ON SAINT ANTONY, OF THE ORDER OF FRIARS MINOR OF S. FRANCIS.
AT PADUA IN THE VENETIAN DOMINION
IN THE YEAR MCCXXXI.
PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY.
On the Cult, & writers of his Life & miracles.
Antonius, of the Order of Minors, at Padua in the Venetian dominion (S.)
BY THE AUTHOR D. P.
[1] Patavium, commonly Padua, a city of Italy
most ancient & most noble,
once under its own jurisdiction, Most celebrated cult in Breviaries. now subject to the Dominion of the Venetians
, the surname, most well-known everywhere to the faithful
Christians, to the prefixed-titled S.
Antony gave, on account of
the frequent concourse of pilgrims thither to the sacred
body of him, laid there in a most excellent chapel; as
the great Father of Monks S. Antony, is commonly named de
Vienna, on account of the body, near that
metropolis of the Allobroges, in the monastery of his name
wont to be honored. He is venerated there with a Double Office,
with an Octave: which then with Hymns, Antiphons,
& proper Lections, was made common to the whole Franciscan
Order, by the indulgence of Boniface IX in the year
MCCCCIII: for all, using the Roman Breviary
, the feast of him wont to be celebrated under Semi-double rite,
Clement X ordered to be observed under Double rite yearly
.
[2] In the exemplars of Usuard, augmented for the use of various Churches,
through Italy, Gaul, & Germany,
which it would be long & useless to enumerate, the name
of Antony is found ascribed; & the name in the Fasti, & indeed in that
which is held according to the use of the Roman Curia, by Master
Bellinus of Padua, of the Order of Hermit Friars
of S. Augustine, printed at Venice in the year MCCCCXCVIII,
& reprinted at Paris in the year MDXXI; in it,
I say, he is praised in the first place thus: In the city of Padua
the birthday of B. Antony, illustrious Confessor, of the Order
of Friars Minor, who was most celebrated in life,
miracles, & doctrine. Nearly the same all words,
but in the last place, are held in the year MCCCCXC printed
at Cologne & Lübeck, & is added: He used memory for
books, so that by the supreme Pontiff Gregory
IX he was called by the peculiar name Ark of the Testament.
Among the other miracles of his virtues,
by which he shone in life & in death, two
he is read to have raised dead: With the Martyrology reformed
by the mandate of Gregory XIII, about the year MDLXXXIV,
Antony remained in the last place, under this formula: At Padua
of S. Antony the Lusitanian, Confessor, of the Order of Minors,
who in life, miracles & preaching was
distinguished: which afterwards being transferred to the first place,
the last words were slightly changed, so that now it is read.
In life & miracles & preaching illustrious.
[3] The Saint had died in the year MCCXXI (actually MCCXXXI), after ten years
passed in the Order; & in the year next following canonized,
he remained under the earth until MCCLXIII; the celebrated feast at Padua: when
S. Bonaventure raised him thence into a higher tomb,
before the choir of the so far completed huge new church
. Meanwhile so great was the veneration
of the Paduans for this their new Saint, that in the year MCCLVII they decreed,
with Saviolus as witness in the Dedicatory of the Treasure below
to be praised, that on the festivity of B. Antony, or
other occasions of the same festivity, in his square
or near, as far as the street of Pontiscurvus, dice-throwers
could not stay, nor whores
or pimps, or evil men; prohibiting
also common festivities; & more religiously observed. moreover that every year on the day
eleventh of June, on which the city was begun, the Lord
Bishop & all Ecclesiastics, with the Podestà &
his Curia, & the Fraternities of the people, would go to the church
of S. Antony, to hear Mass; & on the day twelfth
of June, on which the suburbs of the city were begun, at Vespers
as if celebrating there the birthday of his city, declared
they wished, him to be held its Patron, equal to the first
S. Prosdocimus the first Bishop. Hence that fervor in finishing
the larger church; to whose first & new
part as soon as it was opened to the people, was translated
in the year MCCCX the said tomb. But far more celebrated
was the translation of the holy body into a new ark, made
in the year MCCCL: on whose account, in the year next following, it was decreed
in the General Chapter at Lyons, that on the day
XV February in double rite the divine Office should be made,
as Wadding notes on that year num. 10. Pacieco
below to be praised adds num. 143, that Pope
Martin, for the anniversary of the same Translation, granted
particular Indulgences, to be obtained in all churches of the Franciscan
institute, & that these endure unto today.
He adds also, that to the Saint himself in Lusitania the day Wednesday is held
sacred. About the day Tuesday, elsewhere wont to be observed,
many things will be said in the Analects.
[4] A brief Elogium of this S. Antony we have found, inserted
in the book of Epilogues into the Deeds of the Saints by Bartholomew
of Trent, Elogium from Bartholomew of Trent the contemporary. which book Ms. exists in the Barberini Library
at Rome; the author indeed is entirely contemporary, nor perhaps
did he survive many years the Translation of S. Dominic,
made in the year MCCXXXIII, at which he writes he was present; about
Antony thus: Antony, whom I saw & knew myself,
was Spanish by race, first embracing the Rule
of Augustine, then entering the order of Friars
Minor, by word & example called many back
from error. He desired also to preach to the Saracens,
& from these to receive the crown of martyrdom.
He was eloquent in speech, & drew many to Christ.
In a certain Chapter of the Friars he made a Sermon; where
with him speaking, S. Francis appeared to a certain Friar,
blessing those gathered. He preached the Paduans,
& led many usurers to restitution.
He compiled books & Sermons. At last at a place
which is called Cellas, in the Lord he rested; &
thence to the church of S. Mary the Virgin, where the Friars
Minor dwell, & where a noble monastery
to the holy Confessor has been begun, he is translated. In
death constituted, O glorious Lady &c. devoutly
in his mouth he had: & to one of the Brothers he said; I see
the Lord. More miracles also after death he
worked, so that a boy & girl drowned in water,
by his merits raised are read. So far Bartholomew,
by the fact alone that he mentioned only a more noble monastery,
as recently begun, sufficiently declaring himself to have written
about the year MCCXL.
[5] Petrus Rodulfius Toßinianus, afterwards Bishop
of Senigallia, in the History of the Seraphic Religion book 1
the Life by him in a compendium delivered page 83 thus concludes.
Have written about his Life B. John Pecham, Archbishop
of Canterbury; Fr. John of Cremona,
Minister of the Province of S. Antony; Older writers about him & nearly contemporary, Fr. Matthew
Pedelarius, Lector of the Province of Bologna;
Fr. Raymundinus, Lector of Padua; Fr. Bartholomew
of Trent, of the Order of Preachers. The words
of this last we have already given: the first departed from the living in the year MCCXCII
; the three others are not named in the Library of Writers
, nor from elsewhere has come to my notice
the time in which they lived; I suspect however that all in the same century as
the Saint, or at least in the next, flourished. Of these
also one could have written the Legend, which we shall give
from our parchment codex, written about
CCL years ago, containing the Lives of eight Saints and Saintesses
, of which the first is of S. Mary of Oignies, also
in this month on the XXIII day to be given, the last of this S. Antony:
which moreover we have from the Corsendonkan Ms. near
Turnhout; & also from the Utrecht Ms. of S. Salvador,
but in those things which follow the death contracted. This
Life it seems most word for word was transcribed,
by him who in more prolix style & with some additions afterwards composed
the Life, edited by Laurentius Surius, which in the primitive
style we have not yet been able to find; Surius however,
although by some Franciscan Father gravely written
& faithfully judged it, perhaps also the author of the Life, to be given from a Ms. yet changed the diction
for the favor of the Reader, omitting most things little
pertaining to history, yet without detriment of the history.
If this is true, this also must, equally
as the first, have been composed before the first Translation
of the body: since neither of these mentions it. Therefore
both willingly would I distinguish from that, which wrote
LIII, which more augmented Surius got and changed the style, of Christ MCCCXVI; which, with the witness
of the Rodulfius before-praised, was approved by Fr. Jacobus,
then Minister of the Province of S. Antony, & by the whole
Chapter, held at Verona; where caution was taken by the more discreet
Fathers, that through the whole Order it should be held
& read.
[6] In this Life although I scarcely doubt that of the aforesaid
Translation a history is written, with the miracle of the incorrupt
tongue, is sought another, published in 1316, as that matter is read num. 68 of the book of miracles,
after the Life to be given (which book has the title, Legend
of B. Antony of Padua, as is held in the Chronicles)
yet this cannot be that which the Chapter approved;
both because it contains nothing less than the history of his life,
& because num. 65 a miracle done in the year MCCCLXVII is narrated.
Nay indeed from various places of the Chronicles
into one all things seem contracted, without order
of time, & without any mention of that magnificent
Translation of the year MCCCL. Since therefore the collector's chief scope
was the miracles, I preferred to call the Book of miracles
, than the Legend; even though by this name often
Wadding alleges it, for which the book of miracles from a Ms. is given. who had it from the Ms. of the Nuns
of S. Clare of Montefalco of the diocese of Assisi,
as we found noted on the front of the apograph,
communicated to us by Wadding's successor Harold, &
here entire in the original style to be given; after the Epitome
of miracles, in the order for Canonization, in the presence of
Lord Pope Gregory IX recited; which Epitome,
from the Ms. of the Anconitan Convent communicated,
I make to be an Appendix of the Life.
[7] Another written about the year 1275, The Foundation of the three Orders, says Wadding,
from the Memorial of the Order part I, where about the tenth
General Hieronymus a Asculo it is written, relates,
at the order of that General a Life of S. Antony was written.
This General was elected in the year MCCLXXIV; nor
is there doubt, that in the first years of his governance he took care of it.
