ON SAINT ZITA THE VIRGIN,
AT LUCCA IN ITALY.
YEAR 1272
PrefaceZita, Virgin, at Lucca in Italy (Saint)
By the author D. P.
[1] This day, starting from Saint Antonius, Hermit and Presbyter of Lucca, we have seen inserted in a certain manuscript Kalendar of that church, which was of more ancient note, From the most frequent miracles of the Saint, these words: "5 Kal.
May, of Antonius the Hermit, and of Sita of Lucca." She is called "of Lucca" because born in its territory, and ending her life in it, she confirmed in that same place the excellence of her great virtues, not only by the miraculous integrity of her body even now uncorrupted, but by the most frequent and greatest benefits which she bestowed on those fleeing to her patronage. Concerning these the contemporary author of the Life speaks thus: 150 authentically noted, "We can all truly attest that she miraculously aided not only more than one hundred and fifty persons wearied by diverse troubles, deadly sicknesses, and perils (as the man worthy of trust, the Notary Faytinellus, wrote of each of the aforesaid, both individually and in public form, with suitable witnesses and oaths received), but there was an abundant multitude of persons to whom, in diverse places and times, she variously gave the aids of grace and health of body, and does not cease to give them; which would not only exceed the number of a thousand, but would seem almost incredible to any hearers."
[2] It is to be lamented that not only were those many and almost innumerable things not noted in writing; but also that those authentic notarial instruments of Faytinellus are not preserved. whose collection was described under the year 1380, Yet this loss is in some way compensated by the parchment codex of the Faytinellus family (which Saint Zita served most long and faithfully), besides the Life, containing nearly one hundred miracles, faithfully and word-for-word transcribed from those instruments, about the year 1380, all performed within ten continuous months, of which the last, number 98, offers us the principal foundation for establishing the entire chronology concerning this Saint: for thus it begins: "Jacobina wife of Bonajuncta… in the year 1279 on the tenth day of the month of January, corporeally swore upon the holy Gospels of God… she is proved to have been added to the Saints in 1278, that in this last past year, in summer, near the feast of the Ascension of the Lord, when Blessed Zita the Virgin had been 'sanctified,' that is, had been declared holy, in the city of Lucca, she herself vowed herself to God and the aforesaid Virgin."
[3] That the number of the year here noted is not liable to suspicion of error is proved by the greater part of the preceding miracles, in which the day of the month with the number of the weekday is so conjoined that each must have been written in the year 1278, having the Dominical letter B, when Easter was celebrated on April 17, and the feast of the Ascension on May 26. A similar concurrence of day and weekday is noted at the death of the Saint herself, she died in 1272, on April 27, Wednesday; and this concurrence the preceding leap year 1272 had. In this year therefore we place the death of the Saint: because no cause persuades us to constitute a longer interval between her canonization and her blessed death; but to constitute an interval of some years is altogether demanded by the very relation of miracles multiplying from her death, as they are touched upon in the Life, number 35. For it is said that the incredulous Prior of Saint Frigidian and others, though for a long time unbelieving, at length by common counsel and agreement "caused the venerable body to be enclosed in a stone sarcophagus… awaiting the outcome of the matter, namely that, if the work should be feigned and merely human, it should quickly fail." But the miracles which the Notary Faytinellus took down on April 27 and 30 suppose the body already enclosed in the "lavellum," that is the stone sarcophagus, and the Prior persuaded of the truth of the miracles, so that they cannot be believed to have begun to be noted on the very day of her death, but on some anniversary day of the same death. not 1279. Wherefore we must confess that all authors have hitherto erred, who, following the Life falsely transcribed, have said that Saint Zita died in the year 1279. For such a year had the Dominical letter not B, but A; and hence April 27 concurred not with Wednesday but with Thursday. Nor should you suspect that the year is here noted according to the style of the Pisans and the other peoples through Etruria, for that which we would number 1278: for that the Lucchese in reckoning the years followed the Roman and common style can be taught by as many examples as are the many instruments drawn up among them that are cited or produced entire by the now to be praised Florentini, in the book entitled Memoirs of Countess Matilda.
[4] Now in the year 1278, This canonization was legitimate and public, in which the notarial instruments show that she had sanctified or had been sanctified as Zita the Virgin, the Bishop of Lucca was Paganellus, second of this name, appointed three years before. That nothing was done without his consent, concerning the establishment and ordering of the public cult, is persuaded at the very least by those words of the Life, in which the author says in number 1 that the uncle and sister of the Saint "were of such conduct and life, that, if the prohibition of law had not been an obstacle, they had long been regarded as Saints by all." But Zita everywhere and freely he calls "Saint," approved by Cardinals and various Prelates, by this very thing indicating that this was permitted by express declaration of law. The same in number 36 calls witnesses of her incorrupt body "the Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, and also Archbishops and other venerable men very many… who saw with bodily eyes, while with pious devotion for the purpose of venerating her (yet beyond the prohibition of the law) they often came and do not cease to come daily." Hence she was inscribed in the sacred Calendars of the Church, even among foreigners: for we have seen the Martyrology of Ado, copied from an exemplar of the Church of Brescia in Italy, which once served the Church of Toulon in France, although not solemnly by the Pontiff: and is now preserved with the Most Serene Christina, Queen of Sweden, augmented with these words on April 27: "On the same day, the Birthday of Saint Zita the Virgin." I would not, however, dare to affirm that the cause of Sanctification was brought to the Roman Pontiff (who was then Nicholas III): for although in those first centuries of papal canonizations such an action was of far less noise and splendor than now, when it is most difficult and most splendid, it could not yet have been so obscure that the contemporary author of the Life ought and would have expressly remembered it and the papal Bull that followed it.
[5] Life and 99 miracles given from a manuscript, We first found this in a manuscript collection of Lives among the Camaldolese Hermits, in the principal hermitage itself, and thence taken, but needing much correction, passing through Lucca in the year 1662, we compared it for emendation with the parchment manuscript of the Faytinellus family, when the most illustrious youth Faytinellus, son of Bartholomew de' Faytinelli, had brought it to us, at the urging of our most loving and most erudite host Francesco Maria Florentini: whom at about the same time at which we were preparing these things for the press, that is, on the 8th day before the Kalends of February of the year 1673, we afterward learned from the letters of his son Mario, a most accomplished young man, to have passed from this wretched mortality with the hope of a happier immortality, we rejoice that the memory of that excellent man could be inserted in this place. His erudition will be testified by the excellent works which he gave to the public: his skill in curing diseases the whole city of Lucca will praise: we, as domestic witnesses, all the more gladly preserve in memory the most tender affection of this most religious man toward God and all sacred things, and the most upright morals of his family, instituted by paternal examples, because in these consists the sum of the virtues required in a Christian paterfamilias, by which is attained the fellowship of the Saints, of whom we here treat. From the same codex, as I said above, in the house of Florentini himself, we copied the aforementioned miracles: which now, reading them over more accurately, we have found that collection perhaps with one or another quire or at least the first leaflet torn out was mutilated and thus acephalous, and likewise deficient in the corresponding leaflet in the same quire: and the writer progressing beyond the midpoint (perhaps because several loose instruments had been presented), with no order of days preserved, as each came to his hands, thus reported them in the parchments after the year 1372, when the miracle noted last occurred, as an Appendix to the older things. But to arrange these was easy for us, which we took care to do: others 50 seem to have perished: but to supply what is lost is not only impossible for us now, but almost to be despaired of for posterity, since the aforesaid Florentini, having most accurately scrutinized all and each, private and public, of the writings of the old writers on tablets in the city of Lucca, nowhere found anything more authentic and complete than that manuscript of the Faytinelli. From this also, various Italian editions are indicated. and not from another, all translated into the vulgar language first came forth from the press in the year 1582, by the testimony of Silvano Razzi, who took his from the printed version, to be joined to the Lives of the Saints of Etruria, in the year 1593. Following Razzi's composition, Cesare Franciotti rendered the same much briefer, among the Lives of the Saints of Lucca in the year 1613; and finally Pompeo Lommorii, in the year 1634, restored and adorned it anew with the prerogatives of ancient prolixity and modern elegance; all in Italian.
[7] A temple of Saint Zita at Genoa and a Confraternity, On the mountain of Motrone, which is ten thousand paces distant from Lucca, there is an oratory sacred to Saint Zita, but at the walls of Genoa there is a temple celebrated for piety and the concourse of the neighboring peoples, the Bisagnini especially, to whom the nearby river Bisagnus gave their name. These, indeed, chose Saint Zita as their tutelary Patroness, and expose to their cult, on the principal feast day of the year, a notable relic of hers enclosed in a silver reliquary. They also established a Society whose care is, on each Friday of the week and on the more celebrated feasts through the year, that several priests celebrate mass in the said temple: into which if anyone takes care to be enrolled, by the concession of Pope Paul V, he is granted a plenary indulgence. This Society, on the Thursday of Holy Week, at the chief temple of Genoa establishing a mournful supplication, from which her image is accustomed to be carried about, besides the instruments of the Lord's Passion, carries around the image of its tutelary patroness, which represents Saint Zita gathering her bosom full of various flowers. They say that the custom of painting her thus was born from the fact that once carrying crumbs of bread to the poor, which she had collected in her bosom, when her master asked what she was carrying, by a sudden miracle she showed flowers made from the crumbs.
[8] A temple at Palermo under her name, At the city of Palermo there was once a monastery of the Lucchese, under the invocation of Saint Zita, Rocco Pirro in the Notitia of the Church of Palermo, page 218, teaches, and that from the tables of donation by Nicolaus Terentinus, with whom was the right of patronage, signed in the year 1428, by which the place is transferred to the Reformed Preachers: who, having built there a monastery under the invocation of Saint Vincent Ferrer, could not or would not bring it about that the old name of Saint Zita should be abolished: but it remained with the temple, even after in the year 1603, with the temple of the 40 Holy Martyrs joined (which had once been a xenodochium of the Pisans), a new and far more august one rose. Indeed also a suburban establishment of the same Friars, perhaps from ancient times depending on the said little chapel of the Lucchese, keeps the same name, and is called "Villa di Santa Zita." To the same Saint also the city of Ely, situated in the County of Cambridge, about the year 1456 consecrated an oratory: for the adornment of which Baldassarre Mannus, at that time Bishop of Lucca, another in England and in Portugal, gave to William Langstrohir, Knight of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, some relics of Saint Zita
the little toe of her right foot as a gift. The Lusitanian Friars Minor have a convent sacred to her in the diocese of Lisbon, of which Francesco Gonzaga, in part 3 On the Origin of the Seraphic Religion, hands down the beginnings in these words: "There was once in this kingdom of Portugal a most devout hermit, Italian by nation, who, desirous of the solitary life, built himself an hermitage at his own discretion, for the sake of doing penance, in the bounds of the town, called in Portuguese Aceiceira, of the diocese of Lisbon, in honor of Saint Zita the Virgin, from begged alms. In which, with the greatest austerity of life and poverty, he persevered to his last life's habit. Yet when he had died, some Brothers of the third Order of the most blessed Father Francis succeeded him. These, when both alms and other things necessary for sustenance failed them, decided to give up the place. Wherefore the venerable Father Friar Peter Alvarez, Franciscan, obtained it, by the highest prayers, from these same Tertiaries, congregated in chapter in the year from the Nativity of Christ 1423, and adapted it in a modest way according to the disposition of the place and the limits of poverty."
[9] Whether the body is there? So Gonzaga about the beginnings of this convent, to which certain writers by palpable fabrication relate that the body of Saint Zita was translated, citing a certain codex of the Church of Toledo: from which Luis dos Anjos, in his Hortus Lusitaniae, reports this: "In the year 1287, on the 5th day before the Kalends of May, in the Pisan city, died Blessed Cita, for whom the Lord works many miracles. For whom some Churches poured forth prayers, especially that of Saragossa, which I believe has sacred relics. But a certain hermit brought the body of this virgin from Italy, and brought it to the town of Aceiceira in Portugal. To whom a little shrine was made in the time of John, King of Portugal." What can be more openly fabulous? Saint Zita did not close her day at Pisa but at Lucca, not in the year 1287 but 1278. That the body was never brought to Portugal is made manifest by her public and uninterrupted cult at Lucca. Yet that hermit, if he migrated there after the death of Saint Zita, could have consecrated his hut to her, who already had a cult among the Lucchese, and brought some relics from Italy for private cult: whence, the place having been afterward changed into a Convent, the name might have stuck.
[10] [Whether some Saint Silla is to be admitted, to whom the said Convent is dedicated:] Yet certain Spanish writers have different opinions here, wishing the "Citta" to whom the mentioned convent of Minorites is sacred to be "Silla" or "Sila": who, according to a certain old Sigüenza codex cited on April 6 in the Hagiologium Lusitanum by Cardoso, was the midwife to Calsia, the mother of the holy Virgins and Martyrs Genivera, Victoria, Euphemia, etc.: whom also when Calsia, having rejected them because she had brought them all forth in one birth, had ordered to be drowned in the river, Silla, snatching them from death, gave them to Christian nurses to be raised. Concerning which Vasconcellos in the Description of the Lusitanian Kingdom, page 446, has this: "Nor indeed did the most holy Virgins forget the midwife Sila, from whom they had obtained so great a benefit; but from her Spouse they obtained for her the same glory of martyrdom. Nor are authors lacking, who write that her body is religiously preserved at Nabantium, a town of Portugal." Concerning these authors we have nothing certain; their opinion, if there were any, was followed by him who afterwards under the name of Julianus, Archpresbyter of Toledo, put forth his own chronicle and adversaria: from which Bivar in Dextro for the year 134 brings forward the following: "When I accompanied Lord Bernard, Archbishop of Toledo, through Portugal and Galicia, I came to Tomar; where near the temple was a place of Saint Sila, Virgin and Martyr, where her body is preserved: who is believed to be the virgin who raised and educated the holy Virgins and Martyrs, her sisters, namely Quiteria and Liberata and other Lusitanians. The anniversary day of her martyrdom is venerated on the Kalends of November: she is believed to have suffered not long after those Virgins suffered." These are the words of Pseudo-Julianus: which we will discuss more carefully on November 1. The narration about Calsia and her daughters certainly does not seem to lack fictions: meanwhile, as Cardoso testifies, the testimony of Julianus so prevailed with the aforementioned Minorites, that, having changed the Office which they had been accustomed to recite of their tutelary Patroness only as Virgin, they took up the Office of her as Virgin and Martyr to be recited from then on.
[11] The body also in the year 1580, the shrine then first being opened and uncovered, the body still incorrupt. appeared unrotted and lively: concerning which Pompeo Lommorii says that fidelity was given by those who inspected it on December 10, Alessandro Guidiccioni, Bishop of Lucca, with his Vicar Francesco Buonavoglia, and afterwards on April 2 by Cesare Ferrero, Bishop of Ivrea. Then the body was taken from its stone ark and transferred to another more ornate one of wood above the altar, so that it could be shown for viewing, as is now done, seems likely to us: we who saw it considered it with the greatest admiration, with face and hands bare almost like one sleeping; the rest the garments of gold cloth covered, and a notable crown adorned the head: but that it could not be touched with hands a crystal prevented, permitting passage only to sight. And as we were allowed to see it extraordinarily at that time, so it can be seen by all indiscriminately on April 27, as Franciotti writes: on which day that the Office of her should be with Double rite, Leo X granted in the year 1510, by a bull given on April 2: but by which that privilege is restricted to the church of Saint Frigidian alone and to the Canons Regular in it. The people of Ancona, having obtained some part of her sacred body, I do not know what, are also said to perform some Office of her, but on the following day April 28.
LIFE
Described by a contemporary author.
From a Camaldolese manuscript codex, collated with the Lucchese Original.
Zita, Virgin, at Lucca in Italy (Saint)
BHL Number: 9019, 9020
By a contemporary author, from manuscripts.
PROLOGUE.
Sacred Scripture and the Lives of the Saints were written for our utility, All Scripture divinely inspired is profitable for teaching, given for this very cause by the Holy Spirit, that as from some common fount of holiness, we may all take from it remedies for our own passions, wherefore it is said: "Whatever things were written, were written for our learning: that through patience and comfort of the Scriptures we might have hope." Rom. 15:4 Thence also arose the disciplined custom of most skilled men of old to investigate the celebrated Lives of the Saints, and carefully and rationally to assign by the office of their pen the series of them to the memory of posterity: so that, through the zeal of his doctrine, each one might attain to their imitation on earth, and one day enjoy their fellowship in the glory of eternal life: of those, namely, who have performed virtues, so much praise is had as the illustrious talents of writers have been able to extol them with words. In similar manner many, suffused with the light of wisdom, have written the fragrant deeds of the Saints in luminous speech: with whose comparison while I measure the brevity of my own talent, to which scant streams of modest knowledge succeed, and which is scarcely filled by the attenuated drop of a poor dripping; the breath of my narration ought to be cut short, lest the ruder speech should show me worthy of reproof, who had impudently occupied material that should have been reserved to well-qualified writers. Whose golden life, although it far transcended me, yet I have judged it not injurious, if the streams, to profit the uses of men, my plebeian pipe should make manifest. Fearing this alone, and most of all, lest by the lapse of flowing time the deeds of that distinguished life, the morals of an admirable woman, the most excellent virgin Zita, should perish from memory: of whose deeds and prodigies, performed after her death, nearly innumerable, let it be plain that I have written nothing in particular in this work: but only those things which she did while living in the body I set forth, or about her death. But since in men charity and humility, not the signs of virtues, must be venerated (for the proof of sanctity is not to work signs, what are the best signs of sanctity? but to love each one as oneself; to think truly of God, but better of the neighbor than of oneself: and hence is it that Truth says, "In this shall all know that you are my disciples, if you have love one for another") — I have committed to this present writing only a few things in comparison with all; for if I should report all that I know of this perfect and proven woman from the testimony of good and trustworthy men, or by myself, the day, I opine, will sooner cease than my discourse. John 13:35 About to write therefore her life and deeds, I invoke Him who dwells in her, the Holy Spirit, who is the maker of all things and the bountiful giver of gifts, manifold and unique, subtle, eloquent, and mobile, sure and sweet, having in Himself every virtue, foreseeing all things, and dividing to each as He wills; that He who bestowed upon her virtues may grant me words to narrate them, from whom is every good giving and every perfect gift.
CHAPTER I.
Her birth, condition of life, generosity to the poor, turning of water to wine, multiplication of grain.
[1] She is born in the territory of Lucca of country parents, With the world inclining to its setting, and with the corruption of the age slipping into decay, the brightness of the divine light shone forth in these last times in the venerable handmaid of God, Blessed Zita; arising from the province of Tuscany, from a city of the diocese of Lucca, that is in a country place called Monte Sagrati: whom God, who said that light should shine out of darkness, and who chose the weak things of the world, and the foolish and the contemptible, that He might confound the strong, illuminated with so great rays of grace; that although she was born of the lowest birth, yet she was adorned with the highest virtues, and filled with abundance of merits; and she shone also with innumerable miracles of signs and prodigies so far that their sound went forth into every land where the Christian name is cherished, and from the ends of the earth very many ran after the odor of her ointments. For by faith she adhered to the first Truth, believing God more than herself; by hope to the highest charity, trusting more in God than in herself; by charity she clung to the highest goodness, loving God above all things and more than herself. She had too a father called John the Lombard, a mother Bonissima, an uncle Gratian, a layman, and a sister who was a nun, by name Margaret, in a certain monastery of the Cistercian Order: of whom both, namely her uncle and her sister, were of such and so great conduct and life that, if the prohibition of law had not stood in the way, they had long been reckoned as Saints by all.
[2] whence, at the age of 12, migrating to Lucca, This virgin, leaving her country place at about her twelfth year, moved into the city of Lucca to dwell. And in order that, according to the Apostle, she might minister to her necessities with her own hands; lest perchance she should eat the bread of sorrow, or that she, needy, might bring aid to the needy, she gave herself over into the house of certain citizens of Lucca, living not far from the venerable church of Saint Frigidian d of Lucca, in which her venerable body now rests. She led therefore
the venerable Zita the whole time of her life in the house of the aforesaid nobles, namely until she was nearly 60 years old, serving her masters and mistresses irreproachably without complaint, She gives herself to service, and bearing solicitous care for the governance of the house and family of both sexes and ages. And if at any time the services of family business were not incumbent on her, she would assiduously hasten to manual labor; avoiding most of all, as though the bites of fiery serpents, every idleness, and the curiosity of this turning time; namely the weapons of the ancient enemy for captivating wretched souls. She also diligently fulfilled that which is written in the book of Wisdom: a lover of labor, "Whatsoever thy hand can do, do it earnestly." Eccl. 9:10 She also more sedulously avoided the superstitions of old women, given over to the lust for earning. She also judged that God must be served exquisitely, by rendering to Him glorious service, though inglorious to the world.
[3] There also clung to the bosom of God's handmaid, divinely given, generous to the poor, with meekness and mildness, a certain liberal pity toward the poor: which, growing with her from infancy, had filled her heart with such kindness, that she never, if she had the means, denied alms to those seeking them for the love of God. And that she might find herself more easily prepared for these things, not only did she with watchful care prepare suitable things for this work, or whatever seemed opportune; but she even carefully collected very small fragments, or even cheap ones, from dishes and scraps; watching intently, lest perchance any poor person should happen to depart from her empty-handed. And while she kept this purpose to the utmost of her ability until death, she attained to more abundant increases of grace toward God. Indeed so much, that when on a certain day a certain pilgrim, One of whom, to whom bringing water from the well, she turned it into wine: heavily parched with thirst and heat, asked alms of her; and she had nothing with which to help the poor man, she was much distressed as to what she should do: meditating at last, inspired from heaven; she urged the poor pilgrim to wait while she should bring him fresh water from the well. Taking a bronze vessel, according to the custom of the place, she brought the drawn fresh water from the well to the pilgrim, making over it the sign of the Cross. And when he had tasted the aforesaid water divinely made wine, and had actually perceived the taste of the best wine, he drank more cheerfully and more abundantly; afterward asserting and attesting that he had never drunk such and so sweet a wine in all the days of his life.
[4] The sweetness of piety had so flowed forth from the Fount of mercy into the servant of God in such abundant fullness, that for relieving the miseries of wretched persons she seemed to bear a mother's bowels. She distributes things taken from herself to the sick, Her grace melted toward the sick and poor; she stretched her hands even more zealously to them. All of whom she loved most greatly with a certain cordial and fraternal affection; and that from this her sacrifice might be more acceptable to God, she withdrew from her own little body all delicate and necessary foods, and personally, when opportunity was taken, brought them to those whom sickness or poverty pressed harder. Whom also she often visited personally, and strove most diligently to render services to the weak: for who offers pleasing abstinence, unless he distributes what he withdraws from his own food to those in need. To whom, if she could not offer a hand, at least she showed her affection, with exhortations to patience or consolatory words inserted: for the word of doctrine does not penetrate the heart of the needy, if the hand of mercy does not commend it to his spirit: and that voice does not penetrate the heart of the hearer which does not preserve by work what it has uttered. with singular promptness: Indeed whatever penury, whatever defect she saw in anyone, with the sweetness of a pious heart she referred it to Christ: and when she perceived the image of Christ in all the poor, if any necessary things had been given her, whether in clothes, or in cloths, shoes, or any things, to the needy occurring she not only generously gave, but even sought them out; and, as if these things were their own, judged they should be restored. For when we minister any necessary things to the needy, we give back as it were their own, not our own: and g we pay rather a debt of justice than fulfill the works of mercy. With such intent toward works of mercy she was, that innumerable times she found herself more ready to disburse alms to wretched persons, than those prepared to receive them. The slight wages too, which she obtained from the master of the house, she either distributed to the needy, or, with her usual humanity, lavished on those almost innumerable whom she held at the sacred font of baptism.
[5] At a certain time, therefore, when as famine was increasing, the poor were complaining that their provisions were dearer than usual, and their funerals were being multiplied by the prevailing penury; they flocked more sedulously to Zita, as to a mother and helper in their necessities. She, having now expended all that she had, and what she could obtain from others in this work of piety, had nothing more left that she could spend. [To a poor little woman laboring under extreme hunger she gives beans from her master's chest,] But when a wretched poor little woman came with a crowd of small children, standing around and upon her, and urgently asking alms of her, lamenting that she with them was struggling under poverty almost incredible, indeed that she could no longer subsist; immediately the most kindly servant of God was pierced with the sword of compassion; and not having whence she could extend helping hands to her, being divinely taught, namely that in time of necessity all things must be shared, and that the heavenly Lord must be obeyed more than the earthly, she resolutely went to a certain chest of her lord, containing a copious multitude of beans, namely to the amount of a certain measure of "starii," and gave a part to the needy woman with her children, so that they might avoid the danger of famine; since in vain do they think themselves innocent, who claim for themselves privately the common gift of God: who daily kill almost as many as the dying poor whose helps they hide with themselves; who, not giving what they have received, are implicated in the death of their neighbors. Wherefore on the following days she gave from the said chest to however many poor came asking alms.
[6] And although she feared not a little the complaints and reproaches of her lord, without whose knowledge or consent she was distributing the aforesaid to the poor; yet she said within herself: "I will bear whatever he may wish to inflict on me, and I will personally pay for it, both ready for blows and tortures gladly." Which, when he wanted to sell, he saw in no way diminished. Accordingly the chest, as far as Zita could reach with her hands and arms, was almost emptied of beans by alms, no one noticing; the lord of the household, not knowing this, ordered the beans which he had placed in the same chest to be sold to a certain buyer; and having assigned the value, he commanded them to be measured. Zita, indeed, was imploring the Lord God with confidence and fear, that God would make the mind of the master of the house gentle toward her, lest he should rail sharply against her for the dispersion of the beans. And behold, the chest was found divinely full of beans, and in no way was the measure of them found diminished: and thus the Lord, in whom she trusted, marvelously protected His handmaid from every threatening trouble, in a wonderful and unimaginable way. But Zita, seeing that the master of the house was not upset against her, congratulated herself before his wife, namely her mistress, rendering thanks to God, and commending Him greatly for His manifold kindness. Yet because one must be very careful lest, while one lives well, the mind, despising others, be lifted up with singular glory; what had happened regarding this she kept humbly; nor was she eager to attribute it to a miracle; although many who were conscious of these things praised the divine power and her merits in so great a miracle.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER II.
Various heavenly favors bestowed on Saint Zita, and the austerity of her life.
[7] God's handmaid Zita was an imitator of the apostolic man Blessed Martin the Bishop, On the night of the Nativity, when, as is read, he deserved to clothe Christ the Lord in the person of him or some Angel. On the most sacred night of the Nativity of the Lord our Savior, when she was planning to be present at the matins vigils, which at that time holy Church solemnizes, and the intense rigor of cold was heavier than usual, the master of the house said to her: "O Zita, how do you hurry to church at this most cold time of night, when even we, in the house and in our clothes, can scarcely bear the trouble of the freezing cold? when you, especially weakened by the preceding fast, and covered with a cheap and thin garment, are about to sit upon the wet and cold marble of the pavement? Surely, going to church with her fur cloak, either sparing yourself, stay in this place devoting yourself to holy prayers; or add on your shoulders my cloak with the fur against the trouble of the cold." And when Zita refused to be absent from holy church on the night of so great a solemnity, and having taken his fur-lined cloak she hastened to the church, the master of the house, speaking again, said, with a kind of foreknowing spirit, as the following things indicate: "Take heed, Zita, and diligently take care not to entrust the cloak to anyone else, or leave it anywhere; lest perchance, that being lost, I should be afflicted with the lack and loss of my things, and you should suffer a grave trouble from me." But she answered: "Well it will be for you, my Lord, well it will be for you; safe and guarded will be this cloak."
[8] And when Zita had entered the church, immediately her gaze was directed to a certain poor man, half-naked, muttering, and chattering his teeth because of the harshness of the cold; she lends it to the poor man: at whose misery continuously Zita's heart, pierced with compassion, was melting over the affliction of the trembling poor man. And drawing nearer, she said: "Well, Brother, what is wrong with you?"
"And why do you afflict yourself with complaints?" But he, looking upon her with a placid face, stretched out his hand and touched the aforementioned cloak. Then Zita, removing the cloak from her shoulders, covered the poor man, saying to him: "Hold these furs upon yourself, Brother, until the Divine Office is finished, but you must give them back to me; and do not go anywhere, because I will lead you to my house, and will protect you from the cold by the fire." And having said these things, she withdrew to the side, where her custom was to stand in prayer and holy meditation and in listening to divine things. When therefore the Divine Offices were completed, and all the men and women who had assembled were returning home, Zita too had to return. Looking for the poor man everywhere, therefore, through the church and outside, and nowhere finding him, she said to herself: "I wonder where he went? who, afterward searched for in vain, I fear someone took the cloak from him, and thus from shame he does not dare to show himself in my sight. And indeed he seemed a person of good appearance, whence I do not believe that he would either steal the cloak or flee."
[9] By these and similar means she piously excused the poor man within herself, nor was she willing in any way to impute theft or robbery to him. And when she had wandered about sufficiently searching, she brings it back and could not find him, she returned ashamed, always holding a firm hope in the Lord that either He would make the master of the house peaceful toward her, or that He would inspire the said fleeing poor man to return to her to give back the cloak. Finally when Zita had arrived home without the cloak, the master of the house attacked her with harsh words and insults, adding very many complaints. and reporting it to her chiding master, But she, returning no words or signs of any impatience, plainly and with exhortation of good hope, narrated the order of the matter to the master of the house. But he more attentively understood her purpose from her, and yet until the hour of dinner did not cease from grumbling. O immense clemency of divine goodness! Behold, indeed, at the third hour, there is on the stairs and in the middle of the house a poor man, soothing the mind of beholders with his graceful aspect, and bearing in his arms the aforesaid cloak: which he restored to Zita, the aforesaid master of the house seeing and hearing, giving thanks for the exhibition of so great a benefit bestowed upon him. And suddenly, he disappears from their sight. while both Zita and the master of the house had begun to speak to him, he disappeared from them like the flash of some lightning, leaving sent into their hearts from heaven a certain new and untried joy, at which they rejoiced with admiration, and for a long time marveled with a certain delight.
[10] Such indeed discipline and rigor did happy Zita use in crucifying the flesh with its vices, She abstains from cooked foods and wine: that she most rarely felt sensual movements: and with so strict a law of modesty she bridled herself that she scarcely took any necessary things for the sustenance of nature. Indeed, a little piece of cooked food reserved or allotted to her at table, she rarely tasted; but preserved the same to be carried to some sick or poor person, content to take for herself only the smallest and vilest things. And with such strict sparingness she kept from wine, in drink especially, that on very many days through the year she tasted no wine at all. And because then chastity is led to the perfect brightness of cleanness, when by abstinence the flesh is tamed; she so macerated herself with frequent fasts, that although she seemed corpulent in face, she scarcely stuck to her bones. Her mouth grew pale from fastings, and her mind burned with heavenly desires; so that mostly she seemed nothing less than a human body, but a phantom or spirit. Nor yet, as most do, did she prepare herself a more copious or richer dinner at that time, lest she should hide care of the flesh under desires: nay rather, she strove effectively to forbid those who were preparing such things for her, lest in this she should become a burden to anyone.
[11] As to the garments with which she covered her little body, She abhors the adornment of clothes: she attended to no preciousness or cheapness, color, or other brightness, or other quality or quantity, nor bore any care about these things in the least; avoiding most of all the involvement of her mind, which she wished always to have free; wisely asserting that Christian perfection consists not in the quality of clothing, but in the breadth of charity. For the human mind, the more highly it raises itself and considers what things are eternal, the more gravely it trembles, shaken by temporal things. Moreover, she went barefoot at all times, Her body bound with a cord, in cold nor in the harsh time of winter did she allow any shoes to be worn. Around her loins also, on her bare flesh, she dwelt girded with a cord or rope: which she bound so tightly, that, as was found after her death, her flesh had grown over the rope, and in many places the skin was torn above it, continually rending her. Besides, although she had a quite suitable little bed, she very rarely lay on it: but rather bringing in poor and pilgrims, she refreshed them on her own couch. She often also lodged and brought to her bed harlots or other poor women serving the allurements and turpitude of the flesh; namely with this simple consideration, that as far as she could, even for one night, she might preserve them from the defilement of sin, zealous with a most ardent charity for the salvation of all souls. and afflicts it with labors: The bare ground, or more often a wooden board, frequently lay under her wearied little body, fatigued with labors and innumerable genuflections, or indeed so tired with goings, returnings, and pious rounds, that, if you saw it, you would think the spirit was about to leave her: and yet, as is continually clear in the following, He to whom she served with the most fragrant love supplied her with strength of endurance, in hunger, thirst, cold, and nakedness.
[12] Fasting, undertaking a pilgrimage for devotion, For on a certain day most devout Zita, for the sake of visitation, with fasting, undertook a journey most devoutly to the church of Saint James of Podium, near c Pisa, with a certain companion familiar to her. And when she had come to that church, and had humbly offered her prayer to the Lord; with the intention set and the journey continued, she proceeded to the church of the Apostle Peter ad Gradus, which is toward the sea beyond the city of Pisa by d five miles. When she had entered the aforesaid city, her aforesaid companion turned back and left her. And because whoever undertakes a greater good makes a lesser good that was lawful unlawful; Zita, not abandoning her set purpose, went to the aforesaid church of the Prince of the Apostles, with supplicating prayer joined to devoted fasting.
[13] and refusing the offered lodging, Already about the hour of vespers, when she was returning through the city of Pisa, she was invited to lodge; but when she would not accept, and had come to the baths of the e mount of Pisa, with the sun now setting, she was earnestly asked by a certain man known to her that she would now deign to lodge there. But she did not even so consent to remain there; but in the fervor of her spirit, intrepid, she crossed over that rough mountain of the way, called of f Saint Julian: where by a certain hermit she was exhorted with great insistence of prayers to rest, lest perchance in a night of such great solitude she should fall into the hand of robbers or wild beasts. This man too she passed with a deaf ear, her flesh ruled by her spirit. Moreover she passed the castle of Massa, g and certain men still keeping watch there, in like manner, as they earnestly invited her, and marveled at the constancy of a very weak woman. But as her bodily condition was giving way, because of fasting and the weariness of the journey, enduring hunger, she sat down by a certain fountain at about the first cockcrow: and when the almost straitened flesh failed now without any resistance, with her limbs growing weary that unconquered spirit rejoiced.
[14] A little water having been taken, And when the handmaid of God was bathing her face with a little water, there suddenly appeared to her a certain woman, as is piously believed, the Mother of the Son of God: who, with greeting made, touched her side in a friendly way, by the Blessed Virgin Mary, saying: "Do you want to return and come?" At the most pleasing voice of whom Zita not only remained undaunted; but leaping up, at the pious and sweet discourse, received such fortitude, security, and strengthening, that all weakness and all weariness of hunger and thirst vanished, and she at once answered: "Willingly: I wish to come: let us go together." When therefore, going along together, they had come to the covered bridge about midnight; behold, the gate of the bridge, which was in the usual way closed and fastened, with the gates of the city opening of themselves, she is brought home: was opened of itself to them: and when they had entered, it was closed and barred again by itself. Finally coming to the gate of the city, they found it likewise carefully fastened with iron bars: which in a similar way opened itself before their eyes in a twinkling of an eye, offering free entrance to both. At length they came to the door of her dwelling: and at Zita's call, the serving-girl of the house, with grumbling and chiding, opened the door; and immediately that woman who had accompanied Zita disappeared. But Zita, wishing to bring in her aforesaid companion, stretched out her hand and turned her gaze: but when she did not find or see her, she was greatly amazed and troubled, considering in her heart whither she had gone and who she was who had offered her such a companion: whose sweet discourse while she was enjoying by way of walking, and not growing weary of the journey, she seemed to be nourished by heavenly food.
