Guido of Cortona

OF THE BLESSED GUIDO,

TERTIARY OF THE ORDER OF ST. FRANCIS, AT CORTONA IN TUSCANY.

ABOUT 1245.

PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY.

Guido, Tertiary of the Order of St. Francis, at Cortona in Tuscany (Bl.) D. P.

[1] Cortona, an ancient city of Tuscany, honored with an Episcopal See by John XXII under the Archbishop of Florence, with whom it is in the dominion of the Grand Duke, on the border of the Pontifical State and the Perugian territory. Cult and proper Office. There four hundred years ago died the most holy penitent Margaret, whose life we gave, when her feast is kept, on the 22nd of February; but only forty and some years have passed since there died the Venerable Sister Magdalene Baldelli on the 22nd of November, some of whose quite pious visions I have in manuscript. But prior to these in time was the Blessed Guido, whose feast is celebrated on this 12th day of June with an Ecclesiastical Office, with three proper Lessons from the Life at the 2nd Nocturn, which are had printed by the types of the Apostolic Chamber in the year 1644, with this kind of license. "We William Sirleto, Cardinal Presbyter of the Holy Roman Church of the title of St. Laurence in Panisperna, give faith and attest, that Our Lord the Lord Gregory XIII, by an oracle of the living voice made to us, has granted and given license to the Bishop and Chapter of Cortona, of saying, in the Choir and outside, the above-written Office of St. Guido the Confessor, reduced and reformed to the form of the Roman Breviary, on the feast of the same Blessed Guido, both in the aforesaid church, and throughout the whole diocese of Cortona. Given at Rome, in the Apostolic Palace, in the place of our usual residence, the 4th of the Kalends of June May 29, 1583." Now the Blessed Guido is inscribed in the general Catalogue of Ferrarius; and, with an illustrious eulogy, in the same Catalogue of the Saints of Italy; likewise in the Franciscan Martyrology of Arthur, and in the Poetic Martyrology of Brautius Bishop of Sarsina.

[2] The Acts indicated by various authors, His deeds were narrated everywhere by the Writers of the Order of St. Francis, Marianus of Florence, Peter Rodulphius of Tossignano, Bartholomew of Pisa, Mark of Lisbon, Francis Harold; likewise Abraham Bzovius, in volume 13 of the Annals at the year 1233 no. 24; Antony Terrinca, in his Tuscan Minorite Theater not yet published, part 3 Title 1 series 4 no. 12. But all these, equally with Wadding, in volume I of the Annals of the Order at the year 1211 no. 8, and the year 1250 no. 4 and following, have for their foundation an Italian manuscript Life, ancient indeed, and perhaps originally composed in Latin, by a contemporary Author: for I scarcely find that, at the beginning of the Order, the Life of any Franciscan Saint or Blessed was written in the common idiom. But the original text could have perished in the devastation of the city, made by the Aretines in the year 1259, and there could have survived somewhere only the Italian version, and perhaps written by a contemporary, to which, by way of a second part, the Miracles were added, some following the finding of the Head, hidden in the aforesaid disaster, made some years after on the 1st of May; which day was thenceforth long most festive to the people of Cortona, otherwise inconsolable on account of the loss of the body: but if from the same Author are also the rest, nothing will compel us to believe him contemporary with the Saint. Both parts Rinaldo Baldelli, they are given from an Italian manuscript: the Antiquary of Cortona about the year 1590, related in his histories of Cortona, hitherto in manuscript, whence Francis Pæuli Baldelli, equally a lover of the antiquities of his fatherland, transcribed them, and sent them to me to be rendered into Latin with his Annotations: the same who also taught me many other things concerning the affairs of the people of Cortona.

[3] By his report also I learned, that among the Capuchin Fathers, in the place of the Cells, there is also another Italian manuscript Life: once inhabited by SS. Francis and Guido, there is extant another copy of the Life, which John Baptist Serninus gave them in the year 1598; and Brother Francis de Equis transcribed it more neatly and interpolated it with some additions in the year 1643; which it suffices to have indicated. Likewise, that in the year 1652 Brother Nicholas Barberius the Dominican composed and published another Italian Life of the same Saint, surnamed among the Topistic Academicians Fuggiascus, that is, the Fugitive. and most recently a third, published by Barberius. But he pursued such sublimity of style, that he seems to have wished to flee as far as possible all the bounds of the historical style, which is to be commended for the native expression of things; adding to the substance nothing that deserves to be noted, and wholly engaged in catching at and continuing metaphorical phrases.