For afterwards he was so occupied with the public business of the whole
Church, that he could not even be present at the General Chapter,
indicted by himself in the year III of his governance, sent
as Legate to compose peace between the Frenchman & Spaniard
; he attempted however to abdicate his magistracy
by renouncing it, but in the following year was made
Cardinal, & after a decade Supreme Pontiff,
under the name Nicholas IV. is alleged from the Memorial of the Order in the Foundation of the 3 Orders. Of the said Memorial no
trace anywhere do I find. The Foundation moreover
of the three Orders is held in the Antwerp convent
printed without year of impression, that it must be a most ancient
edition. So however there is read: By
the mandate of that General a certain Master, very
famous, of great sufficiency & virtue, composed in a wonderful style the Life
of B. Antony of Padua. This I would suspect to be that
, whose style Surius changed, except
that the notice of the double Translation is lacking in this, equally as in our
older one. Therefore there remains only this, Epitome of Bartholomew Pisanus, that we
at some time wish it to be brought to light. After this Life is to be numbered
the Epitome, edited at the end of the XV century by Bartholomew
Pisanus, in the book of Conformities of the life of B. Francis
to the life of D. N. Jesus Christ, Page in us 79,
where on the Province of Padua or of S. Antony, which Epitome
will be of some use to us, going to treat of the various Translation of the holy
body. Less ancient is of S. Antony
of Padua, of the Order of Minors Confessor, & the Life newest of all is indicated: of the Evangelical
truth most distinguished Preacher Life; by the work of R.
P. Fr. Sanctos Saccensis of Bordeaux, of the same Order
Lector General, of the same Divine of the Observant Province
Father, from the Annals of Minors of R. P.
Fr. Luke Wadding & other historians compiled;
to which were added at the end, questions, additions,
& resolutions, & finally Elogies of various authors on the
holy man, at Padua MDCLXIII. This Life is praised,
as accurately written; yet to our intent
less necessary believed Father Joannes Baptista
Romandiolus, also one or another book about the church of S. Antony; when he sent two other books on the same argument
in Italian, as more useful in future; namely,
the Religious memories of B. Valerius Polydorus, in
which the church of S. Antony is treated, edited in the year
MDXC at Venice; which Wadding much used;
& the Treasure of the city of Padua, set forth by Petrus
Saviolus from the city's own Archives, with the note of the year
MDCLXXXII.
[8] Allege also besides the aforesaid Wadding,
broadly & diffusely written, also in Italian speech two Lives & in two books distinguished
in the year MDLII Hippolytus de Ponte, a Minor
Conventual: but since from this I see nothing Wadding
to have transferred into his Annals, this is argument to me,
that nothing of great importance could be had from it, which already
from elsewhere was not held; just as nothing singular
has another shorter, which on the Life & Miracles of the same
Saint, from the Chronicles of the Order, professes to have collected
Fr. Bernardinus Genovesius the Sicilian, & into Chapters
XL distinguished in Italian speech edited, at Rome
in the year MDCVI; yet to Wadding neither in the Annals,
nor in his Library (which thou wouldst wonder) is it known.
Of greater use to us have been two Epitomes, in the Castilian
idiom written: first, published at Madrid in the year
MDCXLVII, by Fr. Michael Pacieco, Regular
of the Order of D. N. Jesus Christ, & Administrator
of the Royal Hospital, founded for the Lusitanians
under the title of S. Antony. The other Epitome in the same language
he inserted in his Seraphic Chronicle, in the year MDCLXXxIV
published, book 3 chap. 9 & following 40, Damianus
Comegius, the General Chronographer of the Observant Order: & two in Castilian.
from each of which Epitomes some
here and there various circumstances of many matters
we have learned, with which we will enrich the Notes. Dedicated
is moreover the prior Epitome to D. the Marquis Francisco de
Melo, whom our Belgium a little before had as Governor
; who himself also through the Saint from a great peril of shipwreck
freed, that silver trireme to Padua
dedicated, of which in the Analects num. 9 occurs mention.
[9] At Padua nothing ancient remains in Mss. In the nomenclature of the Provinces of the Order, that,
which otherwise could have been called Venetian, has the name
of S. Antony among the Franciscans; in which the second Convent
is reckoned the Paduan of S. Francis, so called, I believe,
because the new structure had its beginning, in the very year in which he
was canonized, with S. Antony still living &
laboring, even though otherwise the temple had the name S.
Mary. About this Convent Franciscus Gonzaga, General
Minister, & at last holily dead Bishop
of Mantua, laments, that to compress in very few words
its praises he is compelled; because of the Fathers of this Province
such was the negligence & carelessness, that whatever of letters,
whether Apostolic or whatever
others, pertaining to the foundation of this most celebrated Convent
& its antiquity, were preserved in its
archives, has miserably perished. The same,
I believe, would have grieved over the Acts & Miracles of S. Antony,
if he had had to bring them to light: therefore the more recent miracles are given. of these certainly nothing ancient
there is found in manuscripts to be believed by us
forces the silence of Wadding. Therefore despairing of the old,
I wished to inquire, whether at least benefits of more recent memory
there were duly recorded, whence the Analects might be augmented
, to be given after the book of ancient Miracles.
But was sent a little book again printed at
Padua in the year MDCLXXXVII, containing graces from the year
MDCLXVI obtained. Afterwards also I received from there
another collection equally Italian, but Manuscript,
in which were contained some singular things from the year LXI of this
century unto XCIII, which similarly
I will render into Latin; & also from other writers of other nations &
languages other things, of whose authors
each in its place I shall indicate.
LIFE
By an Anonymous very ancient Author. From our parchment Ms., & other Mss.
Antonius, of the Order of Minors, at Padua in the Venetian dominion (S.)
BHL Number: 0587, 0592
FROM MSS.
CHAPTER I.
Beginnings among the Canons Regular, transition to the Friars Minor, eremitic life in Romagna.
[1] In Spain, in the city Lisbon (Ulysippone),
which on the Western side of the Kingdom of Portugal, in
the farthest bounds of the earth is situated; The Saint born at Lisbon, a certain very large
church, in honor of the glorious Virgin Mother
of God Mary a built consists, in which
the precious body of B. Vincent the Martyr honorably
rests, from whose Western valves'
thresholds, the venerable parents of B. Antony b not
far dwelling, in the first flower of youth this happy
son c they begot; & a name to him Fernandus
in the sacred d laver of baptism imposing, in the same
church afterwards the boy to be educated
they hand over, his boyhood being passed modestly, in morals & to be imbued with letters.
Who, while, after boyish years simply passed at home,
whatever the deceptive appearance of the world, &
the petulance of the flesh suggested as pleasing to themselves, by no means
did he loosen to these reins of concupiscence; but already
disposing to serve God alone, more evidently in the progress
of time he declared this by deed.
[2] For despising the world & enticements of the flesh, to
e, he becomes a Canon Regular, he betook himself; & there devout the habit
of Religion he assumed. Where while the peace of his breast
the importunate frequency of his dear friends
was disturbing; having spent there about two years,
to the holy Cross of Coimbra f, namely another
monastery of the same Order he flew over; to
which however, on account of the gravity of his morals, hardly
did he obtain license from his Superior. Coming there, for greater quiet he passes to S. Cross of Coimbra: to obtain the desired
quietude of mind, so much
there in all perfection of religion he advanced
his transfer made, that it could not be imputed to
levity of heart. The Spirit moreover was already driving him,
by a certain presage of future things, to the studies of divine
letters; in which constantly meditating,
not only how in a foreign field by extirpating vices,
he might plant virtues, where much advanced in studies, himself first solicitously
cultivating, he knew; but also how
he might confirm the norm of faith, & refute errors,
with the most firm sentences of the Fathers he fortified himself. And thus
it was done, with him inspiring, who needs no interval
of time in teaching, that not much after the man of God
was full of the spirit of wisdom.
[3] He is moved by the martyrdom of Franciscans in Africa Meanwhile at Morocco is poured out the blood of the innocent
by the profane; when there against Christ
hatefully raging into the slaughter of the Friars g Minor
drew the sword the King immense: where he shone with very many
signs of prodigies: since he who descended
from heaven, for whom they suffered, of the dying
became reward the bread of life. Whose venerable
Relics a certain famous man, by name Peter Infans,
himself from grave perils his liberation, for imitation, & celebrated
order of their passion he divulged. Then
also to the ears of Fernandus the rumor of the deeds not vainly resounded
: for suddenly elephant-like, to battle from
the sight of blood, animated, he is wholly snatched up to the fervor of faith
; & the injury of Christ & the slaughter of the Martyrs
with wonderful compassion turning back upon himself, nothing
at all he reckons himself to do, unless he himself running against
the tyrannical ferocity, the same for Christ with the aforesaid
Martyrs the palm obtains. Happy this one, whom
by fear of death the sword of the persecutor does not enervate,
but for the better, as will appear, the ardor of perfect charity
changes; therefore with seething mind what is to be done,
devising; the habit of the Order of such men dead for Christ
he assumes, & to follow their life deliberates;
that even so more effectively to the desired contest of faith
he may be able to attain i.
[4] And when the Friars of the said Order, near
the city Coimbra dwelling, therefore to their Order he passes, to that
monastery as is custom on a certain day, for asking
alms, turned aside; seeing them the Servant of the Lord,
by no means could contain himself further; but kindly
aside led, all the conception of his mind
he opened. Rejoices not a little at this the first simplicity
of the Friars; & the day, on which this their
joy might be fulfilled, they appoint; & so joyful, the Lord
giving thanks, they depart. He indeed, the Prelate's
license, though with difficulty, having obtained, joyful
to the agreement prepares himself: but also the Friars according to
the promise cheerfully return, the habit received, & to him in the very monastery
of his own the habit of their Religion impose. Who
while, after the change of habit, soon with the Friars
departed thence; one of the Canons, over this
showing himself to grieve more gravely than the rest, to him departing thus
in bitterness of heart said: Go, said he, go,
because perhaps thou shalt be a Saint. To whom humbly thus he replied:
When thou shalt hear a Saint, God surely
thou shalt praise k. He came therefore where the congregation of simple
Friars was dwelling, which place namely S. Antony
he henceforth asked to be called: that thus
the solicitude of those inquiring him with pious caution he might delude,
& their importunities under an unknown name more easily
avoid.