[15] Accustomed to going to a church in the Lucchese countryside, We recount moreover a sufficiently marvelous thing: that namely the handmaid of God Zita, at all times while she lived, had the custom of going to the monastery and church of Saint Angel on the Mountain once a week, especially on the seventh day. This church, placed on the mountain above the i river, is distant from the city of Lucca about six miles: nor did the immensity of pouring rains, or the deadly storm of tempests, draw her back from this journey. On a certain day, therefore, when she had been set over several domestic ministries, as evening was approaching and the day was now inclining, she took up her accustomed way. And behold a certain man, sitting on a swift horse, followed her closely from behind: and he indeed was hurrying toward that same church for his own business. Who when he saw her, going slowly with a rare and weak step before him, began saying: "Where, foolish woman, are you going at this very late hour? Already the darkness of night surrounding you will lead you into a harmful error." But she, as if caring nothing, humbly replied: "Go your way; Christ will lead me safely." The same horseman immediately with swift and hurried pace preceded Zita, and hurrying to arrive at the proper hour where he was going, rode almost at full speed: and when he was passing before the said church, he truly saw Zita praying before the doorposts of the church, and that she had arrived there before him, she is transferred thither by divine power. the Lord leading, in whom she entirely trusted with the greatest, pure, and simple mind. And when that same horseman, with the greatest admiration, asked her how she had so swiftly preceded him and arrived there so quickly, she said the saying of Saint Job: "As it pleased the Lord, so has it been done." Job 1:21
ANNOTATIONS
CHAPTER III.
The fervent and ecstatic prayer of Zita, and other favors obtained through it.
[16] Content with continuous prayer, Saint Zita, handmaid of Jesus Christ, feeling that she was traveling in body far from the Lord, lest at any time she should be without the consolation of her beloved Spouse, prayed without ceasing, and by praying strove to present her spirit to God. And that the understanding of her soul might be made purer by the irradiation of the divine light, she so continued to pray, that even while working with her hands, with heart and mouth she would chew over the words of obsecration; lest, by utterly abandoning quiet, she might extinguish the fire of supernal love within her. On account of which it sometimes happened that the works of her hands turned out inept, when her heart was not applied to her work, but rather to prayer. For walking and sitting, working and at leisure, within and without, she was so intent on mental prayer, that she seemed to God to have dedicated not only all her heart and body, but also all her time and work. She was frequently suspended in holy ecstasy, with such an excess of devotion fixed from the apex of synderesis on eternal spectacles, that being rapt above herself, She suffers ecstasies: and feeling something beyond human sense, she was wholly ignorant of what was happening around her. But after many tears, after her eyes clinging to heaven, she sometimes seemed to herself to be present among the companies of Angels; and through heavenly contemplation she would pass the bars of the flesh, drawing in the most sweet fragrances of super-shining splendor and super-burning love.
[17] And that she might more quietly receive the infusions of spiritual consolations, In darkness she is surrounded by heavenly light: inebriated with the abundance of divine love, she sought the solitude of a place within the enclosure of her master's house, and very often spent the night there. Where by those of the household such brightness was often seen at night, as if the fount of light, the sun, were rising there; those who had a sounder mind thinking that she was then consoled by the presence of the Author of light, or by angelic visitation. At nearly all times of her life she rose for the matins vigils, and very often going to the church of Blessed Frigidian near her, she remained most intent on the matin office; Assiduous in the temple, and living in solitude in the lower part of the church, which was very spacious, there she formed her prayers, shed tears, filled the place with groans, beat her breast with her hand or a stone, and communicated all the secrets of her hidden thoughts in many ways to God. Especially before a certain Dominical cross, now almost consumed with age, and for this reason placed in a corner of the cemetery, she was accustomed to pray: there her soul melted, when she was most sweetly and pleasantly refreshed by the flesh of the Lamb roasted in the oven of the cross.
[18] And therefore the memory of Christ's Passion was impressed into the very marrow of her heart's bowels, She applies herself to meditation on the Passion of Christ, so that it inflamed her mind within with the conflagration of love, and filled it with the wormwood of compassion. In whose fountain of love she burned the more ardently, the more vehemently she grieved over His Passion: and while she gazed as if continually inwardly with the eyes of her mind upon the marks of the wounds on the crucified Lord, scarcely could she keep herself outwardly from tearful groans; noticing in her virginal bowels, with unspeakable sighs, how bloody rivers burst forth from the heavenly members of Jesus, and with them that most blessed spirit wailed; nor did she cease beating her breast until, with the Lord invisibly rebuking, tranquility returned; and as a man is wont to speak to his friend, so she spoke groaning to the Lord, as if He were present there in the flesh. Rehearsing the whole most lovable series of the Lord's Passion, with great constancy, she was so often detained by the sweetness of fontal pleasantness and super-celestial speculation, with heavenly inflowings foretasted, that often the guardian of the aforesaid church, wishing to exclude her after the completion of the Divine Offices or the solemnities of Masses, could scarcely draw her away, even by chiding, from the immense sweetness of her most sweet contemplation. For she was accustomed to leave after all, and to enter before the rest: and even when often excluded, she would say her prayer before the closed door of the church. And the same was confirmed by the aforesaid immensity of prominent calluses which after her death she was found to have had on the back of her hands and on her knees: and dead flesh testified what her living spirit had always done. Mostly, however, she did not dwell in the church among other women, who are often known to engage in vain loquacity; but was accustomed to choose a place for praying next to the men. And with marvelous reverence, With so great a silence and modesty did she restrain herself in the church that not only did she not attempt to look in anyone's face, but she revolved nothing else than prayers in mouth and mind: for often, when the tongue is not restrained from idle words, it is carried off into the rashness of foolish loquacity.
[19] Devoting herself longer to prayer, It happened, therefore, that when on a certain occasion she was engaged in prayer more prolixly than usual after matins, the very brightness of the day shone forth: which when Zita had perceived, her prayer finished, she feared vehemently within herself, remembering that with bread failing in her lord's house, the preparation of loaves was incumbent on her that same morning; for which she knew the hour had passed. And returning more hastily home, she began to want to attend in a more excellent manner to the aforesaid work. She finds at home loaves divinely prepared in the oven for her, But approaching the chest, she found loaves most becomingly made, which, having been brought to the oven, she returned with quickened step, to give thanks with fear and shame to her mistress the mother of the family, whom she thought had made the aforesaid loaves; which yet had been made from heaven, as afterward by sure sign it was most certainly ascertained; when, after careful investigation, no mortal was found who had made them. Indeed, as we said before, although at night in the church or in a more secret part of the house she was earnestly engaged in prayer, by day she none the less personally visited the pious and holy places of the poor-houses, churches, and monasteries, and wherever she knew that the feasts of Saints were being celebrated or the first Mass of any new Priest to be sung, from faithful devotion and for obtaining the customary remission and b indulgence, she hurried to attend; the more conveniently to seek the aids of God and of the saints, the more freely where she was wholly unknown, she might be permitted to engage in supplication.
[20] At a certain time, therefore, when the devoted festival of Blessed Mary c Magdalene was at hand, Zita, in her customary manner previously, was eager to go to her church, far from the city of Lucca by about ten miles, Setting out for the shrine of Saint Magdalene, in the solitude called d Crebaria; although because of the dangers of wars, which were gravely afflicting the Lucchese and e Pisans, no one dared to hasten to that church; since in those parts men attempting to go there were often robbed, and sometimes killed. But the handmaid of God, constituted in fervor of spirit, did not fail because of this to set out, with the greatest devotion, carrying in her hands a taper to be lit in honor of the most blessed Magdalene. And when alone, walking steadily through the solitude, she had come to it about the end of the day and the beginning of night; she found the church carefully closed and fastened with bars, and absolutely no one present: inasmuch as on account of the aforesaid war, the place was inhabited by no one. She therefore prostrated herself in prayer upon the threshold of the door, persisting under the open sky bent in prayer, until overcome by sleep because of the weariness of her body and the length of her supplication, she slept. The taper is divinely lit, and the doors open of themselves. Then a most dense shower of rains, a raging commotion of winds and tempests, grew in that same night. Then at length as dawn approached, the venerable Zita, as intrepid, so also unharmed, rose from both prayer and sleep; and the taper, which she had brought extinguished, she found in her hands lit with divine fire, which neither winds nor rains had been able to extinguish; and before her face the doors of the church, opening by divine command, offered her free entrance: whom having entered and praying several persons afterward more evidently found, who came with the priest of the said church after sunrise, therefore stupefied with great admiration.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER IV.
Preservation of virginity, humility, meekness, prudence, zeal for souls.
[21] We believe, moreover, that the reverend Blessed Zita obtained such a name not by fatal chance, Virginity through austerity of life, but by divine presage and disposition of supernatural grace, to which future things are present: for Zita in the Romance language sounds "Virgin." For this was a virgin
most pure, and therefore strict in discipline, she kept watch more attentively over her custody, taking special care of the guarding of that priceless treasure of chastity and virginity, namely in an earthen vessel. And since nothing is so easy as to become evil, even if no one teaches, no one compels; therefore both in the time of her youth and in the progress of her age, she practiced no softness, but most severe austerity, continually macerating her flesh: because she had learned by certain experience, that the malignant enemies are put to flight by hard and harsh things, but are the more encouraged to tempt by delicate and soft ones. For the mind is so much the more composed for attempting supernal things, the more strictly the body is tamed from illicit things. By such exercises she began to shine in her senses with such grace of modesty, that the mind, having now obtained command over the flesh, seemed to have made a covenant with the eyes, so that not only did it shudder at carnal appearance, but it also altogether avoided the curious look of vanity. Nothing, indeed, seemed to her more excellent for the blessed life, than as if by closing the carnal senses to become outside the flesh and the world, and to turn into herself; and preserving her senses and soul alien from mortal cares, to devote herself to herself alone and to God. Having therefore attained purity of heart and body, she so tamed her domestic enemy, and perfectly subdued it to herself; and guards it by custody of the senses: that she preserved the white garment of the soul from the fire of pleasure, and appeared to be a most sincere vessel of sanctification. She terribly despised even only to hear any lascivious conversations; attentively looking to preserve the purity of her inviolate conscience. For the words of carnal persons, when they impose themselves on our ears, beget in the heart the war of temptation: and although reason rejects these things and the tongue reproves them; yet with labor is conquered within what is outwardly judged with necessity. Whence it is necessary that that should not come to the ear which the mind, watchful at the entrance of thought, must repel: because when we are then touched by memory of our committed wickedness, willing or unwilling, we are stirred by unlawful thoughts.
[22] Moreover, at one time a certain one of the servants of the house, with shameless petulance, She escapes from an unchaste young man, tried to bend her by buffoonery of words to incestuous embraces; adding to the words gestures of shamelessness, and with outstretched hands with persistent audacity he rushed upon her; so that when he did not perceive the blandishments of silent delight, he might fall into the night of most wicked perpetration. But she, although small in stature and with almost no strength, not wishing to expose the attempts of the insolent youth; yet kindled with zeal of preserving her chastity, with all her might she manfully drove him off, and with her nails she much lacerated his face; lacerating his face with her nails. diligently watching that when guilt begins to flatter, the mind may recognize into what destruction it is being drawn: and thus with God helping, that impudent man could in nothing prevail against God's handmaid. Yet with harsh speech she met him to suppress his lust, adding threats of denouncing him to his lord, if from now on with bold insolence he should speak to her in such a way, to be gravely punished by him; and also by God, if his mind should not turn to the tears of penitence. For the mind is to be cleansed from pollution with a hand of penitence so much the stricter, as it sees itself by consent more foully stained. And although this conflict could not be entirely hidden from the master of the house, who subtly inquired and learned from the servant why and by whom he had been so wounded in the face; Zita however, d courteously and without uttering any lie or exile, gave answers with such modesty; not wishing her injuries to be avenged, nor to expose the neighbor's attempts to crime.
[23] She exercises humility by hiding her gifts and graces, Humility, the guardian and adornment of all virtues, had so affected the handmaid of God Zita with its own powers, that although manifold prerogatives of virtues shone in her, and she was already venerated by many for the sanctity of her life, in her own estimation, by which she confessed herself a sinner, she was nothing at all except a certain earthen and sordid little vessel: whereas in truth she was a chosen vessel of sanctification, and adorned with manifold grace of virtues. And indeed it was sufficiently difficult, while doing great things, not to have confidence in oneself about the great acts of sanctification: for by this very fact, that one strongly conquers vice, the presumption of thoughts is engendered in the heart; and when the mind strongly crushes outward faults, it often swells joyfully in itself: for it esteems itself of some great merit, nor does it think that it has sinned in the thought of its self-esteem: the more grievously is it offended before the eyes of the strict Judge, when the guilt, the more secretly it is committed, is almost incorrigible; and the wider the pit opens for swallowing, the more largely life boasts of itself. And therefore she governed herself with intent moderation, lest the praise of preceding glory should increase the merit of following fault. She earnestly strove to become vile in her own eyes and those of others, and to open the defects hidden in herself not only to the Priest in sacramental Confession, which she very greatly frequented, but also to declare them by public assertion, and to conceal in the secret of her breast the gifts of the Giver, revelations, and graces; that there might in no way be room for glory, which could be an occasion of ruin. For the presumption of false and vain glory is a great impediment to men for virtue: because often in a good work it draws the dust of sin; and whence the hearts of hearers are cleansed, thence the footsteps of speakers are stained. Indeed, that she might fulfill all justice of perfect humility, which rendered her distinguished above all virtues, and by subjecting herself to all, she strove not only to be subject to her masters, greater and equals, but also to inferiors, and she never denied any command or service to anyone, however grave or difficult it might seem: but with free cheerfulness immediately, after whatever was suggested, persuaded, or commanded, she would immediately apply herself wholly to the performance of the persuaded, suggested, or commanded thing: offering no excuse of time, place, or difficulty by word or sign, but, as she was of the most gentle voice and filled with dove-like simplicity, she immediately answered that she would fulfill whatever was possible for her, bearing herself as if she were vile refuse.
[24] In mockery sometimes others abusing her promptness: In mockery on some occasions she was sent by the young mistresses, upon frivolous occasions sought out, to remote places at a time of dense rain; so that even when she returned soaked with water, she might be open to their laughter. But she hastened more quickly, faithfully fulfilling the things commanded her; and yet she so returned unharmed from the rain, by the merit of obedience and humility, that not even a little drop of water was seen to have fallen on her. Also, constituted on any salutary journey, with any travelers, she bore herself as a subject with each one, so that she neither paused, nor walked, nor ate, nor drank, nor even spoke in any way, except to the extent and when she was invited by others; from whom when sometimes asked about such matters, she was accustomed, with moderation observed, to answer in a pious voice thus: "As it pleases you," or "However you wish." Wonderfully modest, And always with her hands humbly clasped, she signified by her morals and gestures her mental humility, never expressing her wish otherwise: and such outwardly was she moved through her tongue, as she remained within in her conscience. For humility, which is the mistress and mother of all virtues, she strove both to express in speech and to show in life: yet she desired more to be humble than to seem so. If ever it happened that she heard, from her praises she draws sadness, someone bursting out in her praise or commendation, even lightly; she showed by words and signs that she was gravely struck and mortally wounded, calling herself unhappy, sad, and wretched. For the just man is struck when he is praised. O how most perfect a laywoman of the feminine sex, to be imitated not only by any secular persons, nor only by men ecclesiastical, but also by the very Regulars and nuns themselves! whom with such insignia of humility the beauty of meekness adorned, that she could most worthily be judged by anyone a true imitator of the Virgin Mother.
[25] Whom indeed, the Mother of God, Zita venerated with such great affection, that (to omit many other things) she judged that any woman, however of the lowest condition, She venerates the name of Mary in others: called by the name of Mary, should rightly be preferred to her in all things, with a pious regard of reverence of the mother of the Son of God. To such a habit and perfection of humility did gentle Zita ascend, that as one dead to the world, to those chiding or reproaching her, cursing or causing her injuries for no reason, or offering insults, she never answered in passion or sinisterly: but neither did she care to show her mind or face troubled, however much she was provoked with troubles; indeed, by the example of the Lord, who so forgives every injury that He neither damns by avenging, nor confounds by reproaching, nor loves less by imputing, with most serene and pleasing modesty and beauty of countenance, "Forgive me," she said in a most pleasing voice, gently accustomed to answer those reviling her "forgive me": or thus, "May God indulge you": or, "Do not be disturbed, for it does not behoove you to speak or act thus, but rather to follow the perfection of patience." That man indeed is perfect, who is not impatient toward the imperfection of his neighbor.
[26] Moreover if it happened that the master or mistress of the household or the others, troubled by emerging causes in the human manner, spoke with indignation, She pardons any injuries whatever: or otherwise complained against her or another person; the most gentle Zita fell at the feet of those thus indignant, humbly asking pardon without fault, and mournfully murmuring: "Oh if I am guilty in these things!" nor was it easy to restrain her from this appearance of humility. And if ever she received any offense from anyone, she tried to anticipate the one who had injured her in asking for pardon: for this is the office of religion, to take care by the satisfaction of a word, if there are any who seem wounded by the darts of suspicion. For it is proper to the human mind, to suspect that that is done to it which it does: for they think themselves despised, who are accustomed to despise persons of good morals; such persons suspect everyone to be against them, as they themselves try to be against everyone. O who could narrate with what zeal and labors she took care to relieve the troubles of others, wonderfully helpful toward all, in the laborious care of the family affairs and especially in the education of the little ones? toward whom she bore more than a mother's bowels, bearing anguish and troubles assiduously in place of a nurse. Indeed her mind, when she began to administer cares, considered what she owed to herself, what to her neighbor; and neither through the immoderation of any solicitude did she neglect her own duties, nor through the vigilance of her own utility did she put others' behind. In a wonderful way she so fulfilled all the masteries of complete perfection, that the care of inward things did not diminish the occupation with outward things; and the providence of outward things did not leave off the solicitude of inward things. Finally, with such circumspection was she governed, that she never at any time or place purposely injured any of men, and held small account by word or deed of whoever might be of any condition or status.
[27] But to the sad she offered gladness, compassion to the afflicted, salutary counsels to the desolate, in giving salutary admonitions; and to the learned she offered admonitions of salvation: not indeed by the most keen delights of discourse
of urbanity, or in the taught words of human wisdom; but in the showing of the Spirit and of life. For very many believe themselves to be learned, and believe they are showing themselves more learned than all others, the more they open themselves by the multiplicity of loquacity. Wonderfully however, although God's handmaid, concerning the affairs of the world, of whatever matter or cause, existed in such simplicity as if alien to them, not being entirely out of the world; yet in every perfection of God's commandments and in those things which can pertain to the salvation of souls, she appears divinely instructed: and the understanding of sacred readings, according to her measure she seemed of such wisdom and virtue, that she attained the diligent study of any of the most learned, irradiated by the flashes of eternal light: as one whom the Holy Spirit, master of all Scriptures, inhabited. And such signs of profound humility were in God's handmaid: love of humble persons, flight from all preeminences, desire for her own contempt, desire for lowly offices, despising no one, seeking the counsel of betters, patiently bearing contumelies of speech, being found ready in all things for obedience, and seeking to be concealed in good things: she betrays her humility by various signs: and in this last she was found greater than all commendation and to excel all. She kept her heart with all custody, knowing God to be the inspector of hearts, to whom she unceasingly prepared a worthy habitation in her mind: and thence it was, that according to that saying, "It is of good minds to recognize guilt there, St. Greg. where guilt is not found"; concerning any most minute—I will not say acts, but even thoughts and the slightest motions—strictly judging herself, she confessed tearfully and humbly in the tribunal of penance to the Priest. For often the mind, which overcomes many and strong adversities, does not conquer one in itself and perhaps the least, though it watches with great intent. The mind of the just too, though free from perverse work, sometimes falls into perverse thought.
[28] Proceeding from the firmness of charity, zeal for supernal salvation, She grieves on account of others' sins, like a sharp and flaming sword, so penetrated the innermost parts of the venerable Zita, that she seemed wholly kindled with ardor of emulation, and smitten with the sorrow of compassion. Indeed, when she saw souls, redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ, being stained in great numbers by any filth or contamination of sin, pierced by a wonderful sting of grief, she lamented with such tender commiseration; that, like a mother in Christ, she daily labored in birth over them according to the Apostle, greatly desiring that such zealous defilement should not happen: because the sin is more quickly dismissed which is not committed through zeal of malice; and guilt is easily corrected which is blushed at. Gal. 4:19 Truly to sin with zeal is evil; it is good, neither to do nor to love sin. and easily excuses them: If ever it were said to her that someone had done evil in such and such a way, or by so acting had sinned, or had committed any transgression; she immediately excused him becomingly, or constantly asserted that it was not to be believed: or if the narration had the truth, it should in no way be recited or disclosed, or made public by any narration: since the evils of our neighbors, which we cannot correct, are to be covered in silence; and yet so to be borne, that the venom of grief may not be hidden in the mind. She also groaned vehemently when it had been thoroughly ascertained to be true that a sin had been committed; because it would be of little profit to constrain the flesh, if the mind knows not through compassion to enlarge itself in love of neighbor.
[29] And because there is no chastity of flesh which the sweetness of mind does not commend; Burning with zeal for others' salvation, she persuaded all to whom she could, works of piety and charity, desiring the redemption of all sinners. But she did not speak nor treat as a flatterer of others' affairs: since she was not of those whose way it is, not to speak their own, but rather others', and to care for others'; especially if it happens that they are forestalled either by hatred or love, by which affections the truth is often hidden and depraved. But she also fenced her ears from detractions and whisperings; and placed silence at her mouth, and a door of circumspection at her lips, so strict that she very rarely spoke, without opportune consultation or necessary utility. Yet she was often accustomed to reprove, in the zeal of rectitude, those of the family who were delinquent: She rebukes sinners with circumspection: and that she might do this with more confidence, with diligent circumspection, as far as is possible to human nature, she preserved herself from guilt. For no one faithfully rebukes another for that in which he does not trust himself to be irreprehensible: for it is of human nature not to be vehemently angry with others about that in which one too much indulges oneself.
[30] She prays solicitously for those to be afflicted with punishment: Moreover, when she heard the sound of the bells for the public assembly of the judgment of blood, as is the custom of the rulers of cities, when they have any malefactor to be condemned to bodily death; she immediately overflowed with a wonderful flood of tears, and with sweet affection of kindness, praying she said: "Help, Lord, the soul of the wretched perishing one. Aid, Lord, the soul of the sinner." Nor did she cease for three or four days, or until the seventh day, to beseech God humbly for the liberation of the soul of such a condemned one. Therefore the fervor of perfect charity, by which this friend of the Spouse was borne toward God and equally toward her neighbor, can sufficiently be observed from the premises: but most especially from the fact that she strove to spend and overspend herself, while pierced with a fervent zeal for souls, with the crucified Lord she thirsted for the salvation of all who could be saved. She knew, indeed, as she was accustomed to say, that the neighbor must be loved, In love of God and neighbor she excels. because it is the precept of God, because he is a partaker of nature, and because he is the image of God, and because to love him is the argument, nourishment, and increase of the love of God: to which fervent love she was vehemently incited by the showing of the divine mercies toward us, which she often considered in His long-suffering awaiting of the sinner and conversion of evil will; in the remission of all iniquity, and internal consolation; in the exhibition of the help of our frailty to satisfy, bear, and resist; and finally in the merely gracious bestowal of the heavenly kingdom. Through the fervor of charity, therefore, in the exercise of the spiritual life, she was daily being made a new creature; while she so acted as to despise the present world, to love not transitory things, to prostrate her mind to the marrow in humility before God and neighbor, to keep patience against inflicted contumelies, and with patience kept to drive grief from her heart, to give her own to the needy, in no wise to covet others' things, to love friends in God and enemies for God's sake, and to mourn over the affliction of her neighbor: all these things were great signs of perfection in her.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER V.
The final illness of Zita, her happy death, and the signs and miracles that followed it.
[31] When therefore the venerable Zita had come to the highest citadel and perfection of all virtues and to the full age; At a greater age released from service by her masters the discreet providence of the noble men whom she had ministered and served for a long time no longer bore to have her as their own, but as the handmaid of the Most High God: and thus henceforth permitting her to do freely whatever she wished, they venerated her with fitting affection, both from the maturity of old age and from consideration of her celebrated sanctity. To her also, as to one of their daughters, they ministered whatever was suitable to her needs. But Zita, yet remitting nothing of the rigor of the holy life, always ascending to higher things with fervor of spirit, did not cease to embrace the voluntary poverty always dear to her; nor on account of the weight of age (when indeed others are wont to live more remissly), nor on account of the frailty of her sex or bodily weakness, did she allow the austerity of her course to be softened or diminished. But neither did she wish on any occasion to give up the penal works, nor her accustomed vigils and fasts, nor the other harshnesses of the body, nor to omit or relinquish the state of servitude or subjection: but with solicitous consideration, with the amplest caution, polished by innumerable beatings and pressures, she deserved to be fitted to the heavenly buildings, and to be borne aloft by the ample praises of sanctity; and always more fervent in herself, with fleeting things despised, she was borne in the love of the Creator, in the labors of marvelous works. For every ascent is in the labor of effort, every descent in pleasure: because by strain the step is directed to higher things, but by remission it declines to lower things.
[32] All fading things were beneath her soul, She pants toward heaven. and she far surpassed all things that are rolling about; so that she thought of nothing now except heavenly things. Now truly all earthly things had grown worthless to her, and she had heaped up for herself heavenly treasures: for he who is enkindled to desire the halls of eternity, it is worthy indeed that he should be loosed from every love of temporality; but he who is overcome by love of earthly things, is in no way delighted in God. Thirsty therefore, as a deer for the waters, she panted for the living fount of the blessed life and heavenly fatherland; burning none the less to come to the heavenly Spouse's marriage chamber, with her whole soul melting and her spirit anxious, and to enjoy the most sweet delicacies of eternal sweetness. Death also, which to almost all is a punishment, she loved as the entrance of life and reward of her labor; growing cold from zeal for this age, the more ardently she rose in the love of God, continually according to the Apostle desiring to be dissolved and to be with Christ. For when the mind is directed to God by strong intention, whatever in this life seems bitter to it, it counts sweet; all that afflicts, it thinks rest: it longs to pass through death, that it may more fully obtain a better life, and reach the summit of eternal felicity. Phil. 1:23
[33] The faithful and true God Almighty (who does not defraud those laboring in the vineyard of penitence of the daily denarius, nay indeed proclaims through the evangelical trumpet, "Come to me all ye that labor and are burdened"), now wishing to bring His beloved handmaid to rest and refreshment, Her happy death, deigned to bring her to the heavenly nuptials of the Lamb in this manner. Matt. 11:28 With mild fevers this
weak limbs of the now old virgin were shaken for about five days, about her sixtieth year: but with the illness gradually growing stronger, she was compelled to lie in bed, although it was not her custom to lay herself down in bed for any infirmity; but that spirit, more ready than her flesh, on account of old age, abstinence, and labors was accustomed only to stand. In the year of the Lord's Nativity a 1272, on the 27th day of April, the 4th weekday Wednesday, at the 3rd hour, with certain devout women assisting, the most happy Virgin and martyr by desire Zita, fortified most devoutly by the reception of the ecclesiastical Sacraments, showing no signs of grief or sadness, of anguish or solicitude, with eyes intent upon heaven and hands humbly clasped, and mentally praying and rejoicing, migrated to the heavens; and her most blessed soul, freed from the flesh, about to enjoy the boundless Trinity, was absorbed in the glory of eternal brightness and peace. For she could not come to the perfect joys of liberty, unless she paid the debt of human condition. How great her grandeur and merit before God would be, how greatly in heaven she deserved to be exalted, who had through profound humility reckoned herself ineffably vile, the divine goodness made plain immediately after the passing of that kindly spirit. For a most brilliant star a star shining by day, evidently appeared above the city of Lucca, with all beholders seeing it: whose appearance not even the serene brightness of the sun, as is wont with other stars, concealed: by which indeed, as the consideration of the pious made known and afterward the multiplicity of miracles proved, it more clearly appeared that in the heavenly rosary of the saints a new rose had arisen among the saints, and that the city of Lucca was to be illuminated by the light of the new star.
[34] Finally, on the day itself of her passing, and God speaking through boys unaware of the matter, it is made known: He who makes the tongues of infants eloquent, out of the mouths of infants and sucklings has perfected praise; when immediately after the departure of that most happy soul, in various streets and public lanes of the city, boys, with no one announcing it, but with the Lord revealing it, unwearyingly cried: "Let us go, let us go, and run to the church of Saint Frigidian; for Saint Zita has died." And thus by the authority of the Lord it was brought about, that while the fitting exequies were being prepared by the noble men of the Faytinelli, for the deposition of Blessed Zita who was a member of their household; so great an innumerable multitude of natives of both sexes and ages assembled, that they filled the church of Blessed Frigidian, a very large cloister, and the adjacent squares; and with very great difficulty, that most precious treasure of her body, with the Convent of Religious of that place preceding, There is a running to the funeral: was brought into the church. While all and singular contended, with discordant striving, to touch the body of the most reverend handmaid of God Zita; the clergy could neither carry out the office of the funeral, nor hand it over for burial through many days: because day and night a dense multitude of people persisted earnestly around the body; and each one, as best he could, out of the great devotion, tried to take away something of her garments: so much indeed, that on several occasions, when she was clothed in such and such, she was left half-naked. But lest the body of the Saint be torn apart, and that the irrational multitude might be countered by those of more solid discipline; some, more prompt in faith and devotion, having sought out various devices and dissimulations, transferred that venerable body, that it might be rescued, now to the choir enclosed, now to the cloister, now to the chapter, now to the refectory, now to the guesthouse, and other places of the monastery; enclosing it in wooden chests, which nevertheless were broken several times.
[35] Again and afterwards signs shine, prodigies glitter, marvels come forth; Various miracles are worked after her death: and amid the very hands and eyes of men, weeping for joy, frequent and manifest wonders are performed. For here the blind see, the deaf hear, the maimed and withered revive, the lame and bent are made erect, and the dumb speak; the feverish are cured, those straitened by pains are cured, unclean spirits are put to flight from bodies, flux of blood is restrained, those in peril of childbirth are helped, the barren are made fruitful, the heavy are lightened, the ulcerous are cleansed, those bitten or taken by beasts are rescued, the shipwrecked are aided, the imprisoned are released, those tortured on the rack do not feel pain, fire seems to have lost its burning and water its liquid in many cases, those hanged on gibbets are rescued from the very jaws of death, those given up by physicians because of most strong fevers escape by her aid; and in short all kinds of perils, losses, and sicknesses are put to flight by her merits. Finally, when neither by hunger, nor thirst, nor by heats, sweats, and heavy pressures the wearied peoples of the city would depart, but at least successively, now these, now those stood by; Jacob of venerable memory, Prior of the aforesaid church, and his Brethren, placing no or little faith in her sanctity (although they were men of great religion), having first obtained the concordant counsel and consultation of prudent and also religious men, both of Preachers and of the Friars of the Minor Order, caused her venerable body to be enclosed in a stone sarcophagus, exuding an immense fragrance of scent, awaiting according to the concordant counsel of the aforesaid the outcome of the matter: namely, that if the work were feigned and merely human, it would quickly fail; but if it were divine and proceeded from divine providence, no mortal could resist it, but despite every contradiction it would prosper and grow immensely: as is seen day by day to be publicly fulfilled.
[36] After a few days, indeed, there began to flow out of the tomb in which the sacred body remained a salubrious liquid, A salutary liquid flows from the sarcophagus, and the body remains incorrupt, with which the limbs of weak and sick persons anointed were restored to health: and just as from every carnal defilement that virgin body was unscathed, so hitherto to this day it remains alien from the usual dissolution and corruption of other cadavers, and perseveres whole; except that it appears somewhat dryer in substance. As indeed several of the Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church can testify, and also Archbishops, Bishops, and many other venerable men, coming from various parts, who saw; as well as secular Princes, Barons and Knights, and a great multitude of the people, occurring at various times: who saw with bodily eyes, while with pious devotion for her veneration, beyond, however, the prohibition of law, they often came, and do not cease to come daily; especially those who in their necessities have experienced her aids and benefits: to whom in perils of sea and land she most devoutly, when invoked, stood by to help. And what is worthy of devout admiration and admirable devotion, although concerning the preeminence of her sanctity or the manifold richness of her life and miracles, celebrated by the resort of many, she had no favorers, promoters, helpers, or proclaimers by preaching, indeed many contradictors; yet not only the annual concourse of an infinite multitude of people from various regions, cities, and dioceses of almost all of Italy, coming on the anniversary day of her glorification and passing, bears witness to her sanctity's merits: but also the daily excursion of visitation, of those coming to her tomb, both from this side and beyond the mountains, to whom she is present and was present, invoked in necessities and occurring perils, asserts her to be eminent and ready to hear before the Lord, not only by voice, but by work, with manifest signs and aids.
[37] Finally, among the rest who have written of the miracles of this handmaid of the Most High God, Ugolino of Parma, c professor of Laws, an eloquent man, thus speaks: "Fifty-three persons of different nationalities and sexes, vexed with the languor of contraction or attraction, she healed: What diseases and how many laboring under them she cured, of whom some were afflicted in their whole bodies, some in certain parts of their bodies. Sixteen she cured deprived of the sight of their eyes: of whom some were deprived of the sight of both, some of one. Six dumb persons, to some of whom nature had given the disease, to others it had come by accident. Also four deaf, twelve demoniacs, and very many also laboring under pains of other infirmities and anguishes, with the pious intercession of the virgin favoring, the divine clemency made whole." So he says. "But we can all testify in open assertion of truth, that not only more than 150 persons wearied with diverse troubles, deadly sicknesses, and perils, besides innumerable other miracles, Blessed Zita miraculously aided (as the trustworthy man, Faytinellus the Notary, d wrote of each of the aforesaid individually and in public form, with suitable witnesses and oaths received); but there was an abundance of a multitude of persons to whom in various places and times she manifoldly showed the aids of grace and health of body, and does not cease to show them: who would not only exceed the number of a thousand, but would seem almost incredible to any hearers. I myself finally saw a boy raised from the dead and living, walking and speaking rightly: whose father, as could be verified to be trustworthy, in the presence of me and several others, of his own accord swore upon the altar on the holy Gospels of God; that the same only son truly had been reckoned dead, but by the merits of this holy Virgin, among which a boy raised from death: at his most intense prayers and plaintive devotions, stood raised from death."
[38] Within e of the death of this handmaid of God, a certain youth, namely Peter de Faytinellis, who had been brought up in the same house of the Faytinelli of Lucca, while he was journeying through the province of Provence, fell into a most grievous infirmity: To one given up by the Physicians, which so bit and afflicted him that three famous physicians, who were attending his cure, finally having despaired of his recovery, concordantly asserted to one another that he would die on the morrow. When that sick man had understood this, with his whole mind he invoked Blessed Zita, with sweet and familiar discourse, as he had been accustomed to do as a little boy; among other things complaining that, since he was away from his own, and no paternal or maternal or other aid or counsel was at hand for him, she should not permit help to be absent. And behold, the following night, while he was neither sleeping nor fully waking, there appeared before him the venerable Zita, appearing in Gaul (Provence), in a silken garment which showed admirable workmanship with varied and artful weaving, wearing a prominent crown on her head, decorated with large and precious stones: but she seemed to have the face of her age, such as she had worn while living in the body, so that she might be recognized without doubt by the said youth Peter: and this Zita was preceded by two splendid lights of torches or tapers. And although the said Peter did not see the bearers of the lights, yet seeing her more fully, he quickly recognized her: to whom he spoke thus: "O my lady Zita, help me, who am thus destitute and afflicted, nor is there any of our own who can bring me aid." But she said: "Do not fear." And again he said: "Who is with you?" But she answered: she restores health, "Be silent; do not ask so much; be constant." And at once stretching out her hand, she placed it on the forehead of the ailing youth, and immediately healed him, and suddenly vanished from his eyes. He then rose up healthy, and said to his serving-maid: "Bring me something to eat, for I am well." But she said: "O son, rest, so that you may be well:"
"also tell me with whom you were just speaking? For I heard you speaking and another person answering, with whom you were conversing." The youth also revealed the whole course of the matter, and added that before he himself would die, he would see and know that those three physicians who had prognosticated death for him would die. Which indeed truly happened not long afterward.
