ON B. ANDREAS HISPELLAS,
PRESBYTER OF THE ORDER OF MINORS IN UMBRIA.
THE YEAR 1264.
HISTORICAL COMMENTARY.
Andreas, of the Order of Minors at Spello in Umbria (B.) BHL Number: 0451
By the author D. P.
§. I. On the writers of his Life, and the death and cult of the Blessed himself.
[1] This is the fourth occasion for us of naming Spello, a town in Umbria sufficiently conspicuous; after we have treated of three other Patrons there in the preceding months; in May indeed on the III and XVIII day, where on B. Ventura the Cross-bearer and Felix the Bishop; but in April on the XXV, This is the fourth Patron of the people of Spello. where on S. Fidelis the Confessor. Of all those, however, we treated ambiguously enough, as to the kind of life and the time of death; but of Felix also as to the Episcopate, which many wish to have been Spalatensian in Dalmatia, whose name was confused with the Spellan, or (as commonly they speak) Spellensian; though it is not proved by sufficiently firm argument that this one truly once existed. Now more explored, and also more ancient things will be permitted to be given, about this most recent Tutelary Saint of theirs. Although, as far as pertains to printed authors, none of them mentions him before Bartholomew of Pisa, who composed the work of Conformities, often afterwards printed and reprinted, much before typographic art was invented, and in the year 1397 offered at Assisi to the General Chapter, whose approbation also he merited. His words, to be reported below, gave a lead to others of the same Order, about to make mention of Andreas as Saint or Blessed, namely Rodolph of Tossignano, Francis Gonzaga, and Marcus of Lisbon. But from the order of S. Dominic, On him the older writers; earlier than these was Leonard of Udine, who below to be similarly alleged, follows the same Bartholomew, in that work which it pleased the editors, by the received or phrase of the time, to name Golden Sermons: for he himself had a place among the Fathers of that Council, which begun at Bologna in the year 1435, was completed at Florence in 1439; but the others already named only wrote in the preceding century.
[2] Wadding, when at the year 1253 number 11, making his memory, had promised, Synopsis of the Life written by a disciple, that elsewhere the deeds of Andreas he would give; fulfilled the promises in the Additions to Volume 2, subjoined to Volume 7, where for the year 1264 number 11 about to report a compendium of his Life. He died, he says, in this year 1264 on the 3rd day of June, in his own country, in the 83rd year of his age, Saint Andreas of Spello, whose deeds, elsewhere promised, we give, from the booklet of Fr. Thomas of Spello, his Disciple, preserved at Spello with the Conventual Fathers; and from the Collectanea of John Targurinus I. C. of Spello, disciple of Bartolus, who died in the year 1358: from which Guido Olorinus of Targurinis, J. V. D., great-grandson of John, in the year 1537 transcribed these notes. Thus Wadding, immediately subjoining those Notes with this opening: Andreas the Presbyter in the year 1223 received the habit of his Order from S. Francis etc. But Ludovico Jacobilli, in the Library of writers of Umbria, published at Foligno in the year the tenth year, from which those Wadding Additions had come forth at Lyon, on the above-mentioned Authors a little more distinctly writes thus. Thomas of Spello, of the Order of Minors, companion of Blessed Andrew de Cacciolis of Spello, wrote in the year 1270 the Life of B. Andreas his Master: and John of Targurinis I. C. of Spello, disciple of Bartolus, in the year 1358 reduced the said Life into a compendium, preserved in the Convent of S. Andreas of Spello, as reports Guido Norinus of Targurinis I. C. of Spello, great-grandson of the same John in the History of Spello.
[3] Both those writers, although most celebrated, and treating of matters somewhat domestic, the one indeed of the history of his Seraphic Order, the other of the writers of his province of Umbria; nevertheless, being destitute of the authentic writings, which we have obtained, are detected to have strayed in various things, which the original compendium of the Life will teach otherwise, as John Targurinus described it; not as the same, by Guido Olorinus great-grandson of John Targurinus, more tightly contracted into Notes and more rightly to be called the compendium of a compendium, Wadding sets forth in the cited place. The compendium which I call original through a public instrument was sent to us at our request from Spello, in the year 1689 on the 18th day of October; to which subscribes Peter Lencius son of the late Isidore, of Spello…public Notary by Apostolic authority, written in the archive of the Roman curia, who faithfully extracted the above copy and copied from the above simple Copy existing in act, with which collation made he found to agree, with always the better preserved, and subscribed himself by his own hand on the 18 of October 1689. There was appended then the said Notary's name and proper sign.
[4] But now the opening of his Instrument, and the Instrument itself following, is of this kind: In the name of the Lord. Amen. This is a take from a take in simple copy, existing with the Rev. Father Master Theodosius Brancia, Doctor of sacred Theology, of the Order of Conventual Minors of S. Francis in the Convent of S. Andreas of Spello by me Notary public below by his mandate, extracted from word to word, as it lies, on the 18th day of October of the year 1689, Indict. 12, at the time of the Pontificate of the most Holy in Christ Father and our Lord D. Alexander by divine providence Pope VIII, in the year of him 1. Namely:
[5] Copy. Summary from the little book of Fr. Thomas of Spello, teaches, in the year 1223 received into the Order, extracted 1322. In the year of the Lord 1223, Andreas of Spello, of his age 29 (Wadding has 44), with parents and sister deceased, entering the Order of Minors, by Saint Francis among the 72 disciples, among whom he was the first Priest, was numbered. Wadding seems to say that he entered already a Presbyter.
