ON BLESSED PEREGRINE LATIOSI,
OF THE ORDER OF THE SERVANTS OF BLESSED MARY, AT FORLI IN EMILIA.
AFTER THE YEAR 1330.
PrefacePeregrine, of the Order of the Servants of Blessed Mary, at Forli (B.)
By the author D. P.
[1] Going to Rome in the year 1660, and returning thence in the following year, we looked upon and venerated many bodies of the Saints, religiously preserved; but nowhere was this grace granted to us with greater ceremony and splendor, A cult singular with the body placed upon an altar, than at Forli on the 23rd day of November, when the Secretary of that city and also Historian, D. Paulus Bonoli, had led us to the church of the Servite Fathers, whose soul now deceased may rest in the peace of Christ. For not only did several Religious assemble, led by Master Michael Angelo Gaddio, on behalf of the Convent, exhibiting the key of that chest in which the sacred body of Blessed Peregrine is kept, to honor this act with their presence; but also the deputies from the Magistracy, who through another of their Secretaries D. Marcus Marcianesius exhibited other keys of the same chest. There went forth also, besides the Sacristan and those in surplices assisting him, four pairs of Religious: while they sang the hymn, "Iste Confessor," as long as the chest was open, and noble men held lighted torches, it was permitted through transparent crystals to see, dried up indeed, but yet whole, the venerable pledge; to which view lies open to no one, unless first the great gate of the work and carving, which occupies the front of the most august tomb, is let down; and after that gate, the iron grilles gilded are unlocked, for which also several keys are needed. But the tomb itself rests upon a most ornate altar, in its own chapel, on the right side of the church, its own appearance and that of the whole chapel introducing to beholders not only wonder and delight, but also piety.
[2] concerning whom a Process composed in the year 1608, here will be given, But how ancient and continuous has been the religion of the people of Forli toward this their blessed citizen, and with how great miracles approved, will be clear from the Process, which was drawn up in the year 1608, extracted from the archive of that same city with the consent and by the mandate of the Magistracy, indeed by another's hand but faithfully for him, and sealed with his own Notarial and public seal of the Community, on the 25th day of April in the year 1673, by Horatius Marcianesius, Notary and Secretary, at the solicitous insistence of D. Eugenius Menghi, a man of primary nobility and authority, and most zealous for the cult of Blessed Peregrine; being persuaded through Reverend Father Bonifatius Vincenti, that not a small honor would accrue to that Blessed himself, if that whole Act, however prolix and filling a hundred pages, were transcribed for us. But that same Act was of such efficacy with Paul V the Supreme Pontiff and the Sacred Congregation of Rites, the Office granted to the Servites, that in the following year 1609 on the 20th day of March, a decree was issued, by which it is established that, concerning the Blessed Joachim of Siena (for his cause was also similarly being treated at that time) and Peregrine of Forli, the Religious of either sex of the Order of the Servants of Blessed Mary, on the feast days of those same Blessed, as they had formerly been accustomed, so in the future might lawfully recite the office of One Confessor not Pontiff, with proper lessons from the Lives of the same; and also that the names of the aforesaid Blessed Joachim and Peregrine might be inserted and noted in the new printing of the Martyrology in their proper place.
[3] which these recite on April 30, As far as the Office is concerned, the decree was at once ordered executed, as we have shown at length on the 16th of this month, before the Life of Blessed Joachim, which there is no need to repeat. Proper Lections also of Blessed Peregrine, recognized, approved, and prescribed for the Order of Servants for this day, have come forth from the press more than once. But in the Martyrology, of which since that time no new edition has yet appeared from Rome, whether the name of Blessed Peregrine is to be inserted on this or the following day, we have not yet learned: we believe however it should rather be inserted on this day. For although he died on the Kalends of May, and the citizens of Forli under this title hold it most festive, as if the feast of Saints Philip and James were not held on that day; since the people of Forli hold it on May 1. yet since the choir is impeded on the same Kalends by their Office, the Order of Servants has determined that he should be venerated on the day before; which we too think should be followed here. Philip Ferrari, who had composed the Lections for the General of the same Order, afterwards in his Catalog of the Saints of Italy preferred to retain him on the 1st of May according to the usage of the Forlinesi, and to insert into the said Catalog those same lections changed in a few places. On the same day had Francis Maurolycus entered him, in the third re-casting of his Martyrology; in the Marian calendar, Antony of Balinghem; and in the Poetic Martyrology, Nicholas Brautius.
[4] The Life written by Nicholas Burgensis, No contemporary wrote the Life, who is anywhere named or indicated: that praise was reserved for Nicholas Burgensis, a Knight of Siena, who is also said to have written the Life of Blessed Francis of Siena, of which we have some hope of receiving from Siena: and to him Philip Ferrari ascribes some Life of Blessed Joachim, which we have not yet seen: but well does he ascribe the Life of St. Catherine of Siena, from which in the last place we give, for her Acts, a remarkable miracle manifested in the person of the same by the Holy Virgin. This Life however of Blessed Peregrine we found at Rome in the Vallicellana library, in Codex H, containing a huge pile of Lives of this kind collected from every quarter, folio 285. That Nicholas died near the end of the fifteenth century: and had as contemporary Master Paul of the Attavantes of Florence, whose Life of Blessed Joachim we have edited. He wrote some Dialogue, and abridged by Pinus Cedrius. into which he wove a eulogy of Blessed Peregrine, which may be read in the Chronicle of the Servites compiled by Michael Poccianti at the year 1402; where also is proposed a brief Life of Blessed Peregrine himself, which in the year 1528 Lord Pinus son of Jerome Cedrius wrote down; which is a mere abridgment of that which we here give as written by Burgensis.
[5] Since neither names the year in which the Blessed died, nor any older writer; The year of death uncertain, I know not whence we can certainly define it. Gianius cites the MS. Chronicle of Brother Simon of Castellaccio of Alessandria, where the year 1330 is noted. A gloss added at the end of the Life written by Burgensis so notes the year 1284, that it easily seems that by the error of the transcriber L crept in for C, and so it may be believed (if you correct that error) that the number is defined in this place, which in Simon, who designates round numbers, was incomplete. Meanwhile the aforesaid Poccianti begins the year 1402 with these words: "In these days (as has been permitted to gather from the Annals of certain Fathers) Blessed Peregrine of Forli gloriously passed to the heavenly kingdom, who was not in 1402. sprung from the noble family of the Latiosi." I do not see how Gianius can here suspect carelessness of copyists, for how could such a thing find place in Annals and Chronicles successively noting the years, in so enormous a transposition of matters and times? Nor do I see any more how solidly is said "the truth, far superior to all these, approved by the authority of the Supreme Pontiff, nor in 1345. appears in his own lections," in which he is now said to have died in the year 1345. For of these Lections, as to this point, the whole authority finally resolves itself into the authority of the Prior of Forli, proposing for the first article, witnesses in the Process to be heard and examined, declaring, "how in the church of the Servants of St. Mary of Forli there rests in the Lord the body of Blessed Brother Peregrine of Forli for about two hundred sixty years or thereabouts": which manner of speaking determines nothing certain, and at most proves (and this from fame, as is stated) that the Blessed died half a century, at the least, earlier than Michael believed could be gathered from the Annals of certain Fathers. We say therefore that Peregrine died after the year 1330; but how long after precisely, we do not define.
[6] Finally after all these things there came forth in the year 1648 at Cesena, A more recent Italian Life by Albicinius the Life of this same often-named Blessed, set forth in elegant style in Italian, composed by Bernardinus Albicinius, with an appendix of 15 Miracles selected from the process. From that Life we note some things to the earlier one written by Burgensis. From the Appendix annexed to it, this one thing occurs to be noted, namely, that by the worship of the ecclesiastical Office granted by the Apostolic See to Peregrine, the piety and liberality of the Forlinesi citizens was so stirred up, that to that elegance and majesty which we described above the chapel of the Blessed himself was brought back, with altar and chest: into which when the venerable body was to be translated, the whole religious and secular Clergy flowed together, and a great number of Servite Fathers then present for the celebration of the Chapter. But when the pomp of this Translation was being led through the chief squares of the city, it happened also to have a passage through the Cathedral itself, and the sacred body to be placed before that statue of the Virgin Mother of God, from which he while living had once received an oracle about entering the Order of the Servants. These things were done,
as Paul Bonoli testifies in book 12 of his History of Forli, Translation of the body made in the year 1638. in the year 1638: at which time, although it is credible that not a few things happened which would have deserved to be committed to writing (nor does divine goodness usually let such occasions pass, by which it is invited to display itself more largely), nevertheless the before-mentioned D. Eugenius Menghi asserted to us that nothing was kept in writing under legitimate testimony: who also warned us in his own hand, that in the city of Barcelona and in the Principality of Catalonia the cult of Blessed Peregrine is remarkably strong, because of the stupendous miracles which are said to be there wrought at his invocation.
[7] The cult at Barcelona and miracles. Stirred by this indication, through the Reverend Father Matthias Soutermann, of the Austrian province, acting at Madrid in the service of the Most Excellent Count de Harrach, Imperial Legate, I easily obtained from Barcelona what seemed relevant. The first things are from a certain Spanish treatise, thus far kept in manuscript, but prepared for the press with the Ordinary's approbation, which has the title: "A brief account of the veneration and cult in which Blessed Peregrine Laxiosus is held in this city of Barcelona, and through these parts of the Spanish province of the Servite Fathers; and of some miracles, selected from a greater number, which God has wrought through the intervention of the Blessed aforesaid"; of which account, divided into three books, the third chapter of book 3 constitutes what we give below in the Appendix up to number 43. Then are subjoined things which the Prior of the Barcelona Convent, Brother Sebastian Fixeres, then commanded to be written, from the Accounts of those to whom the miracles themselves happened: which Accounts, he says, "have been sent to Rome by the mandate of the Superiors, whence in turn is expected the Commission directed to the Lord Archbishop, for approving those miracles themselves. And already more are also being sought out, to be placed after the Life of the Blessed, translated from Italian into Spanish, which as soon as it shall be printed will be sent to Antwerp, together with a copy of the authentic instruments to be drawn up thereupon." But these things, when they shall be brought, will have their place in a future Supplement of the work.
LIFE
By the author Nicholas Burgensis, Knight of Siena.
From a MS. of the Vallicellana Library.
Peregrine, of the Order of the Servants of Blessed Mary, at Forli (B.)
BHL Number: 6629
By the author NICHOLAS Burgensis FROM A MS.
[1] The only son of noble parents, The homeland of Blessed Peregrine was the not ignoble city of Romagna, Forli; his father, however, was a wise man, drawing his lineage from the illustrious and ancient family of the Latiosi, richer in gifts of mind and virtues than in possessions a. To his parents Peregrine was an only son, and accordingly most dear to them. He had already resolved, despising secular pomps, to follow the way of heavenly discipline; and considering death itself as gain, if he should proceed by the right way in the road, he had refuted the condition of this mortal life as a certain shadow and smoke: admonished by a stable and holy resolve, one day he betook himself to the church under the title of the Holy Cross b. And when he had stood before the figure of the Virgin Mary c for a rather long time, he at length besought her to deign to open to him the way of his salvation. To him immediately the Blessed Virgin, adorned indeed with precious and festive garments, manifestly appeared, and gave this answer: by the Blessed Virgin appearing to him "I truly desire, my son, to direct your steps in the way of your salvation."
[2] After he had considered with himself that she had been marked out with such adornments, and had thus immediately addressed him, he, in the manner of a simple dove, feared lest he were being deceived by the deceiver and enemy of the human race. Whom when the Virgin Mary saw thus uncertain and terrified, she said more kindly: "Fear not, son, for I am the mother of him whom you adore fastened to the cross; and by him I am sent, to show you the way of future felicity." To which words Peregrine thus answered: he is commanded to enter the Order of the Servants, "Behold I am ready to keep your commands: for I have always desired this in my mind above all, that I might in no way transgress your precepts. Do you then command, O Queen, and I am ready, and will willingly obey your commands." "Do you," said the glorious Virgin, "know our Religious, who are called the Brothers and Servants of Mary?" To this Peregrine: "I remember that mention of them has been made by many, and that their institute is holy and their conversation approved in a wondrous manner: but where they dwell, I am entirely ignorant." Which he said because there was not yet any convent of the Fathers Servants of the Virgin Mary at Forli.