[39] Behold, most dear ones, the God of peace, who raises up the needy from the dust and lifts the poor out of the dunghill; who gives the word to those proclaiming it with much virtue, wished the deeds of this Virgin to be written down for our utility and edification: for therefore the examples of the Saints are handed down through letters, that each one, according to the quality of sex and the age of years, may hold the measure of his purpose, and contemplate the life of the good in the mirror of pious consideration. But let the things recounted above tend to the glory of the most illustrious Virgin Zita: The author invokes her. whereby while I have shown what sort she was, and what sort each one ought to be in life, I, a foul painter, have depicted a beautiful man: and I direct others to the shore of perfection, I who still am tossed in the waves of delinquencies. Therefore O most splendid Virgin, pleasing to God and all the Angels, in the shipwreck of this life, I beseech you, sustain me by the plank of your prayer; so that because my own weight depresses me, the hand of your merit may lift me: and all together with whatever prayers we can, we implore that you would deign to remember us; so that He may grant us indulgence of sins together with prosperity and salvation, who to you gave the palm of all your labors, Jesus Christ our Lord: to whom be perpetual praise in glory, honor, power, beauty and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
ANNOTATIONS.
APPENDIX.
On a cured epileptic, and on a certain man freed from hanging by Blessed Zita.
[40] Francis, of a Groppa Sancti Petri, of the diocese of Lucca, An appendix on an epileptic healed, of the land of the Marquises, son of Paganus of the said place: the same Francis and Paganus swore upon the holy Gospels of God, on which they placed their hands, that the same Francis had the evil of the falling sickness, and often fell sometimes into water, sometimes into fire. Wherefore he vowed to God and Blessed Zita, that if Blessed Zita herself would free him from the said evil, that he himself, with sticks in his hands, would come before her altar. And the vow having been made, he was freed. Afterward, on the 13th day of the month of July, he came before her altar: and before Lord Babilanus de Marinis of Genoa and Andrea de Ast and several others, the aforesaid father and son swore that it was so as has been said. b
[41] To this, that the miracle which on the part of God and Saint Zita the Virgin lately appeared in this young man, who is called Checus of Lord Andrea of Tesis, as in our acts appears, may rather be made manifest to men, and be believed most by other proof, to this Checus, bearer of the present document, than by his simple word, to you honest and discreet Brothers or Canons Rectors of the church of Saint Zita of Lucca c… In the time of the wise and discreet man, Lord Francis of Palermo, Judge and Captain of the Principate of Capua, d under the Lord King e Charles, be it manifest to you evidently, that this bearer of the present, Checus of Lord Andrea, on the 23rd day of the month of February of the present year 1300, f was arrested, with a certain companion, who said his name was Martin, in the city of Capua, in the square of the said city, wishing to sell a certain she-ass; whence being in the market, a certain man of the city of g Sulmona appeared, saying the said she-ass was his, and that the aforesaid Checus and Martin had taken and stolen it in an evil and furtive manner from a certain house of his: and a certain man accused of theft, and at the curia of the said Lord Captain he made a complaint about the aforesaid: whence Checus and Martin were detained in the palace. Their host too, in whose house they had lodged, brought a certain pair of breeches, tied together, in which were seven keys: which host said that the said Checus had given him the said breeches: and Checus and Martin, being held as suspects, were put to torture. And first the said Martin was put, who confessed that he had stolen the said she-ass and committed many other thefts and crimes: and afterward the said Checus was put, who said he was not guilty. Afterward by reason of the torment he confessed that he had helped his said companion in all that he had confessed: wherefore they were both condemned that they should be hanged together, so that they should die.
[42] whom hanged Saint Zita sustained, These Checus and Martin, on the last day of the month of February of the present year 1300, we caused to be led to the gallows, carrying out the sentence: and to guard them two guards were sent, namely Jacob Petri and Nicolas Jacobi, who swore upon the holy Gospels of God, that they had guarded the said hanged men on the gallows from morning until evening. And afterward, while the said guards were returning toward home, they saw one of the said hanged men coming after them, saying: "Saint Zita, help me," having his hands tied behind him, with a piece of rope at his throat. Frightened, they began to take the said Checus, and brought him back before the Lord Podestà: who Checus, being asked what this could be, and who had cut that rope; replied, saying, that a certain Lady had appeared before him, and had held his feet until the said guards were near him; and afterward, while the said guards were returning, and cut the rope and freed, the said Lady cut the rope for him, saying: "Go, go." And the said Checus suffered no evil, except that he had his legs much swollen because of the blood, and black. Which Checus said that out of the fear of God and Blessed Zita he ought to be set free, because he wished to come to the church of Blessed Zita of Lucca. To whom the above-written Podestà wished to restore his h clothes, which he refused: nay rather he said that he wished to come as he had come from the gallows, and had descended with the rope at his neck, and with the said i keys. And the said guards swore, as has been said, on the holy Gospels of God, that they had guarded Checus and Martin on the gallows, before the Notary Matthew Jacobi of Manfredonia, and before the Lord Alenardus, Priest of Saint Nicholas of Capua, and before the aforesaid Lord Francis the Judge. Then in the same year and indiction, on the 25th day of the month of March, who with the attestation of the Capuan magistrate came to Lucca. the said Checus came to Lucca, and humbly presented the said document with the said keys and rope before Lord Jacob the Prior of the said church of the aforesaid monastery, and left them in the cloister of the said church: and before Ser Michele Lupardo and Ser Bernardo Mustarelli and Ser Fino Fini, and several other witnesses, he said that all the above-written was true before them, as has been said above, and several times affirmed it with oath, and showed them his swollen and black legs several times. And the same Checus, explaining, said that on his journey toward Capua he had by chance joined himself to the said Martin, not knowing that he was a thief and that the she-ass was stolen; from which Martin he received the said breeches with the said keys to be carried, and by the will of the said Martin entrusted them to the host, as aforementioned. Finally he joined Martin in selling the said she-ass, in the hope of receiving money, which for himself and the said Martin, at the requests and urging of the said Martin, he had spent on the journey: then it happened to him in all things just as more fully is contained in the said document. Thanks be to God.
ANNOTATIONS.
MIRACLES
taken down by the Notary Fatinellus before witnesses, From the manuscript of the most illustrious Fatinelli family.
Zita, Virgin, at Lucca in Italy (Saint)
BHL Number: 9021
FROM A NOTARIAL MANUSCRIPT.
CHAPTER I.
Deeds and notes after the elevation of Saint Zita, in the remaining month of April.
[1] Armannectus, messenger of Lucca, common citizen of Lucca, of the a contrata of Saint John at the Head of the Borgo of Saint Frigidian, Saint Zita, invoked, heals a woman with contracted limbs, son of the late Martin, said that Chesina his daughter had been continuously contracted for three years, so that she could neither walk nor move: and that today, through the mercy of God and Saint Zita the Virgin, the same Chesina, standing before the body and b "lavellum" (stone sarcophagus) of the holy Virgin, was made whole and freed: and before me, Faytinellus of Melior, Notary, and Lord Jacob the Prior greater of the church of Saint Frigidian, and Lord Armannectus c and Puccius, Franco, Guido Guidotti, and Albertinus Calianelli and Jacob Sartori, the same Chesina well and rightly walked everywhere, and went.
[2] Gentedonna, a woman, wife of Bonacorsus Scroppus, of the city of Lucca, on the same d day said that already it was eight years or so that she had been contracted in the loins, likewise another,
so that she could not walk straight without a stick or bend herself: and that today, out of reverence for God and Saint Zita the Virgin, she was made whole and free. And before me Faytinellus of Melior, Notary, and the aforesaid Lord Prior, and Guido Guidotti, and Jacob Sartori, and Ugolino Senanis, and Federigo, the late Jacob's son, Notary, she walked straight everywhere, and she is well.
[3] Ubaldus Balestrieri, citizen of Lucca, of the contrata Fontana, son of the late John, on the same day said that f Fanuccius his son had been continually contracted in the loins for six years, and another, so that he could not walk in any way: and that today, out of reverence for God and Saint Zita the Virgin, he was made whole and freed: and before me Faytinellus of Melior, Notary, and the aforesaid Lord Prior, and Lord Gerardo Maurini, and the others mentioned above, the same Fanuccius walked straight and healthy everywhere, and was walking.
[4] To a mute she restores speech; Purpute, wife of Aldobrandinus Centhal, of the city of Lucca, on the same day said that Niccoluccius her son, for about two months, had continually been mute, so that he did not speak in any way: and that today, out of reverence for God and Blessed Zita the Virgin, he was made entirely whole and free: and before me Faytinellus the Notary and the aforesaid and others, Niccoluccius spoke clearly and fittingly, and spoke loudly.
[5] to a blind man sight, William the Lombard, from the county of Parma, son of the late Rolandinus della Noce, on the same day said that Bosus his son had lost the sight of his right eye; and that the same Bosus had been continually g one-eyed in that eye for about five years: so that he did not see wholly in any way. And that today, out of reverence and mercy of God and of the aforesaid Blessed Zita the Virgin, he was made whole and freed: and well and clearly he saw with that eye and was seeing, before me Faytinellus the Notary and the aforesaid Lord Prior and the others mentioned above.
[6] to a lame man gait, Thedaldus, a guard of the city of Lucca, son of the late Bonajuncta, of the contrata of Saint George, who had been for nine years h maimed in the left foot, so that he could not walk straight without a stick, out of reverence for God and the body of Blessed Zita was entirely made healthy and straight, so that he walked clearly and straight before me the Notary and the aforesaid persons written in another charter, on Thursday the 28th day of the month of April.
[7] Ducia, a woman of Monte-Topoli, daughter of the late Portonaius, on the same day said, To one with a contracted hand, the use; that she had been contracted in her left hand for about four months continually: and today now, out of reverence for God and the aforesaid body of Saint Zita, she was made healthy, and opened and was opening her hand well and healthily, before me Faytinellus the Notary and Lord Stephen, Canon of the aforesaid church of Saint Frigidian, and Guidiccione Massaio, and Ghibertino Fabro, Vitalis Calielli and Thomas Policciano.
[8] She heals one suffering from a hernia, Aimellina, wife of Pellegrinus de Giano, said that Junctorus her son, from the time of his birth, had always been ruptured in the k "culea" (scrotum); and that he had a large scrotum, wherefore he could not walk. And therefore, out of reverence for God and the aforesaid Blessed one, he was made whole: and so he appeared and walked well before me the Notary, and Lord Homodeus, Canon of the aforesaid church of Saint Frigidian, and the Priest Guido, Chaplain of that same church of Saint Christopher, on Thursday the 28th day of the month of April.
[9] To a contracted person she restores the use of feet and hands, Bartholomew de Lombardo, of the gate of Saint Donatus, of Lucca, said that Guiduccius his son had been and remained always, from five years back, contracted in his feet and hands; so that he could not walk in any way: and now, out of reverence for God and the aforesaid blessed body, he was made whole, and he walked well and was walking, and was opening his hands and opened them before me Faytinellus the Notary and John Stumbeka, scribe of Lucca, son of the late Armannus, and William son of the late Gilius of Lucca de Classe, on the aforesaid Thursday the 28th day of April.
[10] Mandrianus Battilorus, son of the late Torsellus, citizen of Lucca, of the contrata of Saint Peter Cigoli, swore to tell the truth and to observe the commands of the Lord Prior of the greater church of Saint Frigidian: on Saturday the 30th day of the month of April, under his oath he said; mocking her miracles, yesterday, when he was hearing and understanding that the body of Blessed Zita the Virgin had worked some miracle, he himself made derision and said that the body of Blessed Zita was making its own l "petrum" (apparently a mocking reference); and sometimes he said that it was making an egg; and also he said, that when he saw any sick person being carried to the aforesaid body, then he himself, Mandrianus, said of those carrying the sick: "Throw them on the ground." And that always, after that body departed, when he heard that any miracle had been performed through the aforesaid body, or the ringing of the bells that were rung for the miracles of the aforesaid body, he always made derisions thereof. Likewise he said that because of the aforesaid derisions and because of his sins, the Lord Jesus Christ and the aforesaid blessed body of Saint Zita, yesterday in the evening near the first sleep, took away speech from him, and therefore deprived of speech, so that he could not speak in any way. And he said that he immediately had the understanding that for the aforesaid cause on account of the aforesaid derisions, the blessed body had taken away his speech; and that the aforesaid holy body would restore speech to him, if he were to repent: and therefore he immediately repented of the aforesaid. And he said that, immediately the morning of Saturday coming, he went, and was, and threw himself at the feet of the aforesaid Lord Prior of Saint Frigidian: and that the Prior, through what he understood from the bystanders, that this Mandrianus for the aforesaid cause had lost his speech, ordered the same Mandrianus that he should immediately m "barefooted," and with a strap at his neck, go to the n seated and major churches of the city of Lucca. Which command Mandrianus said he well understood; and said that he himself on that very day immediately went to those churches, and observed the aforesaid command. And immediately he said, that he returned to the aforesaid Lord Prior. And the aforesaid Prior in the choir of the aforesaid church had it told to Mandrianus, on his repenting she restores it: that with reverence and prayer he should go to the aforesaid body of the aforesaid Virgin, and ask pardon of her, and devoutly stand there. Mandrianus went there, and stood there for as long as, out of reverence and gift and mercy of God and of the aforesaid Blessed Zita the Virgin, he received back the speech which he had lost for the aforesaid cause. And therefore he immediately returned to the aforesaid Lord Prior, speaking clearly, and asking pardon from him for the aforesaid. And the Lord Prior commanded Mandrianus that he today should immediately repent, and go to the aforesaid churches of the city of Lucca, rendering thanks to the Most High Redeemer and the aforesaid Blessed Virgin Zita for the aforesaid; and that the aforesaid should be written by my hand, Faytinellus the Notary, before Lord Janni and Lord Ubaldo, Canon of the aforesaid church, and Lord Lanfredus de Lanfredis, and Benetto Honesti, and Lords Andrea Ricciardi and Philippo Ricciardi, and Guiduccio Forteguerrae of Lucca, and Spalla Ugarelli, and many others.
[11] Witnesses of this miracle, Bonicuccius Baccellorus, son of the late Orlanducius, swore on the same day to tell the truth: he said that yesterday evening he had spoken with the aforesaid Mandrianus, and Mandrianus spoke with the same Bonicuccius, and that the same Mandrianus was speaking well yesterday evening: and this morning he saw him mute, and afterward, after the ninth hour, he saw him speaking, and spoke with him at the church of Saint Frigidian, and he believes that through the mercy of God and the aforesaid blessed body of the aforesaid Virgin, the aforesaid things happened to him. For he said that the same Bonicuccius was present, and heard and saw in that place where the aforesaid Mandrianus said and uttered the aforesaid rusticities about the aforesaid blessed body, on the aforesaid Friday and Thursday. Ingheramuccius, son of Lord Aldobrandus de Porcariis, of the contrata of Saint Peter Cigoli, on the aforesaid day sworn to tell the truth, said that he yesterday evening had spoken with the aforesaid Mandrianus, and Mandrianus with him. Afterward on the morning of Saturday, he saw Mandrianus again at the church of Saint Frigidian; so that he did not speak in any way, and afterward on that same Saturday in the afternoon at the said church of Saint Frigidian he saw Mandrianus speaking: and he was spoken to by him: and he said that he truly believes that the aforesaid things happened to Mandrianus through the mercy of God and the aforesaid blessed body. Minus Benvenuti, goldsmith of Lucca, of Cantonbrocti, on the same day sworn to tell the truth, said that the previous Thursday he had been and stood and spoken with the said Mandrianus, and Mandrianus with the same Minus: and he said that the same Minus on the aforesaid previous Saturday saw Mandrianus, and said that Minus went with Mandrianus to the aforesaid churches: and he himself for the mute Mandrianus said and related to the rectors of those churches how Mandrianus had been made mute for the aforesaid cause: and afterward he said that he returned to the aforesaid church of Saint Frigidian to the aforesaid Prior, and helped Mandrianus enter to the body of the aforesaid Virgin at the command of the aforesaid Prior; and there he stood with Mandrianus for as long as the Lord Jesus Christ and the aforesaid body of Saint Zita the Virgin restored speech to Mandrianus on the aforesaid Saturday. And then and afterward the same Mandrianus always spoke clearly with the same Minus; and afterward the same Minus on the same day went through the churches of the city of Lucca, and thus said: "Thanks be to God. Amen."
[12] Contessa, wife of Thediccius de Gualdo, said that Bene-stante her daughter is sixteen years old, To a mute speech: and that always from the day of her birth she had been mute, and did not speak: and that today, out of reverence for God and Saint Zita the Virgin, speech was restored to her. Which Bene-stante I, Faytinellus, and the witnesses saw and heard speaking well, after interrogation was made of her and she of various things, to which she answered well, before Lords Ubaldus and Gerardus and Raynerius the Canon, on Saturday the 30th o day of the month of April, and the Priest Michael of Montiliano.
[13] Mercadante, previously called Bigollus, of Petra-sancta, son of the late Guido Gioia, To a blind woman sight: who was from Monte-Magno, on the aforesaid Saturday said that he had been one-eyed, and entirely lacked the light of both eyes (on the Friday [p] of Lazarus last past it was one year), and from those times continually; so that he did not see in any way: and that today he came with reverence to the body of the holy Virgin: and there he was and stood until today he was freed: and that out of reverence for God and the aforesaid blessed Virgin, he sees entirely and has obtained light; so that before me Faytinellus the Notary, and Lord Guilhelmottus Baldoini, and Lord Philip Ricciardi and Caecius Lieti he saw clearly. Pretiosa, wife of the aforesaid Mercadante, on the same day said that the aforesaid Mercadante her husband in the said time had been and was one-eyed in both eyes; so that he did not see in any way.
[14] Benullius of Corellia [q] of Garfagnana, son of the late Rocchus Sciay, on the aforesaid Saturday said that for four months he had continually been contracted in both legs, a contracted man. so that he could not walk in any way without a stick: and that today he came upon a donkey with reverence to the aforesaid body of Saint Zita the Virgin, and out of reverence for God and that blessed Virgin he was made straight and entirely freed; so that before me Faytinellus the Notary and Francis Malesartis, and Alexander Cambenes of Lucca and Sacellus Franco, and Vannus Tadolini, and several others, straight and without a stick he walked. Fredianus, son of the late Catus of the aforesaid Corellia, uncle of the aforesaid Benullius, on the same day said to us today that he had seen the aforesaid Benullius contracted and infirm from the said time, and that today he had seen him whole and freed.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER II.
Miracles described on the first day of May.
[15] Saint Zita, invoked, heals a blind woman, Dicasa, a woman of Lucca, of the contrata of Saint Roman, daughter of the late Orlandus, on Sunday the Kalends of May said that for twenty years she had continuously been blind in her left eye, so that she did not see in any way; and that this past night she stood at the body and beside the body of the holy Virgin: and out of reverence for God and the aforesaid body, she was made whole and freed. And before me Faytinellus the Notary and the undermentioned witnesses, she saw well with that eye and the other, before Como, son of the late Orlandus Porcellus of Lucca, and Gaddus, son of the late Aldobrandinus Talgardi, and Gerardinus Granni Freyn of Lucca.
[16] Pierus the Smith of Petra-sancta-Verciliae, a son of the late Bonacorsus, another, said on Sunday, the very Kalends of May, that Bonturus his son, had been contracted in his whole body and person, so that he walked in no way, nor could walk upright with a stick, nor without a stick (about eleven months it can be), and from that time continuously: and that today, out of reverence for God and the aforesaid body of Saint Zita the Virgin, he was freed and made whole, and before me Faytinellus the Notary and the undermentioned witnesses, the same Bonturus walked and was walking, everywhere well whole and upright, before Geraldinus Arnaldi Fabro, and Guido Maliosi, and Bectus Opithi of Lucca, and Vivianus Cassivolus, son of the late Ventura, and others.
[17] Caruccia, a woman, daughter of the late Manfredus, of the contrata of Saint Bartholomew of Peccionis of Pisa, another, on the same Sunday, the very Kalends of May, said that she had been contracted in her right arm, and her hand, from the entrance of the last past month of June continuously: so that she could not help herself with that arm or its hand in any way, or extend it. Now out of reverence for God and the Virgin Saint Zita, before me Faytinellus the Notary and the witnesses I saw the arm: and she extended and was extending her hand before Bartholomew, son of Jacob Glandolfinus, Notary, and Andreas, son of Jacob, Notary of Lucca, and Dota Fignarius, and others.
[18] another, Benvenutus, son of the late Orlandus Mussae, of the contrata of Saint Concordius of the gate of Saint Peter, on the same day said that he had been contracted in his whole body and person for two years, the full years being completed in this next coming month of August; so that he walked in no way, nor could he walk without b crutches and with crutches. He said that yesterday he came to the aforesaid body: and today, out of reverence for God and the aforesaid body of the holy Virgin, he was made whole and freed. So that before me Faytinellus the Notary and the witnesses, he walked well and straight without any crutch; and then said that he was freed entirely from the aforesaid evil, before Guido Guidotti, and Andreas Jacobi the Notary and Mercatus Junctae of Lucca, and Bon-oste Alamanni, and Orcellus Albertini. Which Mercatus and Bon-oste and Orcellus said that they had first well seen the same Benvenutus contracted.
[19] Bertha, wife of Blanchus of Saint Januarius, on the aforesaid Sunday the Kalends of May said that for four years she had been and stood contracted in her whole body; another, so that she walked in no way without a stick: and she said that yesterday she came on a donkey to the body of the aforesaid Blessed Virgin Zita, because otherwise she could not come on foot. And at the church of Saint Frigidian she descended from the donkey, and went to her body, and there stood for a little while with great reverence and prayers. And that today, out of reverence for God and the body of the holy Virgin, she was made whole and freed, so that before me the Notary and Jacob Cenamo and Jacob Ricardinus the Notary, and Lord Rossus de Gallo, and others, the same Bertha without any stick walked and was walking, saying that she was freed from the aforesaid sickness.
[20] Abbracciata, wife of Aldobrandinus of Schiava Varcelliae, another, on this day said that she, from the entrance of the last past month of March, had been and stood contracted in her right arm, so that she could not raise that arm on high, nor help herself in any way: and that today, out of reverence for God and the aforesaid Virgin, she was made whole and freed from that arm. And before me Faytinellus the Notary and the witnesses she well raised her arm, and did now what she wished: and she said that she was well freed before the aforesaid Notaries, and Alone Barberinus of Lucca, son of the late Nerus, and Corsus Custos of Lucca, son of the late Bonequestrus, and others.
[21] another, Jacob, son of the late Guardavilla of Conagna of Garfagnana, on the aforesaid Sunday on the Kalends of the month of May, said that he, from fourteen months past, had continuously been and stood contracted in his whole body, so that without crutches he could walk in no way: and that today, out of reverence for God and Saint Zita the Virgin, he was made whole
and free. And he said that he was well entirely freed; and before Lord Amadeus, Canon of the church of Saint Frigidian, and the aforesaid Notaries, and Guido Guidotti of Lucca, the same Jacob walked straight without any stick.
[22] another, Francesca, wife of Franchus, of Cothile Valledulae, on the same day said that for two years she had been infirm and contracted in her left foot, so that she could walk in no way without a stick. And that today, out of reverence for God and the holy Virgin, she is whole and freed, and she said she was well freed: and she walked well and straight before me Faytinellus the Notary, and the aforesaid Lord Homodeus, and Lord Jacob of Saint Mary on the mountain, and Guido Guidotti.
[23] and another; Orambile, a woman of Lucca, of the contrata of Saint Martin, and daughter of Orlandinus Dominiscinus, on the aforesaid Kalends of May said that she, for three years, had always been and stood contracted in her whole person; so that she could not walk without crutches: and that today out of reverence for God and the holy Virgin she was made whole and freed: and she said she was well freed and whole, and before me the Notary and the aforesaid Lord Hondio, c and Lord Jacob the Notary, and others, she walked upright and without any crutch everywhere.
[24] Likewise a mute, Bona-mulier, daughter of the late Ricardus, of the contrata of Saint Peter Cigoli, who dwells with d Fatius Missii of Lucca of the aforesaid contrata, on the aforesaid day of the Kalends of May said that she had remained and dwelt with the aforesaid Fatius for thirteen years or so: and she said that Giori, son of the same Fatius, is about nine years old, and that this Giori for all the time of his life had been mute and did not speak in any way: and that today, out of reverence for God and the body of the aforesaid blessed Virgin, the same Giori was freed; and speech was restored to him, and he was speaking before me the Notary and the aforesaid Lord Hondio, and Guido Guidotti, and Bonagusta Tignosini, and Ugolinus Franceschi, and the aforesaid Notaries and others.
[25] And another contracted man, Fredianus son of Bonifacius de Collibus on the aforesaid Sunday, the Kalends of May, said that for fifteen days he had continuously been and stood contracted in his loins; so that he could not e raise himself or stand upright, nor even walk without a stick: and that today at the holy body of the aforesaid Virgin, out of reverence for God, he was freed and made whole. And he said that he was well freed, and before me Faytinellus the Notary and Lord Homodeus, and Guido Guidotti, and Bonacorsus, convert of Saint Leo, and many others, he walked well without a stick.
[26] Master Benvenutus de Petris, son of the late Master Gianibelli, who was of Torno f of Lombardy, and now dwells here, on the aforesaid day said that he always, She restores sight to one blind man, for six years, had been blind in his left eye, so that he lacked light and did not see with that eye; and that today at the holy body of Saint Zita the Virgin, out of reverence for God and the holy Virgin, he was freed and healed. And he said that he was entirely freed, and before me Faytinellus the Notary and the aforesaid Lord Homodeus, and Gualtrocta Faytinelli, and Francis Cambolani, and Oderettus the dyer, cloth-worker of Lucca, and many others: before whom the same Master Benvenutus saw well and clearly and recognized with that left eye, and also with the other.
[27] and to another: Mattheus Guencius of Oretanus, son of the late Civenni, on the same Sunday, the very Kalends of May, said that Cara his daughter, for three years, had continuously been infirm with a fistula in the right eye, so that from that eye she saw almost nothing. And now out of reverence for God and the aforesaid Virgin Saint Zita she was healed, and sees excellently, signs being made to her: and Cara herself said that she was well freed, before me the Notary and Prior William of the church of Saint Donatus, and the aforesaid Lord Homodeus and Guido Guidotti and many others.
[28] Massai, wife of Albertus of Saint Michael at Villorbanus, with her husband present, the use of limbs to a contracted woman, and he likewise saying and confessing this, said that for eleven years she had continuously been contracted, and lay, and could not well rise or walk without the aid of another: and that yesterday on a donkey she came to the holy church of Saint Frigidian to the aforesaid blessed Virgin, and today out of reverence for God and the holy Virgin she was made so whole and freed that she could walk: and she walked and was walking with one stick everywhere almost well upright, in the presence and sight of me the Notary and the aforesaid, and the Prior of Saint Donatus and Lord Homodeus, and Arrigo Parentis, and Posarellus Sabolini the Notary and many others.
[29] Germundia, daughter of the late John Buonfiglioli, of the parish of Saint Paul, said likewise to another, that for six years she had continuously had her right foot contracted, so that she could not set on the ground except the point of the foot, nor walk without great labor: and that today, out of the mercy of God and the aforesaid Virgin Saint Zita, she was entirely freed and well. And before me the Notary and the aforesaid she walked well and straight, saying that she was freed in the said church at the aforesaid body of the holy Virgin.
[30] Maria, wife of Bonaventura Pepo of Lucca, of Saint Peter Sommalto on the same Sunday, to another, the very Kalends of May, said that Margarita her daughter, for nine years, had continuously been contracted and lost in her whole right side; so that she had her foot twisted g and contracted, and she could not raise her arm or open her hand; and today at the body of the holy Virgin, out of reverence for God and the holy Virgin, she was made free and well whole: and she said that she was well whole, before me the Notary and the aforesaid, and Lords Jacob the Judge and Vannuccius Pollanus and Posarellus the Notary, who said that he had many times seen this Margarita so contracted.
[31] To another, Contessa, wife of Bonacorsus, who dwells with the son of the late Tigrinus the judge, on the aforesaid day said that for six years she had continuously had her middle finger of her left hand contracted, in such a way that she could in no way extend that finger: and that on the past Thursday at the above-written body, by the mercy of God and the holy Virgin, she was made entirely whole and free; and before me the Notary and the aforesaid she opened that finger well, and said that she was well freed.
[32] Massea h called Baccharella, who dwells at Pisa with Lady Chisia del Nichio, and to another, said on Sunday the Kalends of May, that for ten years she had continuously been contracted in her left arm: and that she had her right arm much greater than her left: and that today in the aforesaid church and at the aforesaid body of the holy Virgin, out of reverence for God and the aforesaid Virgin, she was freed, and she well extended that arm and hand before me the Notary and the Lord Prior Jacob and Prior William the aforesaid and the aforesaid Judges and many others. Jacob Bilanciarini, son of the late Campoccius, who dwells at Pisa in the contrata of Saint Frassa, i attested and said, that he had many times heard it said that the aforesaid Massea was sick with the aforesaid infirmity: and now he said that she was entirely freed by the aforesaid Virgin.
[33] She gives sight to a blind man, Lupardus of Gractanola, son of the late Guidochus on the same day said that from the entrance of the last past Lent he had been so blind that he did not see well or clearly with both eyes, except in the manner of a little cloud; and that today at the aforesaid body of the holy Virgin, out of reverence for God and the aforesaid Virgin, he was freed with respect to those eyes. And he said to me that he was freed, and before me and the aforesaid Priors and Judges, and many others, the same Lupardus, signs being made before his eyes, well and clearly saw all things and saw.
[34] another, Luparella, wife of Philip Nuntius of Fossa del Tacco, on the same day said that she for twenty years had continuously been blind in her left eye, so that she did not see in any way in all that time: and today at the body of the holy Virgin, out of reverence for God and the Virgin herself, she was made whole and free. And she said to me that she was well whole and freed. And before me and Lords Prior William and Conradinus Cajetanus, and Philip de Tasse, and Eustichellus Catuola, and Rainerius Mola and Posarellus del Bosco and others, signs being made before the aforesaid eye, she saw well and all things clearly and recognized. Fatius, son of the late ..., of the said contrata, on the aforesaid day said that for fifteen years he had seen this Luparella lacking sight in her left eye.
[35] She frees one possessed, Pasquese, daughter of Juncta Gualberti, of Monte Catini of Valdinievole, on the aforesaid Sunday, the very Kalends of May, said that she, from the middle of the last past month of September, had been k "ingomberata" and vexed by evil spirits: and that therefore she came for the mercy of God and Blessed Zita the Virgin, hearing that Saint Zita herself had been sanctified at Lucca at the holy church of Saint Frigidian: and that, when today, being thus troubled and vexed, she was at the body of the aforesaid Virgin within the church, standing there devoutly for the cause of obtaining deliverance; and so out of the mercy of God and the aforesaid Virgin she was freed. And she said that she at that time, when she was vexed, had eleven demons in her body, who went out of her body in the aforesaid place: and she said that at her deliverance were present Lady Pellegrina her mother, and Lady Berta of the aforesaid place, and Lady Ringratiata of the aforesaid place, and we saw her thus freed according to her account, I the Notary and Lord Jacob the Prior, and Lord Thomasius and Peter Bactitor of gold l at Aquina, and the Priest Rainerus of Saint Michael and others. Lady Pellegrina, mother of the aforesaid Pasquese, said that she remembered, and had seen, and firmly believed from what she saw, that her said daughter was so vexed by demons,
and vexed: and she saw her freed and being freed in the aforesaid church of Saint Frigidian at the body of the aforesaid Virgin.
[36] and a contracted woman. Bacciomea, daughter of Jacob Cartorari, of Saint Peter Ciguli, was contracted in her hands and feet, and was freed by the aforesaid Virgin Zita on Sunday, the very Kalends of May, as Brother Salvius of the aforesaid church of Saint Frigidian said.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER III.
Miracles noted on the 2nd and 3rd of May.
[37] Berthus, son of the late Catalanus of Fossa de Taccho, on the same a day said that for seventeen years or so, Blessed Zita heals a contracted man, he had been contracted in his right leg and foot, so that he could not in any way put the heel of that foot on the ground: and today, out of reverence for God and the holy Virgin, he was freed, and walked well and straight before me the Notary and the aforesaid Prior and Lord Ubaldus, and the aforesaid judges Lords Jacob and Raynuccius.
[38] She restores sight to a blind woman, Beatrice of Monte-lignoso, wife of Gherardinus, who was of Petra-sancta, on the aforesaid Monday said that Contessa her daughter had been blind in both eyes, and so lacked light that she saw nothing: and that in the aforesaid church of Saint Frigidian at the aforesaid body of the holy Virgin, by the mercy of God and of that Virgin, she was freed and healed: so that signs being made before the eyes of Contessa, the same Contessa saw well and was seeing, and knew all things clearly, before me the Notary and Lord Jacob the Prior, and Lord Homodeus, and Bartholomew Paldocinii, and Turellus Bacteldus of Lucca, and Nicholas Mercati the Notary and many others. Auricus b of the parish of Vallecchio Verciliae said that he had seen yesterday and the day before the aforesaid Contessa blind in both eyes, so that she did not see in any way; and today, by the mercy of God and the holy Virgin, seeing and knowing all things: and she saw clearly.
[39] Ursa of Garfagnana of Casatico, widow of the late Bononius, To one at the same time deaf and mute, she restores speech and hearing, on the same day said that Ventura her son, had continuously for six years been deaf and deprived of hearing, so that he heard in no way; and that today, by the mercy of God and the aforesaid Blessed Zita the Virgin, he was freed. And Ventura himself said that he was well whole and entirely freed: and several interrogations being made of him, Ventura heard all things well before Lord Thomas the Canon, and Nicholas Mercante and John, son of the late Christianus of Lucca, and Gadduccius, son of Ranuccius Spada, and others.
[40] John the Furrier, who was accustomed to stay in the field of the sons of Anguilla at Saint Vitus, to a contracted man the use of limbs, and now dwells in the contrata of the Hospital of Mercy, son of the late Michael, on the same Monday said that for twelve years he had continuously been contracted in both legs and feet, and in the left arm and its hand, so that afterward he did not walk or could not walk without crutches, nor could help himself with that arm or hand, nor extend them in any way: and that today at the body of that holy Virgin Zita, out of the mercy of God and of that Virgin, he was freed and made whole entirely. And he said that he was well freed, and before me the Notary and Lord Thomas, and the Priest Michael of Mutillianum, and Ugolinus son of Bartholomew Anguilla, the same John walked straight and well without crutches. John, son of the late Benedict of Via-nova, said on the same day that he saw today the said John so c crippled, and he found him infirm entering to the body and "lavellum" of the holy Virgin, so infirm and with crutches. And afterward immediately he saw him well whole, and walking without crutches and straight.
[41] to another, Puccius Benedicti of Saint Peter of Marcillianum, on the same Monday the second of the month of May said, that he, for nine months or more continuously, had been contracted and infirm in his whole d side and body and right foot; so that he could in no way walk without a stick, nor could he put anything on the ground except the tip of that foot: and that today, by the mercy of God and the Blessed Virgin Zita, he was made whole and freed; so that before me the Notary and the aforesaid witnesses, he walked well and straight without crutches. Ugolinus, son of Bartholomew Anguilla of Lucca, said that he today had helped the aforesaid Puccius enter to the "lavellum" of the aforesaid Virgin Saint Zita, except that he being at that time contracted, entered today with a stick. And Lord Homodeus, Canon of the aforesaid church, said that he had well seen the same man contracted before, and today whole.