A.D. 1226 he was present at the death of the holy Father, and from him received documents, for acquiring souls by preaching.
A.D. 1228 Andreas together with Fr. Moricus, Pope Gregory IX, coming to Assisi, with very many prayers entreated, that he should consecrate the church of S. Laurence, the mother of his country. Wadding adds, that the Pontiff was then going, about to canonize S. Francis.
A.D. 1231 he was cast into prison by Fr. Elias, for the observance of the Rule twice given to prison: with other companions of the holy Father, and freed by the said Gregory IX, with the holy Father Anthony of Padua urging. This is not found in Wadding for this year.
A.D. 1233 to the general Chapter called, celebrated at Soria in Spain, he acquired the surname from Water, by his prayers obtained, while he was there preaching for a great drought: and in the said general Chapter was declared Preacher. Where Wadding notes, there are those who from the Italian idiom dell acque, corruptly translated de Lacchis.
A.D. 1235, until the year 1243, he was for preaching in many places, famous for preachings and miracles, especially among the Lombards, whom from the dead he recalled, with the greatest signs mediating, even in resurrected dead, as happened at Reggio. Of which nothing in Wadding.
A.D. 1244 he was again brought to prison with the companions of B. Francis, by the intent of the followers of Fr. Elias, for the alteration of the Rule to the letter: afterwards by Fr. John of Parma the General was freed. Only once the prison Wadding mentions, and this without the circumstances of the persons, by whom he was freed.
A.D. 1248 [was] sent by holy Mother Clare of Assisi, with Sister Pacifica, to Vallis-gloriosa, already reformed by Mother Sister Balbina of Spello, to confirm the more that monastery, reformed the Nuns of Spello. with marvelous signs by obtaining water for the said monastery.
A.D. 1249 Andreas in the convent of Carcer was consoled by Bambino (Italian word sounds infant or little boy) Jesus by his presence, in obedience proved, but disturbed by the vesperal sounding, since it was necessary to leave him, for the sake of going to Vespers. And afterwards returning suddenly, Jesus said to him: Well done, Andreas; if you had done otherwise, here you would not have found me. You can sometimes leave the Creator for the creature. Follow, follow: I will always be propitious to you.
A.D. 1250 in the said monastery of Vallis-gloriosa Cæcilia of Gualderia Capta-guerra of Spello, and Angela of Petri-Jacob Vannis of Spello, the above-mentioned Andreas received into the Order of Minors, under the Rule given by the Cardinal Protector to holy Mother Clare.
A.D. 1253 to the Brothers Minor and especially Brother Andreas, deceased in the year 1258 [sic, should be 1264.] Mericus and others the cenobium of S. Andreas, formerly of the Camaldolese, was conceded: and through the said nephew of Brother Moricus, Lord Mencus Hispello, Bishop of Sutri and Secretary of the Pontiff, by Pope Innocent IV, at the urging of the People of Spello was confirmed.
A.D. 1254 sic, should be 1264 and III Junii Andreas, of his age 60 [sic], flew up to the stars with very many signs following, and great concourse of the sick, who safe and strong, to their country joyful and edified returned, to God and Andreas giving very many thanks.
I John of Targurinis, J. V. D. to the memory of so great a man, by my own hand, in the year 1368 sic, should be 1358.
[6] If these things they had seen so originally Wadding and Jacobilli, they would not have written, that John of Targurinis reduced the Life of B. Andreas into a compendium: since hence they would have observed, that the said John only described
that compendium, The Process of inspection of the Body in 1594 is added. long since namely in the year 1322 contracted by an Anonymous from the Life, as is clear from the head and end of the same compendium or Summary above. Then Wadding would not have bound Andreas's death to the year 1264, when he had died ten years earlier. He would not have asserted him to have entered the Order born 44 years, when at the year of age 29 he entered. Nor likewise would he have universally attributed to his age 83 years, when in the premises is expressly read he died in the 60th year of his age. Finally he would not have asserted, that John Targurinus died in the year 1358, when he with his own hand subscribed to the premised Summary, in the year 1368. Jacobilli similarly would not have taught, that John of Targurinis, just now mentioned, reduced into a compendium the Life of B. Andreas in the year 1358; since he did not even himself reduce that Life, but from another long since reduced, as we have seen, he only described, and this in the year not 1358 but 1368. We can further extract from the said Compendium the year, which was Andreas's birthday, namely 1194. For he entered the Order in the year of Christ 1223 born 29 years, which if you count by retrograde order from the said year 1223, the first will terminate in the year 1194: to these further if you add 60 years, which universally Andreas lived in living, you will come to the year 1254 in which he must have died; although in our transcript the Librarian doubting as manifestly appears) noted V or I, the old transumpt, chose to write 1258: wherefore I have corrected this. But to this so accurately described compendium of Acts, I add the Process on the inspection of the body and miracles of Andreas, in the year 1594, by ordinary authority formed; which at Rome among the Collectanea of Wadding I found and took care to have described. This Process Jacobilli alleges, in Vol. I on the Lives of the Saints and Blessed of Umbria, published before the said Additions of Wadding came forth; wherefore in the Life of Andreas himself he also erred in some things, which he would have been about to correct, if he had seen those Additions, and more, if he had seen our Compendium: as, that the Blessed was born about the year 1200 and died in 1255, in the 55th year of his age about. Wadding similarly was about to augment his Additions, if sooner he had had the copy of the said Process, as Jacobilli had it, who his such defects abundantly compensated by various notices, which Olorinus the informant of Wadding did not touch.