[4] The age of Guido is gathered from this, that he who in the year 1211 was received to the Habit by St. Francis, The age of the Blessed. already then a youth renowned for piety and of his own right, and so of at least 24 years; is said to have died at sixty years old, accordingly I reckon him to have died about the year 1245, although Wadding says he flourished about 1250. The Head (for the body perished, as I said) enclosed in silver, is kept in the now Cathedral Church upon an altar contiguous to the sacristy: where also was painted upon its wall an image expressed to the life: which afterward Adrian Zabarelli, a painter of Cortona, The Head preserved: represented anew with fresh colors to the same likeness, when that wall was to be restored in the year 1657; after which the same painter made several copies at Cortona: but the first copy in the year 1690 was kept among the Heirs of Paul Tomasius, Dean of the church of Cortona.

[5] The old effigy, or at least taken from an older one, about 1524. But concerning it Baldelli does not dare to affirm that it was most ancient, because there is a constant tradition that all the paintings of that church were made or repaired by Luca Signorelli, on the occasion of the restoration made in the time of Sylvius Cardinal Passerini, who, having discharged a most ample legation throughout Tuscany, held the Bishopric of his fatherland from the year 1521 to 1529. But also that Luca can be believed to have had another older one before his eyes: and to one or the other I believe to have been made exact that one which various men variously published engraved on copper, with other images of the Franciscan Blessed; but separately a certain John James of Cortona, and very many copies of this are had among the Capuchins: who also turned into a chapel the old cell in which the Blessed Guido died, a little altar placed within, and above it the effigies of St. Francis himself and the Blessed Guido sculpted, and these kneeling, to the height of one cubit and one palm, just as Antony Zabarelli, father of Adrian, formed them there: but in the habit of the Capuchins, otherwise, as to the face of Guido, more like him than that which we said Signorelli made. I, that I might be able to give here as similar an image as possible, asked the aforepraised Baldelli, from whom I received the Life, to take care that Zabarelli's copy be delineated for me with new diligence; which he did, as you see here below. He warned, however, that the defect of teeth, which is conspicuously marked here, is not verified in the head: which the sacristan, who saw it bare from many years back, before it was enclosed in silver, denied to lack any teeth. But what if those two teeth were longer than the others, and therefore alone were expressed by the painter, who does not seem to have been able to receive that notable deformity from anywhere but from the living man's own features, yet seems to have augmented it beyond the truth? For after I had taken care that the subjoined image be engraved on copper, the same Baldelli found another copy, by the hand of Baccio Bonetti, whose disciple Adrian had been; and in it those two teeth neither thus stand apart from each other, nor descend so deeply, nay, are scarcely observed under the lower lip.

LIFE

By an Anonymous Author, perhaps contemporary. From the Italian manuscript of Rinaldo Baldelli.

Guido, Tertiary of the Order of St. Francis, at Cortona in Tuscany (Bl.)

FROM AN ITALIAN MANUSCRIPT.

[1] St. Francis, having received the faculty of preaching Saint Francis, Prince and head of the Religion of the Friars Minor, divinely inspired to observe the holy and apostolic life, led his gathered poor Brothers into the parts of the city of Assisi: and that he might more firmly establish the Rule prescribed by him for them, he betook himself to Rome to the supreme Pontiff; before whom humbly sitting, he received not only the desired confirmation, but also full and ample power of preaching the word of God. Having returned therefore to Assisi, the holy Father began to run about the region preaching, accompanied by one companion; and he came to Cortona, to do the same before the gathered people. There was at that time at Cortona a certain devout youth, called Guido, and dwelling at the gate of Colonia. He, keeping himself a virgin from infancy, lived honestly from his own means; when he had done this at Cortona; but the rest of his patrimony, and what he could earn by the labor of his hands, he distributed wholly to the poor of Christ, and furthermore devoted himself to the exercises of penitence and prayer. When therefore St. Francis had finished his sermon to the people, Guido fell at his knees, earnestly entreating that he would be willing to turn aside into his house, for the sake of taking rest. Who, divinely illumined, and turned to his companion, said: "This youth, by God's grace, will be one of ours, and will be sanctified in this his own city."