[5] Fervent therefore, as has been said, for martyrdom,
while against Christ the King of the earth was raging, in no way
from this purpose could he rest; but thence wishing to sail to Mauritania, until
at length, according to the license permitted him, to the land
of the Saracens he passed over. But however much
with effort to these things, which have been said, he strove;
yet his desire in these he did not fulfill; of
which the King of the reigning Lord decreed otherwise from human
sense. For seized with too grave & long languor,
nothing favorable for his vow he saw being
done with himself; hindered by sickness he lands in Sicily: until compelled by very necessity,
to the parts of the faithful to return he disposed. And when
sailing to return to Spain he was seizing the way,
it happened that to the parts of Sicily m with winds not
favorable blowing he applied, & so utterly from his purpose
he saw himself defrauded. There was pressing at that time
the general Chapter of the Friars n, which
was to be celebrated soon at Assisi. & thence to Assisi, Which
when through the Friars came to Antony's notice, thither (as he was weak
& infirm) somehow he arrived. The Chapter therefore being dissolved
as is custom, & the Friars to their
places everywhere being dismissed; alone Antony was sought by
none; because, as he was unknown, so also unprofitable
he seemed. With no mention therefore of his literature, or
any other utility had, & into Romagna,
to Friar Gratianus, who then was over the Friars o of Romagna,
devout he approached; humbly asking,
that him by the General Minister sought he might receive,
& receiving in regular disciplines instruct.
[6] Whom the same Friar Gratianus kindly received,
into Romagna with him led: & seeking a place
of solitude, to the hermitage of Mount S. Paul
p he sent. Whither after he came,
he found there a certain longed-for cell in a crypt, where in the hermitage he lives most rigorously, secluded
from the Friars, & fit for prayers,
which for his uses from a certain Friar, who for himself
had prepared it, he obtained. There a solitary,
as far as was permitted, life he led; there with sacred meditations
strengthening his spirit against temptations, in divine
love he confirmed himself: there with nocturnal vigils alone
in prayer he persisted; there himself totally to divine
disposition commending, upwards the anchor of most firm hope
he kept: there also with food of bread & water
with such abstinence he macerated his body, that, with witnesses
those who were present, at the hour of collation sometimes about to return
to the Friars, with steps wavering from too great weakness,
he could not support himself. So
therefore the man of God Antony, & he humbly hides. although full of the gift of wisdom
, for a long time a simple life among the simple
led; so the height of arrogance with humble heart
avoiding, under the appearance of an unlearned man so great light of divine
grace he hid. For although, as from the premises
it is plain, he had the most fervent zeal for the house of the lord,
yet from his desire already once by divine nod
defrauded, by himself again of earthly glory the weight
he did not presume to assume; until, with him,
to whom he had already commended himself, disposing, by manifest
indication afterwards, his fame in the convent of simple men
grew.
NOTES BY D. P.
Paciecus names Martinus Bullones, the father; the mother, Teresia Tavera, & describes the most noble progenitors of both, & exhibits the heraldic insignia of both families engraved in copper. He also says the Mother is held buried in the Convent of S. Vincent, within a chapel dedicated to her son, with this Epigraph in the vulgar tongue. Here lies the mother of S. Antony, in place of which afterwards this in Latin is recited by Cardosus, set after the translation.
Here is placed the corpse of the mother of D. Antony, who in the same house was brought into the light, in which now the city's assemblies are held. Was brought here by the study of D. John Bishop of Vise, in the year of D. N. Jesus Christ MCCCCXXXI.
This moreover is read engraved on a tablet, which today serves as the altar in the Saint's chapel, collateral to the major altar. Finally, the dampness of the place being considered, a certain Canon collected the bones into a decent ark, with this Epigram:
She whom on earth Antony obtained among the Divine Mother, the dear is laid in a small place. Although his bones may lie in a tiny tomb, yet his excellent mind holds the highest skies.
Now indeed those same bones of the most honored Matron are kept within a stone little ark, inserted in the wall of the Antonian chapel at the side of the Epistle, & for the sake of honor, draped with a silken curtain. Wadding on the year 1220 num. 53 calls her Mary. Cardosus says his brother's death in the Ms. membrane at S. Vincent's is thus read: On II Nones of July died Petrus Martini, called Bulhan: & from the foundation, of the same Martinus indicates an Anniversary, by the Chapter of Lisbon, to be made on XIV kal. February, for the soul of Vincent Martini called Bulhem: whence is understood that the grandfather was Vincent, the great-grandfather Martinus, by name. Cornegius suspects the family is from Belgium, & the name from Bullonium, the castle & title of the famous Godfrey of Bouillon: since it is established 58 years, before the Saint was born, the city was recovered by Teutonic aid. They moreover are shown in the Lisbon citadel the houses of the father, as of his at one time Prefect, which about the grandfather perhaps will more conveniently be understood: the family also & name still survived, a few years before Cornegius wrote: for then a certain matron so called, as she lacked heirs, bequeathed all her substance to the church, of her, as she thought, nearest blood-relative.
p Under the Bolognese Province was the eremitorium of Mount S. Paul: about it, at least as suburban, where today still the feast of S. Antony is celebrated, speaks Masinus in Bononia perlustrata on this day.
CHAPTER II.
The Ordination of S. Antony, & fervent & fruitful preaching.
[7] Antony sent to Forlì to take Orders, After much time the Friars, for
receiving Orders sent to the city
Forlì, came together; among whom & a Antony,
& also some Friars of the Preachers were present.
And when at the hour of collation the Minister b of the place
was urging the Preachers themselves, that some one of them might propose
by God's nod it happened, that all refused to speak,
& altogether asserted themselves unprepared for this.
Then at length to Antony the same Minister, the Spirit
strongly stirring himself, turned: & him,
of whose knowledge nothing was clear to himself, for this work
he calls; namely that he might propose to the midst of the Friars
whatever the Spirit suggested to him. To which less
fit the servant of God humbly answered: as one
who was held more exercised in washing the utensils of the kitchen
, & other such offices of meanness,
than in expounding the mysteries of the divine
words. But why should I delay with many words? Plainly, & compelled to preach, when
he had received such grace from above, that memory
he used for books; no other in
him sign of knowledge however was detected, except that
very rarely he spoke few things literally. Finally,
although with what power he could he refused; yet to go against
him commanding he was not able: & though unwilling,
at last consenting, in the fear of the Lord,
he began first simply to speak.
[8] he gives an amazing specimen of himself: But whose lamp, long under a bushel placed,
the Lord on a candlestick now wished
to set; in the progress of speech with such splendor of words,
& such profundity of mystical sentences
he suspended them; that of course at the unexpected
outcome of the matter vehemently all who were present wondered,
& scarcely ever to have heard such things they confessed.
The Friars therefore filled with no little consolation,
afterwards venerated in the man of God the brightness of supernal wisdom
divinely veiled, venerated
nonetheless the virtue of humility now tested.
Not long after to the ears of the General Minister the deed
came: who soon compelling Antony to come forth into public
, the office of preaching c
enjoined on him. And indeed he is worthily handed over to the ministry of the word; whereby he is ordained Preacher by the General,
as one who flourishing with divine wisdom, of the poor
in the college first proved poor in spirit,
did not impudently snatch this honor for himself, before
called by God. But that this calling done divinely
may not be doubted, from his very dwelling
equally also by death is proved. For constituted in
this misery of pilgrimage, he flourished both in life & doctrine
: of which, the former, that is the life, voluntary
vileness, simple innocence, & care of discipline
commend; the other, which is doctrine,
charity joined with zeal, truth, modesty approve.
[9] he discharges this office, But how excellently all these things shone,
since through individual matters briefly I cannot explain;
I will touch at least succinctly, how to all
equally he announced the truth. This indeed
virtue in him shone in the eyes of all, which indeed
is more powerful than miracles, by which many in life are deceptively
deceived. Thus therefore the Saint, in the cups of doctrine
wonderfully overflowing, with such a balance of justice
rendered to each their own, that whether he spoke to the great
or to little ones, equally all with the javelin of truth
he struck. For he who already with so eager a heart had thirsted
for the cup of passion before, by greatness of no one nor
by fear of death for the truth did he yield; with wondrous fervor, but with admirable
vigor, even resisted the tyranny of the great.
For such with severity he rebuked certain reprehensible
great persons, that other often famous preachers
hearing this, themselves at the intrepid
constancy of the man trembled; & by a certain
blush of pusillanimity bathed, wishing rather to be far
than to be present, with confused hand or garment
covered their foreheads. Yet his speech was,
according to diverse opportunities, with liberty, & grace; always seasoned with salt of grace
: he was, I say, gracious & also severe,
so that he might instill in hearers love & at the same time
fear. Thus therefore in this dwelling of pilgrimage,
distinguished in doctrine & life, the divine
calling in the Saint most evidently he proves; which, as at the end
will appear, multifold after death the brightness of miracles
with necessary conclusion confirms.
[10] going far and wide. So Antony, having received the authority of preaching,
did not negligently study to execute the office enjoined on him:
but the quiet of the eremitage, by which he had till then been watching over himself,
he then converted into the unusual labor
for fraternal edification. For
going around far & wide through cities & forts,
he most fervently preached the word of life; & divinely
instructed in all things, according to the diversity of hearers,
to each he proposed what suited them. The learned
in him wondered at such subtlety of intellect, & such
splendid eloquence of tongue, which in all things
they heard weighing words with wondrous weight of discretion
. How profound he expressed concerning the sacred eloquences,
Called the Ark of the Testament by the Pontiff. the supreme himself Pontiff of the Roman See
testified, by whom the holy man Ark of the Testament,
by a certain peculiar name, was called. For not only
what pertain to the formation of morals,
with placid speech he discussed; but also
with most fitting reasons the perverse dogmas of heretics
he confuted. For both at Rimini
he converted very many heretics to the integrity of the Christian
faith: among whom even a certain heresiarch,
by name Bonovillus, for thirty years blinded by the darkness
of pestilent error, to the light
of truth he led, & even unto death made him stand
by the mandates of the Church.