[7] And first from the Ms. History of Spello by Faustus Gentilis Donnola, J. C. of Spello composed in Italian in the year 1621, as is noted in the Library; about the life of Andreas before his entrance into the Order, From the History of Spello of Donnola of the year 1621 he says, that from earliest youth he began to contemn the world, and to give himself wholly to God by exercising various works of mercy, offering hospice to pilgrims, garments to ill-clothed poor, help to those suffering any other necessity, and with great fervor vacating to prayer. He was frequent however among the Camaldolese Monks, dwelling with great observance in the monastery of S. Sylvester of Mount Subasso, opposite to and above Colle-Lupinum, a castle of the territory of Spello, distant by two thousand paces, and once founded by S. Romuald. then we have certain other things about B. Andreas, With great reverence and love also he pursued the Nuns of the cenobium of Vallis-gloriae, situated on the very mount Subasso, between the town of Spello and the said monastery, with the interval of one milestone on each side; whom when he had noticed to be held with immense zeal of religious perfection, and them to the same much stimulated, afterwards reformed to the rule of S. Clare.
[8] To these, from the same probably Donnola, Jacobilli adds, that when Andreas with Franciscan habit assumed, now had passed 20 years in the same, and the odor of his holy conversation around Assisi widely and broadly was diffused; the neighboring people of Spello, and only 8 P. M. distant, then that at Spello he began a convent in the year 1253, more near by right believed themselves to ask him for themselves, in the year 1253: when by the common consent of the Clergy and People, they offered to the Religion of Minors, the parochial church of S. Andrew the Apostle, situated in the middle of the town, together with gardens and contiguous buildings; which since previously had been of the Camaldolese Monks, from the year 31 of the same century had been commended to a secular Presbyter, with the help of two Clerics to be administered, in those things which pertained to the care of souls. Such a donation, in the year 1254 Pope Innocent IV on the 13th day of March, and Bartholomew Bishop of Spoleto on the 7th day of September ordered to be ratified: and to enter into the possession of the place Andreas was sent, with great fruit of the natives there until the end of his life he remained; with the same works of mercy as before devoting himself toward pilgrims and the poor, for whom also (as Rodulphus Tossinianus says in Seraphic History book 10 page 73) he was begging alms, preferring himself to be hungry, than that others should be pressed by famine.
[9] Religiously as he had lived the body of the deceased was enclosed in a wooden chest, and how he is held buried there, most elegant; and this placed on a marble monument, which fortified with iron rings, stood at the foot of the preaching pulpit beneath the neighboring altar, leaning on stone columns, including there the sacred deposit with an iron grate stretched before. Above the altar, an image painted to the life represented Andreas with rays around his crowned head, as the Blessed are wont, in the habit of his Order and with a long and pointed hood. with the feast instituted about the year 1360, The people of Spello, however, bound by various benefits received divinely through him, took him as Patron; whose help especially they experienced, as often as either rain was desired, or a more serene breeze. Further in the year 1360 by public decree of the People of Spello it was ordained, that his feast each year be performed on the 3rd day of June, and on the Vigil of the same day publicly with lights a procession should be made through the town, to venerate the sacred body. Thus far Jacobilli: when the translation seems to have been made to the altar, whose last words bring me a suspicion that in this year 1360 the body of Andreas, hitherto in a wooden chest beside the altar resting, like S. Davinus in the earthen at Lucca, was with the same placed in a marble tomb and beneath the altar placed, not without the consent of the Bishop of Spoleto. There was here then John of Pistoia, from the Tridentine Church conferred on him, of which a foreign man had never been able to enter possession, translated to the Spoletan in the year 1349, and in it with the opinion of sanctity dying in 1370, as Ughelli writes.
§ II. On the inspection of the sacred body in the year 1594, and of two books pertaining thereto.
[10] Whatever it be about the first elevation of the sacred body, from the place of first burial, of which though I read nothing anywhere, yet I can scarcely doubt, that the Saint had in the beginning a common one with the other Brothers, in that convent predeceased, On this matter the Provincial of the Conventuals being heard, until thence he was raised, either persuaded by signs divinely shown, or by miracles performed at the invocation of the Blessed. Whatever it also be about the translation of the same to the marble tomb beneath the altar, the time of which we cannot, except by conjecture, divine; most certain notice of another and here above-titled inspection and translation supplies us in the above-mentioned Process, of which this is the title: In the name of God. Amen. To the eternal memory of the matter done. This is the Process of inspection of the body of B. Andreas in the land of Spello, of the Spoletan diocese, lying in the monument existing in the church of S. Andrew of the said land, situated in the territory of Mezlata next to its boundaries. But from Spello, not far the village of Acquensis is, called Acqui in the maps, about the fourth milestone from Spello to the West: which village if it was the birthplace of Andreas, and from it he drew the common surname de Aquis; not therefore will it cease to have the right, that he be called of Spello; near Spello, to which adjoins the village Acqui, the country of the Blessed, but the necessity will cease of seeking the occasion of such surname from a miracle, about which we cannot certainly say, it pertains rather to Andreas than to others in the Comitia of Soria among the Fathers. But whether rightly and with what certainty the more recent ascribe him to the family Cacciola, I leave to be judged by the people of Spello; since in the age of B. Andreas and long after, it was not in the usage of Ecclesiastics, especially among the Mendicant Orders, to use the surnames of families; nor were these wont to take account of such in constructing the genealogical tree.