[2] he is invited by Guido to table; Then, accepting the lodging offered him by Guido, he followed the same into his house with his companion: at whose knees, after the midday meal, Guido again falling, asked him that he would be willing to admit him too as a companion: which St. Francis gladly did; and since he was the sole heir of his parents, he commanded that he should sell all, and the three went together through the city distributing all to the poor. This done, the Saint led Guido into the church, and there before all the people clothed him with his Habit: and because he greatly loved solitude, all three betook themselves to a place called even today the Cells. There from alms they began to build a little monastery, and to receive Brothers, among whom was Brother Elias of the village of Ursaria, who afterward brought to Cortona the holy Relics, received from Frederick II the Emperor. [and, he and others being received to the habit, he founds the place of the Cells:] While in this place St. Francis stayed with his companions, daily advancing in devotion and in pious works of prayer and penitence, it happened to him through excess of abstinence to incur a quartan fever: whence, when he suffered vehement cold, a certain citizen of Cortona who had come to visit him gave him his cloak for the love of God, which he too received with similar love. But to a poor little woman coming with two grown-up sons, and asking something by way of alms, and the cloak given to him he gives to a poor woman: St. Francis gave that very cloak, because he had nothing else to give. Moreover, to the wondering Brothers he said: "That cloak was lent to me, until I should find another more in need of it than I": whence all remained excellently edified, and well founded in the love of holy poverty.

[3] So while St. Francis lived there in much prayer and abstinence; he permits Guido to build himself a solitary cell: Guido, that he might be able the better to devote himself to the contemplation of divine things, asked him for a cell of his own: which he gladly granted; and ordered a little wooden bridge to be made over the rivulet which flows past the side of the said place, and across it built him a little cell under a certain rock: where that one stayed until the time of reciting the Office, to which he came together with the others. Meanwhile the number of Brothers had increased; wherefore, about to depart elsewhere, St. Francis blessed them, encouraging all to perseverance in the well-begun things in the name of Jesus Christ, and most earnestly commending them to the blessed Guido: who with all humility and obedience dwelt among them. But because before his entrance into the Order he had learned to read and write well, the Guardian asked him, who is ordained a Priest: that he would be willing to receive the grade of the Priesthood: which he did; and thenceforth, daily confession having gone before, he went out to collect alms; and then laboring with his own hands, he took food with great frugality, and persevered day and night in prayer and sacred contemplations, which he interpolated with frequent flagellation of the body. Hence the fame of his holiness bursting forth in every direction made him venerable to all.

[4] and by St. Francis, who had his journey this way After some time then, St. Francis came again to Cortona, and was received with great charity by the citizens: which Guido hearing, immediately asked the Guardian for a companion, and went to him; and embracing each other with great mutual affection, they remained together that night in the city. The next day the Saint was most urgently asked that at least once he would be willing to preach to the people: which done, when he wished to go out of the city, he was prevented by the keepers of the gates, and compelled to remain there until the third day: when the Saint preached again, upon a rock placed in the parochial cemetery, and at the end of the sermon said: "Noble citizens, know that it is of the divine will, that I should close the last days of my life at St. Mary of the Angels at Assisi. Nevertheless in my place I leave you Brother Guido, he is left to the citizens in his place. to whom I most heartily commend you all: and I know that by God's grace and his merits the city of Cortona with its inhabitants will be freed from many dangers." So with the good grace of all he departed, and went to visit the Brothers in the place of the Cells with Guido: whom, having greeted, and fortified with his exhortation and blessing, with his companion he returned to Assisi.

[5] From then on the Blessed Guido came at set times to ask for alms with a companion to Cortona, He begins to preach to them: and preached so usefully, that he reputed himself blessed who could hear him, both for the holiness of life, and for the good testimony which St. Francis had given him, when he bade farewell to the people. But because excessive abstinence had vehemently prostrated his strength, he appeared for the most part infirm: and on a certain day, being at Cortona, a continual fever seized him, and compelled him to betake himself to the house of a certain devout citizen. he turns water into wine for a sick man, There, when it daily took increase, he was diligently visited by the citizens, and they sent him their physicians: who judging that he could be helped by no human art, nonetheless the bystanders made up courage and hope of longer life; and Guido answered, "Life and death are in the hand of the Lord." The febrile heat was most vehement, so that to all he seemed to have approached the point of death: and so the bystanders asked him whether perhaps he desired anything: but he, remembering the little fountain whence, when he came to Cortona, he was accustomed to drink, answered that a draught of it would be welcome to him. The water therefore being sought and brought, and renders its fountain salutary to others: the Blessed Guido raised himself; and his hands lifted to heaven, prayed and blessed in the name of the most holy Trinity. And behold, the water which had been brought, soon appeared turned into the best black wine of the best savor and odor: whence, when he had drunk a little, suddenly the fever so vanished as if he had suffered no evil: which miracle those seeing and hearing gave thanks with praises to God. Moreover, since the sick were frequent at Cortona (for it was the month of August), as many as drank of that same water, in the name of God and of the Blessed Guido, were healed of every infirmity by which they were held.