[3] and to set out for Siena, Then the Virgin Mary thus spoke: "Peregrine is your name: you will therefore be both in name and in very deed a pilgrim: for it is needful that you go all the way to Siena; where, when you come, you will find those holy men, whose number you shall earnestly ask to join." Having received this, Peregrine immediately began his journey, and with an Angel accompanying him, he betook himself to the city of Siena. After he was before the building, with the door immediately knocked on, the porter, weighty in age, comes forth. "Whom do you seek?" he said; adding that it was now the hour of silence begun. When the porter had said this, Peregrine fell at the feet of the old man, as if exhausted beyond measure; and as a suppliant besought the old man that he should not be prevented from entering, especially because he had some secret matters to speak with the Prior.
[4] where received Hearing this, the porter gave him entrance, and the time of silence being over, led him to the Prior. Whom when the Prior himself had looked over with his eyes, he inquired then where he was from. He answered: "I am from Forli." Then, the matter having been told and Peregrine's counsel being known, the Prior with the Brothers, who had come together in one, were easily induced to believe entirely that he had been sent to them by the Virgin Mary; and they thought it a miracle of the Virgin Mary, who is accustomed to enlighten her faithful, and with great zeal to make them partakers of blessedness. Wherefore all the Confreres willingly received Peregrine, he is given the habit; clothing him with the holy and widowed habit of the Virgin Mary. Which done, a wonderful splendor shone around his head, since he was to keep most perfectly the chastity, obedience, poverty which he was about to profess. Having advanced to the thirtieth year of his age d, he was to the rest an example of virtue and sanctity.
[5] By the command of his Superior, he afterwards returned to Forli, his homeland, to observe and carry out the commandments of the Lord e: where first he wondrously mortified his flesh with vigils, afterwards sent back to Forli fastings, and afflictions of the body; and, what is incredible, for thirty years he was seen never to sit. He always stood while he ate; he prayed on bended knees; if perhaps sometime he was overcome with weariness or sleep, for a little while he leaned on a stone, or on a bench if he had been in the choir. At night he did not sleep in a bed, but spent almost the whole night reading hymns and psalms. He always meditated on the law of God: he lives in great sanctity by the examples of Christ, as far as he could, he desired to advance: each day he rehearsed with himself his deeds, weeping over the offenses and errors which he seemed to himself to have committed; which also each day he revealed to a Priest, and confessed with many tears: and because he was a holy man, from the most burning desire of fully keeping the divine law, he imputed many things to himself. f
[6] His leg eaten by incurable cancer, Meanwhile the best and merciful God, who is accustomed to try those inflamed with heavenly love, and by trying to strengthen them, inflicted a most troublesome kind of disease upon Peregrine; for one of his legs so swelled up and wasted away, that all those visiting Peregrine for duty's sake could not hold back from tears. To the swelling of the wasted leg was added the disease which they call cancer, most terrible; from which such a stench breathed forth, that it could be endured by no one sitting by; for which reason he had now been abandoned by his kinsmen, nay, he was a weariness to himself, and was commonly called another Job; so corrupted, so afflicted he seemed. Yet, placed in so great and so odious a torment, he did not for that reason bewail his lot with complaints. But he bore that wasting and torment with most constant mind, trusting in the Apostolic tradition, by which it is asserted that virtue is made perfect in weakness.
[7] One of his fellow citizens, greatly lamenting so grievous a sickness of Peregrine, Paul Salatius, a physician, came to the servant of God languishing at home: which the doctors had decided to amputate, then, having inspected the leg, most accurately inquired the cause of the disease; in which finally, together with all the rest, he remained of this opinion, that no remedy for health was at hand, and that the disease itself was going to grow greater day by day, and finally infect the whole body, unless the swollen leg were quickly amputated. Therefore it was determined, with all agreeing, judging it better that one limb should perish than the whole body. Peregrine, before the appointed day for cutting off the leg, on the next night, after he had meditated with himself upon that matter, determined to have recourse to Jesus Christ our and his Savior. Therefore he arose as he could, and with the greatest difficulty dragged himself alone into the Chapter, he praying to the Crucified himself, in which was the figure of Jesus Christ crucified g: to whom as suppliant he used these words: "O Redeemer of human nature, you for the atonement of our sins willed to undergo the torment of the cross and a most bitter death: while you were on earth among mortals, you healed those afflicted with various diseases, you cleansed many lepers, you gave the light of eyes to the blind, when he said, 'Jesus son of David, have mercy on me.' In like manner, Lord my God, free this my leg from this inexplicable disease: which if you do not, it is necessary that it be amputated."
[8] As he was saying these things, greatly tormented by the infirmity and put to sleep, during his rest, Jesus, placed on the cross, seemed to him to descend from the cross, he is miraculously cured: and to take away all the languor of the leg. Soon waking up, he felt the leg cured and so firm, as if he had never labored under any adverse health. Due thanks then being rendered to most merciful God for so great a gift, he returned to his cell. Behold, in the morning, after day had dawned, with instruments and ointments the doctor is present, to perform the cutting of the leg. To whom Peregrine said: "Return home, you who came to heal me: that doctor, who has restored me to entire health, has thus spoken in me: 'I am he who gives and takes away equally adverse and prosperous health, since I bear the care of soul and body together: I am he who enlightened the blind, cleansed the unclean, cured the paralytics, raised the dead from hell: behold, I am he who refused no labor, no disgrace for your salvation, not the hardest kind of death.' He who so spoke in me, O doctor, to the doctor who had come to perform the cutting, he has wholly freed me."
[9] When the doctor had heard these things, he thought that Peregrine had become delirious from the force of the disease: and "Show your leg," he said, "that I may deliver you from the contagious ruin of the whole body." "O doctor, heal yourself," said Peregrine: "I have no need now of this art of yours: he wondering, the Prince of medicine and the author of human salvation has driven away all my sickness." And straightway showing his leg, "Behold with your eyes," he said, "and know what doctor I had." The physician wondered exceedingly, when he saw the leg so free and
so strong, so that no signs of such a tumor, no scars of the consuming cancer were seen; and he said to his companions: "O great miracle!" Who, departing from there, preached to all whom he met the so evident miracle of God shown upon his servant, and desired to spread it through the whole city. and publishing the miracle. Immediately the fame of so great a matter was diffused abroad, and produced the greatest veneration for Peregrine, the friend of God. Who, after these things, being still more sanctified, followed the way of the Lord with all his strength, sighing for the heavenly joys, prepared for all who keep the lordly and vital commandments.
[10] He dies nearly eighty years old, He, nearly eighty years old, seized by a most burning fever, closed his last day; whose soul the Blessed Virgin Mary, accompanied by Blessed Philip h of Florence and Blessed Francis of Siena of the same Order, led to the honor of the heavenly kingdom. With Peregrine immediately i dead, a most fragrant odor emanated from his body; which those who stood around, feeling not without great and wondrous sweetness, were greatly wondered. and many flow together to see the body: While that sacred covering of flesh of the soul now triumphing in heaven, was placed upon a bier and kept supine according to custom; as if the death of the holy man had been proclaimed by a trumpeter, it was on the lips of all the people of Forli, striving to see the venerable relics in the choor. The country folk likewise from every quarter of the town flowed together, compelled by the fame of the departed man of God, nor could the gates of the city be closed that night with the multitude rushing in. Nor were there lacking divinely sent testimonies of miracles of his sanctity to Blessed Peregrine: but we shall be content to recite two or three miracles; for very many others at Forli, in the church of the Servants of the Virgin Mary, are laid up committed to writing and signed by the hand of a most approved notary k.
[11] At his invocation a blind man is enlightened When the venerable body of Blessed Peregrine was in the choir visible to all; behold, a man of the lowest lot, a beggar and blind, as a suppliant asked the sacred relics, and with inmost soul poured forth prayers for recovering his sight. O the immense power of God! O graces upon his servants! The blessed body then raised itself, and before the sight of a great crowd blessed the blind man with the sign of the Cross, to whom, as it were, scales seemed immediately to fall from his eyes. He exclaimed for joy, who had been blind, and before all testified that he plainly saw; and after he had given great thanks to most merciful God and to blessed Peregrine, he departed rejoicing.
[12] A possessed woman is freed Into a woman of Forli, one or several of the more wicked spirits had rushed, and turned to madness she was tormented beyond measure, nor could she be restrained by fetters or chains, for she was very strong, and burst forth from or carried far from her all kinds of bonds. The fame of the miracles being more widely spread, her relatives dragged this raging woman to the sacred relics of blessed Peregrine in the church: which as soon as she touched, the malignant demon was driven away from her, not without a horrible cry; and various kinds of living creatures seemed to come out from the mouth of the seized woman; and such words were heard by all who were then present: "Your prayers, Peregrine, and your orisons torment me wondrously." The woman therefore, wholly freed from the diabolic power, gave greatest thanks to God and blessed Peregrine, and joyfully returned home with her family.
[13] A certain man, climbing up a tall tree, A man fallen from a tree is healed. then, with his footing failing, fell headlong to the ground; from which fall with his intestines bursting out he was ruptured. There was no other hope of his recovery. Afterwards, with the prayers of Blessed Peregrine intervening, he obtained his former and whole health, and mindful of the grace gave due thanks. l
ANNOTATIONS.
PROCESS
on the cult and miracles of Blessed Peregrine,
from the archive of the City of Forli.
Peregrine, of the Order of the Servants of Blessed Mary, at Forli (B.)
FROM A MS. Process
CHAPTER I.
The institution of the Process: the inspection of the sacred body and chest.
[1] In the name of Christ, Amen. In the year from his nativity 1608, Indiction 6, on the 28th day of the month of July, but in the third year of the Pontificate of our Most Holy Father and Lord in Christ, Lord Paul, by Divine Providence Pope the Fifth. Whereas, as daily experience teaches, all things which are contained within the compass of heaven, however strong, firm, and permanent they may sometimes appear, [Lest the memory of the particular things proving Blessed Peregrine's sanctity perish] nevertheless slip away in the course of time; so that many things which still flourish among the memories of men, from thence as if they had never existed, voracious time would have already destroyed, unless by the labor and care of provident men, those same things, snatched from the whirlpool of death, were restored to the monuments of memory: therefore hence it comes, that although in the sacred pages, which in common speech are called Chronicles, of the venerable Religion of the Servants of the Blessed Virgin Mary, where it treats of Blessed Peregrine of the Latiosi of Forli, who was a professed Brother of the said Religion, many things are told about the sanctity of his life, miracles, and deeds; yet many other things are also said to have existed, which make his sanctity more evident, although, either by the course of days which we have already spoken of, or by the negligence of men, they are so hidden and unknown, that in a short time they would entirely perish. For this matter, to the greater praise and glory of God Almighty and of Blessed Peregrine, being willing to provide so far as in his power, the religious and distinguished preacher and professor of sacred theology, Master Peregrine of the Dandi of Forli, The Prior of Forli by the mandate of the Order, in the year 1608, of the same Order of the Servants, and at present most worthy Prior of the Convent of the said Order in this city of Forli; and the more so since that business had been imposed on him by the Most Reverend Father General and other Superiors of his said Religion, and was frequently and repeatedly entrusted and committed to him, and on account of his distinguished devotion toward the said Blessed Peregrine; therefore before the Illustrious and very Reverend Lord Archangel Albertinus, citizen, Doctor of Laws and Archdeacon of the Cathedral of Forli, and General Vicar in spiritual and temporal matters of the Most Illustrious and Most Reverend Lord Caesar Bartolelli, by the grace of God and the Apostolic See Bishop of Livio most worthy, on the said day the same Reverend Father Master Peregrine de Dandis appeared, and in fact presented a certain paper of the following tenor.