[11] But because it would be long to narrate in order,
how many different provinces by preaching he traversed,
how great reverence to him both of greater, However, these things omitted, the author passes to the death of the Saint, as
of lesser, & how great affection of charity
existed; how in various offices enjoined to him
he bore himself, & how many lost souls
he restored to their Creator, omitting all these things
let us briefly pass; & the discourse, whither we tend,
let us turn to the outcome of the matter. Yet in explaining
afterwards his last course of life enough
will be understood, how great efficacy of preaching of the true one
sent by God, for a long time, in various parts of the earth,
& adds only, that S. Francis appearing in the Chapter, was; since so much within the space of one d
Lent in one city he accomplished.
But this in his praise at present is not to be passed over
, what at one time to the Friars, gathered at a Chapter
in the Province e, this Saint of the
title of the Cross, & the sweet sufferings of the passion of Jesus,
with a sweet modulation preached: when the most blessed Father
Francis, at that time corporally still living,
but in another region then far removed, himself in the air
to the sons, with a new & stupendous kind of miracle, presented.
For, his preaching seems to have been approved.
as if approving the discourse of the man of God,
what was to be imitated by the hearers, he showed; to the happy
eyes of one of those sitting nearby, as with arms
extended on the gibbet of the cross, he appeared; & to the sons
who were present blessing, with the sign of the Cross
he sealed them.
NOTES BY D. P.
EMBOLISM.
From Surius, & the Annals of Wadding.
[12] The Saint acting at Padua the first time, It pleases here, with the too hurrying Author of the Life,
somewhat to halt, & from Surius's Life
& the Annals of the Order, to excerpt some more illustrious passages,
not so conveniently collected elsewhere.
The first is, what thou hast in chap. 30 of the Life prefixed-titled, & seems
to look to the first time of S. Antony dwelling at Padua
, related in these words: When the man of God was dwelling
at Padua, at Lisbon two citizens with inexpiable
hatred pursued each other: of whom one
near the house of the blessed man's parents was dwelling: & when
at evening hour he had found the son of his enemy in the square,
with utmost cruelty he slew him, & in the dead of
night in the garden of the man of God's parents, a pit being made,
buried him. But since the one whose son had been killed was noble
; inquiry was made diligently,
& was found, his son had passed by there, where his
enemy was dwelling. So his house & garden
being searched, nothing was found. They went to the neighboring
houses, & in the garden of those the corpse of the boy
was found. So the father of the holy man with all his family was thrown
into chains, as guilty of that killing. This
when through the spirit at Padua the man of God knew, he is transferred to Lisbon to free his father from the suspicion of killing: at evening
from the Guardian he sought permission to depart, which to him
was not denied. The same night by a great miracle he was brought to Lisbon
, & at the next light to the Judge
he betook himself, asking that the innocent ones loosed from chains
he would suffer to depart home. With that one refusing in every way,
he asked the corpse of the killed boy to be brought to him.
When it was brought, he ordered the boy to rise, & to say, whether
by his parents he had been killed. He rising, said that of his
killing those were entirely unconscious: & so power to depart
was given to them. Stayed the whole day
with his parents the blessed man, & at morning by angelic
ministry to Padua was led back.
[13] Likewise on another occasion, that he might help one accused of embezzlement. A similar case adds Paciecus num. 79. To the father
of the same Saint Martinus had been committed a notable
sum of Royal money, to be distributed among several lower
ministers: which since he had not done with such
caution, but that of many, who had received it,
receipts were lacking; when reckoning of received
& spent was to be rendered, & those called who were known to have received
denied either the whole or part;
nothing was closer, than that the same Martinus would be condemned
of embezzlement, & on his all goods the Fiscus would lay
with others, who in denying receipt appeared would
be obstinate. When suddenly before all stood
, who in Italy was far away, Antony; &
with grave & severe voice said, Thou so much at such hour, thou
at such day didst receive: if you persist in denying, God will vindicate
the truth violated: & having said this, he disappeared.
But the efficacy of the words was such, that immediately
they confessed, what before they had denied: & his
property & fame remained intact to Martinus. With many things then
Paciecus inquires, in what office then the father of the Saint was,
& on what occasion to him the money was committed: which
omitted, I pass to Chapter 17 of the Surian Life.
[14] Constant hammer of heretics, But the Saint of God's chief always study
& effort was, that the most pernicious little foxes,
which demolish the vineyard of the Lord of Sabaoth, namely
pestilent heretics, & their false doctrines,
with his powers he would attack, utterly destroy, &
extirpate by the roots. Some heresiarchs in public
disputations at Rimini, Toulouse, & Milan
openly he refuted, & their errors before all
he confuted. For he was instructed so much, both with efficacious
sentences of divine scripture, & with solid &
perspicuous reasonings; that those who were imbued with nefarious
heresy, did not dare to stand before him or open their mouths:
so that to him also it seemed to pertain,
what the Lord promised his disciples: I shall give
you a mouth & wisdom, which all adversaries of truth shall not
be able to resist & to contradict. Luc. 21, 15 He detected
in a wonderful way the frauds & cunning of heretics,
retarded their efforts, exposed their abominable errors with
much vituperation. Nor easily anyone
at that time anywhere could be found, which
he himself in some quarter publicly confessed, much fruit he makes among them: who so sharply &
continually pursued them, & so continuous
, that he was generally said by all to be the unwearying hammer of heretics
. Nor was the labor of the man of God
without fruit, many heretics with their supporters,
returning to the truth & obedience of holy Mother Church,
. To usurers most efficacious was, what
is held chap. 28 of the Life before cited. & he orders the heart of the usurer to be sought in his chest. At a certain usurer's
obsequies the man of God about to preach, for the theme
he took that from the Gospel: Where is thy treasure,
there also is thy heart. Mat. 6, 21 In his sermon among
others he said: This rich man is dead, & buried
in hell. Go to his treasure, & in the midst of it
you shall find his heart, his body now buried.
They went, the man's relatives & friends, & the heart still
warm in the midst of his money they found.
[15] To making Confessions integrally he leads many, When to the people preached this excellent
herald of Christ, the speech from his mouth as from
to move hearers, & to penetrate the very marrows
of souls, & much in them devotion & compunction,
& hatred & detestation of vices,
to excite; so that often one to another would say
with much groaning: Alas me wretched, who never
before this thought this to be a sin: which
if I had known, surely I never would have committed it:
And mutually they encouraged each other to making a Confession,
to undertaking pilgrimages for religion's sake, to
embracing fasts on certain days in honor of the mother
of God, or to follow similar practices of piety. Who indeed
could by saying attain, what tears were poured there,
what sighs drawn from the depths of the breast,
what beatings of breasts in stubborn sinners were seen?
So much indeed the Lord magnified his holy one
, that not only by daily customary
he flashed
with miracles, but also unheard-of signs by him were produced.
For as blessed Nicholas is said to have appeared through a vision
to Constantine the Great b, & his Prefect,
& threatened threats, also appearing through a vision. unless they released innocent men
cast into prison; so this blessed man,
those whom through sin he saw to be held bound
by the malign demon, & to tend to eternal death,
was especially zealous in freeing.
And some were wont to come to the Friars, while still
the man of God lived, & affirm for certain, that to them
lying in bed he had appeared, & had said: Rise,
Martin; rise, Agnes: go to that Friar,
& this or that sin to him confess, which in such
conscious. By which means sins entirely hidden
were expiated.
[16] He is heard with wonderful silence. So far Chapter 3, to which not unlike things are read
in chapter 16, related to the time of the last Lent,
through which at Padua he spoke to the people. There this also admirable
is noted, that in such a crowd of those running together from everywhere
to the sermons of Antony, no cry of those pressing themselves
was heard, no dissolution was seen,
no laughter, no voices were perceived,
no cries of infants, by which even a little his
sermons would be interrupted. They all stood with attentive
ears, with eyes continuously most intent on the man of God,
without any weariness, with much devotion supporting him,
just as if not a man, but an Angel
fallen from highest heaven, was preaching to them. Neither
is this a wonder, since the Lord had poured upon him such
grace, that with most eloquent tongue, with most clear voice,
bringing forth his words like a kind of trumpet,
he was both heard & understood by all.
Nor does this lack wonder, since in a far-off region
he had been born & raised for a long time,
that in the Italian idiom so politely he was able to,
what he wished, pronounce, as if outside Italy never
he had set foot.
[17] Processions of flagellants introduced with him as author. Began then first men, by gathered troops,
beating themselves, & devoutly singing pious canticles,
to proceed. And that praiseworthy custom,
set forth by such an author, afterwards by its
increases was augmented; so that in almost all places of Italy
most accurately even today c it is observed. This relates
Wadding on the year MCCXXV num. 19, &
at the same time notes, that although Polydorus Vergil book 7
de rerum invent. chap. 6 refers the flagellations applied to chastising the body
to the times of the Apostles, yet
before the times of S. Antony, no such clear memory among Authors
is held of such congregations,
or of men flagellating themselves in association:
nor on that account are they to be disapproved, that a hundred
years after arose the pernicious sect of Flagellants,
with uncertain author; who poured forth several errors, &
were condemned by Roman Pontiffs, especially
Clement VI. For this notwithstanding, Devoutly
& Christianly to flagellate, also in public supplications
for the satisfaction of sins, just as
S. Antony taught, the Church has always since his time permitted
& praised. But I return to the Surian Life,
of which the following article is chap. 11.
[18] By teaching & ruling he profits the Friars. Many distinguished monasteries of his Order indeed,
by lecturing, disputing, preaching he illustrated
& adorned; both with zeal of faith & fervor of leading souls
to Christ, & with study of instructing the Friars,
& also with desire of honoring the Institute
or Order of his, which through that time
on account of inexperience among most was in
contempt. The same also himself in the Emilia province,
for many years was Minister of Friars with praise.
