pay the due vows. They therefore quickly led her to the monastery and to the altar of St Franca: and when for four or five days she had stayed there with the Lady Abbess her aunt, she wholly recovered, both from the pains and from the wicked colors: and so, a wax image of a girl being offered, she returned home healed, who afterwards was joined in matrimony to the noble Lord Albert Radini.

CHAP. XXXII.

[45] Likewise she said: It is now about seven years ago, that Mabilina Brachium-forte, sister of a relative of Lady Sibilina de Arcellis, came with four nuns of St Syrus to the altar of St Franca, carrying and offering there a sole of wax holding itself together with the foot, publicly relating as follows: "When at a certain time my husband, with whom I endure a grievous life, was troubled with me, I often went to the monastery of St Syrus, to receive some consolation with Helena Molliana, nun and sister of mine: and while I was there staying for a rather long time, an infirmity of the arthritic arthritic disease is cured, ^b drop or rheum came upon me, so holding as if lost the sole and thigh with the foot, that I could scarcely help myself. When I had afflicted with this for a long time, one night the image of a certain Lady, wholly unknown to me, seizing my foot, began to stretch it, as if she wished to draw me from the bed. On account of which, as much grieved by pain as terrified by fear, crying out loudly I implored help. So that the convent of nuns hearing, what I had and what I wanted, at once cried out, adding that I should commend myself to St Franca. When that cry had ceased, it was said to me in silence: 'Fear not; the Lord Jesus has sent me to cure you; through the Blessed herself appearing that you may know me to be Franca, who formerly was Abbess of this present monastery, whose body now lies in the Cistercian Order'; and saying these things she lightly touched my thigh, and the sole with the foot, adding: 'You shall quickly be freed. Go to my altar, giving thanks to God; and as a sign of your freedom you shall present something there.' On account of this," she said, "I have come here, giving thanks to God and to the Virgin St Franca, because from the aforesaid night, in which the pains began to cease, hither gradually up to now health has supervened, and the infirmity has ceased, and I am wholly healed; and this is," she said, "the seventh day, on which these things first happened." Which also the aforesaid four Ladies of St Syrus protesting, to a woman afflicted by her husband. openly said, that truly these things were so. But among these was especially, as she related to me writing this, the only one now alive of them, Lady Omnia-bene ^c de Rolando, for fifty-one years and more Nun of St Syrus. She also relates that the said Mabilina, whom she principally led to St Franca, afterwards appearing dead to her, said that on account of her patience she was crowned through Christ in heaven. Concerning St Franca too, the aforesaid Omnia-bene said, she had heard through her ancient predecessors very many good things told of St Franca, and therefore she is devoted to her.

CH. XXXIII.

[46] A Chaplain of the monastery of St Syrus about to be drowned, The said Lady added, in the manner as above, saying: "A certain Priest Jacobus of Piacenza, through Lent of the year 1322, was our Chaplain. He then after ^d Easter, passing somewhere for his needs, associated himself with some pilgrims: who when together they had come to a certain river necessarily to be crossed, with the pilgrims fearing to enter it, that Priest, more bold and secure, entered the water to cross. But the prevailing water immediately submerged him, so that the pilgrims could not see him. While they grieved and prayed to God, the Priest, while he was being rolled by the waves, remembering St Franca, commended himself to her; vowing that, if she would free him, he would visit her place and altar as quickly as possible, and celebrate one Mass over it. The vow being made, immediately the wave cast him to the shore; and he, helping himself with hands and feet, ascended the dry shore on the other side of the river; and at once with a loud voice cried out to the pilgrims to cross, because St Franca, who helped him, would similarly help them. invoking Blessed Franca he is freed, Although therefore unwilling, yet compelled by necessity, because they could not have a ^e boat or a bridge, with the Priest praying and commending them more devoutly to St Franca, they crossed that river without inconvenience. The Priest indeed returning home, when he came to the monastery of St Franca, and grants safe passage to others. wishing to fulfill his vow; could not enter the oratory, because by the Abbot of Columba it had been forbidden under penalty of excommunication and interdict, lest to any one, who was not of the Order, the door should be opened. The benefit conferred on him having therefore been made public, he departed, grieving that he could not fulfill his vow."

CH. XXXIV.

[47] In the aforesaid manner Lady Ermelina della Rocca, a nun there for about fifty years, says the following happened in the time of her ^f sacristy: first that a certain man of Bergamo, severely injured in his eyes, who had taken a wife of Piacenza, was staying in a village of the diocese of Piacenza,

in which chestnuts are made in quantity. Here when he had climbed a certain tree, and was knocking down branches ^g, suddenly, as he lifted his head, a cluster of chestnut-burs ^h descended upon his eyes; which gave him such pains and anxieties that he thought he would die; nor could he, worn out by pains and anxieties, somehow breathe; for his eyes so quickly grew dark, and emitted so much blood and water, that what he himself said can scarcely be believed. At this his household ran up, and especially his said wife; who wishing to apply such remedies as she could, to one man and to another among other things said to him as he was greatly distressed: "I," she said, "heard from a certain baker of Piacenza, who when with a splinter ⁱ of slate had pierced his one eye, so that as if it had started from its socket, and he was lamenting; remembering what he had heard, he devoutly invoked St Franca, and wondrously immediately was freed, as if nothing evil had been suffered before. I ask therefore," she said, "that you also do similarly, hoping that she may similarly help you. restoration:" But he did not heed what was said to him, distressed by excessive pains. The same wife therefore devoutly cast herself on the ground, tearfully crying out and invoking St Franca, that she should succor her husband so grievously suffering. Because of her faith immediately he wondrously felt divine virtue, so that she did not rise from prayer before he began to cry out: "O O O thanks to God; I am freed." The wife attributing this to the merits of St Franca, induced her husband that he should visit her altar; which he did, carrying and offering at the altar a candle as long as his own stature, and two wax eyes; publishing to the holy Convent what had happened to him.

CH. XXXVI.

[48] To Polzagallus ^k the coppersmith of Piacenza, while making one ^l basin (caza) for pouring water on hands, it happened that, burned by the heat of his craft, A copper-smith blinded, he lost his sight; so that for fifteen days he could see nothing, with whatever physician administering, or any medicine succoring. Whence mindful of the great novelty of what was said about St Franca, he had himself led to her altar; where when he had prayed a long time, he recovered his sight completely, being there bathed with the Saint's water. sight is restored. And to the nuns seeing, with the Abbess, relating these things with living voice, he gave that copper basin to the altar; and when he had returned home, the first work which he made after this benefit was a copper bucket: which bucket also after a few days he carried and offered to the aforesaid altar, and left there: and by order of the Ladies of the place, the basin and bucket stood for a long time.

CH. XXXVII.

[49] William de Burro of Piacenza openly attests, that in the time of the war of the Pavians ^m, when by command of Lady Isabel of the Counts of Bardi, Abbess, a chest of Relics cannot be carried out: and the ordinance of the nuns, who had remained at home, he had been required and wished to carry a certain chest, in which the relics of St Franca were said to be and were, to the place of the city, to which the convent of Tertio-passo had withdrawn; he took it lightly in his arms, and carried it outside the church. But before he could exit the court of that monastery, so heavy a weight did it seem to him, that he could by no means bear it: and therefore he was forced to carry that chest back to the church, and leave it there. Of which he still marvels today, because, when he was then under thirty years old, and standing strong with those Ladies at the oven, he was wont to carry much greater burdens, he saw and heard the said Lady Ermelina della Rocca, then Sacristan, carry that chest from there lightly, put it back, and manage it, and mock him.

CH. XXXVIII.

[50] This same Lady attests as above, that when in the year of the Lord 1304 the feast of the veiling of the nuns was to be held in their very monastery, Lady Richelda, to her feast brought, wife of Cavazoli and a kinswoman of St Franca, was led on horseback sick to the monastery, on the occasion of the feast and more out of devotion to the Saint, because, as she herself related afterward, on the Friday preceding, when she was preparing herself for that feast, a very grievous pain and swelling seized her thigh, so that she could not go or hold herself up by herself: wherefore she proposed with more affection to visit St Franca, and commend herself to her. Her household prohibiting, who wished her first to be cured by physicians; she refused, saying that she wished to be cured by no physician, except by God and holy Franca. Her household therefore consenting, the pain in the thigh is taken away. she came, as was said, on horseback; and with the feast being held, she was placed lying behind the Convent altar. Where with the Relics touched, and bathed with the Saint's water, a short time afterwards she rose, and departed healed, giving thanks to God and holy Franca, whose altar, spending the night there, she afterwards visited more often.

CH. XXXIX, CH. XL.

[51] Sister Axina della Porta, a nun of St Franca for about thirty-six years, relates from her own mouth; that when she was about seven years old, she went ⁿ to Lusignano, a girl suddenly blinded, where her father's possessions were, in the summer. Staying there, with girlish eagerness, with Caracossa ^o her maid she went to draw water from the well, which was on the [p] side of that Villa. The water drawn, when Caracossa wished to lead Axina home, she answered that she could not come, because she so suddenly felt herself blinded, that she saw nothing. For this reason the other amazed and troubled, looked at her eyes, and saw them troubled and full of marks. Giving her her hand therefore, and leading her home, wishing her to be freed, remaining thus blind she led her on the counsel of her neighbors to [q] Mamilianum, and presented her to a certain enchantress, who as much as she could, remedy sought in vain from enchantments, charmed her with several herbs: but felt nothing profit her. Wherefore her father, Lord Ruffinus della Porta, grieving, sent her to Piacenza, to be signed by many persons with rings and precious stones. And when even thus she did not profit, her aunt Lady Garizia Poëxia, Nun of Tertio-passu, ordered that the girl be led to her. Whom having been led, she presented her daily blind to the altar of St Franca; and she had some of the Saint's water placed in her eyes, hoping and praying that by her merits she would be cured. she obtains it at the altar of the Blessed. And when she had done this for several days, before she departed from the monastery, the said Axina [r] was cured, and sight was restored to her; when for a month and more she had remained blinded: and on account of this benefit, by the persuasion and consent of friends, she has been devoted to God in that monastery until now, with the intention of persevering. This same, when in the year of the Lord 1326, the same is freed from pain of ear and jaw. in the month of May, by Lord Roland Masgius, Abbot of Columba, the body of St Franca, as is the custom, was to be moved anew; feeling immense pains and anxieties in her jaw and left ear, she devoutly visited those relics; and that Abbot touched that jaw and ear with the bones of the Saint, and immediately she recovered, and her pain wholly departed.

