ON BB. THE LAY MINORITE BROTHERS,
JOHN TIENTIALBENE, AND JOHN OF AVELLINO,
NEAR TODI IN UMBRIA.
XIII AND XIV CENT.
The memory of acts and the veneration of the bodies.
John Tentalbene, of the Order of Minors near Todi in Umbria (B.)
John of Avellino, of the Order of Minors near Todi in Umbria (B.)
BY THE AUTHOR D. P.
Of each, as of Blessed, all writers of the Order generally make mention: and chiefly Bartholomew of Pisa, in the book of Conformities p. 100 v., Memory of them as Blessed placing under the Tudertine Custody "the Place of S. Illuminata, in which lie two Saints, namely Tientialbene, and Brother John of Alviano, who by miracles unceasingly call the Christ-worshippers to perfect life." Thus he at the end of the XIV century, whose words Wadding, Tom. 2, pp. 334 and 600; and Jacobillus, Tom. 2 on the Saints of Umbria p. 3, thus explain, as if the Convent of S. Illuminata (this is the chief Patroness of the people of Todi, and is venerated XXIX November) is situated near Serra or Castle Alviani: which though it be true, in the writers of the Order, it is yet more probable that that is a scribal error; since by the consent of others it is established that at Avellino, an Episcopal city of Campania, that John was born: because the professors of the Franciscan Rule, at that age were generally surnamed from the place of birth; and thus Franciscus Gonzaga part 1 On the Origin of Seraphic Religion p. 95 in Alphabetical order enumerating the Blessed; "B. John," he says, "of Avellino, a city of the Land of Labor, who dead shone with miracles. He lies in the place of S. Illuminata in the Todi countryside": wrongly said "of S. Illuminatus" in the Catalogue of Custodies, written about the year MCCCC, in Harold, continuator of Wadding: he too mentions this one Tom. 2 for the year MCCLXX n. 127, as having then flourished; and Tomo 3 for the year MCCCXIII n. 10, as if he died in this year.
[2] The year and moreover the day of death is confirmed by the Life, Fuller notice of the Avellinese from the Life, which a certain one of ours, of Avellinese fatherland, preacher of His Imperial Majesty, sent us from Vienna in the year 1668, through P. Hermann Horst, Confessor of Eleonora the late Empress, under this title: "Life of B. John Arminius of Monforte, Patrician of the city of Avellino in the Kingdom of Naples, called of Ponte-latrone from a street of the city, in which was situated the house, in which he dwelt." At the end is added: "The present Life is extracted, from those things which Roger of Avellino (who, as he himself says, was of the same family of the Arminii) Bishop of Frequentino, wrote about the affairs of his fatherland, whose Mss. are preserved among the writings of the same family, in the keeping of D. Matthew Arminius of Monforte, Patrician of Avellino and Lucera." The people of Avellino consult themselves ill, that they do not hasten to bring to light the Commentary of such a man about their affairs, before it irrecoverably perishes. For this Roger was plainly contemporary with John, by authority of Clement V made Bishop of Frequentino (which church is commonly called Fregento, written by his contemporary Roger Bp. of Frequentino: and the See now is united with Avellino) made however in the year MCCCV, as Ughellus proves, from letters given at Avignon XIV Kalends of March: and the same in the times of John XXII, and so after the death of John and the year MCCCXVI, was killed by Roger de Bonito, Soldier of Ariano.
[3] Under such most certain testimony, we believe John died on this XI June, in the LXIII year of his age, whence the year and day of death is known. and therefore born MCCLI: nor could he therefore the less, at the preaching of one of the first Companions of S. Francis, gathered around the year MCCX, have been converted: when it is established, that some of them survived even to the year MCCLXX, and namely Brothers Leo and Ruffinus, two of the three who first wrote the Legend of S. Francis,
Arthur in the Franciscan Martyrology assigned to the prior John, unknown to the people of Todi, IX May, to the latter day 11 July: which little moved me in May, and less would now move me, knowing how rashly this Author is wont to define days otherwise unknown: but it moves me, that Jacobillus follows him, and by doing this indicates, no fixed day is held to the people of Todi, on which on account of the venerable sacred bodies they are wont to make an excursion to S. Illuminatus; among whom there is only a vague cult of the bodies. and so all cult, as also of many other similar Blessed, consists in the honorific custody of the coffer, customarily shown publicly and with honor in the church: for this at least the words of Pisanus and others indicate; to whom is added John Baptist Possevin, in his book on the Saints and Blessed of Todi, printed about the year 1597 p. 114. Yet neither he, nor Jacobillus or others, have more; so it appears, that no care was taken by the Friars of S. Illuminata to note the miracles of either, nor do they themselves now know anything of the man of Avellino, except what Bishop Roger took care to note.