[11] Further since the Instrument soon to be brought forth, both in the title already placed and in the following authentication is called Process, it attests, on June 1, I rightly judge this to be the same, which Jacobilli says was formed by Ordinary authority. The year certainly agrees, nor do the rest disagree, under the said Title and this opening placed. On the first day of June one thousand five hundred ninety-four, the Reverend Father, Master Bartholomew of Monte-Real, Provincial of the Province of the Seraphic Father Francis of Assisi, being in the below-written place, and before the below-written witnesses, said as follows. In Italian speech however, which I make Latin.
[12] Three or four days are, that to this Convent of S. Andreas of Spello I came, to satisfy my mind, and to relieve it from the weariness, which is wont to follow the visitations of the greater Convents; then also most of all, to pass more holily the days lately past of Pentecost, that moved by the desire of recognizing the sacred body, which namely this year had been celebrated on May 29. But to me visiting the said Convent there came a certain desire of seeing the body of B. Andreas, which to me was being said (as also I remembered to have read) still to be in this place; especially for this, because the Fathers of the same Convent had asked this of me. Further when yesterday evening such desire more especially pressed me, I prayed God and His Saint, that they would illuminate my mind; and, if it was fitting that the said sacred body should be inspected by me, more and more to that they would kindle me; but if not, that such desire they would take from me. Feeling therefore it inflamed even more amply, I called three of these Fathers, with God consulted first by prayers, namely P. Fr. Dionysius Lucidi a Porta, Guardian of the said Convent; P. Fr. Alexander Guernivus of Foligno, Vicar; and P. Fr. Bartholomew Rosmarinus, sacristan of the said church of S. Andreas; with these I conferred my said thought, and asked that they should pray with me; as also they did, as I have said.
[13] While so was being prayed, there grew in me continually the said desire. Wherefore on them I commanded, that they should confess of sins, before 3 Fathers he opened the tomb, with power given to them, from that which I had for the reason of office, of asking absolution from any censures: which also they did, as also I did, that contrite and expiated, we might be held by God worthy to see the holy body. Then they and I put on sacrificial garments, and among ourselves we swore, that we would reveal to no man, if perhaps we should not find him in the place where he ought to be; and that not even found should any of them reveal, without my express permission. Then with torches lit we recited the Litanies and other prayers, before the altar of the most holy Sacrament. Then, with as great as we could
devotion, we approached the place in which was the sepulchre of the Blessed; and there with bent knees, after many prayers to God and the Blessed, we raised the stone with which the monument was covered, with no great effort, because the cement and lime by which it was joined with the tomb, the long duration of time had so consumed, that through the more widely gaping crack, not only dust but also other impurities entered the sepulchre. With the stone removed we brought a light to the tomb about to see what within was contained; and we saw a wooden chest nearly consumed, and surrounded with much iron.
[14] Since therefore they and I had seen that there was truly the sought body, in which he saw to be present the body, we began to sing, Te Deum laudamus, with Antiphon and Prayer; and ordered the bells to be rung, forbidding all further progress in the work: and praising God for the received benefit, we returned to take rest: for the matter was done on this past night. But today in the morning, I and the said Fathers rose for the Matutinal Office, and it with Lauds chanted, I commanded the said P. Vicar, that he should call Lord Vicar Foraneus of Spello, and the Lords Priors of the said Land; that they should come, and present with us complete the begun inspection of the sacred Body, which I intended to perform. Then I celebrated Mass, and it finished the said Rev. D. Vicar and Magistrate and I; and to seeing it had invited the Lord Vicar and Magistrate: the Fathers also of the said Convent, and many Lord Canons and other citizens, with our own eyes privately inspected the chest and the said body: the same things you saw, you Notary and Witnesses. Wherefore I give thanks to the holy and individual Trinity and to the said B. Andreas, for infinite ages of ages. Amen. Thus far in Italian the Provincial, the rest in Latin the Notary so continues.