NOTES.

p "Costa," by idiom common to several vernacular languages, has the same value as "side."

q Mamilianum is noted in the maps three miles beyond Lusignano.

r Peter Maria always writes "Agnesina": but both are diminutives from Agnes.

CHAPTER V.

By water flowing from her bones, sight is restored to several blind, health to the sick.

CHAP. XLI.

[52] It should be noted, that not only in those days and times Medicinal water flows from the bones: in which the relics of St Franca had been, as is expressed above, placed in the altar; but also at other times; as often as

it seemed good to the Abbots of Columba to open the aforesaid altar, and to visit those holy relics; always, except once, water was found to come forth from her bones; and collected, and preserved as relics, though sometimes more and sometimes less. And although the first water was more colored like oil, yet that which followed appeared more clear, and from time to time became clearer. This same thing, as is said, happened to be found in the year and month written above, and effected through the venerable man Lord Roland the Abbot aforesaid, as often as they are revealed, attesting so with his own mouth, with two Monks of Columba testifying with him, and the nuns of the house seeing.

[53] In this Christ seems literally to have fulfilled what he is read to have promised spiritually in the Gospel: "He who believes," he says, "in me, rivers of living water shall flow from his belly": behold indeed "the river of God is filled with waters, you have prepared, Lord, their food," namely of the faithful; showing through her life and merits, as through water, that you wish to wash away the stains of sins, to temper by refreshing the heats of temptations, and to satiate our desires as by taking away thirst: and this, because so is the preparation of them, as that she might meet the Crucified as far as possible conformed, was tortured, having used living water, not only in drink, but also in tears without measure. John 7:38; Ps. 64:1 and clear and salty like a tear: For the described water also shows a likeness to tears, because, as is said, to those tasting and seeing it, it was found clear and salty, and perhaps also bitter.

[54] O height of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God, how incomprehensible are his judgments, and unsearchable his ways! Which, that the privilege granted to the holy place of Blessed Mary of Tertio-passo may be shown, thus causes the water to be holily and wholesomely ministered to the faithful approaching, yet so as to preserve the proper source to that place, so singularly, that a stranger does not drink from it. For though by God's grace it gushes forth there continually, nor to be carried from the place: yet none is found, as is said, who could carry of that water outside the place itself. Which, though several have tried visibly to carry it out, whose names we judge it more useful to conceal, yet when they were elsewhere, could not afterwards find anything of the described water with them.

CH. XLII.

[55] Sister Helen de Furno, a nun for about thirty-five years, openly attests, that in the first year of her novitiate, when she was nine years old, while she was eating with her companions ^a "mangiarinum" and salted meat, about the sixth hour of the day, during the meal a bone of meat entered her throat: which was so placed crosswise there, that she could neither swallow that bone, nor anything else, nor even speak. So then her fellow-nuns, as if she were dying, led her to the altar of St Franca. When the water was poured upon her throat there on the outside, she did not recover; until about the ninth hour they thought to cast it inside into her mouth, and they did. When she devoutly swallowed it, immediately the bone of meat which had entered she cast out, and it was sharp and as long as almost half a finger. Which being cast out, she was at once freed by the merits of St Franca, in the year of the Lord 1291.

CH. XLIII.

[56] Lady Caracossa de Vigustino, already an old nun, said, that when in the year of the Lord 1299, she was Sacristan, a young man anointed recovers his sight. among many other things on a certain day there came a young man, who seemed to be under thirty years old. This blind one seeing nothing entered the cell, and had himself led to the altar of St Franca, asking that her remedies should be shown to him. "I," said the said Sacristan, "according to our custom took some of the water of St Franca, and put it in his eyes, at her altar, while he was pleading. When I had done this, at once without delay he received sight, crying out and saying, 'Thanks to God, because I see the doors, and I no longer need one to lead me.'" This being done, he was asked who he was, and how he had come here; and he answered: "On a certain day when I was in a field of Milan at the time of harvests weeping and wailing, and crying out with mournful voices; merchants passing by, nobles, asked me why I was so troubled, and why I was not laboring, when it was a time for laboring and acquiring. And I, as I was grieving and sad, answered: 'This is my grief, which you increase, because young as I am and needy, I can neither labor nor gain, since I am blind, now these two years, nor do I see the light of heaven.' They therefore foretold and preached the deeds of St Franca, urging me to come to Piacenza and visit this Saint: and therefore I came guided, but now I rejoice to be able to return seeing and sound; and thanks to God and to this holy Virgin I render, devoted with all my strength."

CH. XLIV.

[57] Sister Sibillina de Arcellis, a nun for thirty-three years, A breast swollen, and now Subprioress of this monastery, openly relates, that in the year of the Lord 1300 in the month of September, her right breast, weighted with the worst humors, swelled vehemently and was darkened like a dead coal of fire; so that for excessive pains she was distressed for eight days, yet she did not wish to publish it. This one, as she says, approached the altar of St Franca, and with great tears and groans implored that in this infirmity of hers she should succor her, and not permit her to come to such great misery, to which a few days before another companion had come; and lest she should be compelled to place herself in the hands of physicians or any men, whose touch she utterly abhorred; sighing with all desire to preserve her flesh, body, and soul to the heavenly spouse Christ from the touch of any men whatsoever. above the altar she is cured. Saying these and similar things, she placed that breast upon the altar of St Franca, offering it to be cured by her merits alone; and thus acting, she fell asleep there for a little while. Awakened, she immediately felt the pains eased, and gradually the swelling and blackness emptied: so that in a short time freed, she daily gives thanks to God and holy virgin Franca, to whose service she is dedicated.

CH. XLV.

[58] Lady Francisca de Rizolo, now Abbess of the monastery of Tertio-passo, publicly attests, before her an extinguished lamp kindles itself. that among many wondrous things which happened in the times in which she was Sacristan of the same House, especially were the following. First, when in the year of the Lord 1306, one day because of her solicitude with the Convent present, she had extinguished the lamp, which is wont to burn before the altar of St Franca, while she was likewise standing there with several companions; they saw the same lamp rekindled by itself. Which indeed not only then and once, but many times is said by the Convent to have happened, so that it has been divulged even among seculars. Of whom since many have seen the very thing, often they have asked for some of the oil of the said lamp, and devoutly sometimes received it, as for relics to enjoy. Because of which it is determined, that it should never be extinguished, and so it burns continually day and night, with many wondering; because in it the oil is scarcely consumed.

CH. XLVI.

[59] Moreover on a certain day many Piacentine women came, suffering various infirmities of the eyes, a blind woman after others cured is illumined. visiting the place and altar of St Franca, and with the greatest reverence and supplication imploring to be succored, and among these one young one of fifteen years, who had been blind for seven years. When the older ones bathed themselves with the Saint's water, immediately they said they were cured from the infirmities which they were suffering: but that young one did not so quickly recover, but when for three or four days she had visited St Franca, and had been washed with her water, she also recovered: so that who had come blind at first, at length seeing and illumined, glorifying God, returned rejoicing and exulting. But both this one and several others had incurred this blindness on account of the multitude of ^b "vayrorae," which then prevailed; besides which she had previously many marks in her eyes, after the prayer no marks at all of them appeared in her.

CH. XLVII.

[60] On another day several women came, on the occasion of the aforesaid passion, suffering infirmities of the eyes, who, when they were anointed with the water of St Franca, soon cried out that they were freed, and gave thanks. But there was with these another, A contracted hand: about twenty-five years old; who more bashful than the rest, did not ask for water, nor did she use any: for she had both her hands contracted, so that the tips of all her fingers were joined to the palms, nor could they be pulled apart: so much that not by herself, but by others in all things she was helped. When they were departing, as soon as they crossed the gates of the monastery, she began to cry out, saying that her fingers and hands were wondrously being twisted more than usual; and adding she said: "I believe this happens to me because of my sin, wrapped in the palls of the altar, because while you were being anointed, I presumed to touch the palls of the altar, and to wrap my hands in them, hoping that so she would better cure me." Until she returned to her own home, she did not cease to be twisted with pains and anxieties; but as soon as she entered the threshold of her own home, she stretched out her hands and fingers, which for seven years she had had bound, and according to her pleasure freely drew them forth and back, and felt herself wholly freed. On account of which on the following day, about to give thanks, they are healed, with the same companions she revisited St Franca, and publicly narrated the benefit which she had obtained, saying, that on account of her shamefacedness the day before she had hidden her hands; reckoning also, that that Saint could thus succor her by the touch of the altar and of the palls, just as by the ointment of the water, with which she exclaimed herself unworthy to be anointed. ^c

NOTES.

having made a vow of visiting the sepulchre, likewise received the light of her other eye, and the health of the other in peril. Likewise two sisters, daughters of Vincent Bonati, both suffering the same infirmity of eyes; so that from the twenty-second hour of the day until the dawn of the next day they saw nothing; when they had for a long time uselessly used the various counsels of physicians, they recalled to their memory the stupendous miracles of St Franca, and bound themselves by vow to visit the sepulchre, and to pass the vigil of her feast with an annual fast, if she should help them. Scarcely had three days passed from the votive visitation of the sepulchre, when both together affirmed themselves to have obtained the grace of health, at whatever time afterwards using clear eyes, and glorifying God and his Saint."

CHAPTER VI.

The rest of the miracles of St Franca.

CH. XLVIII.

[61] Benigna de Quadrogis, in the aforesaid place a nun for about forty years, openly attests this, saying. A bone desperately sticking in the throat, "In the year of the Lord 1308, on the day of St Michael, Lady Commanda my mother was supping with the household at Piacenza, and while she was eating meats, suddenly and unexpectedly a bone of the wing of a turtledove entered her throat and gullet, so hindering her, that she could neither swallow that bone, nor anything else, for four days: yet she spoke, but with anxieties. Whence believing that she was dying, having called Priests and Religious, she confessed and with urgency sought the other Sacraments, and made her testament, with the consent of the son whom she had, and caused Lady Benigna her daughter to be summoned to her. Who when called had decided to go to her sad, Sister Cavazola the lay-sister, deputed as her companion, said: 'It seems to me good to carry something of the relics of St Franca with us.' And having received a little bit of red ^a cendatum, with the consent of the Sacristan, she dipped it in the water of the said Saint; with a cloth dipped in the Saint's water applied it is cast out. and they departed, secretly carrying it with them. And when they had come to the sick one, as if now laboring in extremes, on a certain Wednesday in the morning, considering for a long time whether some medicinal remedies would help her, and they did not profit; with evening approaching, after supper the said lay-sister, St Franca being invoked, applied that cendatum to the throat and gullet of the patient. Which when the sick one with her own hand devoutly held above, soon as if without delay she cast out that bone; which was hard, sharp, and as long as half a finger; and with it cast out she recovered. So that she could freely eat, drink, and swallow; although for several days still she was compelled to feel pains. But she afterwards related, that on the night of St Michael past she had dreamed, that when she seemed to be perishing in water, it was suggested to her, that she could not be freed, except by Blessed Mary by the merits of St Franca. Which effected she rejoiced to have thus perceived; honorably preserving that bone and cendatum as Relics, until the day of her death, for that which is able provoking to the glory of St Franca."