[6] After several days Guido wished to depart: which when the people had heard, on account of the miracles which the Blessed had done there, and on account of the devout confidence toward the little fountain whence he had drunk, which is on the way leading to the Cells, all accompanied him as far as the same; and when they had come to the said fountain, asked by the citizens, all together prayed that he would bless the fountain. And so, his knees bent to the ground, and a devout prayer made, before all the men and women likewise kneeling, three times he formed the sign of the holy Cross, praying God and the Blessed Virgin Mary, and all the Saints of paradise, that whoever drank of that water might obtain health of soul and body. And when all had added, "Amen," he indeed with his companion returned to the Cells, and narrated to the Brothers what had been done; but the people who had followed eagerly drank of the water thus blessed, praising God and the most blessed Virgin, with the Blessed Guido and all the Saints: and as many as had drunk immediately recovered from whatever disease they were vexed by.

[7] There was at that time at Cortona a Priest, to whom from a certain infirmity an arm with the right hand had remained withered, so that he could in no way use them, and so could not even celebrate Mass, whence he came into great calamity. He, having heard the praiseworthy fame of Guido, came to him, and began to pray for the love of God, that he would deign to obtain for him from God the grace of health. he heals a withered arm: Moved to compassion, Guido led him to the church: and there bending his knees made a prayer, and then signed the arm and hand with the Cross, saying: "May Jesus Christ heal you": and immediately health was restored to the sick man, as great as it had once been; whence with tears he gave thanks to God and to the Blessed Guido.

[8] In the same times a grave dearth of grain afflicted Tuscany: and when the Brothers had not what to eat, he gives a little flour to a poor woman, with the leave of the Guardian, a companion having been taken, he went out through the territory of Cortona to collect alms. And when he had come to the village named Monticulus of the Cucciattori, he received in a little sack a little flour for baking the sacrificial hosts: but a poor little woman coming up with two little sons, and complaining that there was nothing at all for the food of herself and her own, the month of March now running, when she asked alms of him; moved by the consideration of such great poverty, Guido entered her house; and bowed to the ground, lifted his hands and eyes to heaven, and said: "Lord God, who satisfied five thousand men in the desert with five loaves, may thy most abundant mercy deign to feed this poor little woman with her sons with this little flour." Then risen to his feet and full of confidence, he asked of the woman whether she had a sack. But she answered that she had none indeed, but that, if he ordered, she would soon bring one from elsewhere: and this being done, she received on loan from one of the neighbors one holding a whole sextarius. Guido therefore took it: and blessing both sacks, he poured from his own into the other one of the woman and filled the whole, and makes it suffice her until the harvest: and yet retained himself as much as was enough for baking the hosts. Seeing which, the Brother companion and the woman gave thanks to God and to the Blessed Guido, who turning his speech to her said: "Trust, woman, in the Lord Jesus Christ, and feed on this flour with your sons." Then blessing her he departed: but to the woman making loaves from it, with God's blessing that flour sufficed abundantly until the new harvest.

[9] On another occasion, when the Blessed Guido was at Cortona, in the hall of the Lord John the Judge, it happened that a certain girl, playing with other girls beside a well, which stands at the side of the road leading toward the Colonna gate, fell into it and was suffocated; for the well then lacked rims, which were being made new. The father and mother run up, friends and neighbors run up, and they draw out the dead girl, a girl fallen into a well, and with great wailing and tears carry her home, and begin to prepare her for burial, many who had come there looking on. Then to certain women, devoutly affected toward St. Guido, it came into mind, that they should advise that he, who was at Cortona, be summoned; "For perhaps," they said, "through his prayers the Lord will grant us the desired grace." The girl's mother heard this; and immediately sent those who should summon Guido. He, when he had heard the case, and understood that he was suppliantly asked to come at least to see the dead girl and to console the parents; he keeps her unharmed. touched with mercy, followed those calling him: and having entered into the house and into the chamber where the dead girl lay, and where the greatest wailing was raised; "For the love of God," he said, "let it please all to go out for a while." They obeyed him, yet so as to remain within the house, Guido with his companion being left alone within the chamber. Who soon prostrated for prayer, said: "Lord Jesus Christ, consoler of the afflicted, show upon this dead girl thy infinite mercy, and as thou didst clemently raise the dead Lazarus, deign to give life also to this girl, and to render her raised to her mother." Then blessing the corpse, three times he formed over it the sign of the most invincible Cross: and immediately the girl arose, as if from a deep sleep, without any injury or blemish. But all who were present in the house running up, and seeing her raised whom they had left dead; rendered infinite thanks to God, and to the most glorious Virgin his mother and to St. Guido.