[4] But since no such thing is found hitherto about the prior John, and perhaps in one tomb each placed are honored commonly; I have wished here too to treat of each; and first to bring forth, what Wadding has of him for the year MCCXXXII n. 24. "Brother," says Wadding, "Tentialbene, a most holy man and most beloved companion and disciple of Blessed Brother Juniper, in the church of S. Illuminata, The first was a companion of B. Juniper; of the Tudertine Custody and of the Province of S. Francis, rests... God worked many wonders through his merits. Brother Damianus of Todi, a pious man, recounted the deeds of the man. Among others he says, that he being present a certain man was brought bereft of both lights, whom Brother Tentialbene made well, with one sign of the Cross made; in the same manner also healed a paralytic, some of his miracles wrote Br. Damianus, and also a young man greatly suffering in arms and hands." Thus far Wadding, alleging in the margin his Marianus Ms. and Rodulphus: who p. 130 likewise alleges Br. Damianus. But since of this the same Wadding is silent in the book On the Writers of the Order, this is a sign to me, that he never saw that writing, nor is there hope of finding it anywhere.
[5] and the virtues Br. Leo in the Life of Juniper: I gave on XXIII April the Acts of Br. Aegidius, who is venerated at Perugia, collated with the Silesian Ms. found at Wroclaw, and said their Author seems to be Br. Leo aforementioned. From the same Ms. and probably the same author I have a certain Life of Br. Juniper, likewise above mentioned, and I preserve it for IV January, unless from elsewhere another true day of death becomes known; for I do not trust in this Franciscan Martyrology above-cited either, for the cause often said. That life was either never written whole, or did not reach the Silesian copyist: for nothing there of the place, year, and day of death; but it ends thus: "Brother Juniper also had as companion a certain Brother, of greatest obedience, patience, and virtue. And because he was patient and his patience edified many; sometimes he was sent to the place where harsh Brothers were, from whom he sustained many reproaches most promptly and patiently: but with name kept silent and at the precept also of Br. Juniper, immediately wept: and at his precept too, replied. And when he had heard that that Brother had died, sad beyond measure he cried out: 'I no longer have a good in this world': and breaking all utensils, said, that the whole world was destroyed in his death; 'Were I not to live with the Brothers, and would they sustain, I would immediately go to his tomb, and from the bone of his head make two parts; from one I would make a dish to eat, and from the other a cup to drink.'"
[6] And here ends the aforesaid Life, indeed not designating that Brother, Juniper's Companion, by name; but the same from Marianus, with only the phrase changed, Wadding there refers, Tentalbene: where I have noted with dots, as said of Brother Tentialbene; and by the very matter indicates, that this one preceded by dying Br. Juniper, whom he judges to have died not before the year MCCLVIII, although others refer that death sooner; so that it is wonderful that he afterwards treats of Brother Tentialben, as if his death belonged to the same year, in which the death of the Avellinese; and hence it is permitted to doubt whether two distinct ones, with the same surname, are not to be established. which surname is rather an agnomen. That this surname, from the frequent use of such a word, was commonly imposed on this Blessed one, whom otherwise Wadding by proper name and surname calls John Falter, I have no doubt: but Tentialbene is worth, as if you should say in Latin, "Adhere to good"; for whole and divided it should be written "Tien ti al bene". This therefore would have been to him the summary of preachings or pious discourses to the common people, since he was lay in grade and profession, as Br. Juniper was, and many of the first companions of S. Francis; and such it is fitting to believe also John of Avellino, since he was converted from profane to sacred militia, and (as far as can be gathered from Bishop Roger's silence) ignorant of all literature. So as such I have set forth both in the title: but now, what I have of the latter alone, I undertake to represent.