But although in doctrine & word in Italy hardly anyone
he had as an equal; yet nonetheless in his Prefecture,
or office of Minister, wonderfully convenient & humane
he showed himself. But when in the city of Le Puy
he was discharging the ministry of Guardian, there was a certain Notary
, altogether lubricious, devoted to the flesh & world.
Him whenever the man of God passed by, with head
bared before him he bent his knee. He venerates a lubricious man But he thinking
that to be done in his mockery & contumely, was perturbed in mind
; & gave in every way effort,
that he might never have him to meet. But when
on a certain day unexpectedly the holy man passed him,
& thus, as we have said, behaved toward him; the man exasperated
said: Unless I feared the wrath of God, with a sword
would I strike thee, that thus thou makest me ridiculous.
What does that mean, that before me thou bendest
thy knee? Replied the blessed man: I willingly to God
would have offered myself a Martyr, but to him it did not please. About
thee however he revealed to me, that a splendid Martyr
thou shalt be. I pray therefore, that when to the contest of martyrdom
thou shalt come, thou wouldst wish to be mindful of me. He hearing this,
laughed. But not long after a time, the Bishop d
of Le Puy with many others set out for Jerusalem, as a future Martyr.
that he might preach Christ to the Saracens. And behold
divinely moved that Notary, having sold all his things
, with him entered on the journey. But when
they had come to the Saracens, & the Bishop thus quite
coldly was giving sermons, once indeed, & again,
& a third time the Notary dissembled. But at last
like B. Vincent e he rebukes the Bishop, that thus
coldly the faith of Christ both he preaches & defends: & divinely
inspired by the Spirit, with much fervor he began
to teach the Saracens, that Christ is the true God &
Son of God, but Mohammed is the son of Satan
& perdition. Which they not bearing, seize the man,
& for three days with dire tortures torment him.
And when now he was led to death, he expounded
to the Friars, that Antony had foretold, that
he himself was to be a Martyr. This matter was an occasion to the people,
for afterwards with much reverence B. Antony
to be followed.
[19] Crossing from Province into Italy in the year MCCXXV,
says Wadding num. 20, alleging authors
the Chronicle of Marianus book 2 chap. 3, & Rodulfius Tossignianus
in the History of Seraphic Religion fol. 280 & ff.
already a second time (for the first time it had happened coming from Lusitania
) by a stormy sea was carried to Sicily.
There he built some monasteries, just as the local
tradition & the fame of the Friars carries. At Cefalù, or Cephala
one, where for more than three hundred years perpetually
flourished a cypress, planted by his hands; another
at Noto, In Sicily he founds certain Convents. in a most pleasant site; a third at Lentini. In
the same kingdom, in the city of Patti, happened to him that
miracle, that, when a certain one had the holy man in hatred,
& grieved that he was held in esteem by the Bishop,
he laid an ambush for his honor. He invited him that
he should dine with him on Friday; but to him reclining
he set out a fat capon, saying it is an Evangelical
precept. Eat what is set before you,
nor was it lawful for Antony to transgress this; &
therefore he, however much it was Friday, ought to eat flesh
. He, Where the bones of the capon eaten by him he turned into fish bones.
expounding the text of the Gospel, on account of the weakness of his
infirm body, ate the bird. Secretly the host immediately
with his own began to murmur, & went to the Bishop
, going to make faith with the capon's bones,
that not so holy was the man as the people thought,
but when the bones were immediately turned into fish bones,
the man was astonished, & begged pardon. A similar
thing reporting Paciecus num. 64: It was, says he,
when some heretics, laughter for themselves, & a horned owl set out he renders savory. for the Saint shame
believed they had prepared, by cooking & setting out
cut, like a capon distributed, & by eating
turned to tears they cast forth their perfidy.
[20] From Sicily sent to Rome in the year MCCXXVII,
by the Minister of that Province to undertake certain matters, From Rome he passes to Gaul:
so great benevolence of the Princes of the Church toward himself
he found, that by the supreme Pontiff himself,
Gregory IX, his sermons with incredible study
& devotion were heard… He was then made
Guardian of Le Puy or Anicius in Gaul,
with highest humanity & prudence he governed the Friars; &
his neighbors by continuous preaching & wondrous example
led back to a frugal life… By his
work about this time a certain citizen of Brive, by name
Quintus de Falcicis, at his expenses in the same
city built a house for the Minors. Some
stay in this house S. Antony made; &
outside the city it is permitted to visit a cave, into which for sake of prayer
& penance he was wont to retire. Not
long after in the same province of Aquitaine he gave beginnings to another monastery,
which from him received its name.
Uncertain however is, whether on the journey toward Gaul,
or rather on the return, in Forum Iulii & elsewhere he does various miracles. he gave beginning to the Convent of Gemona
(a town it is in the region of Forum Iulii, situated in
the mountains above Udine) which therefore from him
received its name. Certainly a dead man there is said to have been raised by him
, while the Convent was being built; as Wadding
relates num. 19. The rest which miracles
could be related, because to certain years they could not be bound, the same
Wadding deferred to the last year. I, at the same time
going to give all below, pass over these, that what
were done with the General Minister at Assisi, before to Padua
there to die he returned, I may transcribe here, just as
the same Wadding relates them in the year MCCXXX num. 8. But
without any, as elsewhere generally is wont, authors alleged
; I believe, because he had not thought this necessary.
[21] At Assisi, in the Chapter of the year 1230, It had been in that year, which was after the death of S. Francis
the fourth, from the church of S. George of Assisi, to the Nuns
of S. Clare within the city to be conceded for moving in,
to the new most august Basilica, by Elias's
work constructed, the body of the holy Patriarch was translated,
on the day before Pentecost on day XXV May, with the supreme
Pontiff assenting. On the occasion of that fabric the same Elias,
by obtaining certain privileges, against the genuine
observance of the Rule, especially about money matters,
which in certain cases he obtained could be received through
intermediary persons; while he was thinking he had rendered a thing
pleasing, & wished to persuade the Friars,
that not so to the nail nor to the letter observable
was the norm handed down by S. Francis, except
by men like him and near to God, against him stirred up
the chief. For, those who of Francis
spirit & will were participants, To the General Minister Elias, persuading poverty was to be relaxed. at these iniquitous
persuasions perturbed, within themselves secretly
had entered into counsel: for they did not dare into the public
to break forth, fearing the indignant power of the man
, & the abundant number of those
who adhered to him, & in admitting privileges of relaxation
consented, partly out of fear,
partly out of simplicity & ignorance. But shaking off all fear
two outstanding men, Antony
the Lusitanian, called of Padua, & Adam f de Marisco
the Englishman, resisted the man face to face, manfully
objecting, these his privileges tended to the ruin of Religion
& the subversion of Evangelical state.
[22] Antony intrepidly opposes himself with Fr. Adam: These leaders being set in the line, came
other outstanding men, especially Albert Pisanus
& John Bonelli the Florentine, the former Minister of England,
the latter of the Province; who was celebrating the Arles Chapter,
when, with this same S. Antony preaching,
S. Francis appeared at the door, blessing the Friars.
Yet no one dared openly to resist Elias,
except these two, who openly wished
the pure observance of the Rule to be unharmed. Yet they did not do so
with impunity; for both with bad word & hard
beating affected, the accomplices of Elias felt as troublesome
contradictors: who as if against schismatics
& dividers of the Order they contended must be punished.
Therefore those seeing they were profiting nothing, & detriment to Religion
threatening, against certain sentences
severely passed against them, an appeal to the holy
See they interposed. Nonetheless Elias wished them to be cast
into prison; & he flees to Rome to the Pope. & he would have done it, except by the authority of a certain
grave man of Genoa, the Apostolic Penitentiary,
Confessor of the Pope, zealot of regular observance,
they were protected; by whose cunning from the hands of their persecutors
they escaped; & with the Father Penitentiary himself
fleeing from the face of the enemy, to the Lord
Pope they went.
[23] Who having heard the complaint Hearing of the flight Elias, began to suspect & fear
that complaints would be brought to the Pontiff, & urged
by the friend Confessor: & sent messengers & letters
through swift couriers, who would seize the fugitives or
bring them back from the journey. They however taking care for themselves, from
the royal way to byways deviated, & into ambushes
prepared for them did not fall, with hastened step to the
Pontiff hurrying. In the sight of the pious Father
placed, gratefully by him they were received (for their
virtue & doctrine for many days he had had
inspected) & complaints placidly he received; Elias to the cause to be spoken he cites.
groaning, that so quickly after the death of the Founder, the holy
institute should be so shaken, & the sons in contrary
studies divided. Sending therefore a runner he cited before
himself the General Minister Elias, & all men
of the Chapter, that to so great evil he might more maturely meet…
He was present with all written; in
one gathered before the Most Holy Lord, intrepidly
many things to him those two objected, the Lusitanian &
Englishman, who had fled from his face; the luxurious life,
the horse well kept, several footmen,
private food, & before all extorted, or
fallaciously or surreptitiously obtained, from the Pontiff himself
privileges.
[24] To these things Elias replied: I resisted, Holy Father,
the election made about me after the Founder's death;
& He tries to excuse himself; alleged, that I was of weaker constitution, than
that on foot I could here and there through Provinces run about,
or lead a strict common life. The electors
however insisted, that the office imposed I should accept:
for fulfilling which, if necessary, they wished
that I should eat gold & have a horse.
The office then admitted at their prayers, of a horse altogether
I had need: for leading this a groom necessary: then
for many ministries & various sallies, there is need of
: which although necessity & the consent of the Friars
approved; nevertheless, for greater security of conscience
, with your Holiness I dealt, that more amply
these would be lawful for me. Then about the care of the fabric
imposed on me, I signified the will of S.