[42] To one at the same time deaf and mute she restores hearing and speech, Bona, wife of Blanchus of Corellia of Garfagnana, on the same Monday the second of the month of May, with her husband present and saying and confessing all these things, said that it was now two years, and more so by as much as has passed from the last past Lent, that she had continuously been mute and deaf, so that she neither heard nor spoke. And that in all the aforesaid time she had her right hand contracted, so that she could neither open nor extend nor do anything with it at all: and that today, by the mercy of God and the aforesaid Virgin, she was made whole and free. And she heard well and clearly, and spoke: and she said that she was well freed from the aforesaid infirmities, before me the Notary, and Lord Thomas, and Lord Marcus, Pleban of Massa Ciuccoli, and Lord Bartholomew, and Lord Paul of the church of Saint Pontianus, and others. Jacob Senzabe of Lucca, son of the late Bonannus on the same day said that he today had helped the aforesaid Bona enter the place where is the body of the aforesaid Virgin; and that she then neither heard nor spoke. And he afterward saw her well freed from the aforesaid infirmities. Blanchus the aforesaid husband of the aforesaid Bona said that in the aforesaid time she was oppressed with infirmity, and afterward freed, as said above.
[43] Turella, daughter of the late Lambertucius of Canneto in Val d'Arno, and who now dwells at Lucca near Fracta, on the same Monday the second of the month of May said, that she, for six months, had been continuously blind until today in both eyes, so that she could see nothing, nor did she see except as in a shadow and in e a mist: and that today, by the mercy of God and the holy Virgin Zita, she was freed and whole; and now she sees well and clearly, signs being made before her, before me the Notary and the aforesaid.
[44] She frees a demoniac, Richa, wife of Schottus Guilielminus, of the contrata of Saint Donatus of the city of Lucca, on the same day said, that she, for eleven years, had been beyond measure oppressed for doing many illicit things day and night, going and standing, and dragged from her bed, and f troubled: and she said that she came and was led to the church of Saint Frigidian to the body of Blessed Zita, to receive liberation from those demons by the said Virgin: and that today, by the mercy of God and the aforesaid Virgin, she was freed and healed from those demons. And she said that she was well freed from the demons, before me and the Priest Nicholas of Lucca, and the aforesaid Benedict and Francis of Lucca, and Nicholas Guiggia of Lucca, and Ozellius Calthi of Lucca, and Bartholomew Jordani of Lucca and others. Beldie of Saint Angel in the Field, mother of the aforesaid Richa, widow of the late Bonaver, on the same day said, that the aforesaid Richa her daughter had been oppressed and vexed in the said time by the aforesaid demons, and so she had seen her many times, and yesterday and at other times in the said time: and today she saw her freed from those demons, as said above. John of Saint Angel in the Field, son of the late Bonaver, brother of the aforesaid Richa, on the same Monday the second day of the month of May said, that the aforesaid Richa his sister had been vexed in the said time by the said demons, and so he had seen her many times yesterday and at other times: and today he saw her freed from the said demons, as said above.
[45] Orlandus Chetracciaio, son of the late Juncta of
Petra-sancta, who was of Vallecchia, She grants hearing to a deaf man, on Tuesday the third day of the month of May, said that he had continuously been deaf for five past years, and more so by the time from the last past feast of Saint Lazarus, so that he heard in no way: and now he said that today, by the mercy of God and Saint Zita the Virgin, he was made whole and entirely freed. And he said that he was well freed, and heard all things well and clearly: and being questioned by the aforesaid Lord Prior, and by Lord Orlandus Richardus, and Richomus Bolgarini, and many others, to see if he understood; this Orlandus understood well and clearly all things which were said to him by his own and the aforesaid and others, before me the Notary and Cecchus Spada of Lucca, and Pinus, son of the late Lord Bonifacius, and Ricardinus of Petra-sancta and others. Cecchus called Bianchettus, son of the late Rubbolus of Petra-sancta, who was of Sala, on the same Tuesday May 3 said that for five years he had known and seen the aforesaid Orlandus to be deaf, and that he did not hear in any way: and that Orlandus yesterday, when he saw him with Cecchus, the same Orlandus in no way understood Cecchus or any other person. And he said that Orlandus, by the mercy of God and the aforesaid Virgin Blessed Zita, had been and was entirely freed; so that he understood all things well and clearly. Pinus, son of the late Lord Bonifacius of Vallecchia, who now dwells at Petra-sancta, on the same day said that he had for five years seen and known the aforesaid Orlandus, his neighbor, to be deaf, so that he heard in no way, and on the last past Sunday likewise he saw him deaf: and he said that he today saw Orlandus at the aforesaid church hearing and understanding all things well and clearly. Benencasa of Petra-sancta, who was of Campilione, son of the late Deotaiutus, on the same day said that for five years he had seen and known the aforesaid Orlandus to be deaf, so that he did not hear in any way, and that on the last past Sunday likewise he saw him deaf: and he said, that today he saw him freed by the mercy of God and the aforesaid Virgin, so that he understood and understands all things well and clearly. Rainerius of Petra-sancta, son of the late Palerminus, on the same day said the same as the aforesaid Benencasa in all things and through all. Ricardinus, Notary of Petra-sancta, son of the late Diotiguardus, on the same day said the same as the aforesaid Benencasa through all.
[46] To a contracted woman the use of limbs, Benvenuta, daughter of the late Forlinus, who was of Sciappa in Val d'Arno, wife of Michael Master Buctin, who dwells in the house which belonged to Jacob Greppelungus near the tower of the sons of Passi, of the Gate of Saint Gervasius, on the same day said that she had continuously for four years been contracted in both legs and feet and in her whole person from the h waist; so that without a stick she could in no way walk: and that she today, with Bonus son of the late Gilius Corregiarius of Lucca, and Guido son of Olivans of Lucca, who were always with her today, being present and seeing, at the body of the aforesaid Blessed Virgin Zita, by the mercy of God and the aforesaid Virgin, was today freed and healed. And she said that she was well freed, and before me the Notary and Ghirardinus Lamberti of Lucca, and Lord Guido Moccidens, and Lord Ghedinus Faytinelli and William Bictus and others she walked well and straight. Bonus son of the late Gilius Correggiarius i said that he today, together with the aforesaid Guido, by the mercy of God, accompanied the aforesaid Benvenuta, contracted, to walk and enter to the body of the aforesaid Virgin: because she could not walk well with a stick, since she was contracted; and they stayed there with her so long today, that Jesus Christ and the aforesaid Virgin had freed the aforesaid Benvenuta so that she could walk upright and without a stick well and straight. The aforesaid Guido on the same day said the same as the aforesaid Bonus in all things and through all.
[47] Likewise to another, Saladinus of Carrara, called Schacchus, son of the late Baron of the mountain of Carrara in Lunigiana, on the same Tuesday May 3 said, that in the next coming Kalends of July two years would be complete, that he had always been contracted in the right leg and foot, so that he could in no way walk without a stick; and that he came yesterday on a donkey to obtain liberation from the holy Virgin Zita: and with him came Vivianus son of Corsus of the mountain of Carrara, and stood with him at the body of the aforesaid Virgin and before the same Virgin, as long as Saladinus himself was there freed; and that today there at the aforesaid Virgin, by the mercy of God and the aforesaid Virgin, he was freed. And he said that he was freed: and well upright he walked without a stick before the aforesaid Prior and Lord Thomas, and Lord Rainuccius Pollani, and Lord Jacob of Saint Martha on the mountain, and Giarus Tadolini, and John Guardabene, and Accetantus Trifectus, and many others. The aforesaid Vivianus said, that the aforesaid things were thus true through all, and that he today saw the aforesaid Saladinus contracted and well whole: and the aforesaid Nicholas Ramondini of Lucca on the same day said, that today he saw the aforesaid Saladinus contracted, and helped him to enter to the aforesaid body of the holy Virgin, and afterward saw him freed by the holy Virgin and walking straight.
[48] Dinga, daughter of Olivans Vectaniolus of Lucca, on the aforesaid day said, and to another, that she, for fourteen years, had been continuously contracted in her right leg and foot, so that she could in no way walk without crutches; and that today, by the mercy of God and the aforesaid Virgin Blessed Zita, before the body of that Virgin, she was freed and made whole entirely. And she said that she was well freed entirely, before me the Notary and the aforesaid Lord Prior, and Lord Thomas and Accetantus Trisfetti and Lord Rainuccius and Jacob the Judges, and many others. Don Guido, brother of the aforesaid Dinga, on the same day said, that he had seen the aforesaid Dinga contracted in the said time, and that Bonus, son of the late Ghilius Corregiarius, had helped her enter to the body of the holy Virgin: and that he had stood there with her so long, that she was freed, and immediately today he saw her free by the mercy of the aforesaid Virgin, and walking and coming straight without crutches. Bonus, son of the aforesaid Gilius, on the same day said the same as the aforesaid Guido through all. Stephania, sister of the aforesaid Dinga, on the same day said, that in the aforesaid time she saw Dinga contracted, and today she saw her freed going out of the aforesaid place, and walking well upright without crutches. Lord Rainuccius Pollani the Judge on the same day said, that he in the aforesaid time had seen the aforesaid Dinga walking with crutches many times, and today at the aforesaid church had seen her freed, walking and coming straight without crutches.
[49] She frees a demoniac, Laetitia, daughter of Juncta de Menabbeo, and wife of Angiorellus of Saint Januarius, of the district and diocese of Lucca, being questioned by Friar Jacob to tell the truth, reported and said, that she had been possessed by three demons for thirty years: who came to the tomb of Saint Zita the Virgin on the same Tuesday, May 3; and by the intercessions of the aforesaid Virgin she was freed, before me Friar Jacob and Friar Frugerius, convert of Saint Frigidian of Lucca. And this she confessed before Lord Thomas, and Friar Leonard and Convidio Banaccio of Lucca, and Guido of the said place, and many others.
[50] Bonaventura, k cloth-mender, of the contrata of Saint Mary of the court of the Orlandinghi, son of the late Fiamingus, She heals a contracted man, on Tuesday the 3rd day of May said, that Cecchonus his son had for sixteen months been continuously contracted in his hands and feet and legs; so that in no way could he walk with crutches or a stick, or without crutches or a stick, and that he could not turn or change his position in any way, unless another should turn and help him: and that on the last past Friday, by the mercy of God and the aforesaid Blessed Zita the Virgin, before the Virgin and her body at the aforesaid church, he was made well whole and freed entirely; so that he himself without aid and without crutches and without a stick can walk straight. And he said that before the said Virgin was with him, and with his said son, Forticellus, son of the late Dominicus Bartholomew of the contrata of Saint George.
[51] John Bacteloro, citizen of Lucca of the contrata of Saint Peter Sigoli, son of the late Otobonus, on the same day of the month of May said, another, that he for three months had been so infirm and contracted in his legs and feet, that within that time he could in no way walk with crutches or without crutches, or with a stick, nor go out of bed unless another helped him: and that on the last past night of the last past Thursday, by the mercy of God and the aforesaid Blessed Virgin, at the body of that Virgin in the aforesaid church, he was and is healed and freed. And he said that he was entirely well whole and freed, and before me the Notary and Master Jacob the Grammarian and Actolinus Targardi the Notary and Puccius Benentendi and Lord Gherardus, Canon of that church, and others, he walked straight and well. And he said that to the body of the aforesaid blessed Virgin came and stood with him, and brought him back, Cosciorius l Fonsii, and Federigus Bonsignoris, Ubertus Gerardi, Bectus Albeghi, and others.
[52] She expels a tumor of the throat, Matthew, son of the late Thaeus of Ripalta of Pistoia, and son of Lady Jacoba, on the same Tuesday said, that three years had passed, in which he had continuously had a swollen throat and full of m "ganguli" (glands or nodules): and today he said that he was entirely freed: and I the Notary saw his throat and Lord Thomas and Lord Castagnaccius saw, and many others.
[53] Butus, son of the late Bondicus of Pescia, on the same day said, that he could not nor was able for five years to close his left hand, She heals a contracted man, and that he was so
contracted in his legs and feet, that he could do nothing, nor walk without a stick: and today he was freed by the mercy of God and the aforesaid Virgin, whom we saw walking straight everywhere without a stick: and he said that he was well freed before me Faytinellus the Notary and the aforesaid witnesses. N. Pappatavola the Notary said that he today saw Butus infirm with the aforesaid infirmities, and today he helped him enter to the aforesaid body of the aforesaid Virgin, and afterward saw him made whole and freed.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER IV.
Miracles taken down on May 4 and 5.
[54] Blessed Zita, invoked, heals a contracted man, Gerardinus, son of the late Farectus, of Palagarea in the County of Modena, who dwells in the Hospital of the Burgus of Camaione, on Wednesday the 4th day of the month of May said, that he for twenty years had been contracted in his right leg and foot, and that for three past years he had been continuously contracted in his other left leg and foot, and in both arms and hands so contracted that within the aforesaid time he could in no way walk without a stick, nor help himself with his hands or arms, nor extend them: and that today by the mercy of God and the aforesaid Blessed Zita the Virgin he was made whole and freed. And he said that he was entirely well freed, and walked well without a stick, and extended his hands and arms before me the Notary and Armannus Gerard the Notary, and Juncta Ingilgotti of Lucca, and Accetantus Trufetti, and Bonturus Fraenarius, and Mercatus of Lucca, son of the late Jacob; and he said, that almost all of the Burgus of Camaione know of the aforesaid sickness.
[55] Likewise another, Richardus de Vurno, son of Bifolcus, on the same day of the present month said, that Nicholas his nephew, son of the late Lupardus, for all the time of his life had been contracted in his right arm and hand; so that he could in no way help himself, nor extend the arm, nor open the hand, from the day of his birth until today: and that today, by the mercy of God and the aforesaid Virgin Blessed Zita, he was freed and healed therefrom. And the same Nicholas said that he was well freed and healed, and extended the arm, and opened the hand before me Faytinellus the Notary and Lord Thomas and Guido Guidotti of Lucca and Christophanus Faytinelli, Rosselinus Birri and many others. Bifolcus the aforesaid on the same Wednesday the 4th day of the month of May said, that the said Nicholas had been contracted yesterday and today, and all the said time: and today came with him to the aforesaid Virgin, and in his presence was there freed, and he today saw him freed, as said above.
[56] She restores speech to a mute, Nicri, son of Lord Bendinus Aleotti, of Crute aluccinga of the city of Lucca, on the same day said, that Vanna his sister, for eleven years had been mute, so that from the time of her birth, since she is eleven years old, she spoke in no way: and he said, that on the last past Tuesday she was in the aforesaid church at the aforesaid body of the aforesaid Virgin: and now, by the mercy of God and that Virgin, she has spoken and been freed entirely, and speaks well and clearly; as the same Nicri said before Friar Jacob of the aforesaid church, and Donatus della Nova, Niccoluccius Barletti, and Bonaguida Ciccii, and many others.
[57] To a blind woman sight, Richadonna, wife of Bona-prex of Vicus, on the same Wednesday, the 4th of May said, that she for three years had continuously been blind in both eyes, so that she could see in no way, nor did she see from the said time until today; and if she saw anything, she saw it as in a shadow and not otherwise. And she said, that today, by the mercy of God and the aforesaid Virgin Blessed Zita, she was freed and whole: and she said that she was well freed; and she saw and knew all things, signs being made, before me the Notary and the aforesaid Prior, and the Lord Archpriest of Lucca, and Lord Ubaldus Pastorcetta the Canon of Lucca and Pleban of the parish of Saint Stephen, and Christophanus Faytinelli and others. And she said, that her neighbors truly know of her sickness: and her brother-in-law Lenus of Palmatera, of Saint Gimignano of Ponte Mariano, on the same day said, that he had known the aforesaid Ricadonna for eighteen years. And he said that he had seen the aforesaid Ricadonna blind, so that she saw nothing, and that she did not walk except as blind and sightless.
[58] Madonnina, formerly a seller of cloths, who was accustomed and now dwells at the head of the Burgus of Saint Frigidian, daughter of the late Ansaldus, on the same day said, She frees a demoniac, that for thirty-three years she had continuously been oppressed and vexed by eleven demons: and today she said that she was freed from those demons, by the mercy of God and the aforesaid Saint Zita, before the body of that Virgin at the church of Saint Frigidian: and so she said, that she was well entirely freed from those demons, before me the Notary and Lord Prior Jacob of the said church, and Lord Thomas and the aforesaid Scorcia Lupini, and Rogichianus Fadolini, and Dathon Moriconi and many others. And she said, that Guido Gilii and Vitalis Calthoni were before the aforesaid Virgin before and after her liberation. Guido, son of the late Lord Gilius Tediccionis, of the city of Lucca, on the same day said, that he today had helped the aforesaid Madonnina enter to the "lavellum" of the aforesaid blessed Virgin, and that Madonnina at that time was much vexed by demons. For this reason Guido himself saw her being tormented and vexed, as is the custom of those a possessed: and afterward today and now he said, that from those demons she was well freed, by what he sees of her. And Vitalis the shoemaker of the Burgus of Saint Frigidian, son of the late Saluius, on the same day said the same as the aforesaid Guido in all and through all, and that Madonnina stood before that lavellum that day, and afterward he saw her freed.
[59] Minus delle Falce, of the contrata of Saint Peter in Chains of Pisa, She heals a contracted woman, on Thursday the 5th of May said, that Cola his daughter from the day of her birth had continuously been contracted in all her legs; so that she could not raise herself in any way: and that today by the mercy of God and the Blessed Virgin Zita she was freed. And she said, that she was well freed before the Lord Prior of the aforesaid church of Saint Frigidian and me Faytinellus the Notary and Lord Guido Moccidens, and Geraldinus son of Gualtroctus Castagnacci, and Landus Ronsini, and Butus Budaiolus, son of the late Belhomus and others.
[60] Richelda, a woman, wife of b Gennarius of Pariana, on the same day said, another, that she had continuously for three months been contracted in her right hand; so that she could not open or close it: and that today, by the mercy of God and the aforesaid Virgin she was freed and healed. And she said, that she was well entirely freed and whole; and before the Lord Prior of the greater church of Saint Frigidian, and Lord Ugolinus the Canon, and Thomas son of the late Bonifacius of Monte Giano, and Gentile son of the late Bernardonus, and Lerius son of the late Ubertus the Notary and many others, the same Richelda well and clearly opened and was opening that aforesaid hand; and she said that her neighbors knew her sickness.
[61] Contessa, wife of c Tellus, of Rena of Val d di Serchio, a maker of "farsetti" (jackets), on the same day said, that e Bacciomeus her son (in the last past month of January it was four years) had been blind in his right eye, she restores sight to a blind boy, and lacked light in it, so that he saw in no way within the aforesaid time: and that today, by the mercy of God and the aforesaid Blessed Virgin Zita, he was freed, and sees clearly with that eye as with the other. And before me Faytinellus and Bartholomew Anguilla, and Guido Guidotti, and Solomon Sfacciatti, and John Formichella and others, he saw and was seeing well and clearly, signs being made before his aforesaid eye. Brandinella, mother-in-law of the aforesaid Contessa and mother of the aforesaid Tellus, on the same day said, that she had seen the aforesaid Bacciomeus in the aforesaid term blind in his right eye, so that he saw in no way from it; and that she came with the same Bacciomeus, and stood him before the body of the aforesaid Virgin as long as he was freed. And that today she saw him so blind and today freed. And she said, that Bacciomeus was well freed. Francis of the city of Florence, son of the late Sinibaldus, on the same day said, that he today had helped the aforesaid Bacciomeus to stand before the body of the aforesaid Virgin, and that there he stood so long as he was freed from the said eye: and that he saw well. And he saw with the said eye well and clearly.
[62] Ferruccius of Bibliano de Marglia, son of Gerarduccius, on the same day said, to a contracted man the use of limbs, that Turchius his son, for four months continuously had been contracted
in both legs; so that he could walk in no way without a stick, and even with a stick badly and ineptly: and that today, by the mercy of God and Saint Zita the Virgin, he was made freed and whole. And Turchius himself said, that he was well freed and whole. And Turchius walked well and straight without a stick; before me the Notary and the witnesses Lord William the Prior of Saint Donatus, and Lord Thomas the Canon of Saint Frigidian, and Scorzia Lupini, and Gualtractus Castagnacci and Octonellus Jacobi. And he said, that his aforesaid son could not come to the Virgin, but rather Ferruccius himself carried him on his shoulders. Gajus, son of the late John Bernardini, on the same day said, that he today saw the aforesaid Turchius contracted, as said: and that he helped the aforesaid Turchius by the arms to enter to the body of the aforesaid Virgin; because Turchius could not walk by himself: and he said, that before the Virgin herself he stood so long with Turchius and his father, that Turchius was well and entirely freed; and he afterward saw him immediately healed, and walking and coming straight without any stick.
[63] Bullione Cantonis the Notary on the same day said, that on the last past Friday, She gives sight to a blind woman, when Lady Mabilia his mother understood, that the aforesaid body of Zita had f "sanctified" them, immediately Lady g Mabilia had faith and devotion in that Virgin, immediately in her house making prayers to Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin, that she would free her with respect to her right eye, in which Lady Mabilia had been blind for four years. With this prayer and supplications made, Lady Mabilia, by the mercy of God and the aforesaid blessed Virgin, was freed and whole: and Lady Mabilia herself said the same thing to Bullione. And she said, that Lady Mabilia well and clearly sees and knows all things, and thus the same Bullione said before Finus the Notary and Aldebrandinus Ubertus, and Ottonellus Jacobini, and Jacobinus Pelliciarius and others.
[64] Bonuccia, daughter of the late Michael, who was of Calavorna, wife of Ganus of Viliana of Garfagnana, She frees a demoniac from two demons: who dwells at Pisa in the contrata of Saint Lawrence at Papagalli, and daughter of Veneria, who was of Julianus, on Thursday the 5th of the month of May said, that from the last past feast of Saint John of the month of June, she had been continuously day and night oppressed and vexed by two demons, one of whom said he was named Uguiccio of Calavorna, and the other said he was named Lupardus di Laddamare: and that yesterday Veneria her aforesaid mother and Lady Nova, who dwells in the aforesaid contrata of Saint Lawrence, brought her to the body of Blessed Zita the Virgin, and that they stood with her before the body of Saint Zita the Virgin yesterday, as long as she was freed. And she said that yesterday Bonnuccia herself, by the mercy of God and the aforesaid Virgin, was and is freed from the aforesaid demons. And she said that she was well freed from the aforesaid demons, and spoke well, sanely and straight, as one not vexed; and she answered well to all things before me Faytinellus of Melior the Notary, and Pucchius Jacomini, and Calthero of Lucca and Bonturus Cascirolus, and Braducciolus, son of the late Ubaldus, and Giorus of Florence who dwells in the gate of Saint Frigidian, and Mollius Calsolarius and many others. Veneria, mother of the aforesaid Bonuccia, on the same day said, that within the said time she had seen the aforesaid daughter of hers oppressed and vexed by demons; and that yesterday she and Lady Nova led and held that Bona to the aforesaid Virgin, and before her they held her as long as she was freed. And yesterday and now she saw her freed from those demons: and that her daughter spoke and answered well and better than she was accustomed. Therefore from what she sees, and the said things her daughter says to her, she believes that she is well free. The aforesaid Lady Nova, widow of the late Arrighus, on the same day said the same as Lady Veneria in all things and through all, and that she was equally present.
[65] Bonturus Dominici the leather-worker, on the same Thursday the 5th of the month of May, swore to tell the truth before the said Lord Jacob the Prior of the church of Saint Frigidian, and also through me Faytinellus the Notary said, that yesterday when he and Guido the leather-worker, from the tannery, had gone to the field of Turus, which he has in Ronco, to see his h crops and the workers of the land; and he Bonturus had had with him and carried a silken piece of i "binda" (strip of cloth), which had been that of the aforesaid late Blessed Zita the Virgin; then Bonturus tore off a small part of that piece of "binda," He restores sight to a blind man, and took that little part and buried it in his land, namely in a certain furrow in the middle between the wheat and beans sown in that land, to drive away storms and k "maccones" (hail?), that they might not appear and do damage in the aforesaid land and crops: and that as soon as he had buried that little part of the "binda," he Bonturus was made blind, and lacked light in both eyes; so that he in no way saw with those eyes, nor could he see except in shadow. And Bonturus immediately repented that he had buried that "binda," and that therefore these things had happened to him. And he rubbed his hands to his eyes, and the said Guido asked Bonturus, "What is the matter? Do not fear: what seems to be the matter with you?" And then Bonturus said to him: "Oh dear! it has happened to me that I do not see light." And Bonturus walked sorrowing across the land and rubbing his hands to his eyes. And then Bonturus said in himself repenting: "I want to have back the 'binda' which I buried; because I believe that is why this happened to me." So immediately he went, so that he saw almost nothing; he went to the place where he had buried the "binda"; and he dug it up and had it back. And Bonturus immediately, by the mercy of God and the aforesaid Virgin, got back the sight which he had therefore lost. And then Bonturus said to the aforesaid Guido, "Thanks be to God; I have light again, because I had done too great a l "fallum" (fault), because I had buried Saint Zita's "binda" in that land, and therefore I had lost my sight." And then Guido said to Bonturus: "Let us give thanks to Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin, because you did it not for evil, but for good." Before Lord Ugolinus and Lord Homodeus, Canon of the aforesaid church of Saint Frigidian, and Aldobrandinus, son of the late Lord Hubertus Rossi, and Finus the Notary and Albicellus of Lucca and many others.
[66] Monacha of Sirico of Garfagnana, from the people of the upper district, another demoniac from two demons, wife of Bonamicus, who dwells in Ariana, which is near Siserana, on the same day said, that she for five years had been continuously oppressed and vexed by two demons. One of them named Napoleon, and the other Soldanus, who had been of the aforesaid place of Sirico, saying, that within that time she was day and night oppressed and vexed greatly and indecently. And that she, at the motion and request and accompaniment of Bonaventura Pectinarius of Pisa, of the Chapel of Saint Christina, son of the late Acursius, who was of the said place of Ariana, came today to the church of Saint Frigidian to the aforesaid blessed Virgin, to receive and obtain, by the mercy of God and the aforesaid Virgin, liberation from the aforesaid demons. Which Monacha said that she was entirely freed from the aforesaid demons, and before me Faytinellus the Notary, and John Camillus the Notary, and Guido Malofi, and Pruianni de Ciaria and Bonturus Bactelorus, son of the late Juncta of Lucca, and Jacob Ricardini the Notary, and Actolinus Talgardi the Notary, and others fully, and clearly and absolutely she spoke. The aforesaid Bonaventura on the same 5th day of the month of May said, that he today came and accompanied the aforesaid Monacha even to the "lavellum" of the aforesaid Saint Zita the Virgin, where he stood with her as long as she was freed from the aforesaid demons; and that today he saw her oppressed and vexed, and afterward now saw her freed and whole by the mercy of God and the aforesaid blessed Virgin m.
[67] Juncta, son of Bona-prex of Saint Januarius, who was accustomed to dwell in the contrata of Saint Quiricus of Oliva on the aforesaid Thursday, a contracted man, the 5th day of the month of May said, that Gratia-Dei his son for eight years had continuously been contracted in his right leg and foot: so that he always dragged the foot of that leg and n "harrowed" it behind him on the ground. And that yesterday evening by the mercy of God and the aforesaid blessed Virgin before the sight of that Virgin he was freed and is: Gratia-Dei said that he was well freed in respect of that leg and foot. And he walked well and straight before me the Notary and Lord Garcia, Canon of the aforesaid church, and Lord Guido Moccidens, and Arrigo Bonelli the Notary, and Gerardinus Arnaldi, and many others. And he said, that his neighbors in the aforesaid place know of the sickness of his aforesaid son.
[68] Arrighus, son of the late Bonagusta of Fiano, on the same day said, that he for eight years had continuously been so contracted in both legs and feet, that he could not walk in any way without a stick: and that today by the mercy of God and the aforesaid blessed Virgin he is freed and whole. And he said that he was well freed, and walked well and straight without a stick before me the Notary and Lord Guido Moccidens, and Arrigo Bonelli the Notary, and Orlandus Sartorii and others. And he said, that Turchius Nutius and Puccius Nonilens found him to place him today upon the "lavellum" of the aforesaid Virgin, contracted: and afterward he saw him freed, and he said, that his neighbors of the aforesaid place know of his aforesaid sickness. Turchius, son of the late Julianus de Burghicciolo, said on the same day, that he and the aforesaid Puccius today for the love of God helped and placed the aforesaid Arrigus, contracted, upon the "lavellum" of the aforesaid Virgin, and stayed with him there so long as he was today freed, and that today he saw him walking well straight and freed entirely. The aforesaid Puccius on the same
day said the same as Turchius in all things and through all.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER V.
Miracles described in the remaining month of May.
[69] John, son of the late John del Mare, of the County of Toulouse, saying that he was a pilgrim and was coming in pilgrimage from the church of Saint Mary of b Calmino of Toulouse, and from the church of Saint Mary of Valversa, Blessed Zita restores sight to a blind man, and from the church of Saint Giles in Provence, and from other churches and venerable places, and for the sake of obtaining and receiving the light of his left eye, in which eye he said he had been blind for seven years, and deprived of light; so that he saw in no way from that eye: and that when he was at c Sarzana, going toward the church of Blessed Peter the Apostle of Rome in pilgrimage, from this cause he heard and understood that a certain Virgin, by name Blessed Zita, had been sanctified in the city of Lucca: and he had faith and devotion in that blessed Virgin, and began to come toward Lucca to that blessed Virgin in prayer, and to pray and make prayers to the Virgin, that she would heal and free John from the aforesaid evil and blindness of the aforesaid eye. A certain woman, by name Joanna, from the aforesaid place of Toulouse, daughter of the late Don Bernard, coming in the company of the same John, came toward Lucca: and as they were coming, when yesterday he was near the place of d Colle Bertrandi, he saw the towers of the city of Lucca. And immediately throwing himself to the ground he prayed and gave praises, and commended himself to the aforesaid Blessed Zita the Virgin. And immediately he said, that he had clearly seen the towers standing in the city, and he said that he had been freed from the aforesaid evil of the aforesaid eye: and immediately he said to his aforesaid companion: "I give thanks to Christ and the holy Virgin, that I see well with both eyes, and am freed, and see well." And immediately yesterday giving thanks to Jesus Christ and the aforesaid Virgin, he came to the Virgin and offered her praises and thanks. And so today, which is Friday the 6th day of the month of May, he said and swore corporally that the aforesaid was so and that he was well freed, and with all the above and all signs exhibited before his eye he saw well and knew before me the Notary and Lord Homodeus and Lord Jacob the Canon of the aforesaid church, and Jacob Bonacorsi the Notary, and Francus Guerrigii, and Guido, son of the late Gilius, and many others. Lady Joanna the aforesaid said, by her oath corporally taken, that all the aforesaid was so true, and that she had seen from the aforesaid time onward the aforesaid John blind in the aforesaid eye many times: and that yesterday she saw him blind, and freed today. And she said, that the same John was well freed in the aforesaid eye, on the same day and place and before the aforesaid, by the mercy of God and the aforesaid Virgin.
[70] Bonaventura of Valli de supra, of the Vicariate of the people of the upper district, to another, son of the late Bonamichus, on Sunday the 8th day of the month, said, that Gratianus his grandson, son of Bonamichus, son of Bonaventura himself, had been continuously blind in both eyes, so that within that time he saw nothing and did not see until today. And so he said that he had seen him blind within that time, and that today by the mercy of God and the aforesaid Blessed Zita the Virgin he was freed and made whole. This Gratianus, with signs made before his eyes by the aforesaid Lord Prior and others to see whether he saw and would see, himself well and clearly saw all things and saw, and knew and knew, before me the Notary and the aforesaid Lord Prior and Lord Thomas the Canon of the aforesaid church, and Arrighus Boccellus, and Andreas son of the late Bonacorsus of the parish of Saint Paul, and many others. And he said, that he himself helped that Gratianus to be sent, and held, and to stand before the aforesaid Virgin, as long as he was there freed and whole. Bonadonna, wife of Baron, of the aforesaid place of Valle de supra, on the same day said, that she had seen the aforesaid Gratianus within the aforesaid term blind, so that he did not see, nor saw within that aforesaid time: and that she together with Bonaventura came and brought that Gratianus to the aforesaid blessed Virgin, and that he sent and held him before the Virgin as long as he by the mercy of God was freed, and well and clearly saw. And she saw him well seeing and knowing today, and she said that Benevenuta daughter of Manchus, and Ulisenda daughter of Inghilberta, and Vita Bonajuncta, and Armanus son of Vita, had seen and known the aforesaid Gratianus blind: and they saw and helped him to stand before the aforesaid Virgin as long as he was there freed: and today they saw him freed and whole and seeing well.
[71] Jacobina, wife of Bonacorsus of Corellia of Garfagnana, and daughter of Homedeus Deodati of Saint Rentius, on Tuesday the 10th day of the month of May said, She frees a demoniac, that she had been oppressed and vexed by a demon, whom she said and named, by the name of Sanna of Corellia, according to the statement of that demon, from the last past month of February, continuously day and night: and that she yesterday together with Lord Homodeus her father came to the aforesaid blessed Virgin Zita, for the mercy of God and the aforesaid Virgin, to obtain and receive liberation from the aforesaid demon: and that she together with Lord her father entered to the place and lavellum of the aforesaid Virgin yesterday. And during the day and yesterday evening she stood there with Lord her father, as long as she was freed by that Virgin of that demon this morning. And that this morning early, by the mercy of God and the aforesaid Virgin, she was freed and healed. And she said that she was well freed and whole, and spoke well and clearly and sanely before me Faytinellus the Notary and Lord Gerard the Canon of the said church, and Friar Jacob of the aforesaid church, and Francesco Gregorii of Lucca, and Lord Thomas, and many others. The aforesaid Homodeus on the same day said, that he had many times within the aforesaid time seen his aforesaid daughter oppressed and vexed by a demon: and that he came and stood with her, as said above: and that yesterday he saw her oppressed and vexed, as is contained above, and today saw her freed by God and the aforesaid Virgin, in the aforesaid place at the church of Saint Frigidian.
[72] Palmeria, wife of Ubaldus of Casciana, of the parish of Caddiponte, of the land of the Bianchi, likewise another on the 11th day of the month of May said, that for seven months she had continuously day and night been oppressed and vexed by twenty-three demons: whom she said, that she well knew how to name when she was vexed; and now she said, that she did not remember their names. And that yesterday together with her said husband and with Contrus of Ulliano, who accompanied her coming yesterday before the aforesaid Virgin to ask and receive liberation from them: and that she with the aforesaid on this past night stood before the said Virgin as long as the aforesaid Virgin freed her. And that Palmeria herself by the mercy of God and the aforesaid Virgin this morning is entirely freed from the aforesaid demons. And she said that she was entirely well freed before me the Notary and Lord Benvenutus the Prior of Carrara, and Lord Gerardinus Maurinii, and Lord Homodeus the Canon of the aforesaid church, and Guido Guarungia, and Pamphilia Chisalberti, and Amanettus Caltheri, son of the late Conradus Martini, and many others. Ubaldus, son of the late Albertus, the aforesaid husband of the aforesaid Palmeria, on the same day said, that his aforesaid wife within the aforesaid time had been oppressed and vexed by demons, and very often day and night he saw her beyond measure e "malinquinari" (being made evil) and vexed. And that he and Lord Contrus yesterday brought her to the aforesaid Virgin, and that today in the morning she was freed by the aforesaid Virgin, by the mercy of God; and today freed and now he saw her. Contrus, son of the late Guido of Villiana, the aforesaid of the land of the Bianchi, on the same day said the same as the aforesaid Ubaldus, in all things and through all.
[73] Bonparente the Notary, son of the late Bonparente of Lucca, said He heals one laboring at the same time from arthritis and contraction of limbs, that Margarita his daughter (now many times past) and especially from seven months previous had continuously been so oppressed by gout in her legs and shins and contracted, that she could in no way walk, except by rubbing her buttocks along the ground and floor: and that out of reverence and faith, which he Bonparente and his daughter had and have in God and in the aforesaid Virgin, he Bonparente brought and caused his daughter to be brought to the church of Saint Frigidian, before the sight and "lavellum" of the aforesaid Virgin; and held her there as long
as his daughter was freed and healed entirely, by the mercy of God and the aforesaid Blessed Zita the Virgin. So that his daughter on her own walked upright, on and with her own legs and feet, through the church and to her home: and so she is now, according to what Lord Jacob the Canon of the aforesaid church said, saying that he had had and understood the aforesaid from Bonparente.