[2] "Appearing before you, Master Peregrine Dandi of Forli … humbly and with due reverence said and set forth, he asks the Episcopal Vicar that for drawing up the Process that since he wishes and intends, as he has in commission from his Most Reverend Father General and other Superiors of his Religion, and for other just and rational causes and reasons moving his mind to this, to draw up a Process on the life and sanctity of the Blessed Brother Peregrine of
the Latiosi of Forli, who was a professed member of his said Religion: therefore, both in his own name and in the name of his said Most Reverend General and other Superiors of the same Religion, he asked, insisted, and earnestly requested, that his Illustrious and very Reverend Lordship might deign by his authority and by his favorable and fitting office to intervene, and to appoint a legal and enrolled Notary, to choose a Notary; who might authenticate and write down faithfully the sayings of the witnesses to be examined, the instruments to be drawn up, and any other writings necessary in such a process, and also to choose an hour more convenient for his Illustrious and very Reverend Lordship, to be present at the examinations of the witnesses and other things as above…"
[3] He also presented the articles to be proposed to those being examined, of which below. And then the very Illustrious and Most Reverend Bishop, or the very Reverend Lord Vicar General, having seen the said petition, and considering what was contained in the said paper, because to those justly asking assent should not be denied, accepted and admitted the aforesaid, insofar as they should be received and admitted by right; Here he prescribes the manner of hearing witnesses and commanded that proceedings be had thereupon and that the aforesaid examination should take place, interposing his authority thereupon in every better way: yet with all those having any interest whatsoever, or the Lord Fiscal Procurator of the Episcopal Court, being cited for every good end and effect by public edict…to say against and to see the witnesses examined and to state a cause why the premises should not be done. And the Fiscal may protest, that the witnesses are examined on their names, surnames, profession, homeland, if they are confessed and have communicated, if they have any interest, if anything was promised to them; and that they be interrogated how they know the premises, and on the cause of knowledge, place, witnesses, co-witnesses, and other things which are required for a valid examination and deposition of the witnesses … The same Lord Vicar chose and appointed, for the writing, asking, and making of the said Process, Lord Horatius Leonius, and appoints Horatius Leonius as Notary; a public Notary of Forli, and accepting with very full faculty and authority … as if he were the Chancellor of the Episcopal Court, with the Illustrious and Reverend Lords Baptista Avezzanus and Hieronymus Nicolinus, Chancellors of Forli, present.
[4] who on July 30 before many witnesses Which Notary, having been asked above all to go on the 30th day of the month of July to the chest of the holy body itself to inspect it, "as a son of obedience," he says, "I personally betook myself to the church of the Servites, where also all the undersigned assembled: namely, the Illustrious and very Reverend Lord Vicar, the Illustrious and Reverend Lord Flaminius Porrettus de Russio Provost, the Illustrious and Reverend Lord John Francis Rabbius Archpriest, the Illustrious and Reverend Lord Horatius Betius Primicerius of the Cathedral of Forli, and also the Illustrious and Reverend Lord Bernardus Dentus, the Illustrious and Reverend Lord Bartholomew Solombrinus, the Illustrious and Reverend Lord Baptista Avezzanus, the Illustrious and Reverend Lord Baptista Gabbonus, and the Illustrious and Reverend Lord Camillus Paulutius, all Canons of the same Cathedral, others being legitimately prevented being absent; equally, the below-written Illustrious Lords of the Magistracy of the Lords Conservators of this city of Forli; namely the Illustrious and Generous Knight Lord Bernardus Paulutius Head, Lord Fabritius Terdotius, from the ecclesiastical and secular order Lord Marius Avezzanus, and Lord Gaspar Numajus, the others being absent; and also the Illustrious Lords of the Magistracy of the ninety Pacificators of the said city, namely Master of Arts and Medicine Lord Alexander Padovanus Prior, Lord Ludovicus Angelerius, Lord Fabritius Betius, and Lord Aemilius Betius, the others being absent. Likewise the Illustrious Doctor of Both Laws Lord Hieronymus Paulutius, Advocate of the Illustrious Community, and Lord Fabrius Marcianesius and Lord Caesar Blondinus, Secretaries of each Magistracy respectively; and also the Illustrious and Excellent Lords Antonius Dentus and Absalon Savorellus, Jurisconsults, and the Illustrious Knights Vincentius Capoferrus Gabeatius, and Silvius de Numajis, of the Militia of St. Stephen; and very many others both Knights and Doctors, and finally a great multitude of citizens and of the common folk of the people of Livio…"
[5] he opened the chest of the holy body, "And when I had arrived there, with the Notary and all the others above-written standing by and observing, the same very Reverend Father Prior, with many and very many lights first kindled, and with the sound of bells accompanying, and with other signs and acts of reverence and the greatest devotion set forth before, opened a certain gilded chest adorned with many paintings, existing above the second altar, in order situated on the left side of the said church of the Servites, entering the said church by the greater door: which chest was closed and guarded by keys, as is done at all times; and is fixed in the walls of the said chapel and altar and walled in, having within itself another smaller chest, similarly supported with gold and decorated with various paintings, which likewise was opened. And when thus the said Reverend Father Prior and with him also the Sacristan of the Convent, with stoles and surplices, had opened the said chests, by all first kneeling before the said altar a prayer was made: and afterwards the prayer finished, exhibited its intactness to be considered by all, the said very Reverend Father Prior showed to me the Notary and to each of those above-named and to each and every other standing by, both those placed in dignity and those outside it, both noble and ignoble, and one after another, and gave for seeing and considering a certain corpse, placed in the said inner chest, lying supine and clothed with the habit of the said Religion of the Servants. And that corpse of a man, having its flesh fitted together with bones and nerves and whole in every part, unharmed, not affected by any corruption, not corroded anywhere, except in the face where the nostrils are lacking; but the feet and hands with their nails, and finally the rest of the body, which can be seen and which is covered by its garments, together with the aforesaid garments as above, appear whole and entire; although the flesh is dried up by age of time. And from the opening of the said chest and the inspection of the corpse no bad odor at all emanated.
[6] They swear that it is the body of Blessed Peregrine, Which body, so exposed above for seeing, having been seen and diligently considered by all and each of the above-written, all and each of the above-written and the whole multitude of people standing by, by their corporal oath to the holy Gospels of God, as they swore, having touched the Scriptures with their hand, being in the hands of the above- and under-written Notary, said, affirmed, and recognized, and with one voice all confessed, that the said corpse was the proper and real body of the Blessed Father Brother Peregrine of the Latiosi of Forli, of the Order of the Servants of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which there had been preserved for about 260 years, and had been and was venerated and adored as such by them and by the whole city of Forli, and also by the whole people of Forli and by all who had knowledge of Blessed Peregrine, which has been publicly honored at Forli for 260 years. had been and was held, kept, believed, and reputed as such through many years, and always, and from so great a time past that no memory at all exists to the contrary; and that today also he is held, kept, reputed, and believed as such; and daily venerated with the greatest honor and reverence, and with no doubt whatever existing; and that upon this there never arose or was or is any suit, controversy, or doubt by anyone, contrary in any way to this truth: and so also all with one mouth and by oath said and affirmed, that this had always been handed down, said, and published by all and each of their ancients and predecessors without doubt… and that this is public and notorious; since the same corpse and holy body has always been publicly shown to all each year on the first day of May with the greatest fervor, devotion, and joy of the whole people of Livio and of the district and of neighboring towns and cities, as is held from most ancient traditions, and is still shown today…"
[7] A public instrument was drawn up and signed concerning this matter on the third day of August: but on the fourth day was presented and received the Martyrology published by Maurolycus and printed at Venice by the Juntas in the year 1576, to this end, that in its proper place and time it might be presented to the witnesses to be examined, because of these words there to be read: "On the Kalends of May at Forli, of Blessed Peregrine of the Order of the Servants." Then the articles being presented, on the same day, to be proposed in the examination of the witnesses, witnesses began to be heard according to them up to the 14th of October inclusive. Then again the Notary was asked to come to the said church of the Servites, on October 4 the Notary returns to recognize the images; for the purpose of recognizing and more diligently inspecting and considering all and each of the miracles already done and wrought by the said Blessed Peregrine, and all other images and figures which are and are found depicted, both upon the upper chest and upon the inner chest where the body of the said Blessed Peregrine is laid up, and also upon the walls of the said chapel, and for recording all these things here. Who by the command of the said Vicar, betaking himself thither, in his presence and in that of three Canons, Baptista Avezzanus, Hieronymus Nicolinus, and Baptista Gabbonus, and with many other noble men, with the same rite and order as above, the chest being opened, he saw over it so opened and noted as follows.
[8] in which partly the Life of the Blessed First in the first part of the first order of the said chest is the figure of a lay man, knocking at the doors of a monastery, which prefigures the vocation of Blessed Peregrine to religion. In the second, however, appears a certain figure of a man, clothed with the garb of the Brothers Servants, and offering his leg to a doctor, laboring with an ulcer and cancer, to be cured. The third part contains a certain figure, clothed in the aforesaid habit, praying before the Crucified and representing the miracle of the Saint restored to health. The fourth prefigures a Servite Brother showing the healed leg to the doctor present there, having with him instruments for cutting and ointments for healing, the doctor being astonished for this reason: and all the aforesaid pictures denote the same history of the leg of the Blessed healed by the most holy Crucified.
[9] partly miracles are indicated. But in the first place or part of the second order of the said pictures, there appears a certain possessed woman, standing before the bier where the body of Blessed Peregrine lies, and freed from the demon. In the second, however, are the following figures: a certain lay man dead and placed in a sarcophagus, but the same there restored to life, and kneeling before the figure of a man clothed in the habit of the Servites, appearing in the air and surrounded with splendors. This is the history of the dead man called back to life by Blessed Peregrine. In the last place a certain man fallen from the top of a tree fixed in such and such a way, that that trunk penetrated in a straight line through the belly and thence through
the shoulders: then afterwards appears the same man whole, on bended knee before Blessed Peregrine, appearing in the air as above: which miracle is read in his life.
[10] and other pictures on the wall. All these things appear and are seen depicted on the aforesaid chest enclosing the body of Blessed Peregrine, and on the inner cover or little chest of the same curvature, where the said casket is preserved, respectively delineated, and painted with most ancient paintings. But on the wall of the said chapel are painted, on the right side, the same miracles of the dead man raised, and of the man fallen from the top of a tree, with the figure of Blessed Peregrine appearing in the air surrounded with lights. On the left side, however, of the said altar, on the said wall is seen a man kneeling before the image of Blessed Peregrine, appearing in the air surrounded with such lights or splendors, and a woman similarly kneeling. And all these things are in the lower part of the said wall: but above, on this side and that, are painted two figures of Brothers Servites, at the just stature of a man, with splendors, as Saints are accustomed to be painted: of which one is the image of Blessed Peregrine, because he holds the Crucified in his hand, as the said Saint is accustomed to be painted; the other of Blessed Philip of the said Order of Servants…
[11] On October 20 passages of authors about the Blessed are exhibited Finally on the 20th day of October the aforesaid Prior appeared and, thinking within himself that it was not absurd, for making the sanctity of Blessed Peregrine more widely known to the world, that all those things which gloriously speak of him should be gathered together in one and registered in this present process, actually presented a certain book printed at Florence in the year 1557, "Of the Chronicles of the affairs of the whole sacred Order of the Servants of the Blessed Virgin Mary," by the author Brother Michael of Florence: likewise a certain panegyric oration on the praises of the city of Forli by the Reverend Father Master Nicholas Brigantus of Foropompilii, delivered at Forli in the Provincial convent of the Brothers Servites celebrated there, in which mention is made of Blessed Peregrine. According to whose petition there were consequently gathered, copied, extracted, and registered those things which are contained in the Chronicles from folio 70 to folio 71 and from folio 178 to 182; and those which in the aforesaid oration on pages 8 and 9: which oration appears to have been wholly manuscript; and since nothing contributes to the knowledge of the history, we do not think it is missed in this place. But the Chronicles themselves are those of which treatment was made in number 5 of the Preliminary Commentary.
CHAPTER II.
The witnesses heard on thirteen articles proposed to examination.