[10] Many other miracles of this kind, of great holiness and virtue, remain to be related, At sixty he learns the day and hour of his death from St. Francis: from which I withhold my pen for the sake of avoiding prolixity. But a little after St. Francis died, and was numbered among the Heavenly ones. But the holy Guido persevered in the place of the Cells with his Brothers, advancing in virtue, and flashing with miracles, until the sixtieth year of his age: which having entered, when on one of the nights he was taking sleep, after his devout contemplations, as he was accustomed, St. Francis appeared to him and said: "The time is at hand, my son, in which you must, with your Brothers, receive the reward of your labors: know therefore that on the third day from now, at the hour of None, I will come, that by God's grace and your merits intervening I may lead you into paradise:" and prepared for it, and this said, and a blessing given him, he disappeared. Then indeed immediately rising, Guido went to his Confessor; and whatever he had heard from St. Francis he narrated in order: then he shut himself into his cell, night and day intent on contemplation, with spiritual gladness alertly awaiting his holy Father Francis, who according to the agreement should take him to himself.

[11] But the third day dawning, he began somewhat to be infirm: wherefore he summoned the Guardian with the Brothers, and, the Saint appearing, he dies. and from each one asked pardon, if he had ever sinned against them in word or deed. And at his petition both the Guardian and the rest, one after another, laying a hand on his head, pronounced over him the formula of absolution. Then St. Guido, lifting his eyes and hands to heaven, began to recite the litanies, the Brothers responding to each one: and a blessed candle being set in his sight, when he was fortified with all the Sacraments and the Litanies finished, at the very hour of None on the 12th day of June, he began to exclaim with great affection: "Behold my St. Francis: rise up all, and let us go forth to meet him": and saying these things he fell asleep in the Lord, in that very place of the Cells.

[12] The death of St. Guido having been heard, the people of Cortona immediately convoked a public Council, and determined by unanimous sentence, The Body carried into the city that it ought by no means to be allowed by them, that the holy body should remain outside their city; but that care should be taken that, honorably brought, it be buried within their parish church. All the bells therefore being rung, the whole people, men and women, boys and girls, carrying in their hands palm branches, with sweet and spiritual song, proceeded as far as the place of the Cells; and there, the body having been received, they carried it to Cortona, and reverently placed it in their church. The Office finished, then, it was being consulted how the deceased should be consigned to burial; when a rustic plowman, entering unexpectedly, cried out and said: "O men of Cortona, come and see a miracle." Being asked what had happened to him; "Behold, while I cut the earth with the plow, my oxen, fallen on their knees, it is placed in a coffer, found by a miracle. by no means allow themselves to be raised." Many therefore ran out, to see what the matter was: and when they had dug somewhat in the place where the oxen were bending, they found a most beautiful marble sepulcher, and immediately the oxen raised themselves. Nor was there delay but that all came into this opinion, that God had so miraculously caused that sepulcher to be found for the burying of St. Guido: wherefore, placed on a cart, they caused it to be drawn by those same oxen to their Parish church. But this others raised with great gladness, and placed it upon the altar; laying within it the body of St. Guido, whose soul they did not at all doubt to triumph in the heavens together with the other Saints.

[13] James Laurus, in part 2 of the History of Cortona, The elegance of that coffer, commends the marble coffer, of which mention is made above, as miraculously found for laying away the body of the Blessed Guido, much for its elegance from the distinguished art of the sculptor: and says, that Donatus, the most celebrated sculptor of his age, captivated with such great admiration of it seen on a journey, when he did not cease to praise it to his fellow-Florentines; nonetheless the famous Filippo Brunelleschi could not contain himself but that he ran off to Cortona, to value with his own eyes the praised thing; and the truth of what was said having been ascertained, formed a delineation for himself, as George Vasari of Arezzo testifies in the Lives of the Painters. Would that such a delineation could have come to our hands! It pleases meanwhile to supply its defect, from that which we received, made by a less skilled but faithful hand, made at the instance of the often already mentioned Francis Baldelli.