[15] Solemn Mass being completed, by the R. P. Fr. Bartholomew the said, with each thing accurately contemplated. Provincial of the Province of our Seraphic Father Francis, with ministers, in the church of S. Andreas of the said Land, was seen, beheld and inspected, with faith reported as above, the body of B. Andreas of Spello in a wooden chest, nearly consumed, existing under the pulpit, outside with two round ironworks fortified with a bolt, one at the head, and the other at the foot, toward the wall; with an iron plate at the foot and also three Crosses of iron plates, on the upper part on the cover of the said chest, and three on the back: in the front toward the church, whether Crosses are present or not, cannot be seen, because there is a panel, and behind it the wooden chest. The sacrosanct body is bare, lacking garments. The head is seen, on account of the broken chest; the bones in the breast, and also the legs, which are bare bones; and on the feet appears some flesh, although dark. It was seen and diligently inspected by the Illustrious and Rev. D. Peter Matthew Venantius, Abbot of S. Sylvester of Monte-Subasio and Vicar foraneus of the said land of Spello for the most Illustrious D. Paul San-Vitali Bishop of Spoleto; and by the Rev. P. Bartholomew, the said Provincial.
[16] Which sacrosanct Body, by the Magistrate of the land of Spello, that is, by the Lords John-Angelo Verserius, Marinus Tonius, before many ecclesiastics and laymen, Quintilius Cassolus, and Natalitius Romarinus, Priors of the said Land; and by Peter Fabius Marionus, of the land of Gualdo of the diocese of Nocera, Chancellor of the said Land; and by very many other citizens, before the said Vicar and Provincial and me Notary and the Witnesses below-written, bringing no stench. Which chest indeed, in which the said Sacrosanct body is enclosed, is covered by another stone chest, on the outside on round columns, and outside it there is an iron grate. In which place indeed there were present the Reverend Fathers Lords Francis Sforsia, Macarius Cerarchus, Ambrose Cerradus, and Matthew Urbanus, Canons of the collegiate church of S. Lawrence; and the Reverend Fathers Lords, Simon Cassias, Boniface Piaggia, Angelus Putius, Rinaldus Martinus, Canons of the church of S. Mary Major of the said land; the Reverend Lords Dionysius Ciavendinus, Oliverius Paulutius, Faustus Lancellottus, Griffonus Jovius, Presbyters; the Lords, Sigismund Paulutius, Ser-Nicholas Blasius, Ser-Alphonsus de Comitibus Raydæ, Ser-Christopher Simoni Sbardellatus, a public instrument was made about the matter, Tranquillus Accorambonus, Pacificus Paulutius, John-Angelo Nutii-Diamantis, Tarquinius Urbanus, Joseph Andreæ Caciottæ, Mag. Gregory Cecchi, Thomas Caesaris Sureditti, Peter-Paul Christophori Buccialanae, Pompeius Pisti, Julius Angeli-Venantii, Sebastian Lamparellus, Julius Angelinus, Gentilis Stardellanus, Victorius Andreæ Dondoli, Chrysanthus Savelli, Marinus Jacobi, Ermetes Blasii, and very many other citizens of the said land. With those present at all the premises, the Lords Mariotto Pinciardi and Salustius Urbanus of Spello, Witnesses called, held, and asked. These accomplished, by the said Illustrious and Rev. Lord Vicar and Rev. Father Provincial, was closed and placed back into its former state the said monument of B. Andreas; and the upper stones were signed with five seals of the said Illustrious and Rev. very Lord Vicar, and other five seals of the said Father Provincial, of which seals the figure and wedge below are signed, asking me Notary etc. ✠ Place of the Seals.
[17] There is found a certain book, which is entitled On the Conformity of the life of B. Francis to the life of D. N. Jesus Christ our Redeemer, The book of Conformities is also inspected book 1 Fruit 8, and Conformity 11 for the second part, on folio 62, under these words, namely. The place of Spello. In the place of Spello lies holy Brother Andreas, who was a Priest, who by the multitude of miracles and most holy life stood marvelous and glorious to men, and raised the dead. And the same Author in the said book, for 2 part book 1, Fruit 11 folio 119 in the 2nd face, on the Word, Province of S. Francis, and Custody of Assisi which has nine places, speaks also of the said Saint under these words. He has the place of Spello, in which among others was Fr. Andreas, Priest and greatest preacher, and the Sermons of Leonard of Udine where mention of Andreas shining in life and after death with miracles. Of the above-said B. Andreas mention also makes Fr. Leonard of Udine of the Order of Preachers, in his book of Sermons on the Saints, in the Sermon which he makes about S. Francis, in the 7th part, in which he makes a Catalogue of the Saints of the Religion of the said S. Francis, folio 296 in the 1st column, saying: At Foligno lies Fr. Matthew, in the church of S. Felicitas Fr. Germanus, in Pisquia lies Fr. John of Vallibus who shone with many miracles, in Narni Fr. Matthew, in Norcia Fr. Anthony, in Cassia Fr. Pax Masinius, in Arquata Fr. Paul, in Spello Fr. Andreas.* If when these were brought forth, to the hand also the Life by the disciple had been, or its Epitome, it would without doubt have been produced in this Process: wherefore so much more do I now make of it, that at least the Epitome has come to us.