[12] In God's name, amen. Below are the depositions of certain witnesses, examined on the articles and interrogatories produced, for the future memory of the matter and that the truth may more appear. On the 4th day of August 1608, The names of the witnesses. before the Illustrious and very Reverend Lord Archangel Albertinus … General Vicar, and me the Notary specially appointed for this, personally stood the Illustrious and Noble man Lord Bernardinus Paulutius, soldier of St. Paul of the city, and at present Head of the Illustrious Magistracy of the Lords Conservators of Forli, the first witness, on behalf and at the instance of the very Reverend Father Master Peregrine de Dandis, of about 58 years of age.
II. The Illustrious and Excellent Doctor of Arts and Medicine Lord Alexander Padovanus of Forli, and at present most worthy Prior of the Illustrious Magistracy of the number of ninety men Peacemakers of Forli, of about 40 years.
III. The Illustrious and most Excellent Doctor of Both Laws Antonius Dentus, a Noble of Forli, of about 60 years.
IV. Lord Peter James de Fulfis, a Noble of Forli, of about 76 years, of the Council.
V. The Illustrious Lord Knight Vincentius Capoferreus, a Noble of Forli, of the Order of St. Stephen, of about 52 years, who was often Head of the Conservators.
On the 13th day of August, Lord Ludovicus de Angeleriis of Forli, a Noble, of about 62 years, witness VI.
VII. The Illustrious and Excellent Doctor of Both Laws Lord Hieronymus Paulutius of Forli, Advocate of the Illustrious Community of Forli, of about 28 years.
On the 19th day of August, the Illustrious Knight Lord Bernardinus de Ferramontibus, a Noble of Forli, of the Order of St. Stephen, of about 52 years, witness VIII.
IX. The Illustrious and Noble Knight Lord Galeatius de Numajis, of the Order of St. Stephen, of about 45 years.
On the 20th day of August, Lord Peter Martyr Timideus, witness X.
On the 21st day of August, Lord Galanottus Panticius, a Noble of Forli, of about 64 years, witness XI.
XII. Master Henry Caesarius of Forli, Surveyor, of about 72 years.
XIII. The Illustrious and Reverend Lord Baptista Avezzanus, Canon of the Cathedral of Forli, of about 40 years, Priest.
On the 7th day of October. The Reverend Father Brother Antonellus of Foropompilii, of the Order of the Servants of the Blessed Virgin Mary, of 60 years of age, 48 of habit, witness XIV.
Witnesses of the Castle of Foro-Pompilii one after another.
I. The Reverend Lord Virgilius de Bellenghis, Presbyter Priest, of about 50 years. II. The Reverend Lord Joseph de Bellonis, Presbyter Priest, of about 51 years. III. The Reverend Lord John Baptist de Spagnolis, Presbyter Priest, of about 33 years. IV. Lord Augustine Mazzolinus, of 40 years. V. Lord Sanctes de Gardinis, of about 59 years. VI. Lord Paul Mignanus, of about 42 years, long resident at Forli.
On the same day the very Reverend Father Master Peregrine de Dandis, at present Prior of the Convent of the Servants of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Forli, of 53 years of age, about 36 of habit, a witness was heard after the three aforesaid from Foropompilii, before the other three of the same castle were heard.
[13] who answered, All these, with the articles soon to be individually adduced read to them, answered in the Italian tongue; nor is it necessary to weave in each one's answers, since they almost all agree in the affirmation of the truth proposed in each article, except witness XIV, who more clearly set forth most things: therefore his words we shall render in Latin more often, and those of the others when they shall have said something singular. But the articles are the following, namely:
I. How in the church of St. Mary of the Servants of Forli there rests in the Lord the body of Blessed Brother Peregrine of Forli, Professed of the said Order of the Servants, the body has been held for 260 years, about 260 years: and so it was and is public voice and fame, public and notorious. Which as most certain witness XIV affirmed after the others to know, because he had been of the family of the Convent of Forli more than twenty years, sometimes Sacristan, sometimes Prior.
II. How constant fame and common opinion and reputation of all, famous for miracles, in the whole city and in other parts of the world and throughout the whole Order of the Servants, is that both in life and in death and after death, through the merits of his humble servant Peregrine of Forli, God Best and Greatest has deigned to work very many and indeed remarkable miracles, and daily has been pleased to work to show the glory and blessedness of the said Blessed man and of his most holy Mother ever Virgin Mary. Which each simply affirmed, from public voice and fame only: but witness IV added that those who suffered from cancer were accustomed to vow themselves to him, and through him for the most part to obtain the grace of health, as, he says, "I remember very well." Witness V confirms the article, saying: "I remember that when I was at Rome, Cardinal Baronius of glorious memory and famous even among foreigners. often and earnestly asked me about the same Blessed, and in turn told me many things about the same." Witness VI: "I know," he says, "that a certain Father of Verona of the Order of the Servants took with him to Verona two fingers of one hand of this glorious Saint; and I understand they are there honored as very notable Relics." Witness VIII: "It should be known," he says, "that my late brother Matthew Ferramonti the Captain, who was a Knight of the Order of the Most Serene Duke of Savoy, often narrated to me while he lived, that when he was in the court of his said Most Serene Lord at Turin, a certain noble of the family Latiosa from the city of Nizza and Secretary of his Highness, when he knew my brother to be of Forli, often asked him for information about the family of the Latiosi of Forli, saying his family also had descended from there, and that he knew there had been a certain holy man of the same family named Blessed Peregrine, and that his body was still kept whole."
the Crucifix in the Chapter is venerated by all; III. How in the cloister of the same church, in the chapel commonly called "il Capitolo," is found and preserved even today the image of the most holy Crucified, before which Blessed Brother Peregrine praying deserved to receive the grace of cure from the most grievous and incurable disease of cancer, with which he was afflicted in the leg: which most holy image is held in great veneration, both by the Brothers and by all Christ's faithful in the said city of Forli. To which witness III more expressly says: "All Forli knows in how great devotion that devout Crucifix is held by all: and with how great frequency it is visited and adored by every kind of men, both because of the graces which there are continually granted, and because of the memory of the miracle wrought in the person of Blessed Peregrine, as is held from most ancient tradition." Witness V says he believes that there is no one in the whole city who is not most devoutly affected toward it. Witness XV confirms the continuation of the graces, formerly and now accustomed to be granted there, as known to him by most certain and ocular experience, as long as he lived in the Order and Convent.
the sepulchre and images are frequented, IV. How to his sepulchre and images (which always were and are depicted with splendors, as is customary with saints and Blessed) there always was and to the present day is held a frequent concourse of men of both sexes, for obtaining his intercession with God, on account of infinite graces, which, if any commend themselves to his patronage, they deserve to receive from our most kind God for the glory and honor of his Holy servant. This article almost in the same words all affirmed, so that no one added anything singular to be expressed.
before them lights burn, vows are affixed: V. How at his sepulchre and images lights have always been and are kept, and tablets and images are found hung, of wax and of silver, painted and sculpted, monuments and marks of the graces which they received in their necessities and infirmities, who had recourse to his suffrages with pious and sincere affection, showing by this reason their gratitude to God and to the blessed man. Witness XIV answered: "At the tomb of the said Blessed a lamp always burned: and I when I was Sacristan took care to keep it lit, but when I was Prior, I caused it to be lit by others. As for ex-votos, I most certainly declare that their multitude was so great that they covered the whole wall of that chapel: among others there was hung a wooden leg, and many silver offerings. But when on a certain night our sacristy was robbed, those also were carried off:
but the other vows of wax and the tablets, through the scanty care of him who succeeded me, were taken away, and the saint himself thus defrauded of the glory accruing to him thence on earth." The same things having been seen by themselves, but now no longer seen, nor knowing what became of them, several other witnesses also expressly affirmed. Witness IV also particularly mentioned the wooden leg. Witness XV denies ever having seen the altar of Blessed Peregrine without a lamp burning before it: that upon it always Mass used to be said and lights lit.
VI. How the said Blessed Peregrine by all faithful of both sexes, Peregrine is believed to be a Saint by all without doubt: both laity and ecclesiastics and religious persons, noble and ignoble, has always been, is held, and is kept reputed, for a most religious, most humble, most devout man, a Religious of most holy manners and virtues, and a most worthy and most acceptable handmaid and servant of Christ and his blessed Mother Mary: whom all with one voice and common opinion have always, for about 260 years, believed and believe to reign in eternal blessedness with Christ and the Saints in glory. This Article all confirmed with simple assertion, and almost in the same words in Italian: witness V added also here the weight of Baronius's authority, which he had previously cited. But witness XV in confirmation of what was said, says, "I suggest also this, that for some time in various convents of our Order and especially in this one of Forli the Office of the same Blessed was done on the day of his own feast, [the same was formerly worshiped with an ecclesiastical office among the Servites,] as of a lesser Confessor, and I remember that when I was a young man and novice, I sang the epistle in the solemn Mass, which is celebrated at his altar on the said feast: in which Mass was made his commemoration, and all else which is customarily done concerning a lesser Confessor. But if now many were still alive who were living at that time, they would still remember, as still lives and remembers Father Brother Antonellus of Foro-Pompilii, my contemporary in age." This is witness XIV, who himself also says, "I so did and saw done for many years. But the reform of the office came, once made by Pope Pius the Fifth of happy memory; and then the Priors, led by some scruple lest they be in opposition to that reform, judged that the aforesaid Office should be omitted, which other of their successors again took up; yet at last it was altogether omitted: and this is most true."
the feast of May 1 is celebrated most solemnly VII. How on the Birthday of Blessed Peregrine, which falls on the first day of May, not only the whole city of Forli, but also the whole district and other places and towns of Romagna, even to the Alps and the confines of the state of Florence, in the greatest concourse and frequency of men, run to venerate his sepulchre and his holy Relics; holding for certain, not only that he is placed in the glory of the Blessed, but that he will be a most pious intercessor for them with God. This article all attested from ocular faith, first of all witness XIV, adding that as sacristan he had been accustomed, for the feast day, to adorn the altar and assist, and to serve those who offered their eyes, to be touched by that wand with which he himself had touched the blessed body, as is done from most ancient custom. Witness I adds that on that day both Magistracies assemble for the festival of the Blessed, but Mass and Vespers are sung with solemn music. As for the concourse from neighboring towns, which was customary, witnesses from Foro-Pompilii expressly agreed, of whom the first says, "I affirm that from all the time I can remember, I always saw on the first of May many from Foro-Pompilii going to the festival of Blessed Peregrine; and always I also heard our elders were accustomed to go there: I myself went several times to the music, which then is made at the Servites of Forli. But this is one of the chief devotions of the people of Foro-Pompilii, because that Blessed is most famous in our castle."