Marble coffer for the burial of the Blessed Guido, miraculously found near Cortona in the year 1245

[14] The Romans, to whom the use of cremating and burying bodies was promiscuous, the form, for the latter made for themselves sarcophagi, for the former urns; and of both kinds they had earthen and marble vessels for sale, to be finished according to the buyer's choice, with either an Epitaph or the image of him whose bones or body was there to be laid added. Images especially are to be seen on sarcophagi, just as here is seen that of him for whom this coffer was indeed bought, but seems (God so disposing) to have remained empty, and by some chance abandoned in a field, where after so many ages, found, it should serve the honor of the Blessed Guido. Furthermore the sculptors adorned such prepared sarcophagi with sacred or profane histories, so that to Gentiles or Christians abundance and choice might be offered. the use. And so in the Subterranean Rome of Haringhi, you may see very many sacred ones; elsewhere, and namely at St. Agnes's, on a sarcophagus, prepared I know not for whom, all profane and almost Bacchic things.

[15] That this sculpture too, which we give, is such, the most Illustrious John Ciampini judges, in his letter to me thereon thus opining. "In explaining the history of the Cortona carving — whether I shall call it history or fable, whether I be an Oedipus — be your judgment: for me it will be enough to have complied with you, and to have attempted something for your studies. In the middle therefore of the round cover is seen a figure, supported by two Victories: in whose middle is seen a certain image, by which I conjecture that a vigorous man, and leader of war, The sculpture explained by Ciampini. and victor and triumpher over some subdued nation, is represented, both on account of the Victories themselves (which, as I said, support the image), and also on account of the captives themselves, and the insignia of triumphs standing nearby. But on the face of the sarcophagus is seen a chariot, which two Centaurs draw: in which stands a certain youth, at whose left is a winged woman, who as it were directs the Centaurs, and who (if I am not mistaken) represents victory. By the youth I think Bacchus is denoted, both from the vine nearest to him, from the dog and the skin with which he appears clothed, which perhaps is of a goat; then also from the small figure, which, if it be well observed, is seen expressed on the chariot itself, holding a cluster of grapes in its left hand; then finally from the Centaurs; all which indicate Bacchus himself. Of the vine, that it is sacred to Bacchus, I by no means delay in demonstrating this; of the dog, let Vossius On Idolatry, book 1 chapter 30, be seen. On the Centaurs, Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca book 14, verses 49 and 193, and 265, is to be seen. Nearest to the Centaurs is seen a battle-line expressed with shield-bearing men, holding daggers in their hands, and some prostrate on the ground and slain, and certain other horsemen. Wherefore perhaps it shows the Theban war, which Bacchus waged, as in the same Nonnus book 44, verse 20 and following. These are the things which I have set forth by divining; whether I have reached the goal, your erudition will judge."

NOTES.

By the Lord Francis, formerly Paul de Baldellis.

The Brothers held the place until the year 1250, when there entered certain Tertiaries, and then some Hermits; and in the habit of these St. Guido seems to be expressed, just as another expressed the same in the habit of the Capuchins, after these had obtained the place in the year 1537. But those Hermits can be reckoned to be those who called themselves Poor Hermits; who, confirmed by St. Peter Celestine, also began to be called Hermits of the Lord Celestine, and then Clareni, and in the year 1560 still persevered, distinguished in habit from the other Franciscans; which distinction it will perhaps be allowed to recognize from this, if our conjecture is true. Ashen certainly is the color of the cloak, and at the place of the clasp two little pieces of cloth sewn on, of black color.

p Barberius seems to place this famine immediately after the death of St. Francis in the year 1226: Mark of Lisbon, six years having elapsed from then, therefore 1232.

q Wadding calls it Montecchio (for so it is commonly pronounced) near Castiglione, and understands Castiglione Aretino; whence Montecchio itself is distant only three miles, but Cortona six.

r St. Francis was canonized two years after his death, in the year 1228 by Gregory IX.

s About the year, as I said, 1245.

MIRACLES

From the manuscripts of Rinaldo Baldelli of Cortona.