CH. XLIX.

[62] The whole Convent of Tertio-passo for the following, as clearly as they most can, attest. A man fed with poison loses his sight, For in the year of the Lord 1315, when through the malice of a certain most wicked woman, poison called ^b Resegale had been given to eat to a certain John of Piacenza, who is called Cerutus the smith, and to his household; many of that house died because of that pestilent food. But Cerutus, as it pleased God, escaped death; but in his head the eyes were so twisted, that it was horrible to look on his face: nor could he afterwards see anything, until he came to the altar of St Franca; where when his eyes had been washed with the Saint's water, with many present seeing, delay being set aside, the eyes were restored to their due state, and receives them by the eyes being washed with that water. and sight was restored to him so much that he could see necessary things, and go wherever by himself. But with the infirmity impeding, which he had incurred for two years on the occasion of the aforesaid feeding; as before he could never see clearly to labor: yet having received this remedy, he had the figure and form of St Franca painted by the altar itself: but also his own figure at the feet of the Saint, carrying and offering to that altar one candle, which is also called ^c "brandonum." Who still living gives thanks that he received this gift, and willingly narrates it to all wishing to hear.

CH. L.

[63] Axina, wife of Jacobinus Zuchelini of Piacenza, with the said Convent as witness says, that in the year of the Lord 1322, while she was with many persons in her house, A contracted and paralytic woman, fairly as it seemed to her healthy, on a certain day suddenly and unexpectedly immense pains seized her; by which being distressed she began to cry out, and ^d to chatter so loudly, that those present marveled. Who looking at her why she had so cried out, and considering more diligently, found her contracted, and made wholly paralytic, with head, body, feet, and hands trembling; and when she had become as if mad, she even lost speech, so that what she said she knew not, nor could she be understood by others: and so she remained for several weeks. At length remembering on a certain day she commended herself to St Franca, and so swiftly was the bond of her tongue loosed somewhat. carried to the altar is cured. Perceiving this, she at once called Lady Castellana de Bellinis, her aunt, saying: 'I by the virtue of God, by the merits of St Franca, to whom I have commended myself, feel myself slightly relieved, and my tongue loosed; therefore I ask that you cause me to be carried to her altar, hoping that there I shall be wholly freed.' Hearing this her aunt had her brought on a cart, and presented at the aforesaid altar. Where when she had been presented, and praying had been bathed with the Saint's water; immediately without delay she was wholly freed from all the evils which she was suffering: who returned with thanksgivings, afterwards visited more often, and still living and healthy devoutly often visits the very place.

CH. LI.

[64] At the time when Lord Bertrand, Cardinal Presbyter of the title of St Marcellus and Legate, was at Piacenza, A woman blind for seven years illumined. a certain Genoese woman, blind for seven years, with her sister and the niece of both, out of devotion to St Franca, came from Genoa to Piacenza, and visited her holy place and altar. And when she did this frequently, also passing the night there, they were daily anointed with the Saint's water; and by the ladies of the place were often refreshed fittingly with her company. But as she persisted for some time in faith with perseverance, there was restored to her such sight, that she could go by herself and prepare her necessaries, which she could not do before. And so with many attesting, who saw, and ministered to her what was fitting, joyful and giving thanks, she returned to Genoa seeing.

CH. LII.

[65] Sister Jacoba de ^e Pegorera, a nun of the aforesaid place for twenty years, related to me writing this with her own voice: another dim-sighted, "First," she said, "in the year of the Lord 1320, God willing, so grievous an infirmity of the eyes came upon me, that I could neither see anything, nor scarcely rest day or night, so I suffered: and to those looking on, as they said, my eyes appeared swollen, troubled, and inflated. This infirmity when I had endured for about two months, I suffered much more grievously for twelve days. Grieving therefore excessively and troubled, on a certain day in the time of harvest after dinner, I cast myself in prayer before the altar of St Franca; heavenly music having been heard, where continuing a long time, it seemed to me that from the altar itself there sounded as it were an organ most sweetly, rendering melodies and sweet sounds beyond what could be believed. Over which vehemently wondering, I rose, touched the altar, and embraced it saying: 'Where am I? Have I become mad? What is it that I hear? I surely know that there is no organ in the altar, nor in this monastery: whence then do I hear this? for never have I heard such a well-sounding organ.' And while," she said, "I was seeking this, it seemed to me that as if waves of blood were flowing from my eyes, most burning beyond measure, so that I wept most bitterly, both from excessive pain and for a melody so unusual. And behold about the ninth hour other nuns entered the oratory, and found me as if made mad. And when they had lifted me up, my lap appeared full of blood, and still visibly waves of blood flowed from my eyes. Which when all marveled, and with much blood flowing through the eyes she is healed. and asked whence so much blood had come; I said that it was not blood but tears. But when they affirmed and their eyes saw it was blood, I said: 'Then my eyes are burst: and I truly believe that I have lost them and shall never see.' So when for twelve days the flow of blood did not cease from my eyes, at length on the twelfth day it ceased; and the eyes appeared clear and smooth, never more swollen or inflated: for clearly I saw and see, giving glory to God, in this sacred Monastery of St Franca the Virgin," adding also these things.

CH. LIII.

[66] "When I was Sacristan of this house, on a certain night malefactors set fire to the mill, near enough also to the houses of that monastery: A fire is extinguished by the relics being shown. on account of which with those dwelling in it crying out, the whole convent of the Ladies was also aroused, and they rose trembling, and not knowing what to do. But I the Sacristan, trusting in the benefits of our holy Franca, took the Relics, which I kept outside her altar; and with what devotion I could I set them against the fire and showed them, asking and supplicating together with the other Ladies, that by the merits of Blessed Franca to us, having no other help, the Lord God would deign to succor. Which being done, when now half of the said mill was burned, by a visible miracle the fire ceased; and the brigands withdrew thence confused."

CH. LIV.

[67] Also on another night, when thieves were striving to enter the Monastery of the aforesaid place, to rob it; with the nuns and persons of that house resisting, And robbers are compelled to depart empty. more with prayers than with arms or other strength, according to the promises of Blessed Franca, they were never able to find an entry for going in. And although they knew and found the doors, and sought manfully to break them down; obtaining no effect of their malice, troubled and as if desperate, they said shameful and enormous things about the Saints translated and about those still living in the flesh; and more often cursing and blaspheming said: "Since we cannot enter, let us burn all that is outside." Setting fire therefore to the outer houses, they were waiting for those inside to open and come out, and thus they could enter and rob. But with the Ladies inside grievously groaning having recourse to the accustomed refuge of prayers, the Sacristan set the aforesaid Relics against the malefactors and the fire: and immediately the brigands themselves, changed, extinguished the fire and departed.

CH. LV.

[68] Columba de Columbis Mangniani, lay-sister of the House, testifies that in the year of the Lord 1321, A blind old man receives his sight, with Lady Joanna de Roncarola being Sacristan, a certain old man, not seeing, with his wife who was guiding him, came from ^f Castro-Unardo de Panicis to the altar of St Franca, late about the hour of the Ave Maria; and there, his eyes being washed with the water of the said Saint, when he had stood motionless and watchfully praying that night; in the morning he saw clearly. For which, giving thanks to all the nuns who knew of this deed, praising and magnifying God, he departed rejoicing.

CH. LVI.

[69] Benigna Bregognona, a nun, testifies, that when she herself was Sacristan of the house, in the year of the Lord 1323 during Lent, likewise a woman, a certain woman of the Castle ^g of St John, named Viridis, came to the altar of St Franca not seeing, asking her suffrages, that she might see. When her eyes had been anointed with the Saint's water, before she departed from the altar, she saw, giving thanks: and staying there the following night, she related saying, "It is eight days since, weighed down with excessive pains and anxieties of the head, I lost my sight; on account of which, grieving, at the exhortation of neighbors, I proposed to visit this altar: and when I had asked leave from Peter my husband, I did not obtain it, but he forbade me. led by the Mother of God to the altar. Whence to me grieving and as if sleeping at night, St Mary appeared, extending her hand to me, and saying: 'Go where you proposed.' As I complained to her about my husband, and because I had no one to lead me; she answered: 'Go, do not fear, for I will not desert you in anything.' As I related these same things to him, my husband would not believe, nor permit me. But as he was going somewhere, by myself I undertook the journey ^h from the said Castle: and with no one guiding, I came to this altar seeing nothing; and now standing here I openly see, and glorifying God I return."

CH. LVII.

[70] In the same year, at the time of harvest, a certain Genoese woman came to the said altar, leading with her a ⁱ grandson, and a boy blind from birth: eight years old, blind from birth, and seeing nothing at all; when this one's eyes had been anointed with the water of St Franca, they departed from the monastery for about a mile. But before they entered the city of Piacenza, the boy began to cry out, and say: "O my Grandmother, that which I see before me, is it a building, a house?" And she wondering answered, "How is that, O son, how do you see?" And he pointed with his finger to the mill of ^k Braida, which is near enough to the monastery of the aforesaid place. The grandmother therefore rejoicing together, the boy with her likewise rejoicing and seeing, entered the city: for whose grace to be given back on the following day with the boy preceding and seeing, the woman returned to the altar giving thanks, and relating and announcing these same things, most devoutly weeping and jubilating.

CH. LVIII.

[71] Cerdina Guazarona, is a nun of the aforesaid place for thirty-six years and more, who with living voice related these things. A dangerous quinsy "In the year," she said, "of the Lord 1326, in the days next to Christ's nativity, an infirmity of the throat seized me, which is called "squenanzia" (quinsy): which although I had had on other occasions, now I had it very much harder, so that excessively distressed, I did not think I could last into the morrow without being suffocated. Whence terrified greatly, after Compline weeping I went to the altar of St Franca, supplicating most abundantly, that in a case so necessary she might succor me, lest I should die without penance. When I had done this for a long time, at length wearied I went to bed. is scattered. And behold, about midnight in my throat I felt as if one ^l little lump (grandiolum) running down, and inclining to the part of my throat: and both at night and in the morning gargling, I cast out thick phlegm, and felt myself to be healed by God's grace, so that henceforth I did not find such a thing in my body. Thanks be to God. Amen."