& is named from him: VIII. How by all in the city of Forli the first day of May is called and named the feast day of St. Peregrine, although on the same day by the whole Catholic Church throughout the world the commemoration of the holy Apostles James and Philip is made. Nothing is added to this by anyone.
images also are had elsewhere with rays and the title of Blessed. IX. How the image of Blessed Peregrine, not only in the church of the Servites of Forli, but also in other places of the said city, and even in other cities, is found depicted and with splendors, as is customary with other Saints and Blessed. To this article Witness I, and several others after him, name the church of the Hospital of Casa-Dei, and the secretariat of the Palace, where such an image is seen among the images of the Forlinesi illustrious by sanctity or another title. Of places outside the city most deny to know; yet some indicate that it should be presumed that it is so found, especially in convents of the Servites, as in the convent of Forli it is had in several places: whose presumption confirming Witness XIV says, "Not only at Forli, but also at Bologna, above the door of our refectory, a large and beautiful image of the Blessed is seen depicted, with the inscription BLESSED PEREGRINE OF FORLI. I saw him also depicted in a certain little monastery of ours which we have at Rivera, above Imola, and in other places." Witness XV says: "Not only around our public cloister have I caused to be painted, as you know, the whole life of Blessed Peregrine; but I saw his radiant image also at Bologna and at Foro-Pompilii, likewise at Monte Senario of Florence, where are expressed all the chief Blessed of our Order, and above Pesaro in a certain place of ours which is called Monte-granario, where I was thirty years ago, and that painting is most ancient with the subscription BLESSED PEREGRINE OF FORLI: in general I believe there are few places of our Religion where such a figure is not to be found, since he himself is one of the chief Saints by whom our Order is illustrated." Witness II of the Foro-Pompilians and others after him likewise affirmed that in their own castle in the church of the Servites such an image is seen, and likewise at the altar of the Mother of God of Reggio: of which the former witness VI of the same Pompilians thought the one to be seven or eight years old, the other more than sixty.
many survive who experienced his help, X. How today still many live, who when they commended themselves in their needs and necessities and infirmities to the patronage of Blessed Peregrine, from most merciful God, through the intercession of the same blessed servant of his, deserved to receive the desired graces. So most testified that they believed it from public fame or had often heard it, excusing themselves that no one was known to them by name. But Witness IV: "If I had known," he said, "that I was going to be questioned sometime about this matter, I would have taken care to keep a distinct notice of those whom I only now remember in confusion to have received graces: of myself meanwhile I can testify, that I carried off a certain most notable benefit, which however for great and just causes I am prevented from making public." Witness VI named his daughter, and another woman, of whom this one was healed from a hideous tumor, that from a cancer eating her leg, whose depositions about themselves we shall hear below numbers 16 and 18. Witness IX recalls the son of the Knight Bernard Ferramontius; which Bernard, immediately heard before him, had more signally expressed, how his son was cured of dropsy; and again more distinctly below number 15 his wife.
miracles seen painted at the sepulchre, XI. How at his sepulchre are painted many miracles already wrought by the said Blessed Peregrine, which are still seen, and above number 9 were described by public authority, so that there is no need to hear witnesses about them. Witness II adds others: "which I read," he says, "in a certain writing which is kept with me and speaks of the same Blessed": which we wonder was not registered above number 11, and we would like to obtain if it anywhere survives. It is wondrous, however, that Witnesses VI and VII expressly remembered the blind man enlightened at the Saint's bier, as if they had seen it there expressed, although nothing of the sort is read in number 9.
his name is read in the Martyrology XII. How Blessed Peregrine is described in certain old Martyrologies: concerning which most would have known nothing to say, unless the copy of Maurolycus had then been shown to them; yet some add that they had heard something about him before. The very words of the Martyrology read above number 7 according to the edition of the year 1576: for in the earlier editions of the years 1568 and 1570 no such thing is found.
XIII. How all and each of the aforesaid things were and are true, public and notorious and manifest: and that of all those it is, was, and was public voice and fame, and common saying and undoubted belief.
CHAPTER III.
Some miraculous cures, obtained by the invocation of Blessed Peregrine.
[14] In God's name, amen. Below are the depositions of certain persons who, in certain of their infirmities, With Blessed Peregrine invoked, imploring divine help, through the mediation of Blessed Peregrine, to whose patronage they commended themselves, deserved to receive health from most kind God and Father of mercies, for the perpetual memory of the matter, and for the greater glory of God and Blessed Peregrine and for more widely publishing his sanctity, by me the below-written Notary and for this as above deputed, here registered. Which persons indeed have been diligently examined by me, with the due and diligent admonition first made to them and to each of them respectively, to relate only and simply the truth of the fact, adding or subtracting nothing. For as it is not for the glory of God and his Saints to conceal the truth; so for exalting God and the Saints, empty and false things are not to be commemorated, since they themselves do not need our glory.
[15] In the year of the Lord 1608, on the 7th day of October,… The Illustrious Lady Camilla, wife of the Illustrious and Noble man, Lord Knight Bernardinus de Ferramontibus, a child with dropsy is healed, with the oath first taken by me the below-written Notary … said, deposed, and attested, as below, namely: "My Lords, know that I have a son named Louis. He, when he was eight years old, by God's disposition fell into the grave and dangerous infirmity of dropsy; for whose cure Abbot Gaddidi of blessed memory was called, and other doctors of Forli, and also Doctor Marini of Cesena, whose soul God has in glory, all unanimously judged the boy's disease to be incurable, because with many remedies applied they could bring him no help. Which knowing, I turned to seeking divine things: and first I led the boy to the miraculous image of the Mother of God,
to which the name is 'from Germany,' in the church of the Jesuit Fathers; then to St. Dominic, and I brought him to various Relics of Saints preserved in the same church: finally here to the church of the Servants, where I had applied to him the little cap which living formerly Blessed Peregrine had used. But suddenly, as soon as the boy was touched with it, he began to be healed; and in a very short space of time he appeared free from all evil, which I judge is wholly to be ascribed to the Blessed's merits, although even then I was using some medicines, because the doctors who had ordered them applied nonetheless said that humanly he could not be cured."
[16] A leg dangerously infected, Lady Flaminia, daughter of Lord Ludovicus de Angeleriis and wife of Lord John de Serughis, a Noble of Forli, said, deposed, and attested, as below: "I say that about two years ago I developed on my shin a foul evil joined with danger of becoming cancerous, in that, though I endured it for many days, yet I called no doctor for shame: but I myself applied certain ointments, and devised various baths, which did no good. At last I fervently vowed a vow to Blessed Peregrine, and within a very short time I was freed, without human remedy. For although I applied what I said, by those means rather the evil ought to have been increased, as my sister and one maid knew, to whom I showed my leg. Now indeed I am altogether well, as if I had suffered no evil: but I had vowed to offer a silver leg, which I have thus far neglected to do, but I shall do as soon as possible. Meanwhile I remember that one of the nights I had seemed to go to the church of the Servants, and there, the Mass being heard, to receive health: but the next morning I came here, had Mass said at the altar of Blessed Peregrine, and made the vow of offering a silver leg, and was well."
[17] A tumor beneath the eye, On the 8th day of October, Lady Magdalena, daughter of the late John Baptist de Savorellis and wife of Lord Fabritius de Fachineis of Forli…deposed and attested of her own accord, as below: "It is about thirty years since I had a very foul evil beneath the left eye of the size of a goose egg, which I had borne for nearly seventeen years, applying no remedy, because it caused me no pain. Nevertheless, wishing at last to try whether I could free my face from that monstrous appendage, I had called the late Francis Sassi of Benevento, a physician and surgeon then residing at Forli: who, when he had come and seen, palpated, and considered the evil, said it was a tumor, and indeed most difficult to cure. Yet I ordered him to try the cure, if perhaps he could remove the evil. But after seven months of care applied with no profit, and certain noble women had advised me to have recourse to Blessed Peregrine, I obeyed the counsel: and having made a vow I began to feel a sudden cure; and at last, as it seems, I was entirely free without any remaining deformity, through the singular grace of God and Blessed Peregrine."
[18] A leg dislocated, Lord Caesar Blandinus of Forli…said and deposed as below: "In past years, when for the sake of some business of mine I wished early in the morning to mount a horse, in the very mounting I fell so unhappily that my leg was dislocated at the knee, and I had to be carried to bed; where I remained a whole month, in very bad condition, under the hands of the surgeons; and at last by God's benefit I recovered, so that most freely and without defect I could walk. Thus whole, when I was sometime in the house of a certain noble matron, who has now died and whose soul God has with himself in glory; she said to me these express words: 'I rejoice that I see you altogether well and whole, without any impediment of the leg: yet I tell you that there remains a certain obligation to be fulfilled by you.' But to me asking what: 'Know,' she said, 'that while from that fall you lay so sick in bed, I made a vow for you to Blessed Peregrine, that if you were healed without any limping, as soon as you should recover health, you should have a Mass made at the altar of Blessed Peregrine, and there offer a waxen leg in memory of the received grace: and I commended you affectionately and with great faith to that same Blessed. Now therefore, since I see you whole, nor do I doubt but that this was done by the intercession of that Blessed, it remains that I admonish you to fulfill the vow; otherwise I shall fulfill it myself.' Then, giving her thanks, I undertook to do what she urged. Nor was there delay: I went to the church of the Servants and asked for Mass to be said. Brother Anselm of Forli said the same to me, which having heard, I offered a leg of wax, giving thanks to God and Blessed Peregrine for the benefit which they had done me unknowing."
[19] A blind girl, Lady Philippa, daughter of the late Lord Lawrence de Tomasolis … attested as below. "My Lords, it is true that in the house of the Illustrious Peregrine Latiosi, my uncle, where from my infancy I was brought up, I often and often heard it related, that when I was about three years old, I suffered from such copious smallpox, that, covering the whole surface of my face, they corrupted both my eyes, so that even now you can see: but I know that they very often told me that I was wholly blinded; and therefore the household, after various remedies applied to me, grieving that all proved vain, brought me for eight continuous days in the morning to the sepulchre of Blessed Peregrine, that these eyes of mine might be touched with a wand placed within the sepulchre for this purpose. They said moreover that on the eighth day I recovered the use of the left eye, the right one remaining, as it was and is even now, extinct. So always I heard it related by the household: nor can I affirm otherwise, since I was then only three. Yet of one thing I remember very well, that when on the last day they had led me to the sepulchre, someone said to me, 'Philippa, open your eyes and take the cherries which Blessed Peregrine offers you'; and that suddenly I opened this one eye and took the cherries; and being asked in what place were the head and feet of the Blessed, I most certainly designated them. And so now I see with one eye, walking by myself, working and doing whatever is necessary, and distinctly recognizing any things and persons: and because so it was always told to me, referring the grace received to Blessed Peregrine: for on account of my tender age I do not remember the other circumstances."
[20] Pain in the hip, Lady Francesca, daughter of Lord Galanottus de Pansecchis and wife of Sebastian de Magris of Forli…attested as below: "Eight years ago, having suffered a miscarriage, I retained a great torment in one of my hips, which for two months kept me confined to bed, and deprived of the faculty of moving my body. But when, with several ointments and other natural remedies applied, I saw no profit, at last faithfully I turned myself to invoking Blessed Peregrine: and a vow being made, within eight days I rose up well and free, not doubting but that Blessed Peregrine had obtained that grace for me."
[21] Lady Faustina, wife of Lord Francis Dandi of Forli … attested as below: "Know, A woman vexed by specters, my Lords, that last year such a case happened to me. Every evening after sunset, walking through the house, I seemed to see before me a certain shadow walking, yet so that I could not discern what it was. Of which matter when I complained to Lady Faustina my daughter-in-law, and told what I was suffering, and that I feared lest it was the bewitching of a malign spirit, she tried to encourage me and shake off my fear: but in vain. Therefore, speaking of this very thing with some devout Capuchin Fathers, they too said that I should not fear, but sign myself with the Cross and invoke some Saint. When therefore after some days I commended myself to Blessed Peregrine, my patron, I was freed from the sight of the said shadow, nor from that hour did I see it any more: and I firmly believe this was granted me by the merits of Blessed Peregrine."
[22] Below are the depositions of certain witnesses, deposing respectively of the knowledge of the infirmities with which the above-written persons were afflicted, and from which infirmities they deserved to receive grace and cure from God almighty, through the intercession and invocation of Blessed Peregrine as mediation, as in the present Process; and also deposing of the health of those same persons, which they at present enjoy from the said infirmities, as follows below.
[23] On the 12th day of October … Sister Francesca, of the Third Order of St. Francis, daughter of the late Lord Alexander de Baldis of Forli … attested the same things which Philippa said of herself in number 19, saying that she had often been accustomed to visit the girl; and that seeing her to be wholly deprived of sight, she together with other household women took counsel of carrying her for eight days to the sepulchre of Blessed Peregrine: and at last on the last day they supplicated that at least to that extent her sight be restored, that she might be able to walk by herself, and do all other necessary things without anyone's service. They were made partakers of that so limited vow, in the way above stated. Similarly Lady Lisa, daughter of the late Lord Scipio Latiosi of Forli, deposed concerning the same Philippa, her niece.