[74] Riccomannus Cerini, of the contrata of Saint Mary in palatio, another, said that he for a long time had been so oppressed by arthritic gout and contracted, that he could not walk. And out of reverence and mercy of the aforesaid Virgin he was freed, before Riccomannus, son of Jacobinus Tebaldi, and Bonacorsus, son of the late Rocchigianus, and Bonacorsus Marchianus of the aforesaid contrata, according to what the aforesaid Canon said.
[75] and another, Adcursus de Deccio of Branchalus, oppressed in his buttocks with gout and contracted, so that he could not walk without a stick, by the mercy of God and the aforesaid Virgin, was freed before me and Lord Thomas, according to what the aforesaid Canon said.
[76] She frees one demoniac Migliore, a woman N. of Mothanus, of Montale of the county of Pistoia, on Friday the 13th day of the month of May, said that she had been oppressed and vexed for thirteen years (in the last past month of July the years are completed) by twenty-four demons; namely until the last past feast of Saint Mary f liberarum by twenty-three demons, and from that feast by one of them named Gentianus of Corsica until today: and that today by the mercy of God and Blessed Zita the Virgin she was freed and whole from those demons. And she said that she was freed before me the Notary, and Bertus Alberghi, and John Tuttobuoni, and Silvester Bonaventurae of Lucca, and Jacob Paganelli of Novale of Branchali, and others: the same Migliore saying that all her neighbors, male and female, of the aforesaid place, know how she was oppressed and vexed by demons.
[77] Migliorata, wife of Bonacursus of Valle de subtus, of the Vicariate of Garfagnana from the aforesaid people, on the same day said, and another, that she had been continuously day and night oppressed by seven demons (in the past month of January sixteen years were completed), and that she today, by the mercy of God and the aforesaid blessed Virgin, was freed and whole. And she said that she was well freed and whole from those demons, before me the Notary. And the aforesaid Luchesa her daughter on the same day said, that she is seventeen years old, and that for all the time after she knew anything, she saw her mother continually oppressed and vexed by demons. And she said, that on the last past Wednesday she came to the aforesaid Virgin with her aforesaid mother, and with her stood before the aforesaid Virgin likewise almost always; and that today by the mercy of God and the holy Virgin she is freed and entirely whole. Thanks be to God. Before me and the aforesaid.
[78] Ciardus the Furrier, who dwells at Lucca in the contrata of Saint Roman, She restores sight to a blind girl, who was of the Borgo of Saint Flora of San Miniato, on the same day said, that Nuta, daughter of Datus of the aforesaid Borgo, who dwells near Motorosi, for nine years had continuously been blind in her left eye, so that she saw in no way with it: and that today, with Ciardus present and seeing, the same Nuta, by the mercy of God and the aforesaid blessed Virgin, was freed and healed of the aforesaid eye. And the same Nuta sees and was seeing clearly with the aforesaid eye. With the aforesaid signs exhibited before that eye, she saw all things and knew clearly before me the Notary and Arrigus Bonelli the Notary, and Lambertus Horadini of Lucca, and William son of Jacob Barberius, and Bonacursus, son of Bonaventura, and Pagnus the shoemaker of Lucca, son of the late Vivianus, and Robentius son of Bonajuncta Bonai, and others g.
[79] Bertha, wife of Puccius de Corbo, daughter of Benaducis of h Luscigniano, on Monday the 16th day of the month of May, said, She heals a contracted girl, that Fiore her daughter (in the past Shrovetide three years were completed) and from that time continuously had been contracted in her loins and her whole person from the girdle down, and in her thigh and leg and left foot; so that she could not walk: and that her right leg was bigger than the left by a good five fingers. And today by the mercy of God and the aforesaid Blessed Zita the Virgin she was freed and whole. Which Fiore said, that she was well freed: and well and straight she walked before me the Notary and Lord Benvenutus, Pleban of Buellio, and Opito Cenami, and Peter Marciadrus of Corcena of Sacellus Franchi, and many others.
[80] Baldovinus, son of the late Michael Thadaeus, of the neighborhood of the chapel of Saint Michael at Vilorbana of Moriano, likewise another. on Tuesday the 17th day of May said, that he, for seven years continuously day and night, had been infirm and contracted in his loins from gout so wickedly that he could not bend or work on his own without the greatest anguish and pain: and that the second day after the i "migration" of the aforesaid Blessed Zita the Virgin (i.e. anniversary of her death), when Baldovinus was in a certain vineyard of his in the aforesaid place, and wished to work, and could not work at all because of the aforesaid infirmity, he Baldovinus heard that the aforesaid Blessed Zita had been sanctified at the church of Saint Frigidian of Lucca. Then Baldovinus in good faith and pure contrition, bending himself and casting himself to the ground, offered prayer and beseeching to the holy Virgin, that she, by the mercy of God and her own, would free him from the aforesaid sickness; Baldovinus promising and vowing himself then to God and to the aforesaid Virgin, that if God and the blessed Virgin would free him from the aforesaid infirmity, annually as long as he lived, of his goods he would give and bestow to the blessed Virgin for her k "luminaria" (lighting), on the day of the Vigil of the festival of the aforesaid Virgin, half a pound of oil with half a pound of l wax, for that lighting. And that immediately and at once, on the aforesaid day in the aforesaid vineyard, the said prayer and beseeching having been made by Baldovinus to God and the aforesaid Virgin, Baldovinus was freed from the said infirmity by the merits of Blessed Zita the Virgin.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER VI.
Certain miracles taken in the months of June and July.
[81] Saint Zita frees a demoniac: Laetitia, daughter of Juncta of Menabbio in Valdilima, and wife of Angiorellus of Saint John of the Lucca district, who now dwells in the contrata of Saint Viviana of Pisa, on Thursday the 9th day of the month of July, said that she had been continually vexed by three demons for more than thirty years: and that today from the city of Pisa aforesaid with reverence she came to Lucca to the church of Saint Frigidian to Blessed Zita the Virgin, to ask and receive from her liberation from the aforesaid demons; and that today she stood much before the sight of the blessed Virgin Zita, and humbly besought her for this. And that today, by the mercy of God and the aforesaid Blessed Zita the Virgin, before that Virgin she was freed and healed from the aforesaid demons: and she said that she was entirely well freed, before me Faytinellus the Notary, and Friar Jacob of the aforesaid church, and Guido Bonacci, and Lord Thomas the Canon of the aforesaid church, and Friar Leonard of the aforesaid church, and many others. Genovese the Smith, of the contrata of Saint Vivianus of Pisa, son of the late Africans, on the same Thursday by his oath said, that he was a neighbor of the aforesaid Laetitia in the aforesaid
contrata, and has been for one year and more, and always knew her and saw her many times, as a neighbor, infirm and vexed by demons: and so it was said throughout the whole neighborhood, that she was vexed by demons. And he said, that he many times saw her a "grollating" (shaking) her head, like an insane woman, and greatly vexed and demoniac: and thus he said, that today in the aforesaid church at the place of the aforesaid Virgin he saw the same Laetitia whole today, on the same day and place, and before the aforesaid witnesses.
[82] Molanes, son of Rencius of Aramo in Val d'Arno, on Tuesday, to a blind man sight, the feast day of Saints Vitus and Modestus, b the 14th day of the month of June, said, that he for two years had continuously been blind in his left eye, so that he in no way saw with it or could see: and that while standing and working in a certain field of his, in the field of Pescia, he heard that a certain Saint had been sanctified at Lucca: and immediately moved by contrition he came to Lucca, to the church of Saint Frigidian to that Virgin, to ask and receive liberation for the said eye: and that he was and stood before the Virgin with prayer and very great devotion, as long as he was freed in respect of that eye. And he said that he was well freed of it, and saw well and clearly from it before me the Notary, and before Jacob Cenami the Notary, and Orlandus Darde of Lucca, and Cecius Spada, and Matthew Viviani the Notary of Lucca and many others.
[83] Benvenuta of Genoa, on Wednesday of the month of c July said, that she from the last past Lent, the week of Lazarus, and for fifteen days before that week, had continuously been infirm and contracted, so that she could in no way rise or walk, or come in any way: She restores the use of limbs to a contracted woman, and that (on the morrow it will be fifteen days) hearing in the city of Genoa that the aforesaid Saint Zita had been sanctified in the city of Lucca, moved by contrition to come to Lucca to the Virgin, she vowed herself to God and that Virgin: and entered the sea in a certain boat, to come to Lucca, to ask and receive liberation from her aforesaid infirmity from the aforesaid Virgin: and that coming by sea in a certain boat toward Pisa, she in the boat felt herself freed from the aforesaid sickness, by the mercy of God and the aforesaid Virgin. And she said that on the last past Saturday she came into the city of Lucca to the aforesaid Virgin, to give thanks to God and the aforesaid Virgin for the aforesaid liberation which she had received. And afterward she said, that she was and is now in the city of Lucca, and she said these things before me the Notary and Lord Jannes, and Francus Guerrigii, and Vita the master stone-worker of Lucca, and Bonacursus of Lucca, son of the late Bonaventura, and Ugolinus Faytinelli and others. And before me and the aforesaid she walked well and straight.
[84] Another from the payment of money not owed Bulcione of Massa, of the Marquis of Lunigiana, who was of Montrapolus of the contrata of Flora, son of the late Bonaventura, on Tuesday the 14th day of the month of July said, that for two years and eight months he had had a certain great lawsuit and dispute with Guelso Pandolfinus of Chinzia of Pisa, and Guillielmuccius Leali of the aforesaid Massa, about 1270 pounds on one part, and 77 pounds on the other part: which the same Guillielmuccius for himself and for the aforesaid Guelso was seeking, and wished to exact from him before the Podestà of the aforesaid Massa. And because of such great injury Bolcione, and because of the wrath which he had therefore, did not know how to counsel himself, and did not know anything to do: because Bolcione ought not to give them anything except three pounds of the aforesaid money; because he had otherwise paid and restored it. Wherefore Bolcione in those fifteen days, d during which the aforesaid Blessed Zita had been sanctified, understanding from several persons that the aforesaid Virgin was performing many miracles, moved by contrition within, on a certain evening, vowed himself to God and the aforesaid Blessed Zita the Virgin, that if that Virgin would help him Bolcione, and extract him without wrath and danger from the aforesaid, he would forever be subject to the aforesaid Virgin, and annually in his life would fast the vigil of that Virgin on bread and water. And that immediately on the next morning coming, the aforesaid Guelfus together with the said Guilelmuccius, of their own accord came e and were with Bolcione, and said to him: "What do you want us to do for you?" And he answered and said to them: "I want you to f cancel the document and writings which you have against me, and make me an end in the hand of the Notary, and I will give you the three pounds which I owe you." And then at once Guelfus and Guilelmuccius annulled for Bolcione all the writings which they had against him, and made him an end by the saying of a wise man: and they did not receive nor asked of him the aforesaid three pounds, and did these things for him, according to their true g belief, by the mercy of God and the aforesaid blessed Virgin and because of the aforesaid vow… And so he said before me the Notary and Lord Thomas, and Friar Jacob, and Gerardinus the bridle-maker of Lucca, and Jacob Cenami the Notary, and Bartholomew Anguilla and others: before whom he said that he today came to Lucca to the Virgin, and immediately gave h an "advincta" (bundle/offering), and gave great thanks to God and the aforesaid Virgin.
[85] Maria, wife of Bonceptus son of the late Bonfilius of Corsena, and daughter of Rainerius of that place, on Wednesday, the feast of Saint Margaret, the 20th i day of the month of July said, that she was continually day and night oppressed and vexed by one demon, She frees a demoniac from a demon, named Pintellus of Controne: and that she today with her aforesaid husband and father, and with the lead of her aforesaid husband and father, who have reverence and faith in God and the aforesaid blessed Virgin, and with their prayer, came to the aforesaid Blessed Zita the Virgin. And that she stood there before that Virgin with the aforesaid, as long as by the mercy of God and the aforesaid Virgin she was freed from the aforesaid demon. And she said that she was freed, before me the Notary and Frugherius the Convert of the aforesaid church, and Thomas the Convert, and Brunettus Brunicardi Calthei, and Jacob of Genoa son of the late Simon, and Master John the Physician her son-in-law of Genoa, and Thedaldus Rustichelli, and others.
[86] Massaja, wife of Bartholomew Matignonis of Capannoli, on Friday the 22nd day of the month k of July said, another from a wolf's bite: that on the morrow it would be fifteen days completed, that when she and Magese her granddaughter, daughter of Jacob Micciallus of the aforesaid place, and Guida daughter of Massaja herself, were in a certain field of that Bartholomew, and Massaja was l hoeing millet; and while Massaja was standing upright with a hoe in her hand, and Guida was standing at her side; Magese saw a wolf coming against them. And then Magese called upon Blessed Zita the Virgin, and besought her to help them: and the wolf seized her the aforesaid Guida by the neck, and m dragged her some distance along the ground: and Magese stood with the hoe in her hand pulling n Guida from one side, and the wolf pulling Guida from the other. And Magese always struck the wolf with that hoe, and continually called upon the aforesaid Blessed Zita the Virgin, to help them. And immediately the wolf let go of Guida, and somewhat separated from them, and began to cry out loud and to vociferate, and before them beat himself with his and with his o paw. And then Magese with her Guida on her neck retreated to the house, and the wolf remained and retreated. And so the aforesaid Massaja and Magese, being present, said, that by the mercy of God and the aforesaid Blessed Zita the Virgin, the aforesaid Guida was freed from that wolf. Which Guida I, Faytinellus the Notary, and Lord Garcia the Canon, and Gerardinus Arnaldi the smith and Guidus Cinnami the Notary, and many others, saw bitten on the neck by the aforesaid wolf and in several places.
[87] Althone, son of the late Vitalis, of the chapel of Saint Andrew at Saltochium of the Bridge of Morianum, She heals a contracted man. on Monday the feast of Saint James, the 25th day of the month of July, said, that Vivianus his son, from the last past holy week of the last past Easter of the Resurrection of the Lord, had been and was so contracted in both legs and knees; that Vivianus could scarcely rise from bed or from sitting, and that he could scarcely walk without the greatest danger; and could not bend his legs or knees, but held them stretched out, and could not [p] bring one leg or knee near the other in any way: and that he Althone, moved by good will and contrition, on a certain day of this week, vowed himself and his said son to God and the aforesaid Virgin, and vowed to give at her altar an "advincta" of wax and an image of wax; and every year, as long as he Althone should live, to the lighting of that Virgin one [q] "quarterola" of good oil. And that today he came with his son to the "lavellum" and body and altar of the aforesaid blessed Virgin with the greatest reverence, and there he held his son today as long as his son, by the mercy of God and the aforesaid blessed Virgin, was freed from the aforesaid sickness. And that Vivianus said that he was well freed: and before me the Notary and Lord Garcia the Canon of the aforesaid church of Saint Frigidian, and Lord Aldobrandus the Canon of the aforesaid church, and Bonajuncta Inghegotus of the Lucca [r] Commune, and Raspolinus the Nuntius of the Lucca Commune, and Mollius the bridle-maker of Lucca, son of Bonacalthus, and others, the same Vivianus walked well and straight and expeditiously everywhere, and afterward well whole.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER VII.
Miracles noted in the month of August.
[88] Pina, a woman, wife of William Jolarius of Brancalus, and daughter of the late Scalsagialli Jolarius, Saint Zita frees a certain woman from a harmful tumor, on Friday the 5th day of the month of August, said, that Belluccia her daughter and daughter of the aforesaid William, from the last past Easter of the Resurrection of the Lord, had continuously been and was contracted and infirm in her left leg; so that she could not walk straight or come, nor rise or bend herself: and that in the knob of the aforesaid leg near the buttocks she had a thick and hard and swollen tumor, like a stone; and that from that time continuously Belluccia continually lamented and wept violently. And that today when sleep came to Belluccia and the wish to sleep, Belluccia commended herself to God and Blessed Zita the Virgin, that she would restore health to her. And immediately Belluccia went to sleep, and slept in the house of Pina in the contrata of Saint Michael, in which Pina dwells. And a little later Belluccia rose from bed, and rising put her hand to the aforesaid hard and swollen tumor, and she found that hard and swollen thing to have been softened and soft as water: and Belluccia immediately felt herself whole and freed from the aforesaid evil and the aforesaid leg, and walked straight through the floor; and offered and gave thanks therefore to God and the aforesaid Blessed Zita the Virgin: and so Belluccia immediately narrated of that liberation, and said to Pina herself that she was well freed. And immediately both came to the aforesaid Virgin at the church of Saint Frigidian, to give thanks to God and the aforesaid Virgin: and also Belluccia said so, and narrated, and showed that she was well freed; and walked straight before me Faytinellus the Notary, and Friar Stephen of the Order of the Friars Preachers, and Lord Thomas the Canon of the aforesaid church of Saint Frigidian, and Frugerius the Convert of that church, and Jacob Bonaviti of Lucca, and Bonavitus, son of the late Simon, of Saint Quiricus at Lusignanum, and many others.
[89] Tanus, son of the late Bonaventura Vulturanus, who dwells at the parish of Computus, She saves one wounded by a dog, on the 12th day of the month of August said, that on the last past Tuesday, the evening of the last past Easter of the Resurrection of the Lord after that Easter, a dog wickedly bit his left leg, on the back of that leg below the knee; so that he for that bite had lost the nerve of that leg, as much as that bite comprehended: and that therefore he lay and stood in bed about five weeks, and therefore could not help himself nor raise himself, so infirm he was from it. And that the Priest Guido treated him, and held him as abandoned; because he could not help or cure him from it. Whence Tanus was very angry, because he could not find a doctor who would help him. Being thus infirm in bed, he vowed himself to God and Blessed Zita the Virgin, and offered her prayers to help him: and if she should help him, he promised to give to her honor a candle of one pound of wax, and a "leg" of wax full of wax, and until he should be helped to fast always her vigil. When this was done, on a certain night around the first sleep, and immediately the next morning coming, Tanus himself felt much better, and with a stick began to walk through the floor: and at first he could not walk in any way, and afterward continually daily he came improving; so that today, the aforesaid leg being shown to us the Notary and witnesses that it had health, he said that by the mercy of God and the aforesaid Virgin he was well freed from it: and he walked well and straight. And he said, that today he came and brought back to the holy Virgin the aforesaid candle and leg of wax, before Laetus Pannochini of Lucca, Bonhoste of Vallechia of Lucca, and Fatius Benfacosti the baker of Borghiccivolo, and the Priest Peter, who dwells in the aforesaid parish, and many others: the Priest Peter, who dwells in the parish of Compito, on the same day said, that he had seen the aforesaid Tanus infirm from the aforesaid sickness within the aforesaid time and lying in bed, and saw him freed and whole, as said above.
[90] Janna, a woman of Asti of a Lombardy, daughter of the late Opithus Torsarelli of the bridge of Isola, on Saturday the 13th b day of the month of August said, that in the next mid-August, in which we now are, She restores the use of limbs to a contracted woman, about two years would be completed, that she, from that time continuously, had been infirm and contracted in her loins and knees and whole person; so that she could in no way rise from bed, or help herself: except that from the last past feast of All Saints, until the last past feast of Easter and Pentecost c of the month of May, she would untimely rise from bed, and walk with two crutches. After which Easter and feast of Pentecost, for eight days Janna hearing in the aforesaid land of Asti, that Blessed Zita the Virgin had d been sanctified in the city of Lucca, offered prayers to God and the Blessed Mary, and the aforesaid Blessed Zita the Virgin, that they would give and restore health to her, so that she would come to that Blessed Zita in the city of Lucca. With this vow and prayers made by Janna, on the third day next after that vow, Janna felt herself so improved and abandoned by that sickness, that she immediately left one of the crutches which she was using. And afterward within four other days, Janna felt herself more improved and abandoned by that sickness, that she now left the other crutch. And took one e "massiola" (little staff), and with that "massiola" took the journey and way to come to Lucca, to the aforesaid Saint Zita the Virgin. And today saying this, she said, that on the morrow it would be six weeks that she had set out from Asti: and so long it took her to come, no interval having passed in the journey of coming, except one time for three days, in which she stood in that journey sick: and today at the church of Saint Frigidian of Lucca she appeared in the cloister of the aforesaid church the same Janna, saying that by the mercy of God and the aforesaid Blessed Zita the Virgin she was well freed from the aforesaid sickness, before me Faytinellus the Notary and Lord Ugolinus the cloister Prior of the aforesaid church, and Augustine the Deacon of the aforesaid church, and the Priest Jacob of Saint Frigidian of Brancalus, and Rossus, son of the late Bernard the Shoemaker of Lucca, and John son of Disfacciatus Sciatta of Lucca, and others, and John Guidus the Convert of the aforesaid church.
[91] Blancha, wife of Ventura Vitalis of f Mutilianum, of the parish of Saint Stephen, on Tuesday the 16th of the month of August said, Lost grain to someone, that on the morrow fifteen days would be completed; that there had been stolen and taken from her, from a certain chest of hers and her said husband's, which is in a certain g hut of theirs, which is by the bridge del Folle below Mutilianum, four h "staria" of grain and more, and three pounds of pork meat. And immediately Blancha began to i "gridare" (cry out) and weep, and vowed herself to God and Blessed Zita the Virgin, that she would give her a candle of one pound of wax, if she should have back the aforesaid grain and meat. And immediately the vow being made, the will came to her to go to a hut, in which she believed she would find the aforesaid things. And she went to that hut, which is of a certain neighbor of hers, and searched for the aforesaid in the said hut, and did not find them there: and there near that hut she saw a haystack, in which haystack she thought they could be. And she went immediately on the aforesaid day to that haystack, and there in that haystack she found the aforesaid grain and meat in two sacks, one of which sacks had been Blancha's. And Blancha immediately recovered that grain and meat, and carried it to her hut, by the mercy of God and the aforesaid Virgin. And so she said before me the Notary, and Lord Thomas and Lord Garcia the Canon, and Friar Jacob of the aforesaid church, and Bonamicus the Convert of the aforesaid church, and Rassalinus the nuntius and servant of the chamber of the Lucca commune.
[92] She heals one bitten by a serpent, Lucia, wife of Jacob of Guillianus of the parish of Turris, on Saturday the 20th day of the month of August, said, that on the last past Thursday eight days would be completed, that a serpent bit her on the heel and k "garetto" (ankle) of her right leg, and she immediately was all swollen. And she remembered Blessed Zita the Virgin, and her power and mercy: and immediately invoked the aid and mercy of that Virgin, to help her. And she said, that because of that swelling, she had fallen to the ground and lost her speech, wherefore
her husband and her friends came into the forest, where she was lying bitten and swollen, for Lucia; and they carried her in a certain l sheet to her home: and that on the following Friday by the mercy of God and the aforesaid Virgin her swelling and pain decreased, for the greatest part receded; except that the swelling of the aforesaid leg did not decrease entirely. And that on the next coming Wednesday Lucia vowed herself to God and the aforesaid Virgin, that, if she should restore health to her and free her from the aforesaid bite and swelling, she would come and bring back to the Virgin with reverence a leg of wax. m And she therefore came today to the Virgin, with that leg of wax, and today by the mercy of God and the aforesaid Virgin said, that she was entirely freed. The aforesaid Jacob on the same day said, that he with his friends had seen his wife in the aforesaid forest at his house swollen and bitten, as the same Lucia said above.
[93] and one bitten by a wolf, Moltocara of Monte-Falcone, daughter of the late Guidaloctus, on Monday the 29th of the month of August said, that when yesterday evening she was at Capannori lodged, with Bonannus and Contessa his mother, on the occasion that she was to help them and n "thresh" millet, and make their other labors; yesterday evening near the first sleep, when she was o near the stairs by the entrance of the courtyard of the aforesaid Bonannus and Contessa; then there came to that Moltocara a very great wolf, and straight threw himself at the back of Moltocara, and with his teeth bit her on the throat on the right side, and on that throat the wolf gave to that woman six [p] "dentatas" (bites): which bites I the Notary and the undermentioned witnesses saw. And immediately the woman had God and Blessed Zita the Virgin in mind, and called upon their aid: and immediately the wolf let go of the woman, by the mercy of God and the Blessed Virgin Zita: and people after her immediately ran together, to seize the wolf, and the wolf fled. And so the woman said and showed before me the Notary and Lord Thomas and Lord Garcia, and Lord Leonard the Canons of the aforesaid church, and Jacob the Furrier, son of the late Albertus, and Berullus and others, Friar Salvius of the aforesaid church, and Friar Jacob, Lord of the Hospital of Prato-Vescovo.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER VIII.
The rest of that year with an appendix of the year 1372.
[94] Passavante, son of the late Luchesis of Saint Justus, of Massa Macinaria of Compito, with Cara his wife present and confessing all these things, Saint Zita, invoked, rescues two boys from a wolf, on Thursday the 8th day of the month of September said, that on the feast day of Saint Lawrence last past, a certain wolf came to the house of the same spouses, and then with its paw on the head struck Bonaventura their daughter, and cast her to the ground and made her fall: and that immediately Bonaventura being let go and left by the wolf, the wolf went immediately to Rolentius the little son of the same spouses; and the wolf took Rolentius with his mouth and teeth. And immediately at the noise of the wolf a many people drew and ran, and Contrus, son of Ranuccius, the first cousin and kinsman of that Passavante. And then Contrus following him, asked God and the Blessed Virgin to give that Rolentius the grace that he might be let go by the aforesaid wolf. And that immediately the wolf let go of that boy. And so he said in the presence of the aforesaid Lord Prior and Lord Thomas and Lord Garcia the Canons, and Francesco Gregorii, and me Faytinellus the Notary, and many others.
[95] She frees a demoniac, Hermellina, daughter of Reinerius del Tedesco of Laianus, of the parish of Saint Cassian in Val d'Arno, on Sunday the 11th of the month of September said, that from the third day before the entrance of this last past month of August continuously she had been oppressed and vexed by two demons: one of whom departed from her at the church of Saint Mary del Carmine outside Pisa, and one other demon entered into her at the beaches of Saint Marcus of Pisa: and that today with reverence she came to the aforesaid Blessed Zita the Virgin with her said father and Contessa her mother, being present, and confessing and saying these things. And that, by the mercy of God and the aforesaid Blessed Zita the Virgin, she was freed and made whole: and she said that she was well freed from the aforesaid demons before the aforesaid Virgin today. And so she said before me the Notary and Piero Bactelorus in Aquina of Lucca, son of the late Ventura, and Bectus, son of the late Jacob Alberghi, and Rustichellus Bactelorus, son of the late Martin, and Rachierus the Barber of Lucca, and others.
[96] Maria of Senso, daughter of the late William of Grie of Burgundy, on Monday b the 17th day of the month of October, She restores sight to a blind woman, said, that it was now four months, that while she was blind in both eyes, so that she entirely lacked light, and contracted in her left leg and foot with the thigh (in which eyes she had been blind for three and a half years, and contracted for six years); she with great devotion to Blessed Zita the Virgin, whom she had understood in her said land to have been sanctified in the city of Lucca, undertook the journey with a certain woman, who was giving her guidance: being found by her with one crutch, and one staff (massia) in her hands, leaning on them: because without that crutch and staff she could walk in no way. And coming with that woman, by name Lady Gilia the c Laundress, to that Virgin at Lucca (today it was nineteen days), by the mercy of God and the aforesaid blessed Virgin she recovered and obtained, in coming to Lucca, the sight of both eyes: and saw clearly on that d "viagio" (journey), and from those said nineteen days: and now she sees clearly and well, and knows and sees all things well. And she also said, that (on the last past Saturday it was eight days) she came to the city of Lucca, and for about those ten days she was daily present in the church of Saint Frigidian before the aforesaid blessed Virgin Zita the blessed, with the aforesaid crutch and staff, contracted in the said leg and foot and thigh, with prayer and devotion beseeching God and the blessed Virgin, to give and restore to her health in that foot and leg and thigh. And that today standing so before the aforesaid Virgin, before also many persons present assisting her, by the mercy of God and the aforesaid Blessed Virgin Zita, she was freed and made whole of that leg and foot and thigh. And the same Maria said, that she was well and entirely freed and made whole of the said eyes and said leg, before me Faytinellus the Notary and the undermentioned witnesses, namely Lord Thomas the Canon of the aforesaid church, and Bacciomeus, son of the late Flaminius the innkeeper of Lucca, who said that today he had seen the aforesaid Maria so contracted to the Virgin with crutch and staff, and that otherwise she could not walk, and that today he saw her whole and freed from the aforesaid leg. And before Salnuccius, son of the late Glandolfinus of Lucca, and Bartholomew Anguilla, and Spalla Ugharelli, and Jacob Glandolfinus and others. Which aforesaid Maria moreover on the following Wednesday the 19th of the aforesaid month of October before Bectus, son of the late Salomon Malpillius, and others, swore corporally that all the aforesaid was and had been so true.
[97] Vavasinus son of the late Bonafides, cutter and e tailor of cloths of Genoa, likewise to another, of the contrata and square of Saint George, on Wednesday the 19th of the month of October, corporally swore and said, that Tomasinus his son had been blind, and lacked light in both eyes for sixteen months, except for four months as indicated. And that Vavasinus understanding, and Dalfina his wife, that in the city of Lucca a certain blessed Virgin, by name Saint Zita, had been sanctified, immediately his wife, having faith and devotion in that Virgin, vowed herself and her son Tomasinus to God and the aforesaid blessed Virgin, that, if her son should have back and recover his sight, and be freed from that sickness, she would for all that year fast every Wednesday, and that she
would send her son to Lucca before the Virgin, to give praise and thanks to the Virgin. With this vow thus made by his aforesaid wife, immediately the following day the said Tomasinus his son, by the mercy of God and the aforesaid blessed Virgin, was freed, and saw clearly with both eyes. And so he is now freed, and sees all things clearly. And the same Vavasinus said and swore, that his son from the said vow made, as has been said, always saw well and was freed: and that therefore he had brought his son to Lucca before that blessed Virgin. Which Tomasinus I and the undermentioned witnesses saw well freed entirely, before me the Notary and Lord Tomasius the Canon of the aforesaid church, and Lombardus, son of the late Jacob of Lucca, and Philip son of Aldobrandus Guicciardi of Lucca, and Tingus Bactelorius of Lucca, son of the late Datus Continghi. And the same Vavasinus said, that Sangutus the Stactiarius of the gate of Saint Donatus and his brother know of the sickness of the aforesaid Tomasinus and his liberation, and many others.
[98] Jacobina, wife of Bonajuncta the Furrier, She heals one suffering from arthritis, of Saint Martin in Guasso longo of the city of Pisa, and daughter of the late Rodolphinus Bursarius, in the year 1279 on the 10th day of the month of January, corporally swore upon the holy Gospels of God and by her oath said, that about twenty-four years it could be, that she had continuously been oppressed with many infirmities of gouts in her whole person; so that many times she had such a great f "sollectio" (fainting/swoon) for long times, that she was almost dying: so much did that "sollectio" hold and oppress her, that all people seeing her judged her as dead. And she said, that this past year in summer, near the feast of the Ascension of the Lord, when the aforesaid Blessed Zita the Virgin had been sanctified in the city of Lucca, she vowed herself to God and the aforesaid, to come to Lucca to her body to her praise, and to give her praises and thanks, if she should restore health to her. And then also with great reverence she made many prayers to that Virgin, that she would restore health to her: and afterward immediately the Lord and the aforesaid Blessed Zita the Virgin restored health to that Jacobina. And she therefore today came to Lucca to the aforesaid church of Saint Frigidian to give thanks, and gives to that Virgin for such a great miracle and benefit, which that Virgin did in her. Which Jacobina said that she was freed from the aforesaid infirmities by the mercy of God and the aforesaid Blessed Zita the Virgin, before the aforesaid Lord Prior of the aforesaid church, and Lord Garcia and Lord Tomasius the Canons of that church, and Lord Jacob, and Lord Gerardinus Maurini, and Rainuccius Bernardi and others. Bartholomaea, Convert of the church and monastery of Saint Quirinus in Casale, sister of the aforesaid Jacobina, on the same day by her oath said upon her faith, that she had many times seen the aforesaid Jacobina infirm from the aforesaid infirmities and gouts within the time of twenty-four years, and even from the last past summer, and that from that summer the same Jacobina was freed therefrom, by the mercy of God and the aforesaid Virgin: and so she said, that she saw her infirm, and afterward and now sees her freed.
[99] In the name of the Lord: amen. In the year of the Lord 1372, g Indiction 10, on the 20th day of April, Perilus Barbatacci of h Bonifacio, Antonius Massa of the said place, Antoninus called di Fra Pasquale, She rescues those sailing from a storm, Antoninus, son of the late Confortini of the said place, Opisinus del Taglia of the said place, and Francis, son of the late Frustanus of the said place, sailing from Corsica toward Pisa, with a strong sea tempest pressing in, so that they were almost in peril, on the 22nd day of March of the present year, the names of God and of the Virgin His Mother and also of the glorious and blessed Zita being invoked, whose body rests in the church of Saint Frigidian of Lucca, obtained the port of safety, with Him providing, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Who swore upon the holy Gospels of God, the Scriptures being touched, that it was so true. Enacted at Lucca in the cloister of the aforesaid Saint Frigidian, in the presence of the Priest Francis, son of Dominicus of Lucca, Jacobellus, son of the late Lord Poccibonsi, Jacob Michaelis of Lucca, and all the other Canons of the said monastery of Saint Frigidian, and me the undermentioned Notary as witnesses called to the aforesaid. Amen.
ANNOTATIONS.
ON BLESSED JAMES, OF THE ORDER OF MINOR OBSERVANTS OF SAINT FRANCIS,
AT BITETTO IN APULIA.
YEAR 1485.
PrefaceJames, of the Order of Friars Minor, at Bitetto in Apulia (Blessed)
D. P.
Bitetto, a small, but from the very times of Pope Alexander III an episcopal city, in Apulia under the Metropolitan of Bari, and distant from it by nine thousand paces, deserves to be celebrated in this work on the Saints for no other reason more than for the incorrupt body of Blessed James, an Illyrian or Dalmatian, commonly called "of Slavonia," and by a more usual cognomen now "of Bitetto." Of him thus writes Francesco Gonzaga, folio 401, where he comes to the 9th convent erected in the province of Saint Nicholas: "Having entered on the way of all flesh, The Blessed One shone long ago with miracles, Blessed Friar James found honorable burial in this place: who without doubt living was endowed with most holy manners and every kind of virtue, and dead has shone and shines with innumerable miracles: whose venerable body, although now for a hundred years lifeless, still remains whole, unrotted, and entirely incorrupt, as is professed by all who approach it for the sake of veneration." So Gonzaga in his work on the origin of the Seraphic Franciscan Religion, published about the year 1587, at least much before the year 1629, concerning whom in 1629 a process was formed: when before Michael, Bishop of Bitetto, formerly Master General of the Conventual Franciscans, a public process was instituted concerning miracles, the fame of sanctity, and perpetual cult.
[2] The first indication of this process was made to us by a little book published in Italian on this subject, printed at Lecce in the year 1642, by the author Francesco da Secli, the Minister Provincial of the Reformed Observant Minors: which being almost entirely taken from the said process, and sent to us by Father Ignatius Zaccaria, long Rector of our College of Bari: who then, having understood our desire to have the Process itself, did not rest until by the Most Illustrious Bishop of that place Gaspar Toralto, a mandate was issued to the Reverend Don Vito Francesco Vitarello, from which, described for us under public faith, Canon of the Cathedral Church, that he, going himself to the convent of the Friars who were thwarting our just petition with various delays, should extract the original papers from the ark of the sacred body, and in the convent itself transcribe a copy, to be transmitted under public faith: to us, as was done. So laborious it sometimes is, to move men otherwise good and pious, to grant, even when asked, the faculty of describing their own monuments, which they should have done of their own accord even unasked, things which in bringing into the light matter not so much to us as to them.