CH. LIX.

[72] Many other miracles of St Franca there are, seen and likewise narrated by each of the aforesaid Ladies, of which, lest from their abundance they weary, the present are notably excerpted: which because they have been testified and published through many persons, therefore they are here written besides the rest.

NOTES.

SERMON

On the monasteries of the Cistercian Order, which came forth from the place and monastery of St Franca.

[73] In the book of Exodus it is written, "Mary the Prophetess took a drum in her hand, and the women went out after her with drums and choirs." Ex. 15:20 As after the ancient Mary the women, But since for them all things happened in figures, which to us, with the truth of Christ appearing, have been unveiled with heavenly mysteries; although these things were historically true of Mary, sister of Moses and Aaron; yet in an allegorical sense they suit the most holy Mother of Christ, of whom it is prophetically said through the Psalmist, "The virgins shall be brought to the King after her." Ps. 44:15 Among whom, since of the number of the prudent ones St Franca was, after the Mother of God Virgins, also to her tropologically, not undeservedly can the aforesaid be applied. For Franca, if not in name, yet in reality was Mary; namely bitter, illuminatrix, and illumined (which indeed can be more openly known from her principally written life): for she too took the drum in her hand, by mortifying the body with good works; and went out, outside the city and also outside secular life, after her innumerable women, so many having gone out after Franca, and they follow, imitating her life alike and her examples, with drums of penance and affliction; but also with choirs, namely of Religious singing. And lest anyone doubt, let everyone consider, that this Blessed one was in the diocese of Piacenza, and, as is believed, in all Lombardy, the first Abbess of the Cistercian Order, deservedly to be venerated for her primacy, whom women followed, of the Monasteries, namely, of Castellarquato, of Nazareth, of Celestia of Venice, of Pipia of Cremona, and of Galilea, bountiful cultivators of God.

[74] For while Bajamontes Visconti ^b was living, Abbot of the Monastery of Columba, they founded the monasteries of Castellarquato. his parents built a monastery of Ladies in Castellarquato, ^c placing it under the same Abbot and monastery, by whose ministry from the convent of St Franca three nuns were given as Rulers and Mistresses to that monastery, whose first Abbess was Lady Euritia ^d de Tuna.

[75] After these things, through certain Nobles of Piacenza, having founded near the ditches of that city the monastery of St Mary of Nazareth; Nazareth, near Piacenza, and having placed it under the care of the convent and Abbot of the monastery of Ponte-Trebbia of the Cistercian Order, by the will of the Lords of Columba, from the convent of St Franca were given several nuns to those of Nazareth, as teachers and rulers.

[76] A little time afterward, two Venetians moved by divine inspiration, came to Piacenza, Celestia in Venice, and thence to Columba; telling those of Columba, that they had resolved to build at Venice a monastery of Ladies, and were placing it under them. And asking that especially from the convent of St Franca, of whom they had heard many good things, they should be given the first Ladies, who might build that new house, teach and inform those to be received; those of Columba agreeing, they came with them to the holy place, in which then was Abbess Lady Carentia the Viscountess; and with equal consent they chose twelve nuns of that monastery, of whom six they decreed should remain at Venice, and six others, after the monastery was built and the convent ordered, should return home. And so with those nobles, accompanied by two monks of Columba, and two Friars Preachers, of whom one was the carnal brother of Lady Carentia the Abbess, the twelve chosen nuns set out, and at Venice most swiftly built the most noble monastery of St Mary of ^g Celestia, and there constituted the greatest convent of Ladies, and afterwards six of the said nuns returned to their own home, but the remaining six staying there there praiseworthily ended their life.

[77] Cremona, From the Convent of Nazareth there came forth five nuns of Cremona, who built at Cremona the Monastery of St Mary of ^h Pipia, which although it was first placed under those of Ponte even by privileges of the Lord Pope, yet now is ruled by those of Columba, I know not for what reason.

[78] and again near Piacenza of Galilea. In course of time, when Lord John de Lourago of Piacenza with other nobles had decreed to constitute one monastery of Ladies near the monastery of St Benedict, ⁱ with the consent and counsel of the Lords of Ponte, they took the first teachers and rulers from the aforesaid monastery of Castellarquato. Who coming built the monastery of St Mary of Galilea, placed under those of Ponte: whose first Abbess's name was Lady Agnexia Bonarda.

[79] All these monasteries therefore from the fountain of St Franca, namely from that holy place of Tertio-passo, either principally or secondarily, as the purest streams, came forth; of whose number God alone is able to tell: "I shall number them, because to mortals above the sand they will be multiplied exceedingly." Let therefore the Blessed one herself more securely add, and say joyful: "Lord, you delivered five talents, namely the gift of five senses: behold, I have gained five other monasteries, in which with drums and choirs a canticle is daily sung to the Lord, for he has been gloriously honored, the horse and the rider he has cast into the sea."

NOTES.

APPENDIX I.

From the Italian Life by Peter-Maria Campi. On the last translation, cult, chapels and later miracles.

Franca, Virgin, Abbess of the Cistercian Order, at Piacenza in Italy (S.)

FROM THE ITALIAN.

[80] The Cistercian virgins, The nuns had, not only from the monastery of Tertio-passo, but from the Nazarethan also and the Galilean, certain houses, like refuges, within the city of Piacenza, where they would betake themselves, now some separately, now all together, especially in time of war or hostile incursions. In this manner when at one time the Nazarethans, expelled from their quiet and enclosure, were compelled to draw out a longer stay in the city, divine clemency provided them with a little church and habitation at St Mary of the Twelve Apostles; which afterwards, with the name changed, began to be called the monastery of St Raymond. they acquire urban refuges for time of war; Then in the year 1362, Peter Bishop of Piacenza, seeing the Galilean Virgins to need a similar refuge, and yet on account of their poverty not having whence to procure a suitable place, gave them the hospital of St Matthew (commonly called Maffei) which in the same district was on the West opposite the principal gate, leading into the basilica sacred to that holy Apostle and Evangelist. Finally the Plettolese nuns, who themselves also had at Piacenza, in the neighborhood of St Domninus behind the mill of St Syrus, their own lodging; thither they would frequently betake themselves, as they did notably in the year 1326, in the time of the aforementioned Pavian war; the more solicitously, that they remembered how unworthy things their sisters of the Olivetan monastery near Castrum-arcuatum had endured, eight years before, under the arms of Galeazzo Visconti.

[81] There those had a small oratory or chapel with an altar for divine Offices; for Capitular acts they would gather, and in these sometimes dwell longer; now in the parlor, now in the nearby ambulatory, as is clear from various instruments made there, especially after the year 1446, and the destruction impiously perpetrated by Francis Sforza. Furthermore, when these public calamities and warlike tumults from time to time grew worse, and at length in the year 1528 the Duke of Bourbon had encircled the city with a siege; some churches and monasteries outside the city were leveled with the ground; and those who at Tertio-passo presaged that they would never be quiet, dismissing the place utterly, and at last in the year 1528 entirely give up the former places, received themselves with the dear body of St Franca within their urban refuge, on the very day of St Faith, namely the sixth of October. Likewise also the Galilean Nuns received themselves at St Matthew, and then by the mandate of the Vice-legate or Governor of Piacenza, joined themselves to those who held the place afterwards called St Raymond, and again withdrawing, not far thence joined themselves to the Virgins led back from Castrum-arcuatum and called by the name of St Elizabeth: and from two formed a single convent, constructing the temple of St Bernard; but so small, that for posterity it was necessary to build another, which we now see sacred to the same holy Abbot.

[82] Thus therefore the Plectulense Sisters led back into the city near St Syrus, with several houses bought up and places suitable for beginning a monastery, thus in 1549 was founded the new church of St Franca, little by little they extended themselves, until under the Abbess Lady Franca-Lucia de Tudescis, with their resources increased, they began to build the church, which still even now remains worth seeing, in honor of our most holy Lady and St Franca, on February 13, 1549, when on the day before Lord Leonard Lana, Bishop of Bidua and then Suffragan of the most Reverend Catalan Trivulzio, Bishop of Piacenza, had planted the Cross there. And so with solemn rite was then placed the foundation stone, on which the wall would rise, dividing the front part of the temple from the choir of the holy women: and the building completed, the temple was consecrated by the aforesaid Chorepiscopus, and under the altar the body was placed in 1557. on the 5th of May of the year 1555. Afterwards it was the care of the pious Virgins that the bones of the holy Mother be placed under the high altar, where they still lie: and this was done on the day before the birth of the same holy Virgin in the year 1557. The head however, which already before had been kept separately in the Plettolese monastery, now also for the augmenting of the devotion of the people of Piacenza remained separately in a silver monstrance: and is wont twice in the year, namely on the feasts of the deposition and translation, to be openly exhibited, with the entire series of upper teeth. There is also kept separately the Saint's ring and one tooth: and both serve the sick and other devout persons, asking to be marked by their touch.

[83] The remaining memorials of the same at Plectula. Yet let no one for this reason think that that former place at Plectula, illustrated by so many miracles of the Saint, has so remained desolate, that no monuments of the old religion have remained, which often recall the souls of the pious to themselves. Still by the name of St Franca are called, not only the estates and rural houses pertaining to the Sisters' right, but also the surrounding lands of others. There remains, moreover, a good large part of the old dormitory, with columns running through the middle so arranged that, with curtains drawn beside the beds placed in series on one side, on the other side they would leave a passageway of equal space. Above the gate too of the monastery, by which the entrance once was through a drawbridge, is seen a most ancient statue of St Franca, gathering under her white cowl the kneeling Cistercian daughters. Finally the farmers testify, that above that place where the altar was, under which that sacred body rested for so many years, no rainwater ever stands, however copiously rains may fall from heaven.

[84] As to what pertains to the veneration and cult of St Franca, and continuous from 1326 to 1527 cult: it was always flourishing and continuous from the year 1326 to 1527. For with the graces not ceasing, with which she heaped especially her own people of Piacenza, at Plectula was always seen the altar and temple, full of vows and votive gifts; and in the district of Piacenza in several places were erected to her chapels, oratories and altars. First, between Bacedasco and the village of St Lawrence, under Castrum-arcuatum was built a chapel, before which a stream runs down, and a spring flows on the side, both together with the very valley itself having a name from St Franca, two chapels erected in the Piacenza district: in monument of the ancient piety of the founders, who from the family of Visconti, most devoted to the saint and possessing many estates in that tract, are believed to have been. It is moreover clear from a certain inscription remaining there, that Francus Patelotti, moved by the similarity of name and affection of religion, in the year 1472 cared to have the place restored. There was also erected at Viavinum a similar chapel under the title of St Franca, whose chaplain in the year 1512 is read to have been Leonard de Molinariis Priest.