Guido, Tertiary of the Order of St. Francis, at Cortona in Tuscany (Bl.)

FROM AN ITALIAN MANUSCRIPT.

[13] Rinaldo, son of Nicholas, of the late Rinaldo de Baldellis, in a brief Relation of certain chief persons of the Baldelli family, printed not long ago at Perugia, is praised no less for his distinguished skill in ancient matters than in the laws flourishing in his time; and by our Oldoinus is named in the Tuscan Athenaeum, as one who collected certain historical memoirs concerning the affairs and families of Cortona, as I had begun to premise in no. 2. In these, when he had related the Life of the Blessed Guido rendered into Italian by himself, he thus begins the second part: "The first part of the most devout history of St. Guido of Cortona, of the Order of St. Francis, being finished; there follows the second, in which is read, how his most holy head was found on the first day of May. But for the explanation of this history, first the origin and beginning of this city of Cortona is to be set forth; secondly, in what manner St. Guido became a Brother of the Order of St. Francis; thirdly, how his body was carried to the parochial church; and finally some miracles are to be brought forward, for confirming the faith of his holiness." So he: but we, omitting all these, choose to pursue only the miracles, and to make them Latin as they follow.

[14] When the body of St. Guido lay thus honorably in the parochial church of Cortona; and was held in great veneration by the citizens, Cortona captured by the Aretines, on account of the frequent miracles; it happened at a certain time, for the punishment of sins and from the instigation of the devil, that the Aretines, provoked by no injury from the people of Cortona, with an armed band broke in by night; and when they ran about everywhere, plundering and shouting, "Long live, long live the Aretines"; the Keeper of the church, awakened at the hostile shout, and hearing that all was going to ruin, said within himself: "I see indeed that all things which are in the church will perish: I will therefore try whether at least I can hide the head of St. Guido, the head of the Saint is thrown into a well by the Sacristan: so that it cannot be found by the enemies." So solicitously seizing it, and writing on a little slip the name of whose it was, he wrapped it in a certain cloth; and with a stone tied to it, threw it into the bottom of the well, even now set in the church. Meanwhile the Aretines, having gained the city, set a lighted candle at the gate, ordering by a published edict, under penalty of death, that all the citizens should leave the city before that was consumed. The Sacristan therefore went out with the others, for fear of death, the Aretines collecting the booty at leisure: which having been carried off, they took counsel of burning the city, so that it could no longer be inhabited. Which when they had done on the third day after, all Cortona remained for a whole three years empty of inhabitants: and meanwhile that Sacristan died, who had thrown the head of St. Guido, no one knowing, into the well.

[15] But there lived the Lord Uguccio de Casali, a generous man and strong in arms, The City restored by the favor of the Sienese who before the aforesaid calamity of the city had been Captain; and exiled from his fatherland, now with one, now with another of the nobles of Tuscany honorably dwelt. When therefore war had broken out between the Florentines and the Sienese, the Sienese chose for themselves as Leader the aforesaid Lord Uguccio, and joined battle, which is today named that of Montaperti: in which, when the singular valor of Uguccio shone forth, and the victory was ascribed to him; the assembled Sienese gave him the choice of whatever reward he wished. But he: "Nothing for myself," he said, "do I ask, Magnificent Lords; only let it be permitted me to restore the ruins of my fatherland Cortona, and to dwell in it with my fellow-citizens." It was gone into council by the Sienese: and it was decreed that there be given him three hundred builders, hired at public expense for three years, who should be a help to him for the building; and so the dispersed people of Cortona began to return, and to resume the offices of divine worship.

[16] The body of St. Guido was solicitously sought, but could nowhere be found, to the no mean grief of all. the body nowhere appears; At last, when it pleased the Lord to console the people of Cortona by the revelation of the precious head, he caused that Sacristan, who had newly succeeded the dead one, when on one of the nights he was about to give the signal for Matins, to see above the aforesaid well a great splendor: which, when it had happened a second and a third time, he narrated the sight to the Priests gathering for the nocturnal Office: who also all of them saw the same.

The well therefore being opened, so much light came forth from it, as if another sun had been there. Wherefore the following morning, the first day of May, sacred to the holy Apostles James and Philip, when they had again inspected the well, and saw the same splendor again; the bells being rung, they summoned the people: who, the miracle seen, instituted a procession, but the head is indicated by celestial splendor: beseeching that God would deign to signify what he portended by that sign. And when, returned to the well, all bent their knees and continued prayers, they began to draw water thence and to stir the well; but at the third lowering of the bucket there emerged to the surface of the water something wrapped: which was extracted by a Priest let down by a rope, the same miraculous splendor accompanying it, and soon disappearing.