[18] Appears also on the wall above the said sepulchre an impressed effigy of the said B. Andreas, and an old image with rayed head, somewhat destroyed near the legs, with certain letters which cannot be understood nor read: but the head is found adorned with rays, as better in the said wall can be inspected and seen. The feast of the said B. Andreas is celebrated each year in the said Land on the 4th day (nay 3rd) of June, with lights and other more solemn things, and this by the precept of the statute of the said Land in chap. 43, in the title Of torches to be made, in the verse: Likewise, In the manner, order, and form aforesaid let them be held to come to the church of B. Mart. Laurence, and the statute of the People made about the feast in the year 1360. S. Andreas del Ac, on the feast of the Apparition of the Cross, and to any of the said churches, namely on the Vigils of the same festivities in the evening, offering the same torches there to each of the said churches. And in book 2 in chap. 18 in tit. Of Lord's days and feast days, where it is precepted that on the feast of S. Andreas del Ac, of the Order of Friars Minor, no one is allowed to work: which statute was compiled in the year 1360, Indiction III (nay XIII) at the time of the Pontificate of Pope Innocent V (nay VI) and the said book of Fr. Leonard was printed in the year 1474. Which statute indeed with the said book had been by me the Notary seen, read, copied and exemplified, in those parts pertaining to the said cause: and in faith of the premises I subscribed myself, and with my usual seal asked and required etc. In which conclusion it has pleased to note and correct the librarian's errors, around the numbers, which at length the authentic copy of the year 1623 represented, lest rashly I seem and against the originary text above to have signed the third of June for the fourth, which that one noted to us. The Notary, however, who wrote these things, is named below Ser-John Baptist of Thalia.
Noteperhaps Reatinus*?
§. III. On the Translation of the bones into a new chest and a new altar in the year 1597 and of some other Relics of the Blessed.
[19] In these things our transcript found at Rome does not stop, but through another instrument so further continues. The inspection is iterated April 11, 1597. In the name of the Lord. Amen. In the year from the Nativity of the Lord 1597, Indiction 10, at the time of the Pontiff, most holy in Christ Father and our Lord, D. Clement by divine providence Pope VIII in the year 2, on the 11th day of the month of April, the Illustrious and very Rev. D. Vincent Matthew Venantius, Abbot of S. Sylvester of Mount Subasio, for the most Illustrious and most Reverend Lord Bishop of Spoleto Vicar foraneus of the land of Spello, and also the most Reverend P. Mag. Philip Ser-Georgius, Provincial of the Order of the Seraphic Father S. Francis, betook themselves to the church of S. Andreas of the said land of Spello: and prayer made in the due manner at the altar of B. Andreas, existing in the said church of S. Andreas, in the right corner under the pulpit; and behind the said altar they found the sepulchre, fortified with stones and razings from the right face toward the said church. Which sepulchre indeed uncovered, they found there to be present a wooden chest, nearly gnawed and consumed, fortified with three crosses of iron plates, with two round ironworks. In which chest indeed were there deposited the bones of B. Andreas and also ashes: among which were found silken threads of red color in number eleven, and into a new chest are transferred the bones, on which appeared to have been hung coin, which by the antiquity of time corrupted and consumed appeared. Which sacred bones indeed were laid down, washed, and afterwards placed in a walnut chest, and closed with two keys; of which one remained with the Magnificent Lords Priors of the land of Spello, to be preserved in the chest of the said Community, by the Priors in the Magistracy for the time being; but the other with the Guardian of the said convent of S. Andreas. After these things are said to have been again exhibited the two books, of Conformity and of Sermons, in the same manner as above.
[20] Jacobilli adds that the said translation of the sacred bones, from the old into the new chest, was made with the faculty of the Bishop of Spoleto, and a procession is instituted on June 1, and of the Provincial and General of the Order of Conventual Minors, and of the sacred Congregation of Rites: and that on this cause a solemn procession was made on the 1st day of June, with innumerable people coming together from neighboring cities and places. At the same time it was also ordained, says the same Jacobilli, that on the feast day another procession should be made through the town by the whole secular and religious Clergy, and all the Confraternities existing in Spello and its territory: in which procession would venerably be carried around the Head of the same Blessed, enclosed in a noble silver statue; then on the 3rd day separately with the head: which statue is now preserved above the altar itself, placed in a small chest in a decent place. All these things in the margin the Author professes to have taken from Naevius Felicianus, whom in the Library he asserts more expressly, of Spoleto and Master of human letters, to have published in Italian in the year 1597 a Description of the land of Spello, and the solemn Translation of the body of B. Andreas. We wish this little book be communicated with us: meanwhile from the often-alleged Jacobilli I subjoin, that the old marble chest, containing the said new wooden chest, well closed and cemented, was placed under the new altar, erected in the same church, opposite that altar, to the new altar, where now he rests: beneath which previously he was preserved, with the same iron grate placed, through which the chest can be seen, together with a lamp continually burning before it: and there is seen affixed a tablet, exhibiting this title to be read: Here rest the bones of B. Andreas of Spello.
[21] The tunic with the Hood, which the Blessed used while living, even today is preserved with reverence in a cypress chest, In the sacristy are preserved the Blessed's garments. which is enclosed in another larger walnut one, in the sacristy of the often-named church of S. Andreas the Apostle. And within the same cypress chest is also preserved an old tabernacle, within which is the girdle of the same Blessed, or cord, entangled with three thick knots; and above is affixed a parchment, containing these words in old letters: This is the cord of our holy Father Andreas of Spello. But the larger chest is opened and closed by two keys, of which one is with the Priors of the people of Spello, the other with the Guardian, in entirely the same manner as has been said of the chest of the sacred body itself. Nor content with these things, the piety of the people of Spello, The said Process the transumpt again, after not many more than twenty years, blazed up for asking solemn Canonization from the Apostolic See: and to that end caused the above-placed Process of Inspection to be described, and the instrument that followed the same Translation in the third year after; and took care that to all things public faith should be added through this new instrument.