Francis, to me through him secretly opened, but with Antony refuting, &
to your Holiness in part shown: nor for such
basilica, without much & diligent collection
of money. And thus through each thing with such ornament of eloquence
& apparent weight of reasons he answered, that to those hearing
he seemed unjustly accused. But on the contrary
arguing Antony: Most Holy Father, said he;
if, according to the manner of speaking, it was conceded to him to eat gold
, yet not to hoard gold; if
to have a horse, not to scandal nobly to feed; if
for the fabric modestly to collect, not the whole Order
to plunder; if his necessities privately
to indulge, not the life of a Prince to lead, & by bad
example the whole Order to relax. Holy Father,
this is the rule of living of this our Prior.
[25] Swelled with choler & bile Elias, nor could
contain himself, but beyond all urbanity before
the Pontiff said, that he was lying. absolved from office. Moved
the Pontiff at the man's excess, to all silence
enjoined; nor himself for half an hour anything
said, drawing deep from his breast sighs, often
lifting his eyes to heaven; until at last into these words
he burst: Thou, Most High King, hast thought in thyself in
thy tabernacle, what in this region at individual times
was to come; & so to thy servant Francis
various events thou hast shown, in that wonderful & mysterious
statue, whose parts thou thyself didst explain to him.
I fear, lest now now begin to appear
these mysteries, & change the best color of gold from which
the head was made, & decline into more humble
metal. This head, which we appointed,
far degenerates from the first. We indeed thought, that he
would please the whole Order, on account of the familiarity
& close intimacy which he had with
S. Francis: but otherwise has it turned out than we hoped; nor
to profit, but to hurt do we see the Institute committed
to him. By our authority therefore we absolve him
from the office, & we declare him absolved;
& we wish that to another's election, in our presence,
it be proceeded. Therefore with suffrages collected, with easy
business & without any delay, by common consent
he was elected to the General Minister, John
Parens, Minister of Spain, by nation a Florentine,
toward all. The elect the Pope willingly
confirmed: Antony indeed asked to remain in the Curia, but Antony the Lusitanian & companion
Adam, unjustly innodated with censures by Elias he declared
, & for greater caution from the same absolved;
adding thanks, because they had vigorously opposed themselves to the imminent
ruin of the Order: but Antony he exhorted
, that to cultivating his doctrine he should wholly devote himself:
which more easily & equitably to do, he absolved him
& exempted from any office & burden of Religion,
asking that with him he would wish to stay in the Curia. refuses this & departs to Mount Alverna. He
indeed, declining the honor of the Curia & crowds, withdrew
to the mountain of Alverna, where with the Apostolic blessing
for some time he stayed.
NOTES BY D. P.
CHAPTER III.
The arrival of S. Antony at Padua, his illness & death there.
[26] After therefore the course of his faithful servant Antony
it pleased the Lord to consummate; Absolved from rule the Saint, one
year before his happy passage, in the Chapter namely
general a, in which the Translation of the Relics of the most blessed
Father was made, the same man of God Antony
from all rule of the Friars utterly is absolved, & to him
general liberty of preaching in whatever parts
is conceded. So the first course of this liberty
he directed to the city of Padua,
where already before the sincere devotion of the people, while
he was compiling a little work of Dominical Sermons
, he had experienced; now also, at the request
of the Lord Ostian b Bishop, festive
Sermons of Saints also to be connected with the aforesaid work,
to complete this especially in the same city he disposed. To Padua he withdraws, going to finish there the sermons on the Saints:
After he came there, soon he occupied his mind in pious studies
: & the whole there space of winter, with
interspersed preaching at times, he passed.
But when the sacred c Lenten time
came; the whole of it in daily preachings
or in hearing confessions he wished to spend, About to begin Lenten sermons, he is almost suffocated by a demon: just as
he did. But wishing to oppose his happy actions
the enemy of human race, on a certain night about
the beginning of Lent, when after labor
to sleep he had given himself; his throat so strongly he constricted, that
him, except by divine nod he had been prevented, he would have
suffocated, as he himself afterwards familiarly related.
And immediately invoking the name of the glorious Virgin,
his eyes free he opened, & the whole little cell where he lay,
he saw illustrated with the brightness of supernal light:
which indeed not enduring to bear the enemy
of light, departed.
[27] And when the Servant of the Lord, that which in the sacred
time he had disposed to do, had begun to continue;
with such desire of hearing him was inflamed the whole
people, that with throngs running to him from everywhere,
daily in the Churches had to be appointed stations
. the multitude of audience forced to lead out into the open field, Furthermore when the multitude of the people exceeded the capacities
of the Churches, to the spacious places of fields
he turned himself; & there with the rain of saving doctrine
the thirsting from the abundance of the spirit he watered. Thither daily
without intermission the whole frequency of the city of Padua
was flowing: there, with the Clergy & religious men,
was the Bishop present. Not only this, but
from the adjacent cities, forts, & villages,
an innumerable almost crowd assembled; &
at nocturnal hours, he makes wondrous fruits: where he was about to preach, lighted
with lamps hastening, a suitable place each for himself
strove to pre-occupy. There with ambitious cult of garments
rejected, of both sexes delicate &
tender sat; & sent from above grace
daily until the end humbly they expected. & by 30000 most attentively he is heard. He was attended
moreover by all with such study, when the servant
of the Lord spoke; that in thirty or more
thousands of men hardly a murmur or noise
was heard. But also the stationary stalls d, having closed the shops of saleable
things, dared to sell nothing at all,
until to their own with the sermon ended each one
returned.
[28] But the word of God being finished, the whole crowd
even to touch him through the very great devotion strove;
so that going or coming, the sermon dismissed, very many approach Confession, often violently
to be pressed he feared, except by a strong multitude of youth
he was surrounded. There thou wouldst see to peace mortal enmities
restored; there those detained in long captivity to be given
liberty; there exchanges & usuries to be restored; there to be given back
pledges, & debts to be relaxed. There each ones counsel
for the quality of their crimes seeking, altogether
themselves to stand by the man of God's judgment promised, & themselves
to this very thing through a vision admonished most said.
There public sinful women were converted, there
various kinds of sinners running back to penance,
so that not even for hearing Confessions sufficed
Priests. So therefore the servant of God Antony, although
by continuous illness & a certain troublesome natural e
corpulence pressed; from preaching yet, & to touch his garment they strive. from
hearing Confessions, & giving counsels, with no
weight of labor was turned. So scattering the saving seeds
of life, the spaces of forty days he ran through,
& gathered an abundant harvest of the faithful for the Lord.
So at last the merits of his servant the Lord
wished to divulge to the people, whom in a short time openly
to all he disposed to glorify; that with this man afterwards
with greater devotion they might remember, whose already
before the marks of sanctity they had known. For already
so much from his merits the wondrous devotion of the whole people
was presuming, that if anyone could even a little from
his garment cut off, not small in this
Relics he rejoiced to have. If anyone
deserved either to address him or to touch him, that itself for a great gift
he reckoned.
[29] But that this very glorification of himself
the man of God foresaw, sufficiently evidently thus could be understood.
For on a certain day the plain of Padua, He predicts the city will soon be glorified, & the site
of the city itself, from a certain hill looking down;
exulting in spirit, with great praises, the companion of the journey hearing,
he began to extol, & with great honor
soon was to be adorned he asserted. Which indeed
how clearly the outcome of the matter itself has confirmed, from
the day of his passing unto the present, Padua itself not
unexperiencing congratulates itself; which, namely from the future affluence to his body. for the merits of the same Saint,
is visited by the frequency of so innumerable
peoples, & is honored with such worthy proclamations of praises
& magnificent gifts: which, I say,
possesses a treasure flowing with signs, & which
rejoices in the title of so incomparable a thing: which in her
Antony provides for so many wretched. Happy once in
all things, Padua, not undeservedly rejoice & exult;
& worthy of his blessing, The harvest approaching he withdraws to a solitary place, whence so gloriously
enriched thou art, unto the end of the matter mayst thou keep the title.
After these things, the time of harvest now pressing, the man of God saw
the people in gathering crops to be occupied,
& on this account he thought for a time
he should cease from preaching. Wearied also with frequent
conversation of seculars, from the tumult of the city
he transferred himself; & to a solitary place, which is called
Whom a certain noble man, Tyso g by name,
to whose dominion namely was subject the place of the Friars,
with greatest devotion received, & hospitality
humanely much & gratefully to him exhibited.
To whom also after a few days, in a pleasant place,
which not far from the house of the Friars planted with trees
he had, a cell with his own hands, upon h a walnut tree,
with branches from the trunk widened, he constructed; which
fit for spiritual studies Antony gratefully
assigned for his own use.
[30] Here therefore he whose conversation was in heaven,
now from earth in the last time of life raised himself; where seized with infirmity,
so that there, devoted to sacred meditations &
devout prayers, he might purify from all
contagion of earthly things his spirit, who thus to show
is confirmed to be soon to be joined to the supernal spirits.
Who when on a certain day at the hour of refection had come down
to the Friars, suddenly with vehement illness began
to be tormented; & lying on a little bed, soon of all
corporeal vigor was destitute. And while more and more
prevailed his sickness, orders himself brought back to Padua; not he long to survive
was sensible. So, lest the Friars of the poor place
be burdened, to Padua to be brought back i he asked: The Friars
indeed, lest he leave them, as much as they could resisting;
at last to his, though unwilling, desire
consented, & with grief placed him in a chariot they sent off.
Now he was not far from the city distant;
when another certain Friar met him on the way, who
to him for the sake of visiting was hastening: but persuaded to turn aside to the Nuns, seeing however
in the vehicle the man of God by very great infirmity detained,
he advised him, lest on account of the importunity of crowds,
to the Friars of k S. Mary in the city he should enter;
but rather to the cell of the Friars, who ministered divine things to the Lord-Ladies
poor, he should turn aside. To whose
counsel the servant of Christ acquiesced, & permitted himself to be led
to the same cell.