[24] A grave head wound. On the 14th day of October, the Illustrious and Excellent Doctor of Arts and Medicine Lord Paul of Gradi of Forli, attested as follows below, namely: "It should be known to you, that when in past years on a certain occasion I was in the company of the Excellent Master James Bonaguri, the late physician-surgeon much experienced in this city; who, as you know, has passed to a better life; we began to inquire between ourselves, whether it was possible for a man to live, to whom some part of the brain was lacking. To which I said, it seemed to me that it was possible, provided the missing part were not from the chief ventricles of the brain, and not very large. Then the said Master James, after various reasons brought forward and heard on both sides: 'I also,' he said, 'concur in your opinion, having myself experienced its truth. For I inform you that the Reverend Master Anthony Latiosi, who last year was so unhappily wounded, as everyone can remember, among other things had a wound in the head behind the right ear; in which wound the brain was perfectly visible, because the membranes enveloping it were also cut. But while I was treating him, I often and expressly noted a certain cavity of that bone, which ought to be wholly filled with the substance of the brain itself, to be entirely empty: and therefore that some part of the brain was lacking, though a less principal one. And yet, as you see, Master Anthony lives, well and whole in all his senses.'" Thus far the discourse made to me by the said late James Bonaguri, as I truly and sincerely reported. But what has this to do with Blessed Peregrine? I fear that, in the depositions related above, there was one, of him who had been wounded
Master Anthony's own, affirming that he had escaped so present a danger of death, with the Blessed invoked for preserving his life, and that it fell out of the one transcribing these things.
CHAPTER IV.
Miracles described by public authority after the Process was ended.
[25] In the name of Christ, amen. In the year from his nativity 1615, Indiction 13, on the 10th day of the month of January, in the tenth year of the Pontificate of our most holy Father and Lord in Christ, Lord Paul, by divine providence the fifth Pope.
After the process was ended, Whereas, in past years, at the instance and request of the Reverend Father Superiors of the sacred Religion of the Servants of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and license having first been obtained concerning this from the sacred Congregation of Rites in the Roman Curia, and here at Forli from the Illustrious and very Reverend Lord Archangel Albertinus, General Vicar of the very Illustrious and Most Reverend Lord Bishop of Livio, the Process on the Life, sanctity, and miracles of the blessed Father Brother Peregrine of the Latiosi of Forli, who was Professed of the said Religion, was drawn up and completed by me the below-written public Notary, specially appointed for this by the same Illustrious Lord, and afterwards the same Process was transmitted to Rome to the said sacred Congregation; which, having seen the whole said Process, publicly and openly declared that Brother Peregrine himself was to be numbered and held among the Blessed, and decreed that through all the convents and churches of the same Religion, on the day of the obit of that same Blessed, each year, in the divine offices of the same Brother Peregrine, as of a simple Blessed Confessor, a commemoration should be made in the future. And although through what had been done until then, it seems and clearly appears that the said man's sanctity had become known to all.
[26] [Nevertheless the almighty God, who is wondrous in his Saints, and whose hand was never, nor is, nor will be shortened, does not cease daily to render his Saints more illustrious by the splendor of new miracles; that human frailty, which is easy and prone to consigning piety and devotion toward him and the Saints to oblivion, roused daily by fresher benefits, may follow its Creator with reverent heart and works; and may know that it needs daily the patronage of those who shone in sanctity. Therefore, since after the drawing up of the said Process, certain other things have happened, with Blessed Peregrine as advocate, perhaps no less worthy of being handed down to posterity than those which were done before, and especially here at Forli in the person of the Illustrious and Noble man Lord Nicholas de Mercianeriis, which will appear below from his deposition made by his own mouth; and also at Pesaro in the person of the same child, as is clearly established from the letters of Lord John James de Pandulfis, under the date of Pesaro on the 27th day of February 1609 (the tenor of which letters, together with the recognition of them under the signature of Lord James de Vetiis, a Notary of the said place, will be registered below, the Notary asked to describe after the deposition of the said Illustrious Lord Nicholas, to the effect of inserting all these afterwards in the Process itself), it seemed to the Fathers of the said Religion that these were not to be altogether passed over; nay, that those things which had happened privately and adhered to the memory of a few, should be brought forth publicly and to the eyes of all. For it was disgraceful that those things which by divine counsel had happened chiefly for the utility of all (as it is piously to be believed) and for the memory of Blessed Peregrine and for stirring up devotion toward him, should lurk as it were in perpetual darkness: and especially since the Illustrious Lord Nicholas himself, of himself and with no one urging him, had offered himself ready to publish this fact.
[27] approached the witness, who swore, I therefore the below-written Notary, with the same Illustrious Lord Vicar again agreeing and first giving and granting license for this, being asked and requested by the very Reverend Fathers Brother Claudius de Plaudino, now Prior of the convent of the Servants of Forli, and Master Peregrine de Dandis of Forli, personally betook myself to the house of the proper dwelling of the said Illustrious Lord Nicholas: and there the same Lord Nicholas, personally stationed in my presence and in that of the below-written witnesses, voluntarily and in every better way he could, that the truth of the matters which as below happened, for the glory and praise of God and Blessed Peregrine might become known to all, by his corporal oath, first having touched the Scriptures with his hand on the holy Gospels of God, swore, deposed, and attested as below, namely.
[28] "You should know that in the year 1608 in the month of May, on what day exactly I do not remember, being on a certain property of mine, situated in the district of Forli, in a village called Calanco, together with Lord John Albicini my kinsman, after eating lunch, suddenly I took counsel with him of going to a neighboring village called Ravaldino, in which was the property of the late Lord Colonel James Albicini, my kinsman likewise, that falling from a slippery road into a precipice, whom God has with himself in glory, both for the cause of exercising the body, and also for the sake of making an inspection, and of learning how well it was being cultivated. Together therefore we went, accompanied by some peasants: and having arrived there, we discussed with the farmers those things which we thought turned to the master's advantage. But while we were there, rain fell, though little, yet such that it not a little corrupted and made slippery the road, which before was convenient. Nonetheless, since there was not convenience there to spend the night, we decided before evening came on to return to Calanco; and having begun the journey and walking, we quickened our step, because it was late, Lord John going ahead on horseback; I following on foot, and speaking with a peasant companion. It happened, moreover, that while I was walking along this road, which for the situation of the region is mountainous, now rising, now descending; I, coming to a certain descent quite steep and precipitous, both because I was walking more quickly from desire of arriving before night, and because the ground was wet and slippery, descended so precipitously and with such force that, unable to contain myself or be helped by anyone, I was rolled headlong, and fell to the bottom of the precipice so formidably, he arose unharmed, that whoever saw me falling would have believed me crushed by the fall, and I myself despaired of preserving my life. But by the grace of God and the favor of Blessed Peregrine, when I had so lain stretched on the ground for a very little time, miraculously I rose up from the fall, without any injury of body or the lightest disturbance of mind, as if nothing adverse had happened."
[29] "This singular benefit I acknowledge as received from blessed God and from the patronage of his glorious servant Blessed Peregrine: since in the actual fall itself, with the Blessed appearing and extending his hand, visibly and with bodily eyes I beheld the Blessed himself approaching me suddenly, in the great glory which surrounded him, and sustaining me with his holy hand, and finally lifting me up, so that from the said fall I was not at all hurt. Indeed, considering the situation of the place and the height of the precipice, then the vehemence of the impetus with which I was carried headlong, and the grave impact of my body, since I am of large and heavy stature and build; and finally that not only was I not dead, not even bruised, without any injury to my limbs or even to memory and sense, I rose up so suddenly whole and unharmed; I am altogether persuaded that a singular and evident miracle was done upon me, and that through the intercession of that same Blessed. Yet it is true—and I frankly confess it—that what usually happens to others first in such dangers did not happen to me, that I commended myself to some of the Saints: for truly no thought of invoking Blessed Peregrine came upon me, because on account of the speed of the fall I had no time to turn any such thing in my mind. Yet I believe that God and the Blessed himself, most liberal in rewarding services however small, wished to render to me for a certain minimum action, done to their honor. for a small service rendered to his honor. For namely, when it had been decreed to paint the Life of the Blessed around the cloister, and by chance it happened that no mason could be found at Forli unoccupied, for scraping off the old incrustation from the walls, and laying on new lime, upon which the pictures might be expressed; I, hearing this and having at home such a workman engaged, ordered immediately that, my work for which he was hired being interrupted, he should go to the Servants, and render that service to the Saint. However it be, it ought to suffice that I acknowledge my life miraculously received from that Blessed: nay, I reckon myself obliged the more, the more opportunely he brought help before he was invoked: and therefore lest I be altogether ungrateful, I hung as a witness of the benefit a tablet to the sepulchre, which can even now be seen by all…"
[30] [The tenor of the said letters is as follows; namely, on the back: "To the Illustrious and very Reverend to me most observant Father Master Peregrine Dandi at the Servants at Forli": but within, "Illustrious and very Reverend and to me most observant Father. In every kind of urbanity your humanity anticipates my tardiness or rather negligence," etc. Then, answering the invitation often repeated, to finish the paintings of the Life of the Blessed begun by him and mentioned above, he excuses his many occupations, and at length promises he will be there next about mid-Lent or at least after Easter: he testifies in writing of a dying boy, then he adds. "But I wish here to add a grace done me in these days by Blessed Peregrine, not to be kept silent. When John Anthony, son of Benedict and of my stepdaughter Joanna, a charming and beautiful boy twenty-seven months old, and especially dear to me because of the name by which he recalls my best father, was held in a most grievous fever, born from an abundance of humors and joined with some kind of diarrhea; and when no medicine profited the sick one; it came to such weakness, that he could no longer even suck milk, nay nor cry; and so the eyes of all the household abounded in tears, their breasts in groans: nor was it hoped that he would see the next day. But I, that I might not look upon such affliction in person, but rather lament the sad case apart, betook myself to another chamber: and there remembering the exceeding sanctity with which Blessed Peregrine shone, I began to commend the boy to him, not doubting but that I should become partaker of my vow, if that were better for the boy and agreeable to the divine will.
[31] after he was devoted to the Blessed, But, O wondrous thing! O miraculous grace! O lofty gift obtained through the merits of that Blessed! Not only did he begin to sleep most peacefully, who had spent all the preceding nights in wailing, with me continually running back to the cradle because, not hearing his voice, I thought he had expired; but also the next day, having woken up in the morning, he sucked some milk, then by his custom earnestly asked to be lifted from the cradle and clothed; and being lifted and clothed by his mother, he ate bread; and seeing a little wand with which he was accustomed to play, he took it up and began to walk through the house in childlike
fashion striking about, his limbs indeed still weak, but yet active and lively. Then I, who had said nothing to anyone of my devotion to Blessed Peregrine, in recognition of so singular a gift, opening my mouth and tongue, began to exclaim: "Now indeed I confess, O Blessed Peregrine, that he had suddenly recovered. you are of great merit with God, and this is your miracle, for which, next to God, a copious thanksgiving is due." Saying these things, I turned the eyes of all the household upon me: and when they asked whether perhaps I had made a vow for the boy, I revealed the whole matter as it had been done, and by my example I moved all to tears of piety and gladness, to put their knees to the ground, and to profess the grace received from God and Blessed Peregrine: which I now also wish to be noted and made public… Pesaro, the 27th of February 1609." The same again on the 15th of December 1611 having personally appeared before witnesses and a Notary, he recognized this letter or epistle to be and to have been written by his hand, and the contents from the beginning, "But I wish," to the end, to have been and to be true.
[32] Another that her aching leg was healed: On the 17th day of November 1670 … Lady Isabella daughter of the late Dionysius de Minardis, widow left of the late Francis de Sanctis, of the parish of St. Mary Surbroilo of Faenza, by her oath to speak the truth, made the following attestation and deposition, under the following words, speaking in the vernacular, namely: "Before these Gentlemen I say, that for about two years ago, with the left hip so tormented, that for three months I had to lie on a mat, and felt discomfort through my whole body; when on a certain day I was in the church of the Servants of our city of Faenza, prostrate before the image of Blessed Peregrine, I turned to the same and said, 'O blessed one of God, you once were freed from the infirmity which you suffered in the leg, free me also from my disease.' And this said I began to walk altogether free as swiftly as ever; and so I continue sound up to now without the application of any human remedy through the assistance of the said Blessed." Done at Faenza in the house of the Most Illustrious Lord Jerome Patius, present being the Noble Faentini Fabritius Patius, Priest, and Lord Francis de Patiis, Knight of St. Stephen of Pisa, witnesses. ✠ I Hippolytus Berlandius, etc. Which again, on the 21st day of December of the same, the said Isabella legitimately recognized and confirmed with a repeated oath.