[22] In the name of God. Amen. In the year of D. N. Jesus Christ 1623, Indiction 6, in the time of the Pontificate of the most holy in Christ Father and our Lord, in the year 1623 is recognized D. Gregory by divine providence Pope XV, in the year of him 3, on the 11th day of the month of May of the same year, in the presence of me Notary present and personally constituted, the Illustrious Lords, John-Mauro Paulutius and John Angelo Salarius, Notaries of the land of Spello; and D. John Baptist Passarinus, all of Spello; with the characters and hand of the above-mentioned examinations, recognitions, depositions of witnesses, and all contents in the present book, written on four sheets, well and diligently seen, said, affirmed, and by mean of oath recognized, as touched etc. to be the proper hand and character of the late Ser-John Baptist Thalia of Spello; at that time Chancellor of the most Reverend Lord Vicar foraneus for the most Illustrious Lord Bishop to be of the Notary Thalia, of Spoleto etc. and the contents in the present book to have been written by the said Lord John Baptist: and so for truth they affirmed, and to the future memory of the matter to all gave indubitable faith and attested, and so touched etc. as above they swore. Upon which etc. Done in the Palace of the Lords Priors etc., with the Illustrious Lord Knight Bernardino Angelo, and Lord Francis Mancino of Spello present as witnesses etc.
[23] And because I Francis Bongratius, of the land of Gualdo of the diocese of Nocera, public Notary by Apostolic and Imperial authority, and at present Chancellor of the Illustrious Community of the said land of Spello, on the said recognition of the hand of the late Lord John Bapt. Thalia, made by the said Lords John-Mauro Paulutius, John-Angelo and John-Baptist was asked; therefore I wrote, subscribed and published required, and applied the seal of the said Community.
Place ✠ of the Seal of the Community etc.
And because I Francis Bongratius who above, on the taken recognition of the hand and other things etc. as in the present Process was asked, and the new transumpt is authenticated, the present copy, impeded by other businesses I made copied through one faithful to me, and with diligent comparison made with the same Process I found to agree; therefore into this public form I have reduced, and applied my sign and name, together with the Seal of the said Community, on this day 17 November, in the year 1623.
S. which I use etc.
[24] Here perhaps someone noticing, the recognition of the old transumpt made on May 11, will wonder why the authentication of the new transumpt to be sent to Rome, was procured after six months. after the death of Gregory XV, It must be known therefore, that Gregory XV, from the very beginning of his Pontificate always used slender health, had the same so prostrated in the last months of life, that from the 22nd day, on which his last Constitution is read given in the Bullary, until the 8th of July, on which he died, he is known to have done almost nothing else than to prepare himself for death, creeping up with not obscure indications. The people of Spello understanding this, judged it superfluous to instruct a cause before him, of whose departure (as it happens) almost every week was awaited the announcement, perhaps also often some came, but premature. With him then dead, the successor was to be awaited from the Conclave of Cardinals, to be sent to Rome to Urban VIII, but on the 6th of August Maffeo Card. Barberini was created, before Bishop of Spoleto, by whose liberality the Seminary at Spello was founded, who was called Urban VIII, and on the 29th of September was crowned.
[25] He when he had ordered the causes of several Canonizations, for a long time being treated in the Roman Rota, to be resumed; who permits in the year 1624 the process to be made by Apostolic authority, the people of Spello thought they should not delay; and what was still lacking to the begun work, they took care to add, namely public faith. Nor was the piety of the citizens frustrated in their hope, with remissorials soon obtained; according to which, in the very following year 1624, a new Process made up by Apostolic authority, Jacobilli is witness, who alleges it; but so, that bringing nothing from it that has not already been said, makes us believe, nothing of new argument has been brought to the prior Process: wherefore neither was it necessary for us to be solicitous about obtaining it. But when at that time was being treated of restraining excessive liberty about the cult of the piously deceased, approved by no express judgment of the Apostolic See; and seems to have approved the cult, as sufficiently ancient. the people of Spello seemed to have sufficiently obtained, what they could prove, that nothing new was introduced by them; but whatever about their B. Andreas they had done toward the end of the preceding century, that rested on the knowledge of the longest time and the toleration of the Apostolic See and of the Ordinaries, to which the Pontiff declared he wished nothing to be prejudiced, by the Bull in the year 1625 on the 4th day of April published.
§. IV. The most recent Process for proving the ancient cult of B. Andreas.