[85] another at Pavia, And these things within the diocese of Piacenza; I come to places situated outside. First among these occurs the temple of St Franca erected at Pavia: which we do not doubt to have received teachers of the Cistercian rule from the disciples of the same Saint; although their posterity has betaken itself to the monastery of St Christopher, of the same institute, and yielded the place to the Capuchin Mothers. Concerning the image of the same, placed in the temple of St Quintinus of Parma, before the Life was written, has been said before the same. and at Bobbio, The Bobbiesi in their Cathedral erected a special chapel of St Franca, in which on October 27, 1415, Bartholomew Buella, a noble man, endowed a Chaplaincy, with the consent of Lord Lancilot Fontana, Bishop and Count of the said city; with the obligation of perpetual residence, of saying several Masses each week, of which one should be of the Mother of God and St Franca, and of fostering a lamp before the altar.

[86] Proper Office at Piacenza and in the Cistercian Order. In other cities and regions also it is credible that altars or images were placed, since not only in the diocese of Piacenza, but universally throughout the Cistercian Order was received the office of St Franca, not indeed for the day 25, impeded by the office of St Mark, but for the 26, with proper prayers, antiphons and lessons; as is proved from the Breviaries reprinted at Venice in the year 1494 by Francis Gherardengus, in the year 1500 by Francis Torresanus de Asola, and in the year 1509 by Luke Anthony Junta, in which the Antiphons at the Magnificat and Benedictus are assigned the same as in the old Breviary of Piacenza: but a proper Invitatorium is also added, with eighteen Antiphons and a greater number of Lessons and Responses, and a particular Mass. The Life rendered into the vernacular: Furthermore in the year 1511 Maurus Corbetta, Cistercian monk, asked by the Brothers and Sisters of the Order, by name by the Abbesses of St Franca of Pavia and St Elizabeth of Piacenza, rendered the Life described in Latin by Bertrand into the vulgar language, more fitting for all, and submitted it to the Milanese press of Leonard Pachelli to be printed.

[87] Indulgences for the Birthday and Translation: Continued from then on, the cult of our Saint is excellently confirmed and proved by the Bull of Indulgences, signed by ten most Illustrious Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church on July 6 in the year 1561, by which, when it had been set forth that a new temple of St Francha had been built at Piacenza from the foundations, each of them desiring it to be frequented and the veneration of the holy Virgin to be augmented, to all those about to extend helping hands they relaxed one hundred days from injoined penances, if they should approach there contrite, on Wednesday of holy week, and on the festivities of the Saint herself, that is the Birthday April 25 and the Translation August 28; and also on the solemnity of All Saints and the day of St Catherine Virgin and Martyr. With the use of these Indulgences gradually ceasing, and the religion of the people of Piacenza growing tepid, through the reform of the Breviary introduced under Pius V,

the office of St Franca utterly ceased in the church of Piacenza, as also the proper offices of very many other Saints of this diocese, with not even a common one substituted. Thus the Nuns of the said place, by Pope Gregory XV and other succeeding Pontiffs, took care that new Indulgences be obtained: and that in the year 1597 the vulgar Legend be reprinted in a somewhat more polished style. New Office in 1610, At length our most vigilant and most pious Pastor Claudius Rangonius, in the year 1610 again obtained a proper Office, to be celebrated under the rite of double in the church of Piacenza: which, the Benedictine nuns of St Syrus, of whom she had once been Abbess, adapting it a little later to their own rite and use, went before the other churches of Piacenza, both regular and secular, that all alike might take up the renewed cult of St Franca.

[88] altars in various places various: But that the discourse may return to the temples and altars from which it has digressed, the outstanding piety of those who inhabit Polesine ought not to be passed over in silence, a town situated on the Po under the dominion of the Marquises Pallavicino and the district of Borgo San Domnino: who for not just one century have lived under the patronage of St Franca (erecting to her a church, which destroyed by the flooding river is now seen new and frequented with singular concourse) and instituted that part of their lands should be called by the same name. At Pavia also the sacred virgins dwelling at St Christopher, who had received as residents the inhabitants of the monastery of St Franca, also received her cult. But the Piacenza nuns, not content with the altar in which the sacred body of the Blessed is contained, took care that another be dedicated at the same time to her and to St Lucy in a peculiar chapel. Many citizens too, both within and without the city, frequently showed their piety in this kind: through which also in the church of the Augustinian Hermits of St Lawrence is seen on the left side of those entering the altar of St Franca; and above the walls of that temple, which the Cattanei built for St Nicholas, a statue of the Saint is prominent: and at Gropallo, near Montelana, by the Cavanese family in these recent days a new chapel was erected, under the name of the same St Franca.

[89] Several miraculous graces can be attached at this place, many recent miracles: by which also in our century St Franca commended the efficacy of her patronage to natives and foreigners. In the year 1611 the most Serene Princess Lady Maura Lucenia Farnesia, a Nun in the cloister of St Alexander at Parma, wrote on June 24 to the Abbess of St Franca with this tenor: "Since in the past days I have obtained some singular grace by the merits of your Protectress St Franca, wishing to satisfy my obligation, I send Aurelius the servant of our monastery, who shall ask you for me, that through your holy women you cause a Eucharistic Mass of the Saint to be sung, and to that end let him hand over the enclosed sequins." Similar things at Piacenza many confess and testify with their physicians and the Sisters of the monastery testifying with them. For instance about Lady Clare Beatrice Vice-Domini, a nun of the same convent, who in the year 1608 was anxious with intolerable pain through the whole upper part of the body, and a certain hard swelling around the knee and below the foot; for which evils no art could give relief: and again not long after, suffering a desperate evil in the breast around the throat, festering for two years; on each occasion she referred the recovered health to the merits of St Franca. Likewise about Lady Angela Livia Anguisola, similarly a nun of the same place, who in February of the year 1617, concerning whom a Process was formed. brought by most cruel pains of hernia almost to extreme despair of life, obtained swift health through the merits of the same St Franca. And finally about many others, who, from what evil, by what vows made, and in what way they were freed, I am unwilling to explain more distinctly, until the Episcopal Vicar, who instituted a legitimate inquiry concerning all, shall have brought a sentence concerning them.

[90] In the year 1617 a young nun, A specimen however of more recent favors, and that consigned in the public acts in the curia, it is pleasing here to attach. In the year 1617 on the 1st of August, a subtle catarrh from the head to the throat so oppressed Lady Angela Lucretia Scotta, daughter of the Marquis Horatio, that with the faculty of speaking lost, she could take no food except by gulping, not without frequent danger of suffocation. There was added a most acute pain of the side, which left no rest to the wretched one, but compelled her to sit upright, and to expel through most violent coughing bloody and purulent phlegm: whence to the continued vigils was joined a fever, now more intense now more remitted, but always troublesome. Finally there came upon her a flow of urine so copious, for five or six days, that within twenty-four hours it was observed by the physicians that twenty-five pounds of urine, no less clear than well-water, had been excreted. brought to death by wondrous symptoms, When she was satisfying this need at one time, such an intolerable pain rose from the lower belly to the heart, that several Sisters together were not enough to restrain her from immoderate tossing: and the physician summoned at midnight, when he saw that no remedies could be usefully applied to one so raging, was the author of having St Franca called to aid in things desperate. The bitterness of the torments had made the wretched one almost forget everything: wherefore there was need of repeated suggestions of the Sisters more frequently, that she should remember she was of the number of the daughters of St Franca. As she was able to recollect this, St Franca being invoked she is relieved; she ordered to be brought to her the little bone, which she had as one from the body of the Saint: and this being placed upon her breast, suddenly she began to be quiet, with the pains wiped away, but with extreme weakness succeeding, which made her seem near death.

[91] The next morning the physicians finding her so weak, that she did not even seem suitable for human remedies to be applied; they scarcely dared anything, and this very thing was vain. Thence after two days, with the evil always growing more grave, she who scarcely except by force could until then be induced to take the prepared medicines, of her own accord began to ask for them. and nonetheless on the following day about to die, But now her tongue had swollen, and like lead heavily weighed upon the sick woman; and her inflamed throat seemed to breathe fire: moreover her brain was failing, and her stomach was filling with water. What were they to do, with the physicians absent, the nuns surrounding their sick one in such a state? They run to vows and prayers, and exhort her to do the same as best she could: which not being able with mouth to do, she did with affection, asking that at least the faculty be given her of commending her soul to the Creator. Soon she felt so much strength returned to her, that she could ask for water consecrated by the touch of the Relics: which taken in her mouth she had not yet swallowed, when she felt herself relieved and inclined to sleep: having taken her water, but because at the same time deathly pallor was darkening her whole face, her companions believed she was dying. When behold she raises herself up, and she who from the 1st of August to the 13th of September had lacked the use of her voice, asked the bystanders to bring her clothes, and to accompany her to the temple to give thanks to God. There while before the venerable head of St Franca Mass was celebrated, she remained on her knees in prayer; suddenly and entirely she recovers: then rising on her feet, she felt herself so robust and firm as if she had never labored under any disease. Wherefore by all alike was sung the Ambrosian hymn; after which she herself approaching the grates, ordered her father lord to be told of her sudden recovery, and that so perfect, that even the traces of the cantharides applied could be seen to have vanished. Indeed though for the whole preceding three years she had had her side so affected, that she could not bear even the touch of her own hand; she also asserted herself to be free from this trouble. The next day therefore, sacred to the exalted Cross, in the very temple of St Franca, by the musicians of the Cathedral church, a solemn Mass was sung, under which from the hands of Lord Alexander Carissimi the Episcopal Vicar the girl communicated, and rendered to her liberatrice St Franca due thanks-givings.

