ON B. FRANCISCA THE VIRGIN,
OF THE ORDER OF SERVANTS OF B. M. AT MANTUA IN ITALY.
Synopsis of her life and cult, from Gianius and others.
A. 1495.
CommentaryFrancisca, Virgin, Nun of the Order of Servants of B. Mary, at Mantua (B.)
BY THE AUTHOR D. P.
Archangelus Gianius, weaving the Annals of the sacred Order of the Servant Brothers of B. Mary Virgin, from the beginning of its institution; after he had treated in Century III lib. 5 cap. 2 of men excelling in erudition, who had illustrated the Order a little before the 16th century; "While by these," he says, "and many other most skilled men the Order flourished; there were not lacking on the other side, those who would devote themselves to most holy manners, and greatly watch in serving God: of whom in this period flew to heaven B. Francisca de Cumis.
[2] "She, with the habit of the second Order received, on the 4th day of February 1482, In 1482 having entered the Order, inserted among the sacred Virgins of the Monastery of Mantua, led a most holy life and filled with the best examples, always tending to greater perfection of religious discipline, which the end proved in admirable manner; when she had paid the last of life on Thursday June 4, 1498." (Here is an error in one or the other of the figures: for, according to the order of Dominical letters, the year 1498, following the letter G, numbered the 4th day of June as the day, not of Thursday, but of Monday: and so either on the 7th day died Francisca, or in the year 1495 having the Dominical letter D.) It seems better to us to confess and correct one error than two; especially since Hippolytus Donesmundi, publishing the History of the Church of Mantua three years before Gianius, retains the day June 4, and notes another year, namely 1496, but then that day fell on Saturday.
[3] However it be: when Francisca had paid the last of life, it happened that in the following year, she died not in 1438 or 96, but 95. while the church and the place was being reduced to a larger form, it was necessary that the bones of the Nuns be transferred from the former into another pit, within the enclosures of the monastery of the interior church; and the body of B. Francisca, as if then she had been buried, was found fresh and fragrant; and besides (which was wonderful) holding in her hand a green lily, in 1496 the body intact was dug up with a green lily, as if from earth then flowering it had been gathered. Wherefore the Nuns, together with our Fathers, with the Bishop assenting (this was Louis Cardinal Gonzaga, from the year 1483 to 1511 holding that Cathedra) determined to bury that body separately under the altar of the interior church, in a wooden chest: until the year 1557 was come, when Lord Valentine de Valentinis of Mantua, in 1557 honorifically placed, gravely ill, and convalescing by the merits of this Blessed, with the greatest devotion took care that that body be more honorifically buried in a marble chest, with her image with these words underneath, "LA B. Francesca da Como."
[5] But that she has performed many miracles, this one most openly testifies; for miracles written from the year 1500 that in a certain old Diary of expenses of that monastery, we read this little particle: "On the 15th day of September 1500 a book is bought, for writing down the miracles and graces of B. Francisca de Cumis, with Sister Anna of Milan commanding, who then was Prior of the Monastery of Mantua." But this book we have not seen, because the Sisters used to say it was sometime brought to the hands of a certain Duchess of Ferrara, was lost in the Court. I had hoped that thence with more intent care it would have been sought, and the book found: and with this hope I asked in the year 1688 our College's then Rector, Constantine Aymo, to know; but he reported the same response from the Servite Fathers. I had also asked, an example of which is sought in vain that he inquire about the present state of the body, and have the effigy (if any survives) drawn; but he responded: "The body is kept within the walls of the monastery, to which because no entrance is open, it is unknown whether it be intact or not. But in the church of S. Barnabas of the very Servite Fathers is seen a certain ancient effigy, but by the injury of long time nearly consumed." Therefore I see nothing further to be hoped about these, unless either the Nuns themselves draw the requested image, as also the old effigy of the Blessed. as the Virgins of the Monastery of S. Mary of the Angels at Florence drew the image of B. Maria Magdalena of Pazzi; or with their Bishop's license allow a painter to enter to themselves for this cause, as did the Vallumbrosan Nuns of the monastery of S. Salvius, for drawing the old picture of S. Humilitas; which both are in our May, the one in tome V, the other after tome VII.
[6] She does not seem to be of Mantua: Hippolytus Donesmundi, on the aforesaid year 1496 from him,
treating of Francisca, asserts that there are some who say she was by birth of Como; others who claim her for the family de Cumis or of the Comi. To the latter the aforesaid Diary seems to favor: but it is against it, that at that age it was not customary to bring into monasteries family insignia or names of families, but each whether Brother or Sister was surnamed from the name of the city whence he had come, as appears even in the Prioress named there, Sor. Anna of Milan. And so not undeservedly does Primus Aloysius de Tattis seem to glory, in his Martyrology of the Church of Como on this day, that he, "having been unknown at Como, acquired her for the fatherland," and gave her annually to be commemorated under this eulogy: but to have been of Como. "On the same day, June 4, of B. Francisca the Virgin, of the Order of Servants of B. M. V., who at Mantua inscribed among the sacred Nuns of that ascetery, made the most beautiful flower of virtue more beautiful with the little flowers of other virtues: by which ornaments in a short time most acceptable to the immortal Bridegroom, was called by Him into heaven." But in the Notes he adds a double Epigram of Gregory Lazzius, on the same one found with the green lily; which in his Poetic Laurary no. 21 and 22, or in the said Martyrology, may be read. Arthur of the Monastery in the Sacred Gynaeceum, writes thus: "At Mantua of B. Francisca de Cumis, Virgin of the Order of the Servites, who having gone forth to the blessed company, manifested herself glorified in heaven by admirable signs."
(End of day 04 chunks; site navigation follows.)