[26] These things so prepared, we received an authentic Transumpt of certain examinations of witnesses for perpetual memory of the matter before…the Vicar foraneus, In the year 1690 at the instance of the Guardian under the public faith of the Prior of the People of the land of Spello, on January 9, 1690: to which Francis Passarinus the Secretary, and two Deponents subscribe by their own hand; when I on the 7th of April of the previous year had written to the Guardian of Spello, asking that he deign to inform me about the present state and cult of the sacred body. In the name of the Lord. Amen. On the second day of December before the most Illustrious and most Reverend Lord Peter-Paul Lamparelli, J. V. D. Prior of the distinguished Collegiate church of S. Mary Major, of Spello, and of the said place Vicar foraneus; for the greater manifestation of the glory of God and of His Saints, and especially of our blessed Father Andreas Cacciola, our fellow-citizen, of the Seraphic Order of S. Francis of the Conventual Minors; a witness of 76 years examined, and at the instance of the very Reverend Fathers Guardian and Brothers of the convent of S. Andreas of the land of Spello of the Minor Conventuals of S. Francis; was examined at Spello, in the Prioral mansions of the customary habitation of the said Lord Vicar, the most Illustrious Lord Colonel, Charles de Lamparellis, of Spello, of his age 76 years, as he said: to whom with the oath of telling the truth offered, as touched etc. he swore etc. to the opportune interrogations of the said Lord Vicar, as below. In Italian namely there, but here speaking in Latin.
[27] To as much as Your Lordship asks me, I can say, that the Conventual Fathers of S. Francis of Assisi, near Spello in this our land of Spello, possess a convent, with a church sufficiently celebrated and ample, from time immemorial, in the public area of the said place under the invocation and title of S. Andrew the Apostle. In which church is a chapel, dedicated to B. Andreas Cacciola, representing in a panel the celebrated miracle which the above-named Blessed did in raising a certain dead man, placed on a bier, with very many figures around, representing the people, present at the miracle. Beneath the altar then of the said chapel, is the body of the above-named Blessed placed in a chest, enclosed in a silver-plated iron grate; where continually a lamp burns. But at the sides of the said chapel are two little windows, fortified with bars of silvered iron; the little windows themselves are wooden, above one of which was a painted head, above the other the tunic of B. Andreas: because both are kept behind those, there is a chapel of B. Andreas, in which his body, head, and garment, behind the right the head enclosed in silvered and partly gilded bronze; behind the left within a decorous chest the garment: and each is closed with a double key, of which one is with the Guardian of the convent, the other with the Magistrate of the place; so that they cannot be shown to those asking without the concurrence of both: nor is the said head ever shown or exposed except to the sound of trumpets and pipes with lighted candles.
[28] There is an immense and daily concourse of devout people there, for the solace of the sick or public necessities, from whose offering many votive offerings hang, both at the said panel and at the place of the head, also of silver, on account of the frequent graces which there are received. Besides, to the sick imploring B. Andreas's help, with the permission of the Magistrate and the Guardian, to be obtained for each occasion, the same Blessed's cord is brought; by whose touch many of them are healed. As often as in the district of Spello either rains fail or superabound, for either repressing or eliciting the same for the convenience of the fields, recourse is had publicly to the intercession of B. Andreas,
and a solemn Mass is procured in his Chapel: at which the Magistrate and Governor of the place are present with frequent people, on the previous day with trumpets sounding invited, and with the Clergy of both Collegiates, namely of S. Lawrence and S. Mary Major. Many times not without miracle it has happened, he himself this in himself and his daughter experienced: that scarcely was the Mass finished, while the people are blessed with the Head, the desired grace was obtained; of which thing I myself can be a witness, indeed by sight, as long as I have lived; but by hearing, from the report of elders for past times. But whoever there with faith has recourse, is made master of his vow: which I myself have experienced, with health received through the Blessed for me and my daughter, of whom one of her eyes had been completely extinguished.
[19] The feast is celebrated each year in the said chapel with the exposition of the Head upon the altar, and how the feast is celebrated. at which is sung the most solemn Mass, with both Vespers, with the Governor, Magistrate and people nearly universal present. But after Mass the Head is carried around processionally, with all the Lay Confraternities and the whole Order of Conventuals preceding; and a great multitude of both sexes, after the Governor and Magistrate following. But when they have come to the hereditary home of B. Andreas himself, which today by me the witness is possessed, established in the village of Mezzota, named from the Calceus; the pomp stops, and with the Head raised with the sound of trumpets blesses my habitation: and this from time immemorial has been observed, as today. And these are all things which at present I can answer to the interrogations, as of matters publicly notorious. In the cause of knowledge. I Charles Lamparellus deposing as above.
[30] On the said day and at the instance of the RR. Fathers Conventuals of S. Andreas of Spello, was examined the most Illustrious and very Excellent Lord, Augustine Berretta, citizen of Spello, to whom with the oath of telling the truth offered, the same another witness confirms. as he swore touched etc. to the opportune interrogations of the Lord Vicar he responded. In the Italian language: According to what Your Lordship asks: I say, that the Conventual Fathers of S. Francis, from time immemorial possess in this town of our land of Spello a sufficiently ample convent, with a church annexed to it very magnificent and spacious, situated at the public forum under the invocation and title of S. Andreas. There, among many other very well adorned chapels, one is on the left side of the church itself, under the invocation of B. Andreas Cacciola, covered with gilded gypsum, in its panel representing the miracle of the dead man raised and everything else, in the same or similar words, which above Lamparellus used; also confirming what he had said, of the procession stopping before his houses: but no benefit, either to himself or to another in particular conferred, he commemorates; and ends as that one: In the cause of knowledge, I Augustine Berretta have deposed for the truth as much as is contained above, subscribing with my own hand.