[92] Thus far Peter-Maria in the Life printed in the year 1618: the same concerning Relics more recently transferred to Bologna exhibits this document in part 2 of the Ecclesiastical History of Piacenza published in the year 1651, page 708 and 209. two little bones translated to Bologna in 1651, "Alexander Schappius, by the grace of God and the Apostolic See Bishop of the holy Church of Piacenza. To all and each who shall inspect the present letters, we make known and attest, how the Reverend Abbess and nuns of the monastery of St Francha, of this city of Piacenza, of the Cistercian Order, as much as they could in the Lord respond to the pious devotional affection, with which the reverend nuns of the monastery of St Ursula of the city of Bologna of the same Cistercian Order pursue the same St Francha Virgin of Piacenza, and most of all because they assert her to have been once the foundress of their said monastery, two small relics of the sacred body of the same St Francha, namely from her bones, which together with others were kept separately in a certain silver cross, on the occasion of solemnities customarily exposed to the public veneration in their outer church (by the tenor of these presents) were bestowed on the aforesaid nuns of St Ursula, together with two prayer beads, with two little balls from her prayer corolla. one larger and one smaller, which are commonly called 'a Paternoster' and 'an Ave-Maria,' of the Crown of the same St Francha, by the same nuns of St Francha reverently kept up to these times: that we ourselves took the mentioned particles from the said venerable Cross, in the presence of the same reverend nuns and with their express consent; and with the same little balls, consigned to us by the same nuns, successively placed them in a certain wooden chest, fortified with our great seal, as below, to be brought to the same reverend nuns of St Ursula of Bologna… Given at Piacenza, from our Episcopal Palace on December 30 of the year 1648." It must be known however that those Bologna nuns also were certain offshoots from the Piacenza vine, and were first planted in the year 1238 outside the gate of Castiglione at the church of St Mary of Mercy; and afterwards received within the city.

APPENDIX II.

More recent graces from an Italian MS.

Francha, Virgin, Abbess of the Cistercian Order, at Piacenza in Italy (S.)

FROM THE ITALIAN.

[93] Having sought in vain for the aforementioned Process, When in Peter-Maria Campi, according to what was said in number 89, we had found mention of the Process, instituted before the Episcopal Vicar, concerning the more recent favors attributed to the merits of B. Franca; we judged that this also should be sought. But Camillus Hectoreus aforesaid replied, that nothing of it could be found, however much diligence was applied: and that the present Vicar asserted with certainty, that such a Process was either not continued, or certainly not finished. Nevertheless there was found among the Nuns of St Franca a manuscript booklet bearing this title: "Book of graces obtained through St Franca": in which whatever was contained, the same Camillus transcribed for us, and we shall now render in Latin. First I observe, that this book, in which were successively to be inscribed the more notable and attested graces, a more recent collection is given from the MS. seems to have been begun about the year 1650, and in it none of those of which Peter-Maria makes mention is referred except the first: there were then either lost or at least, given over to oblivion,

the papers were lying hid, containing the aforesaid Process and the rest of the benefits indicated by Peter-Maria: which ought to be a document to posterity, that they should never bring into judgment any monuments of sacred causes, of which they do not reserve copies for themselves: lest, with the cause sticking in their hands, as happens most often, even the very papers stick and at length irrecoverably perish. Lest the same happen at last to written things, we here give the very things without prejudice to ecclesiastical authority, whose it is to judge concerning the truth and quality of graces so reported.

[94] In the year 1606 a holy nun incurably sick, In the year 1606 on the vigil of St Mary Magdalene, one of our nuns, by name Lady Clare Beatrice de Vicedominis, fell into an infirmity, by which the upper part of the body from the girdle upward was constricted with grave pains, but the lower was tortured by a certain swelling above the left knee and below the foot. To this when the physicians had diligently applied what medicines they could, and brought no relief, the evil became so harsh, that she could no longer move herself, except through the greatest torment and the help of the infirmary attendants. At length, anxious beyond measure, she also forgot her former custom, by which she was accustomed daily to commend herself to the protection of her holy Mother Franca. And now the third day of October had dawned, when she began to be ashamed of her negligence, that in such a case, in which she ought to have invoked the Saint more solicitously, she had not even kept up the customary practice of commending herself; and overcome by tedium born from this thought, rather than by any other consideration, she resolved to lie alone for a little, and dismissed the infirmary attendants ministering to her.

[95] with B. Franca appearing through sleep she is restored, Being alone she resumed her spirit, and most fervently invoked the blessed mother: soon she is seized by sleep, and as she slept it seemed to her that someone touched her, and that she would turn herself to see who it was. She saw, however, a nun clothed in the Cistercian habit, who asked her how she was. The sick woman asked who she was who was thus questioning her. "Do you not then recognize me?" said the other: "I am your Patroness." She subjoins: "Are you St Franca?" And Franca: "I am indeed": and soon she brought great consolation to the sick woman, brought almost to despair, saying that she had been sent by God to heal her. Then touching with her hand in order the affected parts, she would ask where she was hurting: and said: "Come now, daughter, command yourself to be carried to my church, that you may give thanks to God and to the Blessed Virgin, who sent me for the cause of restoring health to you." That woman waking, on the following day, which was the fourth of October and the first Sunday of that month, during the hearing of Mass she suddenly recovers: commanded herself to be carried into the church to hear the sacrifice of Mass: and placed before the altar, she gave the thanks she had been commanded. Then with the sacrifice begun she raised herself onto her feet by herself, with no one helping, and so stood until the end of the Gospel. Meanwhile the Father Confessor came to hear the other Sisters: seeing whom she, desirous of holy Communion, decided to approach the same, somewhat distant from the church; and she approached, narrating to him what had happened: but the Confession and Communion completed, she returned to her cell. After noon the physicians arrived, and were astonished that they found her almost entirely healed and assisting at Vesper prayers, whom the day before they had left in such great anguish.

[96] To the same nun suffering a cancer, To the same nun there came another infirmity in the breast around the throat, which since at the beginning it seemed light and of no moment at all, was neglected, and gradually growing, also vehemently increased the pains; so much so that she was forced to refer the matter to the physicians. To these however applying suitable remedies and effecting nothing, at length after two years it seemed there was need of incision, and finally a manifest and incurable gangrene was disclosed, by which the very bone had now almost rotted. She was therefore left by the physicians as incurable, except that for the sake of consolation rather than help they would return from time to time, to apply something at least in semblance of remedy. and placed beyond the hope of curing, Seeing herself reduced to this point, and hearing that there was in the city a certain itinerant, who promised himself about to cure even such diseases; she resolved to commit herself to him, however much the physicians, the superiors and friends opposed, asking that by such foolishness she should not gratuitously make herself a laughing-stock, when no one could not judge the evil to be beyond hope of cure. She nevertheless persisted in her purpose, and the man being summoned showed him the wound: but he too, having heard the order of the previous treatment, judged the disease incurable, and would not meddle with it.

[97] Therefore destitute of all human hope the wretched one, saw and grieved that she would no longer be of any use in religion. and by the help of B. Franca again healed, When however on one of the days the Superiors had wished to persuade her by many things, to keep herself within her cell, she was saddened beyond measure, and resolved again to have recourse to St Franca, by whom she had once been healed. And so coming into the church before the altar, she fervently commended herself to God, that through the intercession of St Franca, either she might deserve to receive bodily health, if it was expedient for the salvation of her soul; or the disease should so increase, that it would be necessary to remain in the infirmary. Prayer finished she returned to the cell, and applied the remedies she was wont to apply to the wound: and suddenly feeling herself healed, she began to ask St Franca to indicate to her to whom she should refer the gracious favor so singular. In the night therefore preceding the feast of St Agatha, she appears again, and orders the grace to be published. in the year 1610, St Franca appeared to her sleeping with the greatest splendor: to whom turning the nun, she said: "Behold, daughter, I have come to reveal to you, that it was I who restored health to you: but know that I am not a little indignant, that on the former occasion when I healed you, the glory which was due was not given to God. Tell therefore your spiritual Father, that there is need that he do all in his power to bring it about, that this grace be publicly preached, lest devotion to me utterly fail in the people, which now has already greatly languished." And so disappearing, as much consolation as she had brought before, so much sorrow and terror she now left behind, so that the trembling virgin believed she lacked little of dying, seized by a new infirmity, had she not had recourse to the same help.

[98] I, Lord Charles Sforsa, second Chaplain of the nuns of St Franca, Chaplain of the monastery in 1647, when in the year 1647 on a certain morning at sunrise I was putting on my garments, felt the beginning of chiragra in one of my hands: which I, believing to be a simple spasm, went off to the church of St Franca, about to offer the sacrifice of Mass according to custom. And when at these words, "And was incarnate of the Holy Spirit," I knelt; my mouth was drawn back to the left side, with my greatest shame. But the same soon being reduced to its state, without anyone having observed the occurrence, I continued the Mass to the Gospel of St John; when as I was pronouncing, "The Word was made flesh," again my mouth was distorted thus, that for some days I could not celebrate Mass: nay even maimed in arm and hand, I also lost my speech. Therefore esteeming the evil desperate, I began to make most fervent prayers to St Franca: seized by paralysis under Mass he is cured. and on January 30, in the night preceding Wednesday and the point of the 12th hour, I seemed to myself kneeling before an image of the same Saint, which I have at the side of my little bed painted on bronze; and from her to receive solace and blessing, she saying that it had pleased God to restore health to me. Truly however entirely healed in the morning I sacrificed, which on account of the impediment of my arm and tongue speaking foully I had not been able to do before.

[99] Abbess of St Syrus sick, We the nuns of St Syrus make known to your Reverences, that on Saturday evening a catarrh descended into the legs of our Mother Lady Anna Mary Coppolati, so much so that the following morning she could not move herself, without the help of two Sisters leading or rather dragging her. The Doctor Physician summoned forthwith applied remedies, but lacking fruit. After noon she felt herself to be much worse, and entirely destitute of all motion. Therefore having recourse to the patronage of St Francha, she ordered herself to be anointed with her oil: this however done she so recovered, that with one alone giving her hand she was able to rise, is notably helped; to go to the old church, and before the image of the Saint placed there to give thanks: and in this state she perseveres, feeling pain nowhere except in the injured part. Wherefore here we end, asking that you commend her with all our sick to the protection of the aforesaid Saint; that we may know, that she wishes us well, although she was unwilling to remain with us. Meanwhile to the truth of the above-written event Lord James Tedaldi, who had undertaken to cure the sick woman, attests.

[100] In the year 1655 cloudy wine is restored, In the year 1655 on the 8th day of November, when we Lady Claudia Maria Tedeschi and Lady Brigid Maria Copalati, were in charge of the office of the Cellar, and there was need to open a new vat for the use of the Nuns, I Lady Claudia Maria betook myself to the cellar, about to taste the wine to see if it were good: but while I draw it forth, I find it all cloudy and thick, so that it bore no similarity to wine. Therefore to the Lady Abbess, Lady Angela Frances Aymi, who had retired into her cell, consternated I ran: I also asked my companion, and she drawing the wine likewise found it cloudy. Then the Lady Abbess commanded that Christopher Bertolla, our gardener, go with us: who marveled at the wine in the same state. At length the Lady Abbess said: "Let us go, with the water of B. Franca poured in. daughters, to the body of B. Francha and let us commend the matter to her." We went therefore three together, and recited the hymn, antiphon and prayer of St Franca: then we received from the sacristy some of her blessed water: and going across to the cellar we poured it into the vat. Returning again after the space of an hour to the same place, we found the wine clear and red as a carbuncle, and we marveled, and gave glory to God, with the aforesaid gardener of ours present at all things.