[3] The authentic Acts are collected, The Process however is prolix, as containing more than sixty notarial instruments, and the answers of nineteen sworn witnesses, to the nine heads of the interrogatory proposed singly one by one, mostly in the Italian language, mixed with the Latin formulas of the Notaries. From these faithfully translated and aptly coordinated, we have composed Acts, as far as possible authentic and divided into six chapters: in which, since the cult and title of the Blessed is clearly explained, legitimately confirmed for James, there is no need for a long preface to prove either. Yet it is useful to produce a part of the letter, which the aforementioned Father Ignatius, departing from his Rectorate at Bari, wrote from Naples on May 8, 1667: "Before I should depart from Apulia, A recent testimony of the incorrupt body, I wished to go to Bitetto, that I might see with my eyes, and touch with my hands, the venerable body of Blessed James, which is most honorably preserved in a wooden chest elegantly worked, adorned with silver plates, and transparent with crystals aptly arranged: which stands within his chapel above the altar, at which I celebrated Mass: then I ascended it, and the chest being opened I reverently touched and kissed that sacred deposit. That body lies in a silk habit of ashen color: the eyes and nose have withered: but the arms, breast, and legs remain not only whole but more vigorous: the ears are extant, but dry: the hands and feet whole, with the fingers and joints, still movable. Certainly not without the greatest consolation of spirit I both saw and handled and kissed that blessed deposit."
[4] When the process was compiled, about 145 years had passed since the death of the Saint, and thus he departed hence to heaven about the year 1485. He was certainly still alive when Ferdinand King of Aragon avenged the defection of the Neapolitan Nobles with a notable perfidy, He died about the year 1485. by raging against individuals, whom he had seemed to receive all into favor: this event Odorico Raynaldo assigns to the year 1485 in his Ecclesiastical Annals: yet a part of this tragedy may have been acted in the preceding year and the Blessed then have died. On which day, none of the witnesses produced for examination remembers: nor is there any indication in the Italian book of any determined day, which was specially dedicated to the cult of that Blessed. Arthur, in his Franciscan Martyrology marking the day April 27, is however suspect to us, lest he did not find this date defined by the people of Bitetto, on which day it is unknown. but read it by his own judgment and authority; yet because a longer delay of investigation is not permitted by the rapid press, we retain the day however noted, the more willingly because we think that it is not to be changed by the sacred Congregation of Rites, if at any time it should happen that the same decree a proper feast and office for this James of whom we treat, all the other distinctive marks of the Blessed being already without contradiction
and indeed with approbation possessed.
[5] Now it is worthwhile to explain how sweetly from time to time there comes to the aid of this work, in promoting it, the benevolence, as we believe, of the Saints themselves. To one seeking certain things about the saints of Gubbio, A similar process on Blessed Benvenutus is expected for June 27, the notice from Arthur's Martyrology on June 27 of Blessed Benvenutus had been presented, at Corneto in Apulia, whose miracles (as is said in the Annotations) "by an Apostolic Bull, directed by Pope Gregory IX in the year 1236, were collected, examined, and authenticated by the Bishops of Melfi and Venosa, and meanwhile it was granted by the Pontiff, that in three neighboring dioceses his feast should be celebrated, and the divine office recited for him." These I had written to the already named Father at Bari to obtain: this man gave much effort to find it, but in vain. But concerning Blessed James, better known and nearer to him, about whom we were not yet thinking, he suggested what he knew, and whatever in addition concerning the same was asked, he abundantly provided; nor did he leave us anything more to desire, than that, these things being seen, someone from Melfi or Venosa should now with similar success labor on the previously desired miracles of Saint Benvenutus, and take care that they be transcribed and transmitted: taught by so near an example, how greatly for establishing the cult of Saints and Blesseds of this kind it avails for their great deeds to be presented for reading in the form we observe and with the faith of the originals themselves.
PROCESS
concerning his holiness and miracles, from the autograph preserved in the chest of his body.
James, of the Order of Friars Minor, at Bitetto in Apulia (Blessed)
FROM THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT.
CHAPTER I.
Preliminary acts of the years 1628 and the following year.
[1] Before Notaries and witnesses, On the 11th day of the month of October, 11th Indiction, 1628, at Bitetto. We, Joseph Rossettus of Bitetto, Royal Judge to contracts; John Gregorius Citula of the same Bitetto, public Notary by Royal and Apostolic authorities; and the undermentioned witnesses, namely the Illustrious and Most Reverend Don Giovanni Battista Vulpis, Canon and Vicar General of the aforesaid city; the Illustrious and Very Reverend Don Giacomo Antonio Ressa, Primicerius of the Cathedral of the same city of Bitetto; the Illustrious and Very Reverend Don Giovanni Francesco de Gianinis, Primicerius and Apostolic Protonotary of the aforesaid Cathedral; and the Reverend Don Matteo Potenserio, likewise Canon of the aforesaid Cathedral. By the present public instrument of election and deputation, we make known to all and testify, the Bishop of Bitetto appearing how there was constituted today on the aforesaid day personally before us and in our presence the Very Illustrious and Most Reverend Lord, Friar Michael Messerottus of Bologna, of the Order of Conventual Minors, Doctor of sacred Theology, by the grace of God and the Apostolic See Bishop of Bitetto, acting for the undermentioned things all and each as Bishop for himself, of his own accord not by force but freely said, that a few days past, namely September 24, there had appeared in his presence the Very Reverend Father Friar John of Corigliano, of the Order of Minors of stricter observance, Provincial Minister in the province and reform of Saint Nicholas; and had set forth, how many years ago had passed from this life Friar James of Dalmatia or of Slavonia, lay brother of the Observant Minors in the convent of Saint Francis of Bitetto, vulgarly called "il Beato Giacomo di Bitetto," through so many miracles and many graces: to take information on the miracles of Blessed James, and lest perhaps the memory of the deeds should perish, had urged the same Most Reverend, that concerning the aforesaid and so many miracles and graces he would take diligent information, and also concerning the ancient veneration and reverence in which he was held, and in which at present he is held by all both citizens of Bitetto and their neighbors; and how his body is preserved whole and incorruptible in the said church and monastery of Saint Francis, as appears in the supplication of the said Very Reverend Father, which is held and preserved in the possession of the said Most Reverend, in nearly the same Italian words which are here expressed in Latin.
[2] Today on the aforesaid day the Most Reverend himself has decreed, for the glory of the Almighty, to proceed to the taking of the said information. In which, since a public Notary is needed, to receive approvals, and to be asked about all acts and matters to be done in this cause, he intends to elect and depute the aforesaid Notary. Wherefore wishing to bring his said deliberation to effect, and to publish it as is fitting, lest in the future any doubt should arise; the Most Reverend himself freely, voluntarily, in every best mode and way, as is permitted to him by law and as Bishop, in our presence the Royal Judge, Notary and witnesses written above, He elects as Notary Lord Bartholomew Russus: by the authority granted to him by the sacred Canons and Councils, elects, deputes and creates as public Notary the Reverend Lord Bartholomew Russus, Canon of the Cathedral of the same city, Apostolic Notary being present, with the faculty of receiving and writing all approvals and depositions of witnesses, to be produced in the aforesaid cause, granting as he granted to the said Reverend Bartholomew the present Notary (accepting with all humility and reverence, as is fitting, the said election and deputation made in his person) all that faculty which by law can be granted to him, to proceed to the effect and cause aforesaid with all truth and rectitude, with all deceit, vice, and cavilling set aside; to which writings and acts to be performed by him there shall be given that faith which by the law and disposition of the sacred Canons and Councils and Apostolic Rites can be given.
[3] The Reverend Don Bartholomew, in our presence and before the Most Reverend, he, sworn, obligates his faith; with the holy Gospels touched, with his breast touched in the manner of Priests, and in the hands and in the possession of the Most Reverend, swore and promised, as he offered himself, to exercise faithfully, freely, and sincerely, with all purity of heart, with every vice, fraud and deceit removed, the election and deputation made of himself; and well to exercise his office in the cause to be carried on, for which he was elected, created, and deputed, and to commit no falsehood nor cause any to be committed, nor to add nor diminish, but to put in writing entire with all truth and justice, to the glory of Almighty God, all the miracles of Blessed Friar James of Dalmatia. And that in the future there may be doubt to no one, the aforesaid Most Reverend Lord Friar Michael the Bishop, as above, requested us, that concerning the aforesaid we should draw up the present public instrument, as we did draw up and stipulated. Whence we &c.
[4] they appear to recommend the same matter, Presently by the Very Reverend Don Giacomo Antonio Ressa, and Giovanni Francesco de Gianinis, the aforementioned Primicerii of the Cathedral church, the supplication of the Reverend Chapter was presented, requesting the same as above from the Most Reverend, according to the conclusion made on the 4th day of October, within the sacristy of the said Cathedral at the sound of the bell in the customary manner, where were present the undermentioned dignities and Canons and before the Reverend Lord Vicar General Giovanni Battista Vulpis: the Reverend Don Giovanni Battista de Alessio the Archdeacon, the Reverend Don Giovanni Battista Gianinis the Archpriest, the Reverend Don Giacomo Ressa the Primicerius, the Reverend Don Giovanni Francesco de Gianinis the Primicerius, the Reverend Don Marcellus Giorgio, the Reverend Don Bartholomew Russus, the Reverend Don Dominic Arboreta, the Reverend Don Francis Antonio Basile, the Reverend Don Giovanni Battista Sanctis, the Reverend Don Francis de Sanctis, the Reverend Don Antonio Andrea Cerendonus, the Reverend Don Antonio de Quirico, the Reverend Don Giuseppe Arboreta, the Reverend Don Flavio Antonio Salassia: of all these the votes, consenting to the aforesaid supplication and deputation of the Primicerii to the aforesaid cause, deputed by the Chapter and Magistrate. may be read in the book of Chapter Conclusions. Similarly supplication was made, on the same 11th of the month of October, by the Magnificent Leonardo Antonio Fumai, the General Syndic; Antonio de Sanctis and Tomasio de Nicolao, the Elected of the University: to which supplication, conceived in nearly the same Italian words as contained in the supplications of the Minister Provincial and of the Chapter, besides the aforesaid Syndic, Doctor of the Art of Medicine, and the two already named deputies, there subscribed Alexander Prior Elect, and Giovanni Donato Arboreta Elect.
[5] [The Procurator of the cause is constituted on behalf of the Order N. A. Taurisanus,] On the 14th day of the month of October, 11th Indiction, 1628, at Bitetto, before us Camillo Pansitanus of Bari, Notary living in Bitetto, and the suitable witnesses, the Reverend Friar John of Corigliano, of the Order of Minors of stricter observance, Minister Provincial in the Province of Saint Nicholas, at present dwelling at Bitetto, freely constituted, ordered, and made as his Procurator, in the name of that Province, with all fullness of power convenient for the undermentioned things, Niccolò Antonio Taurisanus, a Nobleman of Bari, dwelling at Bitetto, absent as if present, to intervene, procure, and act in the name of procurator in the cause of taking information by the Most Reverend Bishop of the city of Bitetto, upon the life, death, and miracles of the late Friar James of Dalmatia, whose body exists in the convent of Saint Francis of the said city of Bitetto, and upon the aforesaid to present whatever writings are necessary and opportune, and to do all acts necessary and incumbent in the aforesaid, and to do all other things individually and to cause them to be done, even to the end of this cause inclusively. While this man, about to instruct the cause, was preparing all things necessary for it, a year passed; and when the matter now had to be acted upon, afterward with another Notary being constituted, in the year 1629 on the 10th day of the month of July, the aforesaid Reverend Lord Bartholomew Russus, the Notary elected for the aforesaid, because he was unable to attend to the aforesaid being detained by other business, and because he often was working under many indispositions, repudiated and released the aforesaid office into the hands of the same Most Reverend Lord Bishop. Therefore, the Most Reverend wishing to provide prudently for the aforesaid, so that further steps might be taken in the cause itself… elected, created, and deputed, and substituted as actuary, John Gregorius Citula being present, Apostolic Notary, with the same authority granted to the aforesaid Reverend Lord Bartholomew. Which Notary into the hands of the said Most Reverend &c. swore &c. as the aforesaid Bartholomew. … And since there was need of a Jurat and Server for taking the said information, and an apparitor being named, who truly, really, in good faith could cite, notify, and inform of any writings, persons, and everything else… the Most Reverend elected, created, and deputed, as Jurat and Server in the said cause Dominic of Jacobellus or of Cola Russus, a woodland Cleric of the diocese of Bitetto, being present and receiving the said office: … who swore &c.
[6] The Procurator produces his instruments, All things being thus arranged before the aforesaid Most Reverend, on the 18th day of the month of July 1629, there appeared Niccolò Antonio, the Procurator as above constituted, and produced several notarial instruments, making faith of various graces and miracles obtained through Blessed James of Dalmatia; petitioning that further they should proceed to take information on similar matters; and produced the articles of the interrogatory, to be proposed to the witnesses to be cited. The rest of this process is therefore a twofold work, so that in the first place are described, as on the same 18th
of July, shown and presented, the notarial instruments almost sixty in number: and witnesses are cited, which we have preferred to defer, to be produced entirely, after the depositions of the nineteen witnesses shall have been reported, answering to the nine heads of the Interrogatory. These however, nineteen in number, the Bishop on the 24th of July ordered to be cited, by the aforenamed Jurat and Server, under penalty of a hundred ducats for each one in case of the contrary… within the precise term of three days. All of whom, found and cited on the same day, Dominic de Jacobello or de Cola Russo, the Woodland Cleric of Bitetto, Server and Jurat deputed and elected in the aforesaid cause, reported.
CHAPTER II.
A list of the witnesses cited and heard.
[7] The witnesses to be examined appear before the Bishop, Witnesses summoned and examined at the instance of the Reverend Father Friar John of Corigliano the Reformed, or of Niccolò Antonio of Taurisano his Procurator, in the cause of proof and verification of the things narrated in their supplication submitted in the Acts, and upon the articles produced in the Acts, upon the verification and proof of the graces and miracles worked through Blessed James of Dalmatia of Bitetto, to the praise and glory of Almighty God, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and Saint Francis etc.
I. On the 6th day of the month of August 1629, in the city of Bitetto and before the Very Illustrious and Most Reverend Lord Friar Michael Messerotti… present and personally existing, the Very Reverend Don Giovanni Battista de Alessio, of whom the first is the Archdeacon of Bitetto, Priest and Archdeacon of the Cathedral church, about 66 years old, as he said and appears from his aspect, a witness cited and sworn, as he swore, touching the Scriptures, to tell the truth concerning those things about which he would be questioned, and upon the articles produced by Reverend Friar John of Corigliano the Reformed or by Niccolò Antonio of Taurisano his procurator. Being asked how the same witness is found in the presence of the Most Reverend Lord Bishop and for what purpose, he answered: I am here, having been cited some days ago: and I have come to make obedience, and to tell the truth of what I know. Which was the same answer of all the following to this preliminary question. Being asked whether he is familiar with the church of Saint Francis of this city outside the walls, he answered: As much as anyone of the city, both because I often went there for my particular devotion, and because I have the cord of Saint Francis, and finally because in the said monastery I possess a chapel under the title of the Glorious Virgin presented in the temple.
II. On the 2nd day of the month of October, the Very Reverend Don Giovanni Battista de Gianinis the Archpriest, the second the Archpriest, about 61 years old… being asked whether he knew upon what fact he could depose, and whether anything had been suggested to him, he answered: I am not one who would allow anything to be suggested to me: but I have come absolutely to tell the truth. This second preliminary question was henceforth asked of all, and all similarly answered, either that they did not know for what especially they had been summoned, or that they had understood this only when they entered the Episcopal Palace. The same being asked whether he was familiar with the church of Saint Francis, answered: Yes indeed, I am most familiar with that church, which is about a third of a mile from the walls of the city: and for some hundreds a of years, as far as I know, there were the Minor Observant Friars of Saint Francis; but now for four b years there have dwelt there the Reformed Fathers of the same Religion. For the cause of his knowledge he said, because he knows, has seen, and has heard from many old men, and has been present. Which same answer of many others was given to this third preliminary question.
III. On the same day, the Cleric Geronimo Ferro of Bitetto, about 86 years old… Being asked if he knew that in the said church there was a certain body, which was venerated there by the Christian people, and how he knew, he answered, "I know it very well, who together with all the others first answered to the 4 questions: from the time I could discern between good and evil: and that body I always heard named the body of Blessed James of Slavonia; it was enclosed within a crystal or wooden case: and that same body has always been held and treated, as even today it is held and treated, with great veneration and devotion, as that of a holy man, as was the aforesaid Blessed James. This veneration and devotion I always heard existed before this, as it is today, not only in this city, but also in all the surrounding area, with a multitude of citizens and country folk flocking to honor him: and so I have heard from my elders before me." This is the fourth preliminary question proposed to all, who similarly and in the same sense all, some more prolix, others more briefly, answered: some also in the cause of their knowledge alleged partly those things which in the year 1585 were done under Bishop Cesare Arenio, according to the instrument to be proposed in number 12, in the doing of which they themselves as Episcopal secretaries had been present, as the first two witnesses; partly they added some grace obtained for themselves or their own upon the invocation of the Blessed, and the same attested either by a votive tablet at the tomb, or by a public instrument drawn up by them.
IV. On the same day, the Very Reverend Don Giovanni Battista de Vulpis, having attested to his special devotion toward the Blessed, Priest and Canon of the Cathedral, of the same city of Bitetto, about 34 years old, was accustomed frequently to go to the church of Saint Francis out of his devotion (which was also for most others the cause of the knowledge which they professed to have concerning the said church); being asked about the body that was there, he answered: Many times I have seen it out of my devotion, because I have Blessed James as the protector of myself and all my family, and in all my life I have been most devoutly affected toward him: which was common to this witness with many others, and namely with witnesses X, XI, XIV. This moreover is the one who attested to a miracle performed in his own healing in the year 1621 through an instrument, which was found inserted in the original process, folio 37, and which will be placed below in number 44.
and graces received from him, V. On the 8th day of the month of October, the Reverend Don Alexander Panecottus, Priest and Canon of the Cathedral Church of Bitetto, about 30 years old; being asked about the body, added that his crystal case stood in the chapel next to the chapel of Saint Anthony of Padua. And professing also that in past years he had been healed from a grave infirmity, he recognized the public instrument on the matter, inserted folio 33, as will be given below in number 34.
VI. On the same day, Geronimo Contessa of Bitetto, about 76 years old: who also referred himself to the public faith, which he recognized as registered on folio 56, in testimony of the ancient and continuous cult of Blessed James, at Bitetto on July 16, 1627 before witnesses and a Notary.
VII. On the same day, Giovanni Romano de Cristofaro, a Woodland Cleric and Master tailor, about 63 years old, recognized that he himself too had had health restored by the benefit of Blessed James, as is found folio 29 and below will be found number 29.
VIII. On October 9, Don Donato Antonio de Gianinis, Priest of the Cathedral church of Bitetto, about 26 years old, recognized the grace done to him and described on folio 50, by us below number 55.
IX. On the same day, Don Bernardino dello Melone, Priest of the Cathedral church, about 30 years old… when the church of Saint Francis was still held by the Friars Zoccolanti of the Minor observance, likewise the relics customarily distributed, he had been their procurator and helper in receiving the rents and other revenues; he deposed that the said Friars used to distribute particles of the habit with which the body of Blessed James was clothed, for the devotion of the faithful: whence he also receiving in past years had reported his healing, according to the instrument described folio 28 and below number 40.
X. On the 12th day of the month of October, the Noble Eleonora c Calo, widow of the late Francesco Antonio de Vulpis, a noble of Bitetto, about 55 years old, testified that the chapel in which the body of Blessed James is honored pertained to her, that is to her husband's family, which she was accustomed frequently to go with the company of other matrons. And she narrated, said she, that a certain grandmother d of mine, long since deceased, who said she had heard from her elders, prophecies familiar to the Blessed, that Blessed James was not only esteemed a saint after his death, but also in life: inasmuch as he, serving as a lay brother in the said convent, whenever having gone out from the house to seek alms through the city, if he saw some sick person, and said to him that he would be restored to health, he was restored; but if he said he would die, the prophecy was fulfilled: whence I also, when my husband was gravely infirm to the point of death, devoted myself to Blessed James, and gave thanks for the grace: which she soon recognized as presented in writing on folio 31 and below number 24.
XI. On the same day Jacoba de Mastro, otherwise de Buccarino, widow of the late Giovanni Battista de Notaro Angelillo, about 54 years old, among other things answered to the preliminary questions: "A certain grandmother of mine used to say, narrating it herself from the mouth of her mother who had known the Blessed while living, that when he went through the city for the sake of alms, women came to him with their sick sons, saying, 'See, Friar James, how my sick son is.' And the Blessed answered, 'Go, lady, he will recover.' especially concerning the sick about to die or to recover, And so he was recovered at once, when he only touched their face. And likewise other women offered their sick sons, asking whether they would recover; but he would reply, 'Go, my lady, because he will soon go to paradise.' Which happened infallibly, and for the most part on the following day the sick would die. And my grandmother's mother narrated that the same Blessed James was often seen raised up from the ground, when he was making prayer in a little chapel near the monastery, which today is called the chapel of Blessed James: and at the same time the bells of the monastery gave sound, no one pulling them. and several other things proving his sanctity: The same things are found attested, in answer to the first article of those to be proposed below, by Witness 1; and to the seventh article, by several others. The aforesaid Witness XI also added, "I out of devotion to the Blessed am called Jacoba, and I placed his name on my son Don Giacomo Antonio, a Priest: and a certain brother of mine is called James, and a certain niece of mine likewise Jacoba: and whenever children are born from my kinsmen, I exhort that they put upon them the name of James. When my aforesaid son fell into sickness, I obtained his healing through him, according to the instrument drawn up on this, which she recognized written on folio 34 and below number 60."
XII. On the 20th day of the month of October, Laura de Castore, wife of Angelo de Leone, of Bitetto, about 50 years old, concerning her son similarly healed, confirmed the faith of
the instrument drawn up on him publicly and written on folio 51, for us number 28.
and instruments drawn up on them: XIII. On the same day, Giovanni Antonio de Rosa of Bitetto, about 45 years old, a witness of a grace done to himself after being given up by physicians, written on folio 48 and number 65.
XIV. On the same day Giovannella de Malderis, widow of the late Niccolò Antonio Azuoli her husband, about 50 years old, confirmed the gracious liberation of her husband and son from Moorish captivity, written folio 46 and number 49.
XV. On the 22nd of the same month of October, Margherita de Scaraggio, wife of Marzullus de Rizzo, about 40 years old, whose infirm healing is found folio 61 and number 68.
XVI. On the same day Angela of Donato Antonio Capani, wife of Francesco Antonio de Pietro-grande, about 28 years old, who, according to the instrument noted folio 47 number 55, had obtained healing for her husband in previous years.
XVII. On the same day Angela of Rutilianum, wife of Giacomo de Meduneus, about 38 years old, who professed that she had preserved the life of her husband, who was to be killed by soldiers, through a vow made to the Blessed, as written folio 26 number 39.
XVIII. On the 24th of the month of October, the Noble Caterina Cornaro of Bitetto, about 50 years old, by attesting confirmed the grace done to her sick kinsman, as also the last feasts did, as was found on folio 49 and below will be found at number 51.
XIX. On the same day the Noble Isabella de Julianis, widow of the late Doctor in Surgery, Giovanni Donato Donella, about 72 years old, reported herself the benefit obtained through the invocation of Blessed James, concerning which she recognized the public instrument drawn up and described on folio 24 of the Process: which benefit, since it is older than all to be referred afterward, it is well to propose here, so that tedium may be consulted, easily taken from the bare recitation of so many names. having professed that Blessed James, having been invoked by her, The instrument is such: "I make faith to whoever shall see these things, within or outside judgment, that when I, Isabella de Julianis, about 33 years ago, being in virginity under the power of my father Antonino de Julianis, a marriage was treated and concluded between me and the late Doctor Vito Coce of the Maxima family. When the nuptial pacts were concluded, some difficulties arose between my father and the said Doctor, so that all things seemed to have come to nothing. Matters being brought to that point, and remaining in that state for two years, I was mourning, destitute of the hope of marriage, nor did I seek solace anywhere except with God and His Saints through frequent prayers. It happened at length that a certain Livia Calo, now deceased, speaking to me, said, that if I wished to obtain some grace from God, I should be devoted to Blessed James of Bitetto; and through twenty-five days I should recite to him the Lord's Prayer with the angelic salutation twenty-five times: for she had herself seen a miracle performed at his invocation. I obeyed the counsel: having restored her long-despaired-of marriage, and while I was doing this, it seemed to me on a certain night, that I was praying in the chapel of the Blessed, with a certain other Friar, and saying, 'My Blessed James, do for me the grace which I desire': but he seemed to answer, that I had already received it. Meanwhile wakened and frightened, I reported all to my mother, then still living, who answered, 'Trust in God, daughter, that it will be so.' On that same day came a messenger sent by the aforementioned Doctor, bearing a letter to my father, by which he signified, that he altogether wished to have me as his bride, so let the nuptials be prepared, to be celebrated within twenty days. reconciled it. Nothing was less hoped for then by our family. I indeed from that marriage also bore sons, and with my late husband I gave all this success as owed to Blessed James, and made this manifest to all my household. From that time Blessed James was the special Patron of me and my family, in faith of which things I have here signed the sign of the Cross, not knowing how to write myself, at Bitetto, February 10, 1626, and that before Antonio Leone the Notary attesting, that it was written by the order and will and in the presence of the above-written Isabella de Julianis."
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER III.
The answers of the witnesses to the nine articles proposed to them.
[8] The witnesses affirm, These articles Niccolò Antonio Taurisano of Bari, Procurator of the Reverend Friar John of Corigliano, of the Minor observance reformed, in the province and reform called of Saint Nicholas, Minister, gives and exhibits, for the end and effect of verifying the things narrated in his supplication, submitted on September 24, 1628, before the Very Illustrious and Most Reverend Lord Bishop Messerotti, for having the truth of the miracles and graces worked and done by the Almighty God the best and greatest, at the intercession of Friar James of Dalmatia, formerly a lay brother of the Minor observance, deceased in the monastery of Saint Francis of Bitetto, for the future memory of the matter, concerning which he petitions that witnesses be received and diligently examined. The articles are in all nine, proposed to all and each of the above-named, after the four preliminary questions, similarly made to all and each: which articles we so propose, that to each the answers of each be gathered, with the words of one or another embracing the opinion of the others, differing in nothing in substance, except where something to be noted peculiarly occurs.
[9] First it is set forth and assumed to be proven, that about 145 years ago the said Friar James of Dalmatia, personally present, a a lay brother of the Minor Observants, That Blessed James lived and died at Bitetto, dwelt in the monastery of Saint Francis of Bitetto, and indeed for many years, together with the other Friars of the said monastery: in which monastery he afterward died, and his body was buried in one of the sepulchers of that church, in which lay brothers were customarily buried: which was and is true by public voice and fame. Upon which first article, when it had been well heard by him word for word as it stood, Witness I being questioned answered affirmatively, as he had heard from his elders; who themselves also said they had heard from their elders: adding the same things concerning the raptures of the Blessed and the bells sounding of themselves, which we gave above from the mouth of Jacoba de Mastro, Witness XI.
[10] Witness III on the same first article being questioned answered affirmatively and added, "I remember very well, that when I was a young man, a certain Friar of the aforesaid Religion told me, who dwelt in the aforesaid monastery, Friar Geronimo of Bitetto by name, ninety years old, that he had dwelt there with the same Friar James: whom he said was a lay brother by profession, and that there with great virtue, and was a great servant of God in virtue, and that he himself had seen him praying in a little chapel nearby lifted from the ground, and had often heard the bells sounding of themselves while he prayed. And at the time when the Lord of this city was Giovanni Geronimo Freccia (it is about sixty years), he often told me that a certain uncle of his, who dwelt in the court of the Duke b of Atri, when the rebellion of the Barons in this kingdom was stirred up, had been personally present when the aforesaid Duke, being pursued by the King of Naples, came c to commend himself to the prayers of Blessed James, lest the King should order him to be beheaded, and shone with the prophetic spirit: as he had ordered to be done to the other rebel Barons. James answered that he should go freely: because not only was the King going to do him no harm, but he was also going to receive him with the greatest honor: and he himself on returning to Naples would find his Duchess wife having d given birth to male offspring: both of which came to pass, because the King when the Duke came to him even condescended to embrace him, and restored all his goods; and the Duke returning home found his son had been born to him. Witness I said the same in answering to one of the following articles.
[11] The body after 20 years incorrupt It is set forth and assumed to be proven secondly that the body of Blessed James buried in the sepulcher named in the first article, remained there for twenty continuous years; and afterward when on the occasion of another lay brother being buried there the sepulcher was opened, the body was found, and all the bystanders saw it incorrupt as it truly was; and therefore being taken out from thence, it was translated above the altar on which Mass was said, was translated to the altar; and so remained until the year 1585, e as public voice and fame testifies. This article all the witnesses affirmed, as heard everywhere from the older citizens. But Witness VI by name alleged a certain Antonio Lupi of Grumo, who had said that he had been present at the elevating of the body. III. It is set forth that the said body was held in the greatest veneration and devotion by all the people of Bitetto and by all its neighbors: and held in the greatest veneration, yet in the year 1585 it had been written to Rome by him who was then Bishop, Cesare Arenius, a Lucchese noble, what should be done with that body: and that the Lord Cardinals of the sacred Congregation of Rites answered, that he should see to it being removed from the altar on which Mass was celebrated, and transferred to a more remote place, but nevertheless preserved in the same veneration: which by the Bishop and the Friars had been committed to execution, and the translation made into a place contiguous to the chapel of Saint Anthony of Padua, within the same church, where the body at present rests: which was and is true.
[12] f This third article is confirmed not only by the others, who had heard from others or had been present at the translation, and by name by Witnesses I and II, who in this cause had written letters to Rome, as Episcopal secretaries: but also a special instrument was exhibited drawn up by the said first witness on July 16, 1627, that the new Bishop in 1587, and now found folio 58 and recognized by him, but by us to be omitted for brevity's sake. Indeed there was found and produced the Bishop's own executorial mandate in this form: "Cesare Arenius of Lucca, by the grace of God and the Apostolic See Bishop of Bitetto and in the present business specially delegated, by virtue of the letters of the Most Illustrious and Most Reverend Lord Cardinal g de Sans, Prefect of the sacred Congregation, to the couriers, nuntii, and our servants, or to those of any other curias, for the undermentioned
to be required in solidum, we signify, commit, and command; therefore, that for months and days not long past, on the 10th day of the last past month of June 1586, we received letters from the aforementioned Illustrious and Reverend Lord Cardinal, by the mandate of the Congregation of Rites, concerning the body of Blessed James, to be put back in its place, and to be taken away from the altar of the chapel of Saint John the Baptist in the church of the monastery of Saint Francis outside the walls of Bitetto of the Order of Minor Observants, in which it now is; and we showed these letters to the venerable Father Antonio of Forenza at present Guardian, the Vicar, and other Friars of the said monastery, and gave them a copy of them, and often and often warned them orally, that they should put back that blessed Body, with all reverence and veneration that is fitting, in its proper place, which so far they refuse to do, and refuse to obey our commands given orally as above.
[13] Wherefore we by the virtue of the said letters (whose tenor, inserted in the Italian language in the Episcopal mandate, is here omitted, indicating that the reason of the mandate is alleged, that it is presupposed the said Body was placed on the altar, without any authentic writing, from the simple tradition of the fame of the good life led by that holy man, which without express canonization today h does not suffice.)… we say, commit, and command you … who of you shall be required, that he personally go to the presence of the aforesaid Father Antonio de la Forenza etc. and enjoin and command them and each of them; as by the tenor of the present letters it is commanded and enjoined, that by virtue of holy obedience and under the pain of excommunication latae sententiae and other ecclesiastical censures, he ordered to be removed from the altar, within the space of thirty days from the notification of the present to run and to be counted (of which ten we assign for the first, ten for the second, and the remaining ten for the third and final term to them and each of them in solidum), that with effect, all delay and cavilling being set aside, they shall and ought to return and replace the same blessed Body to the place in which it had been placed before it was taken away by them and the other Fathers of the monastery, with all the veneration and reverence which is fitting, in the form of the internal order preserved. Given at Bitetto from our Episcopal palace of our usual residence, on the 29th day of December 1587.
Cesare the Bishop. ✠
[14] to the place of first burial, By the force of this mandate the sacred body had to be replaced within the place of the common burial, from which it was argued to have been taken out without competent faculty, at least such that could be proved either by writing or by the faith of witnesses. But because the Blessed himself had died about the year 1484, and his body had been extracted from the common sepulcher about the year 1555, the Friars seemed to have a just excuse for not obeying, because of the space of 84 continuous years, during which without any contradiction of anyone the body had stood exposed upon the altar, with the license, as they reasonably presumed, of him who was then Bishop Vincenzo Pistacchio, although neither by writing nor by witnesses did it appear, because of the long time. And so although Julius Bernardini of Minervino on the 29th day of December, as is had in the Acts, going to the said monastery, having notified the Guardian and the Friars dwelling there (these are named in all nine) the Episcopal mandate before witnesses called to it, or at least in the sacristy, nothing was accomplished, and so on the 9th day of the following January there appeared the Reverend Don Filippo de Insella, Fiscal Procurator, and accused the first contumacy against the above-written venerable Father Antonio della Forenza and his i Friars.
[15] Obedience had therefore finally to be rendered, and the sacred body was brought to the Sacristy: where it did not remain unhonored for long, with God accepting the innocence of the Friars, destitute of fitting testimony, and defending the honor of His Blessed against the Bishop, moved by zeal too precipitous, as appears from the authentic instrument of Friar Stefano of Bitonto, about the year 1613 Guardian in the convent of Bitetto, part of which will be given below in number 31, the other part is this: but with the Bishop divinely punished, "I have heard it said by public voice and fame, that when the new Bishop came into the city of Bitetto, a few days afterward coming to the convent and finding the body placed upon the altar, he asked of the Friars whether they had license for this; but they answering that without any other license which they could prove it had been done so, because of the great devotion and the concourse of people, he ordered it to be taken away thence to the sacristy. But after some time it happened that the Bishop sent friends to meet his brother coming to Bitetto, and himself ascended to a certain balcony to see the cavalcade: but it is said by ancient tradition, and it is public voice and fame, that miraculously a stone fell upon the head of the Bishop (although it did not appear from where into such a place, and healed through the Blessed, where nothing was higher, it could have fallen) with grave blow and wound; whence when he had lain sick for some days, it was said to his brother through a vision that the Bishop would be healed, if he would devote himself to Blessed James: and this being done and the grace obtained, the Bishop wrote to Rome to the sacred Congregation, and obtained license, that the said body be kept in a crystal chest with public veneration, it is again exposed to public cult. four palms raised above the ground; as it is now kept, where among other votive offerings even that stone itself is seen hanging up. k" So he: with whom also agrees and declares certain things pertaining hereto the instrument of the Bishop of Bitonto noted toward the end of the present process, whose tenor from Italian in Latin is this.