LIFE OF THE SECOND.
From the Mss. of Roger Bishop of Frequentino, Kinsman and Contemporary.
John Tentalbene, of the Order of Minors near Todi in Umbria (B.)
John of Avellino, of the Order of Minors near Todi in Umbria (B.)
[1] B. John was born of an illustrious and patrician family of the city of Avellino, Nobly born at Avellino, in the year one thousand two hundred fiftieth, from the father John Jacobus Arminius Monforte, and Thomasina de Capua: and since his parents abounded in copious riches; no place was left, by which the infant could not shine with eminent education. But the youth exercised himself in the wrestling-ground of arms rather than of studies: but, with experience rather than the Bard singing, "No faith and piety to the men who follow the camps," he cruelly rushed against his adolescence, and polluted himself with many wicknesses of crimes: and contrary to the piety of his father, of which this is to be more noted, that when his father, for the rebuilding of the Cathedral church of Avellino, already consumed by fire, by the legacy of Blasius his brother, added many supplies, of his own monies; John bore this ill, and persistently burned with hatred against his father; and by all ways, lest his father consume on so pious a work those expenses, which he said were taken from him, he was busy.
[2] but by the preaching of a companion of S. Francis converted; But one Religious of the Order of Minors, of those who were companions of divine Francis, coming there; John's father went to him, and asked, that he should remove the son turned from God, from crimes, by pious persuasions: and this succeeded so happily for the servant of Christ; that not only made penitent he said farewell to his past life; but renounced the world, and entered the sacred Order of the same saint Francis: and there so much in the year of probation progressed, that admitted to Profession, often kneeling in the square of the city, among the more frequent crowds, overwhelmed by tears, And having entered the Order, with a high voice proclaimed: "Whom you saw a sinner, Citizens, follow penitent." A noble woman, who at the very beginning of his conversion was dissuading him from holy life, with hope of marriage, he so exhorted by his fervent prayers and examples; that she entered the monastery of S. Silvia, and offered herself as bride to Christ.
[3] He makes great progress in virtue. The holy Cross, by the example of his Father Francis, he so loved, that some have said he had it impressed in his heart. With most rare modesty and mortification he scarcely lifted his eyes from the earth. He continuously afflicted his body with fasts, vigils, hair-shirt, and scourges. He poured out assiduous prayers to God; and sometimes, not only in mind, but in body was raised to heaven. But it is incredible with what affect of divine love that breast burned, and how vile he was to himself. The fame of his sanctity so grew; that many turned aside to him, for the cause (as they said) of receiving heavenly consolation. Which he bearing ill, prayed the Lord, that such honors he might remove from himself, a most vile man; Sent into Umbria saying, that he loved nothing else than to be despised for Christ. So by the Superiors of the Order (that they might satisfy his prayers) he was sent into Umbria, with a certain presage, that he was also to illustrate the shades.
[4] the gift of healings he asks to be taken away from him: At Todi such reverence and obedience was given him by all, that the man was held as if sent down from heaven. He cured many sick, applying the sign of the Cross for medicine: wherefore men of every kind flowed together to him; who when they did not permit him to have leisure for his prayers and contemplations, he earnestly asked God, that he withdraw the grace of miracles from him. This however not preventing, the name of Blessed publicly, not only on account of miracles, but on account of singular virtues, he obtained from the peoples. At length recognizing his death imminent, for a long time, through a whole year he remained in prayers: and the austerity of life, fasts, vigils, and other acts of penance, and nonetheless believed a Saint, the less the strength of his body was, with greater effort he embraced. And when with heavenly graces from Christ the Lord, from his most holy mother Mary, and from his Father Francis, he had been refreshed in his infirmities; he closed his last day; and his body after death shone with such brightness, that to the praise of God, and to his devotion drew all. near Todi he dies, 1313. Blessed John was buried in the church of S. Illuminata, at Todi in Umbria: where also now he shines with miracles. He died on the eleventh day of June, in the year one thousand three hundred thirteenth, in the sixty-third year of his age.