[17] The people persevered kneeling in prayer, and waited to understand what was held there wrapped. and drawn out of the well, it is placed back in the coffer: The bundle therefore was untied by the Priests, who found a human head, with a slip, attesting that this was the head of St. Guido, and signifying by whom it had been thrown there: but all things were as dry, as if they had never been touched by water, but always kept within a well-secured case. Then indeed an incredible gladness pervaded all: who with great solemnity carried the venerable head to the sepulcher hitherto empty; at which soon a blind man is enlightened. and about to experience the virtue of that treasure which they had found, they had brought to themselves a boy blind for several years, for whom, when the father and mother had made a vow of making from wax an image of one head, if the boy should be enlightened. This being immediately done before all, the moved Community made a decree of annually celebrating more solemnly the first of May, in memory of so miraculous a finding.

[18] Furthermore God willed by several other miracles to show how acceptable to himself St. Guido was. A girl, fallen into a well and commended to the Saint, Among these a very memorable one happened to a certain young Cortona girl: who, when she played alone with a ball beside a well, and this had fallen into it, labored so much to recover it that she too slipped within; where for a whole three days she remained unnoticed. Her parents sought her everywhere, nor could perceive by any indication what had become of her: the mother, however, always invoked St. Guido, saying: "I commend to you my daughter." On the third day a certain woman came to the well to draw water, is on the third day drawn out safe. and looking within saw and recognized the girl, and what she saw she reported to the mother: who at once running up, drew her out of the well not at all injured. And when she had asked how she had been so preserved there, she answered: "I was at the bottom of the well: but because St. Guido was with me, the water could not touch me, nor did I ever feel hunger or thirst; but now he has lifted me to the surface of the water, and blessing me said: 'I am Brother Guido, buried in the parochial church': and so I remained sitting above the water, in nothing (as you see) wetted." Which heard, all gave thanks to God for so great a miracle.

[19] Moreover there was at Cortona a man honored with the title of Podestà, [Those wishing to turn the coffer to another use, the Head having been carried to the sacristy,] who, because he discharged his office to the satisfaction of all, was also loved by all. He, when meanwhile he had died, it was consulted about the manner in which he could be most honorably buried: but among others one judged that he should be placed in the sepulcher of St. Guido, the head of this one being carried for a while into the Sacristy, until a new monument should be built for him. The counsel pleased, but its author immediately lost his speech: and the weather, which had been clear, was suddenly turned into such a storm and whirlwind, that no one dared to go out of the Palace. Nor was there delay, all who had given consent recognized the fault committed by them, they are miraculously prevented. and vowed to visit the sepulcher processionally with candles: and immediately the clear weather returned: whence all recognized, that neither to God nor to St. Guido had such a deliberation been pleasing, and soon the vow being made they made satisfaction. But to him who had lost his speech, his friends and kinsmen enjoined, that for three days each year he should visit the sepulcher of St. Guido, and carry there a wax head: and on the first day of May he received the use of his tongue; whence all glorified God.

[20] But the feast of the finding of the Head is celebrated annually with great solemnity, not only with devout chants, but also with equestrian courses, A horseman, about to be cast into a well by his horse, just as is now done on the feast of St. Margaret, when the youth run through the marketplace from the church of St. Andrew to the Parochial cemetery. But it happened that one of them could not, on a certain occasion, restrain his horse from leaping over the well which was in the middle of the way; whence fearing that this leap would be fatal to him, he devoutly said: "St. Guido, help me": and soon the horse indeed with its head, the Saint being invoked, is freed. breast, and forefeet plunged into the well; but the rider wondered to be sitting unharmed above the rim of the well; nay, the horse too came out thence safe. Thanks therefore being given to St. Guido, again alertly and devoutly he mounted the horse, and went to visit the sepulcher. But that custom so pious gradually through negligence fell into disuse. Many other miracles besides, in various places, in life and after death, St. Guido wrought; which for brevity's sake are passed over: but let these be written to the praise of Jesus Christ, and of the most glorious virgin Mary and of St. Guido, to whom in every place be honor and everlasting glory. Amen.

NOTES

By the Lord Francis, formerly Paul de Baldellis.