[31] Not long after, with the disease growing, now began
altogether to fail, & with evident signs to approach
his exit. After therefore the holy Confession,
& Absolution received, the Hymn of the blessed Virgin,
namely, O glorious Lady l, he began to say:
then with eyes raised upwards, there he most piously dies, year 1231. for some time
in direct line he looked. And when most diligently thus
intent, he was asked what he saw? he replied,
I see my Lord. To the Friars bringing him
as is custom the oil of Unction, he said to them;
I have this unction within me: but, although it is not necessary
that you do this to me; nevertheless it well pleases me,
& is useful to me. Therefore receiving the Unction devoutly,
the penitential Psalms he himself with the Friars
chanted, & to the end fulfilled.
After this a little, about a half hour, he endured;
& thus among the hands of those assisting, lightly like one sleeping
he expired. 13 June. m He died moreover on Friday
the glorious Confessor of Christ Antony, on the day of the month
June thirteenth, in the year of the Lord's Incarnation
one thousand two hundred thirty-first.
NOTES BY D. P.
just as also Antonius Pagius, in the Preface to the festive Sermons here indicated, which he reckons found for himself as a great treasure, & dedicates to our common friend Illustrious D. Antonius Magliabechius the Most Serene Grand Duke of Etruria's Librarian; namely, both from this Life, & from Trithemius (who however did not see them) only known: he found moreover in an old & well preserved Ms. of this title, Sermons of S. Antony on the festivities of the Saints from the Nativity of the Lord unto S. Peter, & edited at Avignon in the year 1684, although to that they do not reach on account of various quaternions (which from elsewhere to be supplied wishes the editor) torn from the Codex: there is however one on S. James, who is venerated in July; & follow in the same Codex 16 others; which the same editor inscribes about various, & disputes whether they are of S. Antony; & more inclines to judge they are not; from the Ms. recently edited. of the prior however nothing at all to be doubted by various reasons he shows: & that the less, that after the title, with the page turned & by the same hand, immediately is read; The 11 quaternions (first namely) are only sermons of S. Antony. The age of the Codex, indicates inscribed on one of the covers the year ICCLXXVI, that is (as eruditely shows Mabillon in the work de re diplomatica) one thousand, two hundred, seventy-sixth; & under the same cover indeed are found & equally now edited are held; first the Petition of the Bishop of Apt, offered to John XXII in the year MCCCXXVIII, for the Canonization of the clear & holy memory of Lord Elzear de Sabran, Count of Arian, deceased in the year 1323, 27 Sept. & the Testament of S. Louis Bishop of Toulouse, who died in the year 1299, 19 August, on which day it is noted to have been written; bequeathing among other things the Summa of Thomas, doubtless Aquinas, dead in the year 1274, but only in the year 1323 canonized, & therefore abstained from the title of Saint; which is helpful to note against Launoy, who dared to controvert about the author of that Summa. These two however I would not have doubted to have been added to the Codex written long before, to fill some vacant pages of the last quaternion.
indeed body, but emaciated face, large nose, vivid eyes, red mouth, & that from those, which he says are held in Portugal, most ancient paintings. I judge, in such a description first faith ought to be given to the Paduans, immediately from his death having begun to paint the image of their Saint, according to the idea which even today they preserve, with a pleasant & almost youthful face, not emaciated, yet grave: such as Rudolph & from him Polydorus represent, & I here have reproduced. The form of habit, the form of the old habit expressed by this image, although most similar to that which today the Conventuals use, is not however so new, that it is not plainly assimilated to the old statue of two hundred years or even three hundred, placed in the frontispiece of the church; as he writes to me, who accurately contemplated it, our Io. Bapt. Romagnolus. Wishing yet to see the true habit of the first time, in which the Saint lived, let him consider the image taken from Rudolph of B. Benedict of Arezzo; whence also let him learn that the Presbyters of his Order, such as Benedict & Antony were, in the image of B. Benedict to be inspected. did not nourish the beard, in the manner of Laics, but shaved in the manner of Clerics of the XIII century; although the Lateran Mosaic, made 50 years after the death of S. Antony, represents him well bearded. But this Benedict died, having served the ministry of the Province of Antioch, at Arezzo in his fatherland, where still is preserved his head, almost seven years before S. Antony, in the year of Christ 1224, on 31 August.
& made his disciple from the third Order, he persevered in the holy purpose of life, until he departed from this life in the year 1234 on the last day of January, & was buried at the temple of D. Peter, in a marble ark, near the town of S. Peter, with this humble title, engraved on a tablet; sepulture of Lord Tiso of the Field of holy Peter: that it is wonderful that he is not found related by Arthurus in the Franciscan Martyrology.
over that little cell wished it to be constructed for him: but when from the Friars Tiso
knew this, with his own hands for the man of God & two companions, three little cells
with much devotion he made.
l Paciecus
num. 101, judges the Saint to have been worthy of this favor, on account of his distinguished
affection toward the mysteries concerning the Deipara, especially her glorious
Assumption: about which when there was to be read in Choir some place from
S. Jerome, less favoring it he had preferred to be absent from Choir, & to his
privately devotion he had given; which thus pleased the Deipara, that to him in
his cell appearing, she made him certain, & ordered him confidently to preach
her glorification both in body & soul. To be read moreover was
that place from the Martyrology of Usuard 15 August, to the faith of that Assumption
contrary up to then, as if what was done with the body of Mary, certainly dead,
the sobriety of the Church prefers to be ignorant, than to hold something frivolous or apocryphal from it.
CHAPTER IV.
The contention over the body brought into the city, & his solemn burial among the Friars.
[32] [By the voices of the innocent the death of the Saint becomes known to the citizens:] After the death of the man of God, not immediately
did the Friars wish to spread his passing, on this account
that they feared the multitude of the tumultuous people
would suddenly importunately rush upon them. But what
altogether could not be hidden, in a more wonderful manner
became known to all. For still all, besides those
who had been present, what had happened were ignorant; when
immediately in throngs through the city boys walking,
thus crying out shouted; The holy Father is dead
: Saint Antony is dead, they said.
Which rumor immediately into all corners of the city
ran, & soon filled the ears of the whole people.
Hastened therefore, lest anyone seize the body, with
but also others without delay commonly of either
sex & every condition came, & very much
with one accord made a tearful lament a.
[33] who armed run up, that they may seize the body. But indeed beyond the others more lamentations of the poor
Ladies of the Convent doubling, this at last for itself
for solace through the Greater Men of the city to procure
it disposed, that him, whom alive they could not have for their
vow, at least through them dead they should not lose:
for obtaining which immediately secretly from the Friars
they sent messengers, & found many of the Greater Men
agreeable to their petition. So coming
the Friars, dwelling at the church of S. Mary the Virgin,
where namely the holy man had chosen burial,
demand the body be given to them: against whom
the aforesaid citizens of Capodiponte standing,
do not permit even to touch; but with the armed hand of strong men
studiously guard. The Friars indeed thus having suffered
repulse, consult the Bishop b what was to be done:
& him, By the order of the Bishop the Podestà opposes himself: against such presumptions,
in their cause kindly they find. Orders therefore
the Bishop the Podestà of the City to come, & for the Friars
to carrying the body as much as possible for protection
to be made. But the aforesaid citizens nonetheless to the Podestà resist:
themselves & their own for defending the Saint's body
to dangers offer, & in this also with inveterate enmities
disagreeing they agree. Deceit also
suspecting, the body itself they wished to seize; &
scarcely at last to this were led, that of the Minister c, on
whom the cause of the Friars depended, they should await the arrival.
[34] However at night preparing force, they are prevented by a miracle. At midnight a great cry of the impatient people
was made, in all ways desiring to see
the Saint's body. It happened moreover again wonderfully,
that with impetus made the cell of the Friars three
times indeed they broke in, but stupefied & with blindness
struck not even once, even with the doors opened,
were they able to enter. The next day very many
also from adjacent places flowed in; & those
who by themselves to touch on account of the multitude the body could not,
something of theirs through others for touching, as
The matter therefore pending on account of the absence of the Minister,
the Friars on account of summer heat the body in a wooden
little casket enclosed, & placed in a pit
lightly covered with earth. And soon a rumor sounded
in the people, that namely the body had been seized: & immediately
furious all with swords & clubs into the cell
rushing, in no way from the begun fury did they rest,
until the deed & cause of the deed more curiously
inspecting they understood.
[35] The case, to the Minister, Coming moreover the Minister at evening, without
delay before him the often-mentioned citizens stand. Asking
therefore from him with insistence the body, not only
for this reasons they allege, but also threats they utter;
namely that in the cause to anyone, neither for
loss of things, nor for danger of death, would they yield.
Whose irrational pertinacity the Minister hearing,
humbly them & cautiously led; & the body
itself unto the morrow to be guarded he asked. In the morning
next to come, then to the Bishop brought, it is adjudged to the Friars: which was now the third day, the same
Minister to the Podestà of the city went, & his
counsel together & help he sought. Who with council convened,
under the penalty of one hundred pounds, lest
violence be done to the Friars by anyone he established, until
the business should be heard by the Bishop & Clergy:
ordering nonetheless the body itself by common
consent of all to be guarded.
[36] On the fourth day therefore the Bishop with the Clergy diligently
in the cause proceeded: & with many allegations
heard here and there, the definitive sentence at last
for the Friars he gave: especially because among
them the Man of God burial, when he was approaching death,
had chosen; with whom, while still safe he was living,
going in & going out he exhibited himself as their equal
cohabitor in all things. He announced therefore
both to the Clergy, & to all the people, that for carrying
out the body unanimously on the morrow they should come together:
ordering also the Podestà, that faithfully to the Friars, lest any
trouble they should suffer, he should stand by. So did
the Podestà, through the middle d of the river, a bridge of ships
to be put together; fearing, whence the people turned to sedition, lest a new sedition the aforesaid citizens
perhaps should stir up; if through their territory the body,
which by the sentence given against them they had lost,
were seen to be carried. But these seen they nonetheless into sedition
turned, the bridge of ships with attack made
they broke down; moreover & to every danger pertinaciously
offering themselves, if anyone against them or the body
should presume to attempt, or persons, or houses, or
anything of theirs should invade. Which the adverse part hearing
similarly flew to arms, & against the destroyers
of the bridge a line of battle no less courageous they directed.