[16] as the Bishop of Bitonto attests, We Fabrizio Carafa, by the grace of God and the Apostolic See Bishop of Bitonto, make full and undoubted faith to all, before whom these things shall be presented outside or within judgment, that when Don Francesco Carafa and Donna Giovanna de Cardines, legitimate spouses, were living, my father and mother, Marquis and Marchioness of the city of Bitetto, they often told me that having obtained the lordship of the said city, in the church of Saint Francis there with the Franciscan Zoccolante Fathers they found the body of Blessed James, inside a Venetian case, badly kept. Wherefore our said mother, out of her devotion, wished to adorn the aforesaid body in another more eminent place, where with greater veneration, as today l is seen, it should be preserved. Doing this she was impeded by the Bishop of that time, called Lord Arenius. But when at the same time a stone had fallen upon his head, and had brought him a great peril of life; the Bishop himself invoked the name of Blessed James, whose mother had caused a new case to be made. and feeling himself soon freed, immediately commanded to the aforesaid Lady mother, that whatever she had designated in her mind for her devotion and the exaltation of the Saint, she should freely carry out. And so a gilded and crystal case was made, in which with the greatest veneration of all it now lies. My mother also said, that it had been in similar veneration with all before the aforesaid Lords of the said city, not only with the people of Bitetto, but with nearly all the inhabitants of the province of Bari, running from wherever, for obtaining for themselves and their own health, because of the frequent graces made by God to those invoking the said Blessed. And these things my Lord father and mother told me for about 35 years, as they had both themselves seen and heard from others their elders. In faith of which and at the instance of the devotees of the Blessed himself, we have confirmed the present Instrument with the subscription of our hand and the impression of our seal, at Bitonto March 14, 1630.
Us, Friar Carafa m Bishop of Bitonto ✠.
[17] Likewise that the body has persevered incorrupt so far, It is set forth IV and assumed to be proved, that the said Body of Friar James of Dalmatia, not only from the year 1585, until the present 1629, has always and continuously been incorrupt, as at present is to be seen, without any defect; but also from the year 1550 and before, until today: which is preserved within a crystal chest. Indeed the oldest people have always said, that they saw the body of Blessed James always incorrupt without any defect, placed as above: which was shown by the Fathers of the said convent to all wishing to see it: and those old men themselves said, that so also they had heard from other elders before them: which was and is true, and of it is public voice and fame. and held as the body of the Blessed, It is set forth V that for eighty years until today the body itself of Blessed James was held by all the people of Bitetto, and by the other peoples of the neighboring places, in the greatest veneration and devotion: but James himself was venerated and held for Blessed and Saint universally by all Christians, who came to see his body: as also today it is indifferently esteemed and honored by all men and women, old and young, clerical and secular: which was and is true. These two articles all the witnesses together and singly so confirmed, that no one suggested anything to be added in particular.
[18] in which the faithful obtained many graces, It is set forth VI that many men and women through the intercession of the said Friar James, by running to him in their necessities and perils, had obtained from God whatever they desired, with very many miracles being worked, and many and various graces bestowed on several and diverse Christians through the intercession of the said Blessed: as experience itself has seen and heard, and as even daily it is allowed to see and hear: and this for about eighty years, as all bear witness of any earlier time, asserting that they had so heard from their elders. And it is public voice and fame, that it was and is true. To which article when read to him, Witness I answered in these words: "I have heard publicly and generally, that all those who have devoted or commended themselves to the aforesaid Blessed James, offered votive offerings, have obtained from God all those graces which they justly asked for: concerning which I have also heard that public instruments have been drawn up, to which I refer myself." Witness II and several others also refer themselves to the tablets, hung before the chapel of the Blessed in monument of the benefit divinely obtained: some also testify to miracles performed on themselves and their own, whom I have said above to have recognized the truth of instruments drawn up on them: others referred similar attestation to the following articles.
[19] It is set forth VII, that not only after his death and at the intercession of the said Blessed James did God do many graces and miracles for the Christians, but also in life: That he himself, while he lived, also did miracles, as is evidently proved from the tablets of very ancient painting, which are seen hanging before the said blessed Body in his chapel: from which it is manifest that the Blessed himself while he lived was gifted with the prophetic spirit, full of virtue and charity, miraculously suspended in the air during prayer. To this article some answered briefly, that they appealed to the old and newer tablets themselves; others in more prolix words asserted
each single thing contained in the article, adding also concerning the little chapel now called Blessed James's, and the bells sounding of themselves. But these things being omitted, it is better to hear something more particular of the aforesaid tablets from a public Notary; for so it is contained in one of the writings offered by the Procurator of the cause. "I, Donato Antonio Rossano, whose authentic testimony is made by ancient tablets, public Royal and general Notary of the city of Bitetto, make faith, in judgment and out, to all who shall see these, that going personally to the convent of the Friars Minor observants outside the walls of the city on this same day, among the tablets openly affixed and hanging before the chapel, in which rests the body of Blessed James of Dalmatia, because of the miracles and vows made to him by Christians, in memory of the graces both of old and more recently obtained, and described in the said tablets, I found two oblong tablets, on one of which these three miracles were noted: namely how Blessed James answered the Duke of Atri, that the King would receive him honorably, how he predicted the Duchess would bear a son, how he enlightened a blind man who wished to strike him. But on the other tablet I found three others following: how Blessed James freed Friar Bernard of Gallipoli, when he wished to leave off the habit because of pain in his arms; how at Modugno he predicted a certain boy would die on the morrow, as happened; how he was seen raised up in the air during prayer. In faith of which I have subscribed and signed these, at Bitetto on the 3rd day of February 1629."
[20] and that many were healed at the invocation of the dead man, It is set forth VIII, that God through the intercession of the said Blessed James has healed many Christians infirm from various and diverse infirmities, grave pains, and diseases despaired of by the judgment of physicians: who acknowledged, that without any human remedy their health had been restored, after they had devoutly invoked Blessed James. It is set forth IX, that because of the veneration and devotion toward the said Body, daily, always, and continuously, from the past years 10, 20, 30, and therefore there had been a concourse from everywhere to his body, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100 and more, there had been, as there now is, the greatest concourse of faithful Christians, to the place and monastery of Saint Francis of Bitetto, both from the people of Bitetto and from the neighboring peoples indifferently, with supreme devotion honoring the aforesaid body: and that many of them had brought a tablet in witness of the grace received, many had asked to be given a particle of the habit with which the body is covered; because such is distributed to the faithful asking for it: finally that ordinarily a lit lamp is kept before the crystal chest in the said chapel; so that by all commonly and generally he is held as Blessed in heaven, as even today he is held and reputed. To these two last articles when each of the witnesses had answered in almost similar tenor, either repeating the very words of the questions, or referring themselves to their previous answers: finally each was enjoined that each should read or hear read his own examination, and then for the truth of the fact should subscribe his name with his own hand, if he could; if not, that he should mark the sign of the Cross, with Friar Michael the Bishop of Bitetto signing after each individually.
[21] Also publicly for obtaining rain. Now to these last articles properly pertains what Witness I, responding to the third article, added in these words: "I still remember, that when I was thirteen or fourteen years old, I saw the body of Blessed James taken out of the case in which it was preserved, and by the Fathers of the convent placed on a seat, set inside a certain confessional before all, to obtain from the Divine Majesty the grace of one good rain, at that time vehemently desired and necessary. There was in that place not only gathered all the people of the city of Bitetto, but also a great multitude from the neighboring peoples had so filled the church that not even a grain of mustard (so to speak) could have been taken in more; and while they were all alike praying, suddenly arose the voice of those crying out, 'Grace, grace: miracle, miracle.' But I, when I wished to know what this miracle was, received the answer, that a certain citizen of Bitetto, by name Constantine Aprutinus, who has now died, had passed through his urethra three great little stones, which were blocking the flow of urine, so much that thinking his life was over, he had stood before the Blessed." For the cause of his knowledge, he said because he knows, saw, heard, and was present.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER IV.
Miracles performed about the beginning of this century until the year 1619.
[22] I Friar Dominic of Terlizzi, Priest of the Order of Minor Observants of Saint Francis, at present Vicar of the venerable Convent of Saint Mary "nova" of the aforesaid town of a Terlizzi of the aforesaid Order, 54 years old, 34 years in religion, make full and undoubted faith to those who read these, that when in the year 1597 I was dwelling in our convent of Saint Francis outside the walls of the city of Bitetto, of which the Guardian then was Friar Bonaventura of Bari, and in which rests the body of the venerable Father Friar James of Dalmatia, A soldier about to die from poison transferred to his hand, a lay brother professed of the same Order, a soldier passing by there on horseback, the last of his cohort, came to the convent with a spear in his right hand, with which spear not far from the convent, about two miles in the place called of the b lake of Binettus, he had killed a serpent so venomous, that the poison passing from the iron through the spear into his hand and arm, had not only enormously swollen it and made it livid, but seemed even to be aiming at his heart. For this evil when he asked a remedy from the Friars, he was persuaded to devote himself to the said Blessed Friar James, for whose merits God would help him. Having made a vow, he is healed, in 1597. He, turning himself to the Blessed soon with devotion and tears, said: "O most blessed James, free me from this evil." And immediately he received from the Lord the grace, so that I and the other Friars of the convent soon saw the arm, with the swelling subsided and its lively color regained, restored to health. And since the soldier then had nothing else to hand, in sign of gratitude he gave some money to have Masses said: and the aforesaid Father Guardian immediately took care to have the matter as it happened reported to the public records: and I in testimony of the truth ordered to be drawn up the present writing by the hand of Friar Cataldus of Taranto the Priest, and confirmed it by my own signature and sealed it with the seal of this our convent of Terlizzi, on the 4th of February, 1626.
There followed the attestation of the Notary Giuseppe de Antonellis before whom this writing had been signed, which and other similar attestations to be found in the original process we omit for the sake of brevity, and indeed also some formulas recurring again and again, which it will be enough to extend once or twice.
[23] To all who shall see the present, in judgment and out, full and undoubted faith is made by me Olympia Vincentii wife of Pietro Martira, In 1603 she is cured, having lain sick for seven years, of the city of Bitonto, that when in the year 1603 I was held by a grave infirmity, which had lasted the whole preceding seven years, so that because of the very great torment of my whole body I could not move myself from bed; and I heard from others how great miracles God was working through Blessed James of the Order of Minor Observants, near the city of Bitetto; turning myself with great devotion and commending myself to the said Blessed, that he might obtain health for me from blessed God; I promised that I myself would go to visit his body and arrange for a Mass to be sung in his church. Marvelous thing! The same Blessed interceding, in a short time I recovered my former health, rising from bed with the admiration of the whole city; and because I myself do not know how to write, I dictated the present writing to Gerolamo, son of Thomas Campanilis, and before two
witnesses, to be confirmed by their signatures c, at Bitonto on February 4, 1626, before John Lorenzo Manzari, Notary of Bitonto.
[24] Faith is made… by me Beatrice Farella, wife of John Roch Leonis, 1604 a shin broken is healed, that when my aforesaid husband in the year 1604 had wished to yoke to a cart an ox not yet accustomed to drawing a cart, the said ox, turning with its fellow ox in flight, broke one of my husband's shins in the middle: wherefore all of us looked to the help of Blessed James: and I soon seeing my spouse whole, hung up a votive offering at his chapel; and, being unskilled in letters, I ordered this testimony to be written by the hand of Don Felice Leonis, at Binetto on February 6, 1626.
✠ Mark of the cross made by Beatrice Farella of Bitetto. I, Don Felice Leone, wrote the present at the will of the aforesaid and am a witness. I, Don Giuseppe Luca, was present. I, Notary Francis Frangione, am a witness. So far in Italian, then in Latin words: "I confess, Donnus John Angelo Christina, Primicerius of the land of Binetto, of the diocese of Bari, by Apostolic authority public Notary, that the aforesaid testimony in my presence was written, by the order will and consent of the aforesaid Beatrice de Farella, and signed with her own hand by the sign of the cross, as also subscribed and confirmed by the own hands of the aforesaid witnesses, and in faith I signed, being asked, and affixed my sign which I use in such matters ✠." The reader should understand the same or similar was done in all following cases: we are content to insert the name of the Notary at the end of the instrument itself, and mention the witnesses in general.
[25] and a dying man, Faith is made… by me Dionora Calo of Bitetto, Witness X from those named above, that about 25 years ago Francesco Antonio de Vulpis my husband, seized with a most grave disease, was given up by the physicians beyond hope of life, who found no human remedy, how he should not soon die. But I, remembering that glorious Blessed James, who rests with the Observants, vowed to give alms to the Fathers of his convent, on this condition that they should pray for my husband's salvation: and the following night I received the desired grace, whose testimony I have subscribed, forming a cross with my own hand, at Bitetto on February 10, 1626, before Don Donato Antonio Citula the Canon and Apostolic Notary.
[26] Faith is made… by me Flaminia of Donato Antonio de Servillo of the town of d Pali, that in the year 1605, when my two sons were lying ill with a quartan fever, In 1605 a woman suffering from quartan fever recovers, and no remedy was found for them, from a certain Friar of the convent of Bitetto passing through us I received a particle of the habit of Blessed James, resting at Bitetto and famous for miracles: which as soon as I placed upon them as they lay, suddenly their health was restored to them: and I being unskilled in writing, ordered it to be written by the hand of the Cleric Ludovico Valcarel, and to be subscribed by the public Notary Peter Leonis, on February 5, 1626, in the land of Pali, of the diocese of Bari.
[27] Faith is made… by me Dominica Signorile, that in the year 1606, In 1606 another given extreme unction, being sick to death and anointed with Extreme Unction; when I had heard the fame of the miracles performed through Blessed James, I invoked his name with true faith, and suddenly received the grace of health, having a Mass sung in honor of the said Blessed. Moreover in the year 1610, seeing myself to be barren, who also obtains offspring by a vow, I invoked the said Blessed, and immediately conceived a male son, vowing that I would bring him to the body of the Blessed, and there leave the clothes with which he was clothed, which still are seen hanging there. In faith of which, being unable to write, I asked for these to be written by the hand of Don Giuseppe Luca, before witnesses and the Notary Francis Frangione, at Binetto on February 6, 1626.
[28] A sacristan out of curiosity stripping the body, I, Friar James of Atella, Priest of the Order of Minor Observants, because I am bound to reveal and make known the graces received from God through the intercession of Blessed James of Bitetto, assert that when in the year 1606 I was exercising the office of Sacristan in our convent of Bitetto, I wished out of curiosity to see whether the body was really whole, and therefore, having raised it, I stripped it of its habit: but seeing that it was whole, I again clothed it in the same habit, and placed it as before. But immediately as I had shut the chest and iron door, I felt first one and then the other arm rendered useless, so that I could not take food with my own hands. Presuming however that the infirmity came from some accident, I remained in that state for three months, using various medicines in vain. At length by the Lord's inspiration, on the vigil of our Holy Father Francis, I opened all to my confessor, promising that I would not attempt anything similar otherwise. He for penance enjoined me, to scourge myself within the chapel of the Blessed before his chest. I answered, and deprived of the use of his arms, is compelled to repent. I would willingly do this if my infirmity allowed, by which it was now made impossible for me. He nonetheless commanded, that I should go and obey simply. I went therefore, and before the chest, although I could not move my arms to strike myself, I began to recite the Miserere, kneeling in the chapel: which being finished as I felt movement restored to my arms, I began to strike myself, and so entire health returned to both arms: nor did I ever afterward feel such infirmity, through the grace of God and Blessed James. Given at Melfi by my own hand on October 17, before witnesses and the Notary John Camillus Caglia of Melfi.
[29] Faith is made… by me Laura Castoris of Bitetto, Witness XII from those noted above, A servant's boy about to die from fever. that about 21 years ago my son was seized with a most grave fever, so that no remedy was found for him, and the physicians entirely despaired of his life. But I, being devoted to Blessed James of Bitetto, devoted him to the same, that he would pray to our Lord, that by his intercession this my son might be healed; promising that I would hang up, when he was healed, an equal quantity of loaves: which in fact, he being soon healed, I did, giving thanks to the divine Majesty; and now in testimony of truth I have affixed the sign of the cross to this writing, made at my request by Don Francis de Sanctis, before the Notary Antonio Leone, at Bitetto, on February 16, 1626.
[30] Faith is made… by me Master John Romano Christophori of Bitetto, that in the year 1608, and in 1608 sick for seven months, given up by physicians, after a grave seven-month illness, which had held me continuously fastened to the bed, I devoted myself to Blessed James, and immediately after the vow was uttered, I received health. On which account, having assumed the said Blessed as the patron of my family, in the year 1621 for my son John, likewise given up, making a vow of alms to be given to the Friars, I was soon refreshed by his sudden recovery; and afterward his son and wife, and for the grace received I offered three bushels of grain: and again my wife also having fallen ill, binding myself with a new vow, I also obtained for her the desired grace, and offered a standard (labarum) to be affixed to the cross; and these letters, signed by my own hand, I asked to be written by Don Hyacinthus Contessa, before witnesses and the Notary Don Donato Antonio Citula, on the 8th day of February 1626.
[31] In 1612 a woman in peril from blood flow, Faith is made by me Caterina de Scirocco, legitimate spouse of Antonio della Badesca citizen of Bitonto… that in the past years and namely in 1612, when from a flux of blood, lasting for three months, I was lying in bed, so gravely sick, that when the physicians found no remedy I believed myself near to death; I devoted myself to Blessed James of Bitetto, and was suddenly healed: in faith of which I have written the sign of the cross with my hand on the present, before the Notary who wrote these, John Lorenzo Manzani and witnesses, at Bitonto on March 14, 1630. Which Instrument was not presented before the examination of witnesses, as the prior and the rest of the following, but when the examination was finished, presented before the Bishop in the year already noted, and on the 15th day of the same March.
[32] Faith is made… by me Friar Stefano of Bitonto, Priest of the Order of Minor Observants, in 1613 Guardian of Bitetto. that about the year 1613 I had been constituted Guardian of our convent of Bitetto; where in a certain corner of the church on the right there had been entrusted to me a body, which was said to be of Blessed James, within a crystal chest raised four palms from the ground, with many miracles hung around it. I dwelt there more than a year, in which time I saw much concourse both of citizens and neighbors to the said body: and among others came Lord Antonio del Tufo, son of Mario del Tufo Marquis f of Minervino: but he came with a great company of his vassals, he receives the Marquis of Minervino miraculously healed, to give thanks to the said Blessed, for his health restored from a mortal disease, and for this reason he gave the convent ten ducats. At the same time came a certain one from Modugno, by name John Antonio Chimento, with his wife and children, bringing a vessel of oil by vow, because when his wife could not bear a child, he running to Blessed James, had said these words: "By this I shall know that I am going to obtain the desired grace, if putting my hand into the money pouch I shall draw out precisely the price of one vessel of oil." And thus he publicly professed. Likewise when at the same time the kitchen had collapsed, and the Friars had no longer, and he experiences the aid of the Blessed for rebuilding the kitchen, because of the greatest poverty of the place, where they could either warm themselves or build a fire for other necessary uses, I as Guardian went to Bari, and took at usury from Giuseppe Sala the merchant some sum of money, for restoring the ruin: and when we had already replaced the arch, and I had ready money for paying off the debt; it happened that the said merchant fell into a most grave infirmity, and by a vow made to Blessed James recovered; wherefore coming to Bitetto, and going to the convent to give thanks, he not only remitted the usury owed up to that time, but also brought other alms… In faith of which I have subscribed the present written by my own hand on January 28, 1626, with the Apostolic Notary Don Lorenzo Roger Ruvo subscribing and attesting, without the expression of the place: but the things we have here omitted are had above in number 15.
[33] Faith is made by me Sister Jacoba de Altobella of Bitonto; in 1614 a woman sick for seven months is healed, that when in the year of the Lord 1614 my mother had been lying ill for the seventh month from an incurable infirmity, I vowed to Blessed James of Bitetto that going to him with true faith, and from the door of the church even to his body g drawing my tongue along the ground, I would take care to have a mass said there: and with this vow made, suddenly I received the grace asked for: and since I do not know letters,
I did not learn them, I asked these to be written by Michael Angelo Ambrosii in the city of Gravina h, on February 7, 1627, before four witnesses and Don Francis Antonio Jacono of Bitonto, Apostolic Notary, subscribing.
[34] In 1616 the Lord of Bitetto laboring from tertians, I, Bartholomew de Amatis, Doctor of the Art of Medicine, make faith, that in past years and specifically in the year of the Lord 1616, in the month of December, the most Illustrious late Alfonso Caracciolo, useful Lord of the city of Bitetto, was suffering at the aforesaid time from two continual i tertians without any interval of fever. To him in his sleep appeared Blessed James, to whom he vowed, that on the first day when he was well he would confess his sins in the temple of the said Blessed James: whence at the morning hour we found the said Lord without fever. The vow was a silver one, and he left it in the said temple of Blessed James, and this in my presence; and observing, that for forty days never did the fever cease except at the time of the vow: and in faith of truth I have here subscribed myself. Given at Bitetto on August 30, 1627. I who am above de Amatis, by my own hand, before the Notary Donato Antonio Russano of Bitetto.
[35] Faith is made by me Don Alexander Panecotto, Priest and Canon of the Cathedral church of Bitetto, from those named above Witness V, in 1617 a Canon of Bitetto gravely sick, that in the year 1617 in the month of March, lying in bed with grave infirmity and peril of life, without hope of human aid, when I had been very badly off for several days, at length I summoned the Father Guardian of the Minor Observant Friars of Saint Francis, my patron, to this end that out of charity he should pray to the Lord and to Blessed James for my salvation: which he willingly promised to do: then after some days with certain other Friars he came to me, bringing the k "pileolus" (skullcap) of Blessed James, and devoutly placed it on my head. When I had so kept it on my head for two days, I so quickly recovered my health, that within fifteen days, rising from bed, I went to the place of the blessed body, to give thanks to God and to the Blessed himself: and in faith of these things I have written and subscribed the present by my own hand, at Bitetto on February 20, 1626, before four witnesses, and Don Donato Antonio Citola as Notary.
[36] a dying boy, Faith is made… by me Laura Paschalis of Bitetto, now dwelling at Bitonto, that when in the year 1617, my son was sick to death, I heard narrated the miracles done through Blessed James of Bitetto; and I vowed, if my son should recover, that I would go barefoot, from the gates of the city of Bitonto even to the gate of the convent in which his body rests. Which also I performed, having obtained my vow; and being unskilled in letters I dictated these to be written by Doctor Ferrante Filioli of Molfetta, at Bitonto, on February 4, 1626, before witnesses and the Notary Francesco Antonio Jacono.
[37] a woman deprived of the use of her hands, Faith is made by me Sister Agnes Bisanti of Bitonto… that in the year l 1617, being infirm with certain cold fluxes, I lost the use of my limbs, so that for a whole year I could not move my hands to my mouth: but when out of true devotion and faith I had vowed to Blessed James that I would go barefoot to his body and would arrange to have a Mass sung, suddenly I received my health, praising God and Blessed James: on which matter I dictated these to Michael Angelo Ambrosii, and ordered them to be confirmed by the subscription of witnesses and the public Notary Francesco Antonio Jacono, as the same are found subscribed, omitting the day and place of subscription.
[38] and a man sick for three months, Faith is made… by me Dominic Bizantii of Bitetto, that in the year 1617 from a three-month illness I was brought to such a state, that at length I could scarcely move myself in bed, and having heard of the wonders of Blessed James, I devoted myself to him, promising with all my family for seven continuous Saturdays to go to his body, and there to have a Mass sung. Soon afterward, having obtained the grace, I fulfilled the vow, and hung up a tablet in witness of the benefit; but now, because I do not know how to write, through Giovanni Geronimo Stellaccius I ordered the present to be written, and through the Notary Francesco Antonio Jacono to be authenticated, before witnesses likewise subscribing, at Bitonto on February 4, 1626.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER V.
Miracles from the year 1619 until 1623, inclusive.
[39] I Friar Bernardinus of Gravina, Priest of the Order of Saint Francis of the Minor Observants of the Province of Saint Nicholas, 70 years old, 53 years in religion, now Guardian of the venerable Convent of Saint Mary della Nova in the land of Terlizzi, make faith… how in the year 1619, when I was Guardian of the Convent of Saint Francis in the city of Bitetto… it happened that the Most Illustrious Don Alfonso Caracciolo, In 1619 the Guardian hesitating to put a new habit on the body, son of Lord Balthasar Caracciolo, Marquis of Bitetto, afflicted with fever, for recovering his health vowed to Blessed James; but the vow was to take care of a new habit to be made for the holy body. When therefore, his health having been received, he had handed over to me the same habit made by his vow, and I feared, lest the body, hitherto whole, might perhaps dissolve in my hands, while I tried to change the clothes; I put off to carry out his command, until I should have sought the opinion of my Father Provincial, then not far absent: but he wrote back to me, that he could not come to me, but was going straight to Otranto there to preach: if however it was a matter of any greater moment, on account of which I was seeking his conversation, I myself should come to Bari, through which he would pass. I went there, and indeed I spoke about many matters; but of the change of habit, which was the principal cause of the sought conversation, not even a word. When therefore I had gone three miles from Bari, recognizing my forgetfulness and accusing myself, I finally decided to change nothing until the Provincial should be at the convent for the customary visitation. He is rebuked by the Blessed appearing in a vision: But the following night in a vision there appeared to me Blessed James, rebuking and saying, "Why did you not do it?"; and ordering me not to be afraid at all. I nonetheless delayed to obey, and so on the second and third night the same vision of the one commanding returned, and with a severe look, not to delay any longer. So in the month of February, on a certain Tuesday morning, I called to me Friar Paul of Bitonto, an elderly priest, and communicated to him what I had seen and heard. He urged me not to delay to carry out the commands: that I would do nothing without the example of my predecessors, who had done the same before. Then, with Friar Jacob of Bitonto, a priest about thirty years old, also summoned, we closed the church, and taking off the old habit we put on the new: This man secretly carries out the command: but putting away the old in the sacristy, I commanded the said Friars that they should not reveal anything of what we had done. They departed, while I alone remained in the sacristy; when behold I hear knocking at the door of the convent, and going to unbar it myself I found a secular man, who, being asked what he wanted, asked me for the love of God to give him something of the old habit, which in that very hour I had taken from the holy body. I asked, who had given him indication of such a change. He answered, That it was nothing to him, he knew what he was asking for. I therefore gave him some small particle, but the matter is miraculously and suddenly made known. and following him with my eye as he departed toward the city, I could neither recognize the man, nor by asking others find anyone who knew they had seen him. Meanwhile the thing itself or the miracle was spread throughout the whole city. I add, that I understood from the elders, that Lady Felicia San-Severina, Duchess of Gravina, laboring badly with a quartan fever, The Duchess of Gravina biting off a finger, when she had for three days persevered praying at the body of Blessed James, obtained the grace of health; but returning home she asked of him who was then Guardian of the Convent, that it might be allowed her to kiss the holy body with her own mouth. But they said she did this so cunningly, that while kissing she bit off a finger from the hand, no one observing the deed. But when she had gone out of the walls of the convent, suddenly such a storm arose, full of thunders, lightnings, rains; that the beasts carrying the litter could not advance even one step. she restores it, the tempest compelling her: She therefore ordered the litter to be turned, and going out of it, immediately returned to the sacred chest; and with tears restored the finger, calm of the air soon following: and thus she returned safe to her city: but that finger is preserved within the same crystal chest along with the body, separately enclosed in a small silver gilt vessel a. In faith of which I have subscribed and sealed with our convent's seal these things written by the hand of Friar Cataldus of Taranto, before Giuseppe de Antonellis
of Terlizzi, Notary by Apostolic and Royal authorities, at Terlizzi on February 3, 1626.
[40] He escapes unharmed from the stroke of a gun with a vow made: Faith is made… by me Angela Rutiliana of Bitetto, Witness XVII from those named above, that when in the year 1619 at Bitetto a company of soldiers was stationed, to whom the customary wages and subsidies were promptly given by the city, two of them came into my house, equipped with guns, demanding from my husband Jacob of Modugno something of b curdled milk, which because he excused himself that it was not with him; one let off his gun at my husband: but I seeing this turned to Blessed James, that he would keep my husband safe for me. Marvelous thing! The shot was without wound: and I in thanksgiving vowed that for one whole month I would go barefoot daily to visit his body, because of the grace obtained: and in testimony of truth I have signed the present with the sign of the Cross myself, at Bitetto on February 8, 1626, before witnesses and Antonio Leone the Notary.
[41] Faith is made… by me Rebecca Cortese, wife of Bonaventura Naturalis of Bitonto, and a flux of blood is stopped. that being reduced to the point of death from an incurable flux of blood; suddenly I felt the same checked and myself healed, when I had with pure heart devoted myself to Blessed James. In faith of which matter, before my husband and two witnesses, and the Notary Angelo Antonio Morea of Bitonto, I ordered these to be written and signed, at Bitonto on March 12, 1627.
[42] Faith is made… by me Father Friar Bonaventura of Altamura, In 1620 a dying Minorite Priest rises again, Priest of the Order of Minor Observants, that when in the year of the Lord 1620, given up by the physicians and about to render my spirit to God, I had lain like a dead man for three days; my uncle Father Friar Angelus of Altamura, with great faith went to our convent of Bitetto, and thence brought a certain skullcap of Blessed James, known for various cures of the sick: which as soon as it was placed upon my head, with the wonder of the bystanders I recovered, and rendered thanks to God: but now I have written and subscribed this with my own hand, on February 6, 1627, with Friar Cherubinus of Altamura Guardian of Grumo, Friar Gratianus of Altamura, and Friar Bernardinus of San Bono likewise subscribing, and the Notary Don John Angelo Christina, Primicerius of the land of Binetto.
[43] Faith is made… by me Clorinda Calo, legitimate wife of Peter Ludovicus Fontonellae, a woman from a long-lasting pain of the breast, of Bitetto, that in the year 1620, oppressed with a grave pain of the breast, which for two whole years had permitted me no rest by night or day; after various doctors and medicines consulted and applied in vain, I remembered Blessed James, and with groaning and tears began to pray to him, that interceding with the Lord for me, he would put an end to so long-lasting a torment. And with this prayer made, suddenly I felt myself relieved, nor did I any more suffer such. I testify moreover that about the year 1623, being pregnant with child, I saw Blessed James in a dream: who said to me, that within two months I would die. But I, remembering that I was pregnant and wholly consternated in mind, and is freed from a dangerous childbirth; "So then," I said, "I shall die in childbirth?" The Blessed answered, that I would bear a daughter. But I: "No Saint therefore will intercede for me, that I may escape death?" "Someone will intercede," he replied, and disappeared. Awakened from sleep, and well recognizing the Blessed's face known to me (since I have him as my own Patron), I narrated what I had seen and heard to many, and before the second month from the vision should pass, which was the eighth of my pregnancy, falling into a disease despaired of by the physicians, I bore a daughter and saved my life, by the prayers, as I believe, of Blessed James obtaining this grace for me: and therefore I have signed these with the Cross expressed, at Bitetto on February 7, before witnesses and the Notary Antonio Leone.
[44] I, Francis Nicolai, Canon of the Cathedral of Bitetto, make faith… likewise a Canon of Bitetto from a fever, that in the year 1620 in the month of August, being gravely infirm in the town of Binetto, when I had been very badly off for several days, I devoted myself with all my heart to Blessed James of Bitetto, that God and the Blessed Virgin Mary, entreated by his prayers, would succor me; and I asked the Father Guardian of the Convent of Saint Francis, who was attending me sick, that he would deign to bring me the skullcap, which the Blessed used while living, and which was preserved in his convent as a Relic. He brought it and placed it on my head with his own hands; and I within two days, finally free from fever by the grace of God, recovered: now however, being asked to render testimony to the truth, I have written and subscribed the present by my own hand, before witnesses of our Chapter and Don Donato Antonio Citula, as Notary. At Bitetto, which however is not expressed; nor is the day of the month or the number of the year expressed.
[45] In 1621 a man suffering from a three-month disease is aided, Faith is made… by me Deacon Giovanni Battista Vulpis, the same who appeared above as Witness IV, that in the year 1621 in the month of October, I had been so sick, after having lain three whole months; that at length the physicians announced my life was over. Therefore remembering the miracles daily shining through Blessed James, I asked the Father Guardian to come to me with the skullcap of the Blessed: which when he had done, and had placed it upon my head, within a few days I was free from fever and from all infirmity. and is rescued from various perils: Then being in several other perilous situations, from all I escaped safe, having invoked the patronage of Blessed James: in faith of which I have written and subscribed these with my own hand, at Bitetto on February 10, 1626, before witnesses and the Notary Don Donato Antonio Citula.
[46] likewise another's wife and son sick. Faith is made… by me Doctor Giuseppe Mele, that when in the year 1621 I was gravely ill, Lucretia Regna, my wife, placed upon me a particle of the habit of Blessed James; and by the grace of God and the intercession of the Saint I received my health. I testify moreover, that in past years my son Francesco Carolo, suffering so gravely from smallpox, that the physicians judged his one arm would remain useless; with a similar particle applied, recovered. So I affirm with my own hand, before witnesses and the Notary Antonio Leone, at Bitonto, on February 10, 1626.
[47] Faith is made by me Dominic Paganus Gefuni, dwelling in the land of c Grumus… that in the year 1622 in the month of February, In 1622 his eye is kept safe from injury, one night making a journey on horseback, I struck with my right eye a trunk, the branch of an d almond tree, which striking gave such a sound as a bladder full of wind struck against a wall would make; and at the same time it split my upper eyelid, with the eye itself untouched and unharmed, because I had invoked the name of the glorious Blessed James: and therefore to the honor of Almighty God and the Blessed, I have written and subscribed these with my own hand, at Grumo on February 16, 1626, before witnesses and Don Nicholas Antonio Mancinelli, Apostolic Notary.
[48] In 1623 an ulcerated breast is cured, I make faith, I Laurentia of John Peter de Treglia, of Bitonto… that in the year 1623 suffering in one of my breasts an incurable evil, with two openings; since the doctors asserted that it was incurable, I had recourse as a good Christian to Blessed James of Bitetto, praying devoutly and promising that I would go to his church barefoot: and thus within a few days, no medicine being applied, my breast was healed for me, by the sole mercy of God and the blessed man: and therefore, not being able to write myself, the present having been written by the hand of the Notary Geronimo Santerius, I have affixed with my hand the sign of the Cross, at Bitonto on February 4, 1626, before the aforenamed Notary and witnesses.
[49] an incurable fever, Faith is made… by me Olympia Frezza of Bitetto, that in the year 1623 suffering from an incurable fever, and commending myself to Blessed James, as soon as I received on my head the skullcap of the Blessed brought to me, I felt sudden health from so grave a disease, when I had vowed to receive and wear the habit of the Friars themselves until death, and to be buried in the very temple where his body lies: to which vow my daughter had added, that she too for one continuous month would come there barefoot. Now I have ordered the present to be written by the hand of Don Alexander Panecottus, and the sign of the Cross I have added with my hand, before witnesses and the Notary Don Donato Antonio Citula, at Bitetto on February 9, 1626.
[50] a two-year infirmity, Faith is made… by me Lady Clarice della Nos de Galignano, that when in the year 1623 I was laboring under a grave two-year infirmity, and my lord and husband Lord Geronimo Valcarcel had gone to Bitetto to the body of Blessed James there, to pray for my health; as soon as he returned home, he found me whole. Now however in testimony of truth, since my husband is absent from home, I have dictated the present, to be written by the hand of Ludovico Valcarcel the Cleric, and I have subscribed with my own hand, before witnesses and the Apostolic Notary Don Peter Germino, in the town of Pali, on February 5, 1626.
[51] Faith is made… by me Giovannella de Malderis, Witness XIV above, Captives are freed from the Moors, of Bitetto, that when in the year 1616, my husband Niccolò Antonio Azzuolo and my son Giovanni Battista Azzuolo sailing by the Adriatic sea toward Crete, having passed the island of Corcyra were captured by Moorish pirates, and brought to Bizerte f into slavery, and there detained for eight continuous years; I, having heard of their and my misfortune, had recourse to Blessed James; and often visiting his body, that through his intercession I might obtain their liberation from God, at length I vowed, that if I should obtain the grace asked, for one continuous month I would come there barefoot. Marvelous thing! A short time after the vow was uttered, my husband returned to me; and as I continued prayers and supplications more fervently, within two years there was also brought news about my son, that he had happily escaped from captivity. Whom then after a few days I saw safe and sound at my home, giving thanks to God and the Blessed, who had heard my prayers; and the present written by the hand of my aforesaid g son, with the Cross affixed I have signed myself, before witnesses and Antonio Leone the Notary, who forgot to add the day and year, and the name of the city of Bitetto in which these things were done.