[33] To the perpetual memory of the matter, let this present attestation instrument be open and known and ascertained to all and each who shall inspect it, how in the year 1670 from the Incarnation of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Indiction 8, on the 16th day of October, there personally stood before me the Notary and the below-written witnesses, the magnificent Magdalena, daughter of the late Lucas de Baschesiis, of the jurisdictional territory of Sassuolo of the Duchy of Modena, Another that her husband, suddenly made blind, wife of John son of the late Geminianus de Bondiis of the said territory of Sassuolo, of her own accord having taken her oath, knowing that it is pious and rational to bear testimony to the truth, therefore makes undoubted faith, affirms and attests, as below, namely: that the said John her husband in the year 1667 at the end of the month of June on a Sunday, of which time the Attestant herself distinctly remembers, suddenly lost his sight, although he had always used it most clearly for sixty-two years. When therefore in this way being wholly blind and useless for any work, he lay always in bed, and had lain continuously for one three-day period, that is, from Sunday to Wednesday; the Attestant herself, well and piously inspired, early in the morning betook herself to the convent of the Servants of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the lower suburbs of the said territory, where in a certain chapel outside the church of the said Fathers the image of Blessed Peregrine is honored and adored. after she invoked the Blessed, There she began, prostrate before the image, with great fervor of devotion to pray for the salvation of her husband. She had now repeated the same prayer a third time, when she felt an unusual movement of the soul, and so clear as if the Saint himself had said to her: "Go home and do not doubt that your husband shall recover his sight"; as indeed he recovered. For as soon as she returned home, she went to her husband's bed, and commanded him with great firmness of faith to rise. To which he: "Do you wish then that I should rise seeing nothing?" The Attestant answered that he should entirely rise, because Blessed Peregrine had told her, that while she was returning home her husband would recover his sight. Then the blind man, taking his clothes, rose: and soon not without his greatest astonishment, he began to see and to recognize any objects by the benefit of Blessed Peregrine: he too suddenly received sight. to whose image therefore the Attestant returned, with bare feet, together with her husband, to give thanks for the sight received as sound as ever he had. All of which, as supported by sincere truth, the said woman protested and protests before God and men, and that they may not lie buried and obscure under the darkness of the unknown, yet not being requested, but with her own devotion dictating, she asked me the below-written Notary to receive the testimony.
[34] The husband attests for himself to him. With all these things performed, read, and published as above, immediately and in one single context, likewise standing before me the Notary, in the presence of the below-written witnesses, the magnificent John son of the late Geminianus de Bondiis of the jurisdiction of Sassuolo, by his oath taken of his own accord, affirmed and affirms, made and undoubtedly makes faith, for the corroboration of all the said things, that in the year 1667, as it has been said, being blind, and being ordered by his wife to arise, as if from deep lethargy he woke up, and doubting nothing raised his head from the bed, and suddenly saw that lovable light, of which he had lain deprived for a whole three-day period; and that grace he acknowledges from Blessed Peregrine, persuaded that without his intercession he would never have obtained such a favor from God. Done, read, and published was the present instrument of testimony, in this territory of Sassuolo, in the church of the said Fathers or in its surroundings, present continuously for the aforesaid being the Illustrious Lords Michael son of the late Albert de Salviolis, and Aeneas son of the late John de Bassis, both of Sassuolo, witnesses called, asked, and specially chosen.
I, John son of Lord Octavius Cassius of Sassuolo, public Notary by the grace of God and Apostolic authority, enrolled in the celebrated College of Sassuolo among the Notaries, was present at all the aforesaid, and received them word for word as had from the mouth of the attestants, nor did I change even the breadth of a nail, at least in meaning, and for the perpetual memory of the matter I published and authenticated with my signet and subscription ✠.
APPENDIX
On the cult and miracles at Barcelona.
From Spanish MSS.
Peregrine, of the Order of the Servants of Blessed Mary, at Forli (B.)
FROM A SPANISH MS.
[35] At Barcelona the Servite Fathers have a convent, dedicated to the Mother of God of Good Success, who, stirred by the affection of pious devotion with which they have always pursued Blessed Peregrine, An altar with image erected at Barcelona decreed an altar to be erected to his honor and for kindling the souls of the faithful to the cult of the Blessed. They contracted therefore for a panel to be painted, seven and a half palms high, five and a half palms wide, in which is represented him lying upon a couch or bench, as if rapt in ecstasy before a venerable image of Christ placed on the cross, with his hands loosed from it as if inclining himself for the cure of the sick. And thus the memory of that miracle is brought back to the beholders, by which at Forli the Blessed obtained the cure for himself of a leg infected with gangrene, as we have narrated in book 2 chapter 15. This panel is seen between two columns, fitted with their bases and capitals, supporting an elegant cornice, not without a graceful variety of white and blue colors and golden rods. Before it, covered with fine and white silk, burn several lamps: and in its likeness also elsewhere in the Convents of our order images are seen represented on altars, namely in the Convent of St. Martirian, of the village of Banyoles; likewise in other convents of the Order throughout Spain: in the Ampurias Convent of the Virgin of Graces, of the diocese of Gerona; in the Convent of St. Marcial, of the diocese of Tortosa; in the Convent of the Holy Sepulchre of Quart, of the diocese and kingdom of Valencia; in the Convent of the Blessed Virgin of Bellpuig, of the diocese of Urgell; in the Convent of St. Michael de la Cueva, of the Archdiocese of Zaragoza; in the Convent of St. Lawrence de Villarotunda; and in the Convent of the Visitation, called of San Boi, of the Bishopric of Barcelona: in all which places with great devotion the faithful venerate images of Blessed Peregrine exhibited upon an altar, and have recourse to them not in vain in their needs, as ex-votos testify, affixed and hung in great quantity upon the altars.
[36] But in the whole province the feast of Blessed Peregrine is celebrated on the 1st day of May, when he passed to heaven, the feast of May 1. yet more solemnly than anywhere else in this Convent of Barcelona: for on the day before the Kalends through the public streets and squares the coming festival is proclaimed, with a herald's voice, among the sound of trumpets and the ring of drums and the concert of flutes, with the explosion of muskets, and up to the tenth hour that evening the church is kept open, which again at the fourth hour of the morning is unlocked, and is not closed before deep night. And although four doors stand open to admit the flowing crowd, they yet are narrow on that day for the multitude, because scarcely is anyone to be found in the whole city who does not think it his duty to run to venerate the Blessed in his image. To kindle popular piety also the Venerable Sacrament is exposed, and the temple resounds with choirs of musicians continually intermingling their songs, except when some chosen Orator makes an address on the praises of the Blessed.
[37] Perpetual cult at Barcelona. But that chapel itself is frequented throughout the whole year, nor does any day pass on which votive Mass sacrifices are not offered there in honor of the Blessed and for the glory of God. Nor do citizens alone run hither, many from more remote places also come: because here the blind recover sight, as the silver and waxen images of eyes testify, copiously hung on the altar and walls; and the same of the lame and weak cured, shins formed from similar material show: finally, in all kinds of infirmities to which human condition is liable, remedy is often obtained here by those who leave monuments of health recovered in gratitude: nay, grave-cloths also, to be seen in great number, openly proclaim that many have been snatched from the jaws of death now imminent by the invocation of the Blessed: of all which it is not easy or simple to give account. Which same must be understood of other places, where I have said there are altars with images of the Blessed. But when in this present year 1674 the Fathers of Banyoles, likewise at Banyoles. wishing to transfer into the city their convent thus far situated outside the city, for the greater convenience of the people enkindled to the Blessed's cult, had decreed to make for the same a name and title from the same Blessed;
but clerics and monks opposed themselves to the said Translation, and therefore it is deferred until it shall be defined at Rome.
[38] Hosts blessed under his name against fevers As many as are afflicted with fevers place their chief confidence of recovering health in this Blessed, and visiting his image they receive three hosts, of which on the first is inscribed, "Christ is born"; on the second, "Christ is dead"; on the third, "Christ is risen." These are usually consecrated with the customary rite of blessing bread, that they may be a saving remedy and expulsion of fevers to the human race by the invocation of the Divine name and the intercession of Blessed Peregrine. Hosts of this kind, so blessed, the sacristans distribute freely: and those who take them with devotion, when necessity requires it, recite once the Lord's Prayer with the Angelic salutation at each taking. Moreover, so lively at times is the faith of those requesting those hosts, that some feel themselves relieved in the very act of asking, others at the taking of the first host. and requested by women in labor. But so great is the number of those asking them, especially about the beginning of spring, when tertian and quartan fevers are accustomed to rage, that sometimes it is impossible for the sacristans to satisfy all. Women also laboring in childbirth, with their own or the fetus's peril, when they take the same hosts with a warm drink of wine or water, soon rejoice to be released from peril.
[39] The prodigies and miracles which God works through his blessed servant, most frequent miracles. are so manifold, that, as I said, their number cannot be counted; nor can a definite reckoning of the votive offerings for graces received be had, since daily new are added to old; and in place of miracles signs almost cease to be held among the people, which lose their wonderfulness by their frequency. Only this may be said definitely by common opinion, that by his devotees he is scarcely ever named except with the title "Prodigious," "Admirable," "Wonderworker," or some other similar: because he can hardly be invoked by anyone, without the effect of the grace requested being at hand through his intercession: and from his presence rarely does anyone return, frustrated in his hope and desire. Many and great books would be needed to narrate all that, obtained above the powers of nature from God, popular devotion acknowledges received through the prayers of Blessed Peregrine: yet I wish to mention some here individually, for common incitement and consolation.
[40] A leg that had to be cut off is healed Don Francisco Falco, son of James Falconi and Doña Maria, of Barcelona, when he was only a year old, from smallpox retained a humor in one of his shins, so malignant, that the doctors and surgeons called for his cure, despairing of the same, judged that the shin should be amputated. When they had indicated this to the boy's parents, and they most unwillingly assented; the most afflicted mother asked for a delay of at least one day, trusting meanwhile to be granted health for her son from Blessed Peregrine. The peril was in delay, since the inflammation spread by every hour; yet what the mother asked had to be given: and she herself both personally and through the Religious asked for this purpose began to invoke Blessed Peregrine for the son's health, if it were for God's glory. The surgeons returning the next day for the appointed section, the leg seemed to be better, and by continuous successes advanced little by little to health, so that the boy afterwards was able to use the same shin, though not without some distortion, quite conveniently for walking and running: whose parents in thanksgiving offered a silver lamp, to be added to the others which many hang before the altar of the Blessed. This miracle, which happened in the year 1634, is attested by two brothers german of that same boy, who are still alive.
[41] The Reverend Father Serra of the Seraphic Order, Rector of his college in this city, A paralyzed boy, when he was ten years old, for six entire months lay in bed, deprived of all faculty of moving his body. Human remedies being tried in vain, the boy's mother had recourse to divine; and with the greatest devotion she could, commending her son to Blessed Peregrine, she was soon heard; therefore she offered a silver effigy of the boy's body at the altars, a monument of the health obtained within a few days. The said Father, six or eight years ago, preaching in this Convent on the praises of Blessed Peregrine, published the miracle done on him, and his sister also even now attests it.
[42] Marianna Carreras, in the 44th year of her age, a neighbor of this city, in the year 1651, in which a great mortality was raging through the city and its territory, was also herself touched by the plague, so that on her right leg eleven carbuncles appeared, of which three were in the groin itself, all most virulent, with inflammation reaching from the hip to the kidneys and girdling her. A woman about to die from the plague. So affected she was brought to the pesthouse, and there strengthened with the last Sacraments, since she scarcely retained any life, she was left for dead. Feeling herself reduced to that state, what she could not say in words, she performed in her mind; and commending herself to Blessed Peregrine, if it should conduce to the honor of the divine majesty, she asked for life to be granted until she should have settled the seven children she had, three males and four females. With this prayer completed inwardly, she herself being somewhat drowsy, yet with her eyes awake, saw Blessed Peregrine standing by her bed, who touched the infected leg with his hand, and soon left her fully falling asleep. Night over, the attendants of the hospital returned with surgeons; and they were astonished to find her alive whom they had thought dead; and much more when, the garments being drawn back, they recognized the carbuncles broken and the inflammation removed; and said, "Surely, O good woman, you should give thanks to God and to that Saint to whom you commended yourself: for this cure is altogether miraculous." To whom she: "Indeed I commended myself to no one but Blessed Peregrine." Within a few days full health followed, and the woman lives still unharmed and joyful, because she sees all her children settled according to her vow; nor does she cease, with daily thanksgiving, to visit the chapel of her blessed savior. Thus far the author of the manuscript Life.