[101] The Treasurer of the Duke dying, The most Illustrious Lord Frederick Coppalati, Treasurer of his most Serene Highness, was oppressed by a certain grave disease, and was brought to the extreme. And when on one of the nights it was altogether believed he was about to die, the Parson brought extreme Unction, about to remain with the same with the sick man, that he might confer it upon him. Meanwhile it pleased God that the sick man take some sleep: under which the glorious St Franca appeared to him, bearing in her hand her own Relics, namely the tooth and the ring, with St Anthony of Padua accompanying her: which Relics on the preceding day in fact our Chaplain, Lord Vincent Rivalta, had brought to the sick man, and with them had marked him. marked by her relic he rises again: Some of the household stood around the bed, watching for him to wake, that as soon as the sick man should show himself loosed from sleep by some movement, he could be anointed. The Parson therefore perceiving some movement, approached and said for what

cause he was waiting there. But he answered, that there was no need of that care, since having seen Sts Franca and Anthony he already had it better. Nor was the confidence vain: for within a few days he was entirely and wholly healthy, praise to God.

[102] In the year 1671 a lay Sister impeded in her whole body, In the year 1671, on August 16, on Wednesday morning, a certain young Conversa, attacked by catarrh, for that whole day could not move herself without difficulty: but toward evening the evil was so aggravated, that, destitute of every motive faculty, the others had to undress her of her garments and place her in bed; and no less the following day to lift her up again and dress her, she having been gravely tortured thereafter the whole day. Therefore similarly as on the day before they laid her in bed in the evening, she being able by no exertion however great to move herself in any way. She however on the same night most fervently commended herself to our glorious St Francha, whose Invention was to be celebrated the next day; and she felt a great desire of arranging on that feast a solemn Mass, [while on the day of the Saint's Invention the relic is borne forth and brought back,] and of lighting one lamp in honor of the Saint. The next morning, feeling herself immobile in her whole body except the head, she with difficulty said to the Sister assisting her, that at length it had pleased God to conclude her life in Religion, and therefore she vehemently desired to receive sacred Communion that very day: but because she could not bend her knees for the descent of the stairs, and refused to be carried so quickly by the hands of others, she abstained from the sacred banquet. And now the hour was at hand, in which according to custom for stirring up the devotion of the faithful the Relic of the Saint was to be exposed publicly. While therefore the Father Confessor was going out from the church with it, and was about to pass through the door of the cloister, the sick woman crept to the little window situated opposite, and with much faith commended herself to the Saint. adoring her she receives the faculty of moving herself: Soon feeling herself somewhat better, slowly she approached a convenient place, whence without descending the stairs she could hear Mass: there moreover she was able to bend her knees, and remained until the aforesaid Relic was carried back into the monastery. She says, however, that at the first sight of the candles borne before, she felt herself moved in her whole body, and filled with great joy. Wherefore commending herself even more ardently to the Saint, she tried again to bend her knees: and did so with great ease. That she might experience this more certainly, she rose again, and again knelt, always more easily and easily; and finally by herself descended into the church; and giving thanks to God and the Blessed one, she rang the bells that same day with the other Sisters, admiring the grace of God and the Saint done in her, and restored to her former health, in which she still today perseveres.

[103] and the long-desired rain is granted to the people of Piacenza. On the same year and day rain was vehemently desired by all, of which the earth seemed to have been deprived too long: and so on that very evening, before the Relic was carried back to the customary place, I commanded it to be carried around through the cloister, in exactly the same manner as it is wont to be done on the feast day of the Saint herself, with all my holy women accompanying: and on the same night a copious rain showed that my desire, though most unworthy, had been heard. The recollection of a similar benefit had increased the confidence in asking, which I remembered the people of Piacenza had referred years ago as received from B. Franca, when on account of the rain that fell on her very feast day, long and much desired, all gathered in the evening to give public thanks on that account.

Thus far that MS., of which at least the last part, concerning the deeds of the year 1671, the very Abbess of this time dictated; who perhaps the same caused also the earlier parts to be described as she found them, with not even the year or day added at numbers 99 and 101, which otherwise, as in a recent fact, would not have been difficult.

ON BLESSED PHILIP OR PHILIPPINUS

OF THE ORDER OF MINORS AT MONTALCINO IN TUSCANY.

TOWARD THE END OF THE 13TH CENTURY.

Philip or Philippinus, of the Order of Minors, at Montalcino in Tuscany (B.)

By the author D. P.

[1] The Abbot of the monastery of St Anthimus of Vallisstratia, pertaining without intermediary to the Roman church, of the Order of St Benedict in the diocese of Arezzo, attending that the church of St Angel of Castro-vetere of Monte-Alcino, pertaining in spirituals and temporals to the same monastery by full right, In Montalcino a convent founded around 1286, had so slender returns and revenues, that one of them could not be conveniently sustained from them, nor could it be provided for him from the resources of the said monastery, and that from the said church a small fruit came to the aforesaid monastery; with the consent of the Convent of the same monastery he by pious and provident deliberation determined that it, with the house, cemetery and garden and other appurtenances existing around it (the other possessions of the said church being reserved to the aforesaid monastery), should perpetually be granted to a certain Moro Morandi, Judge of the Roman Church, as proctor for it as to property, but as to use to the Guardian and Brothers of the Order of Minors. So Pope Honorius IV, in the second year of his Pontificate, the year of Christ 1286, on the 11th of December at Rome, writing to the Bishop of Siena, who was then Raynaldus Vguccionis Malavolta, and commanding him, "that concerning the premises he should solicitously inquire the truth, and if he should find that this concession was rightly made without prejudice to anyone, he should procure that it be confirmed by Apostolic authority."

[2] not long after received the body of B. Philip, These were the first, if not the foundations, certainly the strengthenings of that Convent: to which before the end of that century another more noble was added, with the body of B. Philip or Philippinus brought into the church of St Angel, afterwards by a new name of St Francis: whom, born in Castile of Spain, lay by profession, St Anthony in the year 1221 from Sicily led with him into Germany to the General Council of the Order; and together with him handed over into the power of Brother Gratian, Minister appointed of Romagna: who led Anthony himself with him into Aemilia, who was a companion of St Anthony of Padua, with Brother Philippinus his companion sent, in his eighteenth year, to Civitas-castelli, formerly called Tybertina or Tifertina, where, until the chapter celebrated next after the death of St Francis, in holy conversation he remained, that is until the year 1227, as Lucas Wadding writes for the aforementioned year 1221. The same then for the year 1290 narrates, how the already-mentioned B. Philip, from humility and a low opinion conceived of himself called Philippinus, and died at Columbarium, called from Civitas-castelli, was present to St Francis dying, and weeping and grieving palpated his sacred wounds; and the obsequies of the holy Founder being celebrated, departed to Columbarium; and there with happy end consummated, was translated to Mont-Alcino, famous for miracles. Arturus in the Franciscan Martyrology says he died on the 1st of May, I do not know on what authority, and on the same day decreed his memory to be renewed.

[3] It seems more advisable to us to place him on this day, on which we learn from Peter Rodulphius of Tossiniano that his cult was celebrated, in book 1 of the Histories of the Seraphic Religion, folio 127 and following, writing such things. "B. Philip lay, where he had shone with miracles while alive, from Mont-Ilcino of the province of Tuscany, alive and dead known by miracles: who in prayer was so vehement, that he was seen elevated above the trees. He freed several from various diseases and sicknesses by the sign of the Cross. The river Orica, like another Moses, by his prayers he divided, that he might free his own from imminent danger: to whom all the sick fled as to a sacred anchor and were cured. He died, with miracles done, in the place of Columbarium, not far from Mont-Ilcino: after whose death the citizens, armed, brought that sacred body into the city; just as the people of Israel brought the ark with jubilation, and in the church of D. Francis honorably laid it, and even today (that is in the year 1586 in which Rodulphius published his work) each year the city flows together to it on the day of St Mark, cult at Montalcino on April 25. which was the day of his deposition, with candles and lights. There is preserved in the sacristy of the church his tunic with which he died: and is held by the inhabitants in great veneration. Master Jerome Tinellus from Mont-Ilcino, Rector of the greater church of Finalis in the Modenese country, related to me that he had seen a book noted with the public hand, where there are huge miracles, which God by the merits of this Saint has worked."

[4] Miracles formerly written in a notarial way, Tinellus's testimony concerning the written miracles is confirmed by Wadding, who professes that he gives the chief of them: who if at some time he had the very originals (as he had infinite other documents pertaining to the history of the Order), after he had used them sent them back, in no way solicitous about preserving at least a copy, which certainly would have contributed not a little, both to proving the faith of the Annals, and to the caution of future time, in which the very autographs, badly kept, would either be obscured or perish entirely. We began to fear that this very thing happened around B. Philip, after our Fathers of Siena, gone to Mont-Alcino at my request, sought in vain, for the cause of seeking the aforesaid writings, reported, that no such thing was any longer found among the Brothers: but afterwards the Episcopal Vicar himself wrote, that within the memory of elders a booklet on the Life and Miracles of holy Philippinus (for so in all the monuments of the place he is called) was passed about in the hands of rustics, which he thinks is indicated by the man of Tossiniano: but I should believe this booklet to have been written or printed in the vulgar tongue, and would consider it a great thing if it should still be found; the Notarial writing itself however I think to have been conceived in the Latin tongue. Meanwhile we do not omit from the epistle of the said Lord Vicar to note that the cult of this Saint flourishes in his proper chapel, where his image is seen above the altar girt with rays from as far back as the year 1362: and still on the day of St Mark, by public Decree, with the people gathering with their Magistrates, two crystal chests are exhibited above the altar, in one of which is contained the folded habit of the holy man, in the other the bones of his body reduced to ashes.

[5] Would that for stirring up this piety of the men of Mont-Alcino more and more, there should sometime be found both the aforesaid booklet, there is still hope: and the more ancient and long-desired monuments of the miracles: of finding which, although no hope has been found among the Brothers, there yet remains some among the Vicar, an aged man, who both remembers having seen them and promised to inquire. But if to such good will the event should respond, and the matter should fall as desired, we promise that with the same accuracy, with which we bring forth, arrange, and illustrate other similar acts of Notarial faith in this work, we shall arrange and illustrate also those concerning B. Philip, either at the end of this volume, if before the printing is finished they should be found, or in the future Supplement of the whole work; not without grateful commemoration of those, by whose benefit this treasure shall have been drawn out of the darkness. Now, what we can, we give an epitome of the Miracles wrought in his Life and after his death from Wadding.