[52] and one wounded by an enemy with many wounds. Faith is made… by me Caterina Cornaro, of Bitetto, how in past years a certain kinsman of mine, involved in a very grave enmity at Conversano, for several months endured the assaults of his adversary; by whom at length, struck with various lethal blows on the head, he was held beyond hope of life. Having learned of so funereal a case I turned to Blessed James, vowing a silver lamp, if the wounded man's life should be preserved: which I obtained within a few days appeared,
and I have taken care for the present to be written by the hand of Don Francesco de Sanctis, before Antonio Leone and the witnesses asked, at Bitetto on February 13, 1626. Caterina is Witness XVIII among those named above.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER VI.
The remaining authentic miracles exhibited in judgment.
[53] In 1624 a lethal fever is cured, Faith is made… by me Don Bernardino dello Melone, of Bitetto, how in the year 1624 in the month of August, through a most vehement and by the judgment of the doctors incurable fever, being brought to the most imminent peril of death, I commended myself to Blessed James: whom I remember appearing to me the following morning, and suddenly restoring my health. Having therefore given thanks to Almighty God and the Blessed Virgin, because through the intercession of Blessed James they had freed me from death, I promised that for five years I would take up the procuratorship of the convent: in which office I even now engage, and I have written and subscribed these by my own hand, before witnesses and the Notary Don Donato Antonio Citula at Bitetto on February 10, 1626. This Bernardus is Witness IX above.
[54] Faith is made… by me Rosa Raphaelis of Grumo, dwelling at Bitetto, and another desperate disease, that having been given up by the physicians because of the gravity of the disease from which I was suffering, I asked to have brought to me the skullcap of Blessed James; and when it had been placed on me, I felt myself put out of danger: and recognizing myself obliged to the Divine Majesty and to Blessed James for this and many other graces received, I have confirmed the present, written by the hand of Master Francesco Duda my husband, with the subscribed Cross, before witnesses and the Notary, Don Donato Antonio Citula, at Bitetto on February 12, 1626.
[55] A woman in labor is aided to give birth to three sons at the same time, I, Lucretia Lombarda, make faith… that in the year 1624 in the month of December, being in danger in childbirth, indeed given up by the midwives, when I had devoutly turned in my soul to Blessed James, the Father Guardian came to me, bringing this Blessed's skullcap; and placed it on my head, reciting the Litany of the Most Blessed Virgin with the antiphon "Regina caeli": and immediately I received the grace, giving birth to three male sons: who all by the benefit of the Blessed received baptism, and within the next three days flew to heaven. And because I do not know how to write, I had the present written by the hand of Francesco Spataro, who was present at the grace received: he wrote, and I affixed the sign of the Cross, before witnesses and Don Donato Antonio Citula, at Bitetto on February 12, 1626.
[56] One deprived of the use of his limbs for seven years is healed, Faith is made… by me Angela de Capana of Bitetto, that when in the year 1624 my husband Antonio Petri-grandis, for seven continuous months was lying impeded by a certain painful chill from all use of his limbs, nor taking rest day or night because of the torment; I vowed him to Blessed James, promising that I would have the sacrifice of Mass in his church: then I asked from the Fathers a little cotton and oil from the lamp of the Blessed: with which being anointed, my husband suddenly was better: as I attest by these, noted by me with the sign of the Cross, before witnesses and the Notary Antonio Leone, at Bitetto on February 11, 1626.
[57] Faith is made… by me the Cleric Donatus Antonio Giannini, likewise one sick man, Witness VIII above, that in the year 1624 in the month of September, gravely infirm from fevers and close to death, I vowed myself to Blessed James, and with his skullcap received upon my head I immediately received health; in testimony of which matter I have given these written and subscribed by my own hand, at Bitetto on February 16, 1626, before witnesses and Antonio Leone the Notary.
[58] Faith is made by me Ambrosius Marcianus, from the town of a Tramunti, dwelling at Bitonto… that in the year 1625 being seized with fevers and despaired of by the physicians and close to death, and another close to death. when I had heard of the miracles performed by Blessed James, I turned to him from my soul, vowing to go personally to his church, and there to offer a candle, and to arrange for a Mass to be sung: and with this vow made I was soon restored to health: which so happened I affirm by subscribing with my own hand, before witnesses and the Notary Geronimo Santermo. The day, year and place are not added, but it is easy to understand from the preceding that the matter at least was written at Bitonto.
[59] Faith is made… by me Nardia Nicolai Misurielli, that in the last preceding year b 1625 gravely suffering in my breasts, In 1625 after a woman's breast was healed, one of which already gaped with seven ulcers, with great peril to my life; after I devoutly commended myself to Blessed James of Bitetto, I had that breast as healthy and clean as ever before. For which benefit giving thanks to God and to Blessed James, I arranged for a Mass to be sung in his church; and in faith of the aforesaid I arranged these to be written at Bitetto on February 4, 1626. his daughter is cured of a flux of blood, Then I profess, that when a certain daughter of mine, seven years old, had been given up by the doctors because of a flux of blood, with a vow made for the same in honor of Blessed James, I immediately had her whole; and as I had vowed I stood before the body of the Blessed himself. That I so testified, Don Giuseppe Agera writing, those who were present as witnesses affirm, with the Notary John Lorenzo Manzari.
[60] Faith is made… by me Master Andreas Nicolai Arbero of Bitonto, likewise one exhausted by a quartan fever, that in the year 1625 laboring with a quartan fever, and so exhausted by it, that I could not c earn my living; when I had devoutly received something from the habit of Blessed James of Bitetto, I suddenly received my health; and because I do not know letters, I had the present written by Don Giuseppe Fortunio, before witnesses and the Notary Geronimo Santermo subscribing, on February 4, 1626.
[61] Faith is made… by me Jacoba de Mastro of Bitetto (who is Witness XI above) that in the year 1625 in the month of August, and another from a lethal fever, because my son was suffering from a grave disease and most vehement fever, with no remedies profiting, I uttered a vow to Blessed James that I would visit his body for one entire month continuously: which I fulfilled, my son's health being restored: as by these, written by Jacob Francesco Rizzo, and signed by me with the Cross, I protest on February 15, 1626, before witnesses and Don Donato Antonio Citula the Notary.
[62] likewise a man suffering tertian fever, Faith is made by me Gesimunnus della Batessa… that in the year 1625 involved in a tertian fever, and by it almost brought to death, I vowed to go to Bitetto on bare feet, and there to bring a contribution for a Mass to be said: and soon being restored to health I fulfilled the vow, and not knowing how to write I dictated the present to Giuseppe Vacca the Notary, at Bitonto on February 7, 1626, before witnesses and the Notary Francesco Antonio Jacono.
[63] Faith is made by me Lady Vittoria de Grisullo of Bitonto that in the year 1625 I was affixed to my bed with a most terrible fever: but turning myself to Blessed James, and a woman with fever, with a vow of going to Bitetto and arranging a Mass there, I was suddenly completely healed: wherefore I wished these to be written by the Notary Giuseppe Vacca, at Bitonto on February 7, 1626, before witnesses and the Notary Francesco Antonio Jacono.
[64] I, Francischina Sferza of Bitonto, confess through the present… that in the year 1625 my sister was sick and given up by the physicians: another sick to death, whom when I had confidently and devoutly commended to Blessed James, vowing to go to his church on bare feet and to arrange a Mass to be said there; suddenly my sister received full health, with our greatest consolation: for which be praise to God and the Blessed. Amen. Then in testimony of the aforesaid I ordered these to be written, by Don Giuseppe Agera, because I do not know how to write myself, before witnesses and the Notary Giovanni Donato Raputo, at Bitonto on February 5, 1626.
[65] and a pregnant woman with danger to the fetus, Faith is made… by me Lady Fulvia del Tufo, Duchess of Grumo, that in the year 1625 approaching childbirth I fell into a disease with danger to the fetus: wherefore I ordered the hood of Blessed James of Bitetto to be placed upon me, vowing ten ducats, to be brought to his body, if I should give birth happily. This done, immediately being healed, I bore a daughter sound and safe; and giving thanks to God and the Blessed I subscribed the present with my hand, written by the Notary Don Niccolò Antonio Mancinelli, who attests the same to the subscription with the witnesses asked, at Grumo on February 16, 1626.
[66] then a sick boy, Faith is made… by me Giovanni Antonio de Rosa, that when in the year 1625 I found no remedy for my sick son, after many things had been tried in vain, I vowed that if he should be given back to me safe, in honor of God and of Blessed James I would clothe him in the habit of Saint Francis: and having obtained the grace asked, I noted the sign of the Cross on this testimony, written by Francesco Jacobo Rizzo the Cleric, before Antonio Leone the Notary and witnesses, at Bitetto on February 15, 1626.
[67] Faith is made… by me Rocca de Flore of d Molfetta, dwelling at Bitetto: that for about four months, and another with a hernia, my son gravely ruptured with a hernia could take no rest: when therefore one night I heard the bell of the convent of Saint Francis being rung, I began to invoke Blessed Francis, that by his prayers he would obtain an end to the torment: but in the morning my said son rose whole: wherefore to this writing, made by Don Francesco de Sanctis, I have subscribed the Cross, before witnesses and the Notary Antonio Leone, at Bitetto on February 14, 1626.
[68] and another dying, Faith is made by me Bonaventura Naturalis of Bitonto, that in the year 1625 my son Francesco, had been brought to the point of death: for whom when I had prepared the funeral cloth for burial; on that very evening my wife, Rebecca Cortese of Bitetto, turning
herself to Blessed James, vowed that she would clothe the son in his habit if he were left in life: and when at night a certain Friar had seemed to her to lead the boy by the hand, she found him safe. Whence at my request Angelus Antonius Morea of Bitonto the Notary wrote and signed the present, before witnesses, at Bitonto on March 12, 1626.
[69] In 1626 a dying woman is healed, I, Margarita Scarascio, make faith, that having been given up by physicians and provided with the final Sacraments, I made a vow saying: "O Blessed James, free me from this infirmity, and I will wear your habit for three years, and I will offer at your body this golden faith (a coin) which I hold in my hands." And so on that very night the Blessed appeared to me in a vision, and calling me by my name, said, "Margarita, I have made you the grace." Which because it is true, by the hand of Don Flavio Antonio Salaffia I ordered this to be written, at Bitetto on April 12, 1626, before witnesses and Antonio Leone the Notary. This Margarita is among the witnesses XV, whose surname is written there as Scaraggio.
[70] a man given up by physicians, Faith is made by me Don Giovanni Angelo Christina, Primicerius in the town of Binetto, that my brother Peter Antonio Christina, in the month of February of the year 1626 being infirm with a malignant and continuous fever and given up by the physicians, devoutly turned to Blessed James, promising that the first time he should go out of his home he would go to Bitetto, and there having himself weighed would offer an equal quantity of grain in thanksgiving. That his vow was heard was shown by his health which soon began to be restored, so much that he is now out of danger and has left his bed. Wherefore I have written and subscribed the present by my hand, at Binetto, on March 2, 1626: to which with his own hand Peter Antonio has affixed the sign of the Cross, with the aforementioned John Angelo again attesting, as Apostolic Notary.
[71] another seized by a lethal stitch is freed, I, John Battista Mandini, Doctor of both Laws, of the city of Melfi, because I am bound to testify to the graces received from the Lord God through the intercession of Blessed James of Bitetto; I affirm, that being at Bitetto, as commissary of his e Excellency, in the month of November 1626, I was seized with such a f pain in my side that for five hours I was as if dead. While I was lying in this agony, my colleague Giuseppe Germinalis, having in a vial oil from the lamp that was accustomed to burn before the body of Blessed James, anointed my side with that oil, and immediately removed all pain, and again in 1627. with no other remedy applied. Then in the year 1627 in the month of March the same I John Battista Mandini, oppressed by a most troublesome stitch, for which the physicians found no remedy, one night remembering the aforesaid grace obtained from Blessed James, and what great incommodities would come to my family from my death, I prayed the said Blessed for receiving my health. But in the middle of the night he himself appeared to me saying: "Do not fear: for you are whole." And indeed the next morning my family found me, whom they thought would die that very night, miraculously certified of life. I John Battista Mandinus by my own hand; I Giuseppe Germinalis of Melfi confirm the miracle, in the person of Doctor John Battista Mandini of Bitetto. I, the Notary Antonius Priosus of Melfi, make faith by subscribing and signing, at Melfi on October 15, 1628.
[72] So far the instruments presented before the examination of witnesses by Niccolò Antonio Taurisano the Procurator, as in the Acts, on one and the same day July 18, 1629. After the examination of witnesses other things are presented in 1630, After the citation and questioning of the witnesses, finished on October 24, 1629, as is clear from the Syllabus of the same produced above, nothing was done in the cause until March 15, 1630, when was presented the attestation of Fabrizio Carafa, Bishop of Bitonto, reported in number 16; when also was presented the faith made by Caterina de Scirocco, about the benefit of health, which in the year 1612 after a three-month flux of blood she confessed to have received, as we reported following the order of the times in number 30 above. Finally was presented the following instrument, which because it is about a matter performed only one or two years before the aforesaid examination, and is found described after it, we refer to this last chapter and it is thus.
[73] Faith is made by me Camilla g Cateria, wife of John Vincent Citola of Bitonto… that two years ago being oppressed by a grave infirmity which the physicians call the "matrona" h evil, and one about the matronal evil (uterine disease) checked. neither after various remedies applied finding any relief, and at length despaired of by the physicians, I most fervently commended myself to Blessed James of Bitetto, going to whose church by vow, on July 22 of the year 1627, I poured forth my prayers there most devoutly; and suddenly by the mercy of God, I received health so entire and constant, that from that day until now I have never suffered anything similar: wherefore through the hand of John Lorenzo the Notary of Bitonto below written I have ordered these to be written, and I have marked them with the sign of the Cross at Bitonto on March 14, 1630. All these things having been thus described and presented in judgment; the public Notary of the whole cause, as said above in number 5, elected and sworn, thought it of his office to add to the acts described by him what more closely concerned his own person, and they are as follows.
[74] The Notary of the whole cause himself, I, the Subdeacon Giovanni Gregorio Citola, of the city of Bitetto, make full and undoubted faith, how I was elected and substituted as Apostolic Notary in the place of the Reverend Don Bartholomew Russus Canon of the Cathedral church in the said city, by my Most Reverend Lord, Friar Michael Messerotti, Bishop of the said city, on July 10 of the last past year 1629, for taking information on the life and miracles performed through Blessed James, existing in the Convent of the Reformed Zoccolante Fathers of Saint Francis of this city of Bitetto. But before I was deputed to this, after he had consented to this office, it had been treated with me by some Priests that I should accept such an office: but because I was then still a layman, nor had I ever been at Bitetto but was dwelling at Bari, I refused to acquiesce to them. Wherefore those Reverend Priests insisted more vehemently, thereupon burdening my conscience, and exaggerating the merit which I would have with the said Blessed; and at length they persuaded me to undertake the offered office, as I did, intending to do it as best I could: and so I was elected and substituted, as said above.
[75] But after five days from the said election, when I felt myself so badly affected, when because of the disease he had returned to Bari, that I could hardly stand on my feet, I decided, abandoning Bitetto, where I had begun to be sick, to have myself taken back to Bari, where I would have better doctors and medicines, and would be more conveniently attended, inasmuch as there I had a house and my kinsmen. Brought to Bari I felt myself going from bad to worse; for although I had still kept myself on my feet for two days, at length I was forced to lie in bed around the evening of Saturday. there placed in extreme peril of life, That same evening a certain uncle of mine left Bari because of business, and my aunt began to be sick: but I at about the fifth hour of the night, pressed with an unusual pain in my head and whole body, did not know whence to seek help. Since at the same time I began to suffer continuous fluxes of the body, and so vehement that within four hours I felt myself destitute of all strength, and convulsions of my feet, arms, and hands indicated the near danger; thinking myself dying, and because the day was dawning, I summoned friends, doctors, and other acquaintances for aid: but no one would come, and not even hear what I wanted.
[76] What should I do, destitute of kinsmen, doctors, and friends, and destitute of strength as much as possible? Finding no human help, I turned to the side of the bed; and seeing an image of the Virgin Mary, with Blessed James invoked, I began to think within myself, that I was foolish, who being near death was not yet solicitous to call on divine aid. At the same time remembering Blessed James and the election made concerning me, I said: "I pray you, O Blessed Mary and Blessed James, make me worthy that I may complete the undertaken office, and take information about your holy life. Behold I am dying without human help, and I feel my spirit now about to depart. O glorious Saint, suddenly he recovered; O my Blessed James! I know indeed that I am unworthy to carry out such a work, yet I beg that you help me and grant me health, not so much that I may serve you, as for your glory and that I may be more fervent henceforth in your service." With this prayer finished, no more time passed than while a "Hail Mary" is recited, and the fluxes ceased and soon I fell asleep.
[77] and beyond all hope he rises whole, At daylight there came those who visited me, and asked why at dawn I had summoned them. I set forth to them whatever had happened, and that through the virtue and miracle of my Blessed James I was made whole. And when they said, that seeing the external composition of my face it seemed impossible that I should rise from bed unless after many days; suddenly the following day I rose, with all wondering, that I could stand and walk on my feet: to whom I affirmed that this was done by the grace of Blessed James. Indeed on the tenth day after this I set out to Benevento and to other places, making a journey by day, and sleeping in the country by night, for two continuous months of August and September, always having in mind the devotion and protection of Blessed James. Finally I came to Bitetto with the great admiration of my friends, even to difficult journeys. who had not hoped to see me alive: to whom when I had narrated the grace and help which Blessed James had brought me, I girded myself to take the information, to his praise and glory: to which also and to the faith of the aforesaid I, as Apostolic Notary, wrote, subscribed, and signed with my usual seal these very things, at Bitetto on March 20, 1630.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER VII.
Certain marvels described successively after the conclusion of the Process.
[78] Through the death of the Bishop the business is interrupted, How many weeks or months after this Bishop Michael lived I have not yet learned; for Ferdinando Ughelli does not note the day of his death in tom. 7 of Italia Sacra, he only indicates, that his successor Sigismund Thadaeus was consecrated on January 8, 1631. It appears however that with the death of the aforesaid Prelate, who before his Episcopate had been Master General of the Order of Conventuals of Saint Francis, and was the more strongly inclined to promote the honor of this Minorite Saint, the business so fervently begun was interrupted; with successor Bishops either taking less care upon themselves, or fearing the expenses to be made at Rome, or not finding in themselves enough grace and authority to promote the cause efficaciously. So everything remained in the same state in which they had been before the Process was formed; and the autograph itself was placed inside the chest of the holy body, as we said at the beginning: which however before it was done, the same Notary as above added such an instrument, to the memory of what had happened to himself after the death of Bishop Michael and the creation of Sigismund, in this manner.
[79] I Don Giovanni Gregorio Citola make faith, to whoever shall see the present in any way, In 1631 the aforesaid Notary, how in the year 1631 on the morning of Holy Saturday, which day in that year fell on April 19, about one hour before sunrise, which is properly called dawn, Blessed James appeared to me in sleep in the company of three other Saints, of whom I had no distinct knowledge: but in recognizing Blessed James I seemed to myself hardly able to be deceived. This one, while I was asking for a pair of scissors from a certain sister of mine, seemed to have seized them, and with them threatened to do me great harm on the forehead and breast: and already indeed I was feeling pain, though slight, in those parts. with the Blessed appearing in sleep and threatening, Seeing him thus threatening, and feeling pain in my body, I said: "I do not know, O glorious Saint, why you wish to harm me, being wounded by me in nothing." But he said, "It does not matter, I want to kill you." But I, remembering that I had some relic of his, pretended to be conscious of nothing, and said: "If you wish to harm me, which I do not believe, the divine majesty will help me, since I am a minister of God, nor will He permit any harm to be done to me." Nonetheless he threatened me, and seemed to wish to manifest to all in my family that I had that Relic: because of a relic which he was holding, on which account I was ashamed and blushing vehemently, because I did not wish this to be known. I said therefore, "O glorious Saint, if you wish to put me to confusion, you must remember that I am a Priest: but God does not permit priests to be brought to confusion. Rather tell what satisfaction you are exacting from me; for I am prepared to give any."
[80] Then coming near my bed he said, "Give me what you are keeping." But I: "I have already said, that I have injured you in nothing, nor do I have anything of yours: but if you wish to harm me, God will help me: wishing it to be kept secretly, if however you are who you are, you will not be able to do me harm." He, on the contrary: "I wish to receive it: therefore every evasion is vain." I again denied that I had anything, let him do what he would: and yet I well remembered that I had his Relic. He replied, that I was vainly evading, when I well knew what he wanted. To this third refutation I seemed unable to reply anything more, and said, "I cannot deny any more: it is true that I have your Relic: but you know very well how it came into my possession, nor in that have I any fault. Yet I am prepared to restore it: only permit me to cut off a little piece for my devotion." But he denying that he would permit even this; he is compelled to promise its restitution, "At least," I said, "give me your skullcap which is carried to the sick, that I may have some nourishment for my devotion toward you." He said he would permit, that when I should restore the relic to its place, I should take the skullcap from there. But I, "The Friars will not allow that." "It does not matter," he replied, "it will be something yet": and saying this he disappeared.
[81] to him before the Blessed had appeared, I suddenly waking at the very sunrise, let what I had seen and heard sink deeper into my mind, because in the very same sleep, before I suffered those things, I had seemed to myself to be at the Cathedral of Bitetto, with a certain friend of mine, to whom I was often inculcating, that that Friar who was in that chapel assisting and ministering that Mass was Blessed James: which seemed to me so certain, that by no reason could it be denied that he was himself. Indeed it seemed to me, the Mass being finished, that he entered into a certain cell behind the altar, and I said to my friend, "Wait a little while here, because I wholly wish to go to him and speak; but entering into the place into which he had seemed to enter, I cried out saying, "O Blessed James, O Friar James, O Saint James: for I do not know by what title to call you, since you are a servant of God and I know how much you love humility." And I said this, because I remembered that he had not yet been declared Blessed by the sacred Congregation, since I had formed his process.
[82] holding a cross in his hand, He appeared to me holding a Cross in his hand; therefore I said: "Stop, for I do not wish that under the appearance of sanctity and with that Cross you should deceive me, since you may perhaps be some demon: make therefore yourself the sign of the Cross." And when he immediately signed himself, I replied saying: "Adore that Cross": and he promptly adored. Again I ordered him to say: "I have sinned, Lord, have mercy on me": and immediately he repeated the same words. Moreover I commanded him to pronounce these words: "Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us": and he pronounced each distinctly, adding formulas and ejaculatory prayers by which I was made certain that he himself was. Thus confirmed I said, and receiving him into his protection; "Do me one grace. You know that I am devoted to you and have written your life, be therefore protector of my life, all the more as I have to go out of doors very often." The Blessed answered, that I should not doubt that he would have care of me; and so he disappeared: and I seemed to withdraw from that place to my home, where I dreamed those things I said above had happened to me; so that one continuous dream was each vision.
[83] Considering more accurately therefore the continuous series of both dreams, doubting however whether he should restore the relic, I began to doubt whether it was not a diabolical illusion, and lest the demon had prepared some fraud for me because of that relic; and I turned devoutly to the Blessed himself and the divine majesty saying: "O glorious Saint, it was not I who stole that relic from you: you know the manner in which it came to me: wherefore I ask you to deign to give me another sign or appear to me another time, so that I may be more certain of your will: for I will do whatever you wish, but I fear lest this dream is an illusion. O my God, have mercy on me, and rescue me from this perplexity": adding other protestations and pious prayers and invocations of the Holy Spirit, that in the present case I might be able to discern the true from the false.
[84] and toward evening going out of doors, Afterward in the evening of that Holy Saturday I and two nobles agreed to go out hunting; and each of us mounting his mule, when we had come together to one place, I narrated the dreams of the past night: who marveling at them said, that I should look to myself: and so each turned to his own way: but I withdrew to the place called Cotino before the Tower; which place was most well known to me. There however all memory so failed me; that I wandered around a little field of three a acres, always returning to the same place and unable to find the way. Here then I remembered again my dreams: and thus while I was in stupefaction, a certain citizen of Bitetto came upon me; whom being asked the way, he loses all memory of the roads: he showed it to me: but I had scarcely entered it, when I again found myself in the former place. Wherefore, destitute of counsel, I loosened the reins of the mule, saying: "Since I cannot govern myself, I will let myself be carried where the mule leads"; and she led me to Bitetto across various fields, when it was already the first hour of day. I certainly hold the matter in memory, so that from experience I can say, what a thing madness is.
[85] It happened afterward that I went into the town called delle Noci b, of the diocese of Conversano: there on a certain night Blessed James appeared to me again saying: "I want to have my Relic." and warned by a new apparition, I promised that I would return it as soon as I returned to Bitetto: and at his request I pledged my faith: but after I returned, I brought it to the Father Vicar of that place, in which the blessed body rests, narrating whatever had happened to me on that occasion. But I had received the said Relic through the death of my Lord Friar Michael Messerotti of good memory the Bishop of Bitetto: at length he obeys. and his nephew the Archdeacon Messerotti had given it to me; to which was affixed a note, written by the hand of the Bishop himself, most well known to me, with these words, "Concerning Blessed James." In faith of which I have written, subscribed, and sealed the present with my hand. It is strange that the day, month, and year are not added; for the manner above of noting the day of Holy Saturday, which in that year fell on April 19, denotes a somewhat later year. But let us pass to other things successively described by other Notaries, and joined to the Process already noted.
[86] Faith is made by me Donata Antonia dello Noce, from the town of c Francavilla of the province of Otranto, how to me five years ago seized with a continuous fever, with an excessive torment of the head, In 1643 a continuous fever is healed, so much that I thought I would soon expire, it was persuaded to me, that I should with the innermost affection of my heart turn to Blessed James of Bitetto. Which when I had done, and above my head had received the skullcap which had touched the Blessed's body; suddenly with all pain and the very fever driven away, I completely recovered: and therefore I took care to have these written by the hand of the Notary subscribing, and with my hand I noted a cross before the said Notary Giuseppe Salinario and witnesses. Given at Francavilla, on the 1st day of July of the first Indiction, 1648.
[87] Faith is made by me Canon Don Niccolò del Giodice of the land of d Rutigliano of the province of Bari… also with an oath insofar as is needful, that in the month of August last past the year 1660, in 1660 another fatal one, I fell into a disease and a malignant fever, so that I was despaired of by the physicians. But on a certain day, by the inspiration of Blessed James of Dalmatia, whose body rests today at Bitetto (on the occasion of a certain skullcap, which had been applied to his head and brought to me by a certain friend of mine from Rutigliano, saying that if I firmly hoped in Blessed James, I would obtain the grace of health), I vowed that I would go to Bitetto to visit his body and there arrange a Mass: and suddenly I received the desired grace, and from that time remaining devoted to him, I have written and subscribed the present with my own hand, before Vito Antonio de Soria the witness, and Vito Antonio de Frisantiis the Notary, at Bitetto on May 18, 1661.
[88] Faith is made by me Giulio Cesare Umbriani, formerly Royal Judge of the city of Bitonto… how in the year 1659, at the time when I was exercising the aforesaid office, I went to visit the Most Illustrious Gaeta e Bishop of Bitetto, my friend and special patron: a certain man obtains offspring by vow, whom I asked that he would graciously let me see the body of Blessed James of Dalmatia. The said Most Illustrious joined me with the Archdeacon, a person of first dignity in his Cathedral church; and ordered him to have the chest opened for me, which having been opened and the blessed body adored, I begged from my inmost heart that the Blessed would grant me offspring: and I added that I would not be ungrateful for the benefit, but would offer a silver lamp of 25 ducats. Shortly after these things, a few days later, Lady Anna Mazzei, my wife, felt herself pregnant, and in due time bore a daughter, who by the grace of God is most beautiful, in the twelfth year of sterile marriage. So for the completion of my vow, with the care of the Most Illustrious Bishop of Bitetto, a silver lamp was made: and I ordered the present to be written and confirmed with the subscription of my name, before witnesses and the Notary Don Francesco Serpe, Primicerius of Capua, at Capua on March 10, 1661.
[89] Faith is made by me Notary Vito Antonio Grisantius, of the land of f Turi of the province of Bari… how in the year 1659 in the month of September, a woman is healed who had relapsed because of a vow neglected by her husband, Theodora Parisii my wife, infirm with a malignant fever and given up by the physicians, had been. That fever lasted ten continuous days: but as soon as I made a vow to Blessed James of Dalmatia with the promise of going to Bitetto and there arranging a solemn Mass, she so quickly recovered, that within a few days she rose from her bed. But with certain impediments intervening, when I had deferred to fulfill that vow, in this very year in the month of April my wife relapsed again into a malignant fever, with a hidden puncture and flux in the throat; so that she could swallow no food at all, and on the seventh day of her disease was thought to be about to expire. Recitations therefore being made for her of commendations of the soul, I remembered the vow not yet fulfilled, which I again confirmed; and soon I received again the grace, with my wife within a short time healed, freed, and remaining free of all spot: wherefore I have subscribed and signed these with my own hand and seal, which I use in public writings, before two witnesses at Bitetto on May 18, 1661.
[90] and in 1663 another from pain of the kidneys. Faith is made by me Beatrice Ludovici Saraceni of Bitonto,… that for sixteen years tortured with a grave pain in my kidneys, and finding no remedy from the doctors often summoned in consultation; at length in the year 1663 in the month of May, by certain men passing through here, who said they were coming from Bitetto, it was persuaded to me that I should make a vow to Blessed James of Bitetto, with sure hope of immediately receiving health. I obeyed, vowed, and from that hour suffered no trouble: wherefore by the hand of the Reverend Don Matteo Fumai I asked these to be written and I signed with a subjoined cross, before Peter Giuseppe de Rossa the Notary, at Bitetto on June 5, 1664.
[91] Faith of the copy, So far the original manuscripts, of which he who described the copy for us, added this testimony: "That the present copy was extracted from its own original process, existing in this venerable convent of the Reverend Friars Minor of the stricter Observance of the Reformed of Saint Francis, outside the walls of this city of Bitetto, with which having made collation it agrees well, saving always the better, I testify, I Don Vitus Franciscus Vitarello, Canon of the Cathedral church of Bitetto, specially deputed for this by the Most Illustrious and Most Reverend Bishop of this city: and in faith I have confirmed and subscribed with my own hand, given at Bitetto, in the said convent, on the 7th day of the month of August 1673." confirmed by the subscription of the Chancellor and Bishop. On which same year and day concerning the fidelity of the transcription and collation, Cesare Francischinus of Montefortino of the diocese of Fermo, now dwelling in the city of Bitetto, ordinary Chancellor of the Episcopal Curia, and through the whole world of the earth public Notary by Apostolic authority, and in the College of Writers of the dear City registered, made faith in the customary form, with his subscription and seal. Who that he himself was and is such as he makes himself, and that to his public attestations in judgment and out full faith has always been given and is now given, at the same time was attested to, by Gaspar Toralto, by the grace of God and the Apostolic See Bishop of Bitetto; and finally the Episcopal seal was added by Don Joseph Riccius the Secretary.
ANNOTATIONS.
APPENDIX.
From more recent printed writers.
James, of the Order of Friars Minor, at Bitetto in Apulia (Blessed)
[92] Of this blessed servant of God, by tradition it is held, that while he lived, The Blessed dwelling at Cassano, he dwelt also in the Convent of Saint Mary of the Angels of Cassano for some time, and there because of the convenience of the solitary place, most suitable for spiritual exercise, he much profited in virtue. His still living memory there testifies to this: for in that place where then was a forest, now is the Friars' garden, an ancient tomb, into which the Blessed was accustomed to withdraw for prayer; and a stone reclinatorium, upon which he placed his wearied limbs: which two monuments are held in veneration not only by the Friars but also by seculars, as many as enter the garden. left his memory: It is also handed down that that iron cross, which is seen fastened in the trunk of an oak in such a way at the foot of the stairs leading toward the church, that it seems to have grown together with the substance of the tree itself; that the same Blessed fastened it into the plant which was still green at the time: wherefore it is reverently worn down by the kisses of all ascending there for the sake of prayer.
[93] images of him in various places, His image is seen before the door of the conventual church near Bitetto painted on the left side of that door, crowned with splendors, and bearing a cross in his hands. Likewise in the little window of the garden, through which one looks out, after you have passed the cemetery of the place, you will see such a painting, but more ancient: but he is kneeling and grasping a cross with his arms is expressed in a Turkish weaving, hung before the chest. Also in the end of the choir of the Friars hangs an old work tablet, and fills the space of a semicircle: in which the same man is represented both radiant and kneeling, holding a cross with his right hand, a rosary with his left. Finally in the garden which is behind the church, and a juniper planted by him. rises a juniper, equaling in height an aged cypress; which because the blessed man is believed to have planted, it is the custom to call "the juniper of Blessed James," and many devoutly take of its fruits, having often experienced an effective remedy against various infirmities.
[94] In the Bari convent of Saint Peter of the Observant Fathers, James is painted with a hare in his arms: because by tradition it is said, that such a little animal, when he could find no other escape from the dogs pursuing it, sought asylum within his bosom. Finally in the convent of Lecce he is expressed in such a way that from a demoniac kneeling before him, demons seem to come out. So far Friar Francesco of Lecce in his Italian little book: slight things indeed, but which mark the diligence of the author, and the cult of the Blessed extended to several Convents: wherefore it seems to be added here, The same dwelling at Conversano, what Paolo Antonio di Tarsia in the History of the Blessed Virgin de Peninsula or Cupersanensis book 3 wrote, and from him Friar Bonaventura of Ferzano transcribed in his book, which is called Memorable Minorite Things of the Province of Saint Nicholas of the Order of Minor Regulars of Observance, part 2 chapter 5 number 10, as his words (for we have not yet seen the book itself) Father Ignatius Zaccaria has transcribed for us; teaching that Cupersanum, commonly Conversano, is also an Episcopal city, populous, wealthy, and noble, distant from Bari eighteen thousand paces; and at equal distance from the same Metropolitan is the above-mentioned Cassano. Father Bonaventura's words are these.
[95] "When James was dwelling in the Conversano convent, every single night he would descend into that cave of the Blessed Virgin, where first he would afflict the bodily senses with scourges, then intent on prayer he would be rapt into ecstasy, and exercising the kitchen, and pass whole nights in divine contemplations. James gladly applied himself to the kitchen, and every single day from the temporal fire either descended into the meditation of eternal fire, or flew up to the burning of eternal charity: whence also it often happened that, destitute of his senses, he stood motionless among the pots. On a certain morning, when he was preparing beans for the monks, rapt in ecstasy, his hands clung to the pot, his mind to heaven; and tears flowing forth of themselves from his eyes, worthy to be received into heaven, fell into the poor little pot of beans. Meanwhile the Duke of Atri, passing through the door of the kitchen, he is found rapt in ecstasy by the Duke of Atri. saw the saint holding the pot with his hands, and alienated from his senses, and with flowing tears making both the pot and the beans wet. The Duke then marveling stood a little while, saying, 'You happy Religious, and twice happy, whom James feeds with his tears.' Soon he departed: but as James returned to his senses, he went to the Duke, and inquired from him what he wished to eat. To whom the Duke: 'I wish to eat none other than beans cooked with your tears.' By which both shame came upon James, and the affection of the Duke toward James grew." So far Friar Bonaventura, writing these things as having happened about the year
1480, when the Duke of Atri had withdrawn himself to Cupersanum, fearing death being inflicted on him by King Ferdinand. But he erred in two ways: for the savagery of Ferdinand against the Nobles occurred five years later, and a more faithful memory of the people of Bitetto holds that the Blessed lived at Bitetto for many years, so that it is credible that these things happened much earlier. Nor is the cause far to seek which brought the Duke to Conversano, since that city was under his dominion, and whenever he was away from the court, he would be believed to have resided there rather than in the entirely deserted Atri.
April III: 28. April
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