OTHER MIRACLES
From Spanish MS Accounts.
Rendered in Latin.
Peregrine, of the Order of the Servants of Blessed Mary, at Forli (B.)
FROM A SPANISH MS.
[43] In a town of the diocese of Tarragona, called Valls, only two leagues distant from Villarotunda, where there is an altar of the Blessed, there was a woman, named Francisca, wife of Cosmas Campos, a silversmith in the same town; Another with fever who, when she had seen the hosts distributed to the feverish according to the aforementioned custom, and having heard to what end this was used; said, "It cannot be that this Saint has the grace of healing fevers, because the Mother of God had granted it to St. Dominic." But it happened that very many that year in that place fell into fevers, and Francisca herself also became sick. While the others were obtaining health by the use of the blessed hosts, only Francisca remained without participation in the common benefit, nay, even by the judgment of the doctors she came to the extreme peril of life. Therefore recognizing that this was a punishment for her small faith, she humbly asked pardon, and repeated the taking of hosts; and at the first indeed she began to feel better, but at the other two successively she recovered, and finally, to give thanks, had a ninth-day sacrifice performed in the chapel of the Blessed.
[44] A shin crushed under a cart, To Gabriel, son of James Mazipes, a boy of three years, a cart passed over his shin, and broke it, so that a certain part of the bone itself was torn out. He was manifestly in peril of his life: nevertheless, by a vow made to the Blessed, he was cured, but in such a way that, because of the missing part of the bone, the useless shin compelled the boy to use crutches for walking: nor did the doctors give any hope to his parents that he would ever walk more easily. Therefore, to invoke Blessed Peregrine again and more ardently, together with their son borne in a wagon, they came to his church: where at the very entrance the boy, being healed, cast away his crutches; and running forward to the altar, "Mother," he said, "mother, behold, I am well." But as it was clear he was well, the crutches were offered at the altar, and the shin, before broken, was afterwards as whole as the other.
[45] A fatal wound, Francis Lladu, son of Hyacinth, of the town of Gramilles, of the diocese of Barcelona, while he was staying in this city for the sake of his studies, and was cherishing enmities with other students; was wounded by these with a gun in the right side, so deeply, that a candle lit and applied to the mouth of the wound was extinguished by the force of the spirit bursting forth that way. Therefore, strengthened with the last Sacraments, he almost expired between the hands of those giving first aid; then his head and chest so leaned on his lap, that he seemed like a monster. In this state he invoked Blessed Peregrine, and soon began to be better, and at last was healed. But coming to give thanks, he promised that in his homeland he would care to erect an altar of the Blessed.
[46] A frenzied Priest, The Reverend Lord Anthony Guarro, Primicerius of the parish church of St. Mary by the sea in this city of Barcelona, having fallen into frenzy from a grave infirmity, was judged to be beyond the hope of health by the Doctors. But he, having obtained some lucid interval, invoked Blessed Peregrine, and that same night took sleep. But when morning had come, to his family visiting him again he said that he was well, because Blessed Peregrine had so revealed to him. The man seemed to speak deliriums: and so no credit was given to him, until the doctors coming confirmed that he was better: which also health following within a few days proved: for which, giving thanks in the chapel of the Blessed, he had the divine Office sung there, and offered a chalice valued at a hundred scudi: and from that year, which was 1665, he lives sound, and very devoted to Blessed Peregrine.
[47] Likewise a shin crushed and to be cut off, Upon Bonaventure Comas, son of Francis, an apothecary, in the town of Cubelles of the diocese of Urgell, distant from this city about twenty leagues, slipping under a cart the wheel passed over his shin and crushed it. The surgeons treated, in the best way they could, one so affected: but they could not prevent gangrene from prevailing. Therefore, since the dead flesh bared and left the bones, and the incurable evil spread, they judged the shin should be cut off: yet they did not dare to do this because of the slight strength remaining to the boy. While they were thus hesitating, another surgeon arrived, and said the leg altogether should be judged rotten, since there was no other way of preserving life. The matter was put off to another day. Meanwhile the surgeon who had first undertaken to treat the sick boy, advised his father to devote the son to St. Peregrine; who himself while living had labored under a similar evil, and had healed the wounds and incurable diseases of many at Barcelona, where he said his altar was, heaped up with very many ex-votos, even of healed legs. The father and son obeyed the counsel, and commended themselves to the Blessed: but the next day the surgeons returned; and wondering that the bone which they were going to cut began to be covered with growing flesh, they did not doubt to ascribe the matter to a miracle. But the boy himself, within a few days entirely cured, went on foot to the church
at Barcelona, together with his father and his Priest uncle, who said Mass at the altar there; and the ex-voto which they had vowed being offered, they briskly returned alike to their own.
[48] An incurable abscess of a boy, To Francis, son of Augustine Civid, a tailor and citizen of Barcelona, and of his wife Anne, a boy of ten years, an abscess grew on the right side, which brought him to the threshold of death. Lest it be left without treatment, the doctors judged it should be opened by cautery, which was done on the feast of St. Catherine in the year 1671, and from then until May of the year 1672 he had to remain sick in bed. Meanwhile the parents invoked Blessed Peregrine with frequent vows, and were urging their son to do the same: and that the memory of doing this might be repeatedly renewed, they placed in his sight an image of the same Blessed, cast in bronze. Before this the boy often ordered candles to be lit, and himself, while they burned, held them in his hands. Nonetheless the wound grew worse, and therefore the doctors decreed that another cautery should open a way for the growing pus, which, unless given outlet beneath the prior wound, would wholly putrefy the viscera. Said, done: but with such great torment of the sufferer, that like one frenzied he gave out enormous wailings, to the horror of all the household. All those present in the chamber at the burning with the cautery had compassion on the boy; but above all the mother, who melting into tears, withdrew to another chamber, where with the most instant prayers she could, she began to commend her son to Blessed Peregrine. to whom the Blessed appearing, While she was doing this her other son, aged twelve, whom she had commanded to remain with his little brother, ran up, and "Come, mother," he said, "for our little Francis sees St. Peregrine, and is no longer complaining of the torment." The mother at once ran to her son's bedside, and found the sick boy altogether cheerful, who said to her entering: "I saw, mother, St. Peregrine." To whom the Mother, "Where did you see him, my son? And how?" "On the top," he said, "of that bed" (but he was pointing to another bed which was in the same chamber) "and in the same habit in which he is seen above the altar." He wished then at once to rise, but the household would not permit him to, until the second day; when, the doctors seeing health improving, said to the mother that without scruple she could fulfill her vow to St. Peregrine.
[49] Yet the wound remained in the same state, and though the boy could now walk about by himself, his side was pierced by a wound-fistula reaching from one opening to the other. But so great was the abundance of pus that the fistula itself, clinging to the flesh, was deeply implanted, and could no longer be extracted. Therefore the wound was opened and cut wider, with the horror of those standing by and with the greatest torment of the boy: whom, testifying his pains with continual wailing, the mother exhorted that for the love of the suffering Christ he should also endure that pain: but others begged Blessed Peregrine, he brought flowers which, while holding in his hand, that he would have mercy on the sick one. Meanwhile the boy brought forth five flowers of carnations, just as many clinging to little branches, altogether most beautiful, and asked his mother who had brought them to him. "These," said the mother, "the surgeon will have left here." "Not so," answered the boy, "St. Peregrine brought them to me." The boy's parents therefore asked the surgeons whether they had brought these flowers; and when they denied having done it, and no one else was found who could have brought them, all were seized with wonder; and one of these miraculous flowers the Doctor medical took for himself, another the surgeon, the three others remained with the boy; who although he held them almost continuously in his hands within the bed, did not wither, but remained as fresh as if they had just been plucked from the plant, he felt no pain of the cuts: even after eight days. And this also wondrous happened, that as long as the boy held them in his hands, he felt no torment from the treatment; and when he felt any, to him taking them into his hands and bringing them to the wound all pain at once ceased. Therefore when on one occasion during the treatment the boy brought his hand to the wound; and, the surgeon judging that this happened by chance, as is wont to happen to those who feel pain in any part, to strike his hand away more violently; the flowers fell out which the boy was holding, and pressed soon by intolerable torment, he began to wail more vehemently, until he had recovered the fallen flowers. But he lives: and although he bears a wound in his body, yet he is in no way prevented from attending the second class of Grammar, and from continuing the studies begun. The parents offered a votive tablet for him to Blessed Peregrine, hoping with confidence for the full recovery of their son from him.
[50] Hilarion Artes, nephew of Eugenia Buran, a neighbor of this city, Another boy's cancerous hand, from smallpox became so gravely sick, that the residual humor from it collected in his right arm, rendered it wholly useless together with its attached hand; and in it one finger had been enormously contracted: which when some wished to straighten, violence being applied, the joint moved out of its place. Meanwhile the evil grew worse, and the surgeon and doctor called, when the remedies applied did not profit at all, summoned others also of the same profession from the city; who likewise confessed they had never seen anything such. Cauteries were applied several times, and yet the whole hand was incurably putrefying; but the boy's aunt, grieving and lamenting for him on the report of his desperate life, the surgeon wished to give her this consolation, that even if perhaps he could be kept alive, he would be kept only with a mutilated hand: and so they left the sick boy, committing him to divine mercy. At these words the saddened woman turned herself to invoking Blessed Peregrine from her soul; and betaking herself to the church, had one Mass said in his honor, offering at the same time also a waxen hand. Then returning home, whence a little bone without harm was drawn out: she loosed the bandage for her nephew asking her for the pain in the hand, and saw the extreme part of one bone at the joint of the hand and finger protruding outside, which taking up with little tweezers she drew out, the whole bone following, which reaches from the joint of the finger to the wrist. The doctor and surgeons, called to witness so unusual a thing, were astonished; the doctor promised he would send some poultice for fomenting the affected part, which however he did not do, either having forgotten the promise, or despairing of achieving anything by it. They being gone, the aunt wrapped the hand as was her custom, which again uncovering in the evening, she found whole and sound: and the boy used it for anything he pleased, as if nothing had been wrong with him, to the great wonder of any experts; because it seems impossible that anyone should use a finger which does not cohere with the wrist through the joint of the interposed bone. Thanks were therefore given to Blessed Peregrine; and the boy, as his age advanced, took the habit of the Discalced Carmelites; and he as well as his aunt still lives most devoted to Blessed Peregrine, to whom he attributes this benefit, granted to him only divinely in the year 1666.
[51] and a leg similarly affected. In the same year there happened to the Reverend Father Isidore Costa, Rector of the Seminary of the Society of Jesus at Barcelona, that which he consigned with his own hand in these words: "In the year 1666 I was confined to bed, on account of a grave fever and a malignant humor which had descended to the knee, and there suppurating could never be sufficiently drawn out by cauteries and incisions, whence I had the whole shin most badly affected. It happened on a certain day that new cavities were found in the shin, from which, that the matured pus might be extracted, the surgeons had decreed to make new incisions. When I had understood this, and from the vehement apprehension of future torments was anxious in mind, I had recourse with lively faith to the intercession of Blessed Peregrine, and asked to be freed from this new torment. The next day the surgeon, returning for the decreed incision, changed his counsel, and inserting a leaden pipe through the wounds previously made, with wine infused, he cleansed the cavities which I said were newly found; and returning toward evening, for repeating the treatment, he found the wound dried up, and the flesh of those cavities restored; nor did I cease thereafter to advance to full health, until all was consolidated, which I acknowledge received by a special benefit of St. Peregrine."