[6] "The obsequies of St Francis having been celebrated, Philip went to Columbarium, the epitome is given from Wadding, where he excelled in virtue, where like a dove, in continual groaning and weeping, he led a most holy life. Here he received an admirable knowledge of sacred Scripture, whose more difficult places

he interpreted to others, and obtained perfect dominion over irrational animals. Sober in words he placed strict guard upon his mouth, lest he should sin or offend in speech. Here he received the gift of tears, from which he abstained neither day nor night, that, if any earthly stains had clung from his youth, by this water they might be abundantly washed away. Increased by divine graces he was caught up to the company of Angels, raised above all the highest trees. and is said to have been borne through the air to B. Giles, Brother Bonaventure de Podio and his companion saw him at one time, who had come from another Convent to see him, with hands joined, face raised to heaven, immobile in the air hanging above the tall holm-oaks. While they marveled, looking long at the wondrous matter, they see in the blink of an eye, by Angelic ministry, him carried to mount Cetonius distant 18 Roman miles, that with B. Giles he might converse about certain divine things. Like another Elias and Moses, frequently they would discuss with each other concerning the excessus, which Christ in his passion completed; concerning the ardor of charity, by which he willed to redeem the world by the price of his blood; concerning his benignity and longanimity in suffering sinners; and similar things to these.

[7] At length after a life holily and miraculously transacted, in good old age, to have died at the age of 87, full of days, eighty-seven years old, in the same place of Columbarium he migrated to the Lord. Not far is this town distant from Monte-Alcino, commonly Mont-Ilcino, formerly Plebs Lucina; whose people in crowds flowed together to Columbarium, and by force and skill wished to possess after death him whom they had supremely loved in life. That this pleased God and the holy man was clear by manifest signs. For when the men of Columbarium learned that the precious treasure was being snatched from them, they pursued the bearers of the body, the snatching of his body was helped by sudden rain, wishing to demand back what was theirs, and to upbraid them for the injury done to them. Yet the Lord sent down suddenly so much rain from heaven, that he recalled the pursuers from the journey, with no drop touching the holy bier or the bearers of the bier."

[8] A still greater portent occurred in this translation: "for when the copious shower had ceased, and the river divided into parts to allow the bearers to pass very many ran after the snatchers of the dear pledge: and they had come into their sight, when at the bank of the river Ombrone, flowing between the two towns and then with deep channel from the inundation of waters, they stood, thinking how they could ford it, and transfer the holy body. While however they hesitated without counsel, and saw the danger of the pursuers near, they see with great astonishment the miracle of the river Jordan renewed, and the Ombrone river turned backwards, and from the lower part with the waters slipped away appeared dry land, through which joyful they hastily passed to the opposite bank. But to those arriving who were pursuing and astonished at the novelty of the thing, the waters were permitted to flow in their course; and those which before seemed to be held by the strongest obstacles of walls, with new force began to flow down. With the passage therefore closed, which they saw opened to others, they discovered that God so willed, that as those had him alive, others should have him dead." I do not know whether Rodulphius wished to indicate this very thing or some other similar miracle of the same holy man, when he wrote, "The river Orica by his prayers he divided, that he might free his own from imminent danger." Different names of rivers, they confirm to be distinct. So distinct indeed, that from a different and opposite side both flow past Mont-Alcino, yet in the twelfth mile below it they are joined, and the Orica loses its name plunging itself into the larger Ombrone; and so the names could easily be alternated by some not very curious reporter. It is certain however from the situation of Columbaria, which is next to Seggiano, that those coming with the body had to cross the Orica, not the Ombrone. Be that as it may, let us proceed to give the rest from Wadding.

[9] "Many signs and illustrious miracles he wrought, transcribed by public faith by Imperial Notaries, the miracles are summarily enumerated of a certain one, and confirmed by the subscription of many witnesses: from which we here give the chief, which from the day of his deposition until the twentieth of May he wrought. On the very day on which the body was brought, a certain man laboring with most acute fever, having made a vow to honor his sepulcher and to set up a wax statue to the measure of his body, immediately recovered. Another, having suffered most vehement pains of the stomach, similarly vowed and was freed. A third, laboring with a great abscess in the throat, for two days could swallow nothing, until he wholly devoted himself with reverence and devotion to B. Philip, and immediately all the evil departed. The burnt hand of a certain woman, a little boy laboring with epilepsy, another deaf, a young girl mute, Marcellus the Notary suffering pain in the kidneys, John from Mont-Alcino a reaper deprived of the office of his left arm, he wondrously healed.

[10] An incontinent Priest, having entered the house of his mistress, the parents, surrounding the house with armed soldiery, within the first month from the Translation, proposed to slaughter. He, in extreme danger of life, commended his struggle to the Lord, and promised him to change his life for the better if he should escape the present danger: then with the highest vows he invoked B. Philip, that in such great danger he might bring present help, promising he would hang at his sepulcher a sign of grateful soul and benefit received. Having said these things, with the door opened he went out, and passed through the midst of those who were seeking his soul; nor was there one of them all who saw him or made any objection. Mingarda, widow of Neri de Vigili, brought her little son Joannin, for eight days hurt in one eye, on the 19th of May to the tomb of the holy man, and at once led him back healthy. Another Mingarda, formerly the wife of Maffaeus of Mont-Alcino, on the 20th day of the same month, after she had visited the same sepulcher for seven days, was made healthy from an abscess, with which she labored under the breast."

[11] Thus far Wadding, provoking the appetite for learning more, not satisfying desire: whom I should believe, from the year noted, done in the year 1279 according to us, such as he found appended to the Notarial writings, to have defined the year of death: and in this very thing not to have adverted to the usage of the Sienese (in whose district Mont-Alcino is) elsewhere both proved and indicated this month, namely of preventing by nine months the beginning of the common year; so that what are there said done in the year 1290 in the month of May, ought to be referred to the year 1289. Whether the translation was made a few days elapsed from the death of the Blessed, which the already indicated miracles soon followed, or whether after a longer time of one or several years passed since death the men of Montalcino thought of snatching the body, whether immediately from the death of the Blessed, is not easy to define from the authors. To reason perhaps it will seem more congruent to someone, that they took the body away before it was buried, lying in the temple, with the men of Columbarium taking their nocturnal rest, than that they did the same thing with him already buried: yet another could object, that it is incongruously believed that the men of Columbarium, in that heat of new devotion to the Blessed, gave the convenience to their neighbors of carrying off an unguarded treasure.

[12] or rather one year at least afterwards The former opinion seems to be favored by the man of Tossiniano in the words alleged above; and Wadding himself, calling that day on which he was received among the men of Mont-Ilcino the day of his deposition, that is, of burial, as if until then he had not been buried. On the contrary Francis Gonzaga in part 2 of the Seraphic Origins, treating of the Convent of Columbarium, which was the third of the Province of Tuscany, when among those who illustrated that place by their sanctity he had named this Philip from Castile of Spain, "a man most adorned with every kind of virtue; who, having accompanied blessed Father Anthony of Padua from Spain into Italy, chose this house for himself, and in it persevered to death"; at length concluding says, that "the body, secretly exhumed, was translated to Monte Ilcino." Bartholomew Pisanus mentions the same in book 1 of the Conformities, page 154, writing in the year 1385: but in such a way that it cannot conveniently be drawn either way, when under the custody of Chiusi, after describing the place of Columbaria, he simply names "the place of Mont Ilcino, where holy Brother Philippinus shining with miracles continually preaches the conversion of nations to Christ." But if it were established, that the Blessed died on May 1, as Arturus writes, there could be no doubt at all, but that at least one year intervened between death and translation. Situation of Columbaria. Furthermore, whatever we have here said about the men of Columbarium, with armed hand pursuing the bearers of the sacred body, this is now said about the men of Seggiano, as next to the Convent of Columbarium and having Columbarium itself under them: but the Castle of Seggiano or Sediano is distant from Mont-Alcino not much more than ten miles, with the little river Orcia dividing the middle of the journey.

[13] Let one specimen of the indulgences granted to the place close these things, with express indication of the feast of S. Philippinus customarily celebrated annually, of which kind of bulls given by various Prelates the Episcopal Vicar has informed us that they exist there: it itself is such. Indulgences given to the Confraternity of D. V. "We Brother Augustine of the Order of the Brother Hermits of St Augustine, by the grace of God Bishop of Salubria, Vicar General of the Reverend in Christ Father Lord James by the same grace Bishop of Arezzo, in functioning Pontifically in the city and diocese of Arezzo, to the beloved sons the Confreres of the Fraternity of the Virgin Mary of the Annunciate Chapel near the place of the Friars Minor of Mont-Alcino, salvation in the Lord eternal. Asked by you, that we adorn your Chapel, which to the honor of the Mother of God you have built near the aforesaid place, with some spiritual graces, that the faithful of God might gather there as much more devoutly and fervently, as much as from this they should know they could obtain some spiritual grace; therefore by the authority and assent of the aforesaid Lord James, by whose authority we function Pontifically in the city and diocese of Arezzo, for various feasts, we grant to all you who gather, by special grace, by reason of devotion on the present festivities, namely, of the Nativity of the Lord, of the Epiphany, of the Resurrection, on all Easter Sundays, on all the festivities of St Mary, to whose praise the said Chapel was set up, on all the festivities of the Apostles and Evangelists, of St Francis, of St Louis, of St Philippinus, of St Lawrence, also of S. Philippinus, of St Stephen, on all such days, then whenever any office shall be celebrated in the said Chapel in the church of the said Brothers,… forty days of Indulgences for committed sins, on the part of the aforesaid Lord James Bishop of Arezzo, and another forty on our part, we grant and mercifully relax. In testimony of which we cause the present to be fortified by the appending of our customary seal for the full faith of the devout faithful. Given in the church of the Plebs of St Salvator of Mont-Alcino, in the year of the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ 1370, Indiction… in the year 1370. on the 26th day of June, in the time of the supreme Pontiff Lord Urban by divine permission Pope V," who in the same year (at least according to our manner of numbering taken) ceased to live, as also James the Bishop, and it would have been the eighth Indiction (although in the copy sent to us it could not be read) or the seventh, if according to the Sienese custom the beginning of the common year was prevented by nine months. The Bishopric of Salubria we have nowhere read of, but we know well the Sicilibrese

in the province of Carthage, of which long since extinct only the bare title, among the alternations of curial ministers somewhat distorted from the true writing, is used, we marvel the less the more often we have been able to observe the same.

April III: 26. April

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