[37] But seeing the Friars so destructive a peril to the city
threatening, they feared not a little: with difficulty restrained by the Podestà: but
also the poor Ladies, no less terrified, the body to be
carried also with prayers they offered.
Furthermore both they & those began to impute to their sins
what had happened; & for the loss of the city with tearful
voices to implore the clemency of God. Then
the Podestà, not sustaining the sedition, the council
as quickly as possible into the Palace at the cry of the herald compelled:
& the authors of the whole evil into another part of the city
he separated; & them, that none of them on that day return
home, under the danger of all their own,
with the threat of an oath he constrained. Which
so done, the Bishop with the Clergy, the Podestà with
the Magnates & Soldiers, & with innumerable multitude
of people, with ordered processions to the cell
go: the body from the pit they bring up, & shoulders
for supporting the chief men submit. & a procession instituted,
So at last, with hymns & praises, & with lamps
in copious number gleaming, solemnly
walking, to the church of S. Mary Mother of God
they come: where him, the Bishop having completed
the solemnities of the Masses, honorably on the day of his passing
fifth they bury.
[38] the translation is celebrated with many miracles. But divine providence the storm of the aforementioned
tumult permitted to be sent before,
he who after a little of tranquility a serene
more abundantly wished to diffuse; that the brightness of grace to follow
might afterwards shine the more,
the more turbulently the cloud of temptation itself
had preceded. Is proven also in this, although not
according to knowledge, the zeal of the people toward the Saint.
How great namely veneration he would be worthy of, with miracles after
clarifying, they were about to have; for whom
also so much, before the miracles, they had committed themselves to danger.
For the storm calmed, immediately on that day prodigies
of miracles began to flash; so that, in whatever
infirmity held they touched his tomb,
immediately they received their desired health: Those
indeed who could not approach or be brought on account of the crowd,
were healed before all, even before the doors in the square
. There is stirred up beyond this an inenarrable devotion
of the people, & coming with worthy honors extols the merits
of the holy Man.
[39] First the citizens of Capodiponte of both
sex, all universally small & great, Concourse from everywhere to the church,
with feet bare, with such reverence & humility
came to prostrate themselves before the Saint's tomb,
that by their penitence all to compassion
they moved hearts. But also the Friars, with greatest piety
moved, processionally met them. After
whom the Bishop of the city, all the Clergy, & sacred
Convents of Religious, a copious multitude with Masters
of scholars, the Podestà with a throng of Potentates
& frequency of Soldiers, & others of diverse
offices professors of arts, many & great wax candles are brought. with individual processions
ordered, on most decently established days & hours
come; & each bearing wax tapers in their hands,
with feet similarly bare, walk.
Each troop, with artful variety of cult & forms
distinguished, of such magnitude
wax tapers preceded; that each, by the shoulders of many
or wagons borne, could not be erected within the roof f of the church,
except cut off; & not being able to bear them in
on account of the very great multitude, outside
the doors in the square they set them. Here days continuing
with nights, neither yielding to cold nor heat,
alternately others succeeded to others: thus worthy continuously praises
heralds, & worthy to God & His Saint duties of honors
they paid.
NOTES BY D. P.
CHAPTER V.
The Canonization of S. Antony, & a synopsis of his miracles.
[40] After such great wonders of Christ therefore, declared in his servant
Antony, a celebrated fame to places
lying around itself diffused, & various
cities, provinces, languages, & kingdoms
peoples to these called together a: who in throngs
coming, paid immense thanks to the Lord;
with magnificent praises extolling the merits of the Saint, The miracles growing,
& preaching Padua itself dedicated to such honors as most blessed
. Is extolled hence the faith of ecclesiastical
religion, are crushed the biting teeth of the unfaithful,
trying with open jaw to tear his bride with so many calumnies
with rabid mouth. Cries therefore for
these things one voice harmoniously of all, that the canonization of the Saint
with vigilant zeal be procured, & the matter itself
to the Apostolic See's hearing be quickly announced b.
To this business therefore, both honorable by condition,
& powerful in gravity messengers are sent: by the Pontifical command
who when coming explain the cause of their journey, gratefully
& kindly were received in the Roman Curia.
Wonder those hearing at this unexpected sudden surge of so many
wonders: what is to be done with diligent counsel
they treat: & at last more certain investigation
of the miracles, together with examination
to the venerable Bishop, & Priors of Saint Benedict c
& of the Friars Preachers of Padua
they entrust.
[41] The processes are formed at Padua, Furthermore the messengers having returned with joy, the Lord
Pope's order is divulged. Gather rejoicing
not a few of both sex, who the benefits of the holy man
in themselves had experienced, to bear testimony
to the truth. So a place is given to attestations:
witnesses are admitted, with due cautions of circumstances
applied: & legitimately proved miracles are put
in writing. Two moreover, of the Apostolic See's
legation discharging the office then in the Marca of Treviso
Cardinals d at that time, by divine nod,
had come to Padua: who in rescribed letters to the Curia
their faith-worthy attestations also, for the confirmation of truth,
added, over those things which they also about B. Antony
after faith already made had known. To these things
several persons, with the priors of e Religious & Clergy, with the nobler
of the city & Counts, & are approved at Rome: very many
venerable they elect, whom to the Roman Curia,
instructed with the patronage of such great letters, again
they send. With whom received with honor, is made
of the Saint: by whom the examination of the miracles
& approval to the Lord Sabine Bishop
unexpected, & also faithfully is dispatched.
[42] The cause to be concluded one intercedes, Then at length one of those an unusual
acceleration in such things against the process of the business
alleged, because from the very passing of the Saint
not yet one year's times had revolved.
There was present to the messengers not little desolate the divine
providence of piety: which more wonderfully that, which
altogether was not to be deferred, promoted; & to one
of those who had pretended the impediment of haste,
his beneplacit in this through such a vision
he indicated. For he saw the supreme Pontiff
with the Cardinals, in the consecration of a certain
church, with himself also administering with the rest,
occupied; until at last to placing
the Relics in the altar it was come. So Relics
being sought, & not found: a recent funeral,
lying covered on the side, appeared; from which
immediately to be given to him the Relics the Lord Pope demanded. warned by a dream he changes his sentence,
To whom, that these are not Relics, replying;
as quickly as possible them he ordered to approach, & the funeral
covered without delay to uncover. & it was done that
with them uncovering so much the Relics g pleased,
that of them who would first take what, even
mutually they contended. Awakening, he found
those Paduans, in the morning standing before the doors;
& immediately to his Clerics the vision he narrated; & for the
Saint's Canonization congruently he expounded. From
this therefore in the promotion of the Canonization
was made this same one chief; & so at last with all
consenting, the day of the Canonization is fixed
opportune.
[43] Stands therefore on the appointed day the Pastor & Pontiff,
adorned with the glory of solemn apparatus; stands, & declares him Saint the Pontiff.
I say, with similar cult …, of Churches
prelates, & with the copious multitude of the people
surrounded. Standing therefore, the miracles read in public &
approved, his hands toward heaven he extends;
& the name of the Holy Trinity being invoked, the most blessed
Priest & Confessor of Christ Antony
to the Catalog of the Saints he inscribed; & his feast
, on the day of his passing, on the Ides of June, solemnly to be celebrated
he established. These were done at Spoleto,
on the holy day h of Pentecost, in the year of the Incarnation
of the Lord one thousand two hundred thirty-second; year 1232.
of the Pontificate however of Lord Gregory Pope
ninth the sixth. With which so accomplished, with highest
exultation to Padua returned the Messengers, celebrating
magnificently on the appointed day the solemnity
of the most holy Father Antony. Lastly the miracles,
solemnly, as has been said, approved, which in a wider treatise
manners by which they have been exhibited, I have found;
to this also little work in summary & briefly I will annotate. The summa of Miracles is here proposed.
In which indeed nineteen variously
contracted are found erected; five paralytics
solidified; & so many cured from the infirmity of hunchbacks;
six blind illuminated, three deaf ears opened,
& of the same number of mute tongues loosed:
two from the falling sickness, the same number from fevers freed,
but also two wonderfully dead raised. Some indeed
others, which under this generality I cannot summarily
touch, individually briefly I will explain.
[44] A woman fallen into the waters escapes with dry clothes: A certain woman, falling into water, S. Antony
invoked; & with all extracting her wet everywhere
, she alone entirely both in garments
& body remained dry. Another woman
wishing to visit the holy Man's sepulcher, while deputed to the custody
of panic-grass k, on account of the multitude of sparrows,
dared not to depart from the place; another keeps the crops untouched by sparrows: the very
panic-grass from the importunity of those birds altogether
untouched she obtained to be preserved, after she promised
nine times to visit the tomb of the holy Man. Some,
desperately laboring in shipwreck on the sea,
with confession made vowed themselves to B. Antony; some are saved from the peril of shipwreck: & soon
quickly to the port of salvation, with a certain ray of light
visibly preceding them, they were led.
[45] A certain Sister of the Order of Poor Ladies,
most gravely fearing the purgatorial fire, wishing to suffer she falls ill & is healed: through
B. Antony obtained in this life to be purged: who also
with very hard sufferings tortured, again of the other
Sisters' intervention through the same deserved to be freed.
A certain boy, his mother for him making a vow to Christ's servant
, likewise a boy with vow neglected recurs. from a dangerous tumor of the neck was healed;
with the same again sickness, while his mother neglected the vow,
was struck: & with vow afterwards repeated
& rendered, he is freed. A certain Soldier, from earliest
age a heretic, sitting at table, of the miracles
of the holy man heard those narrating: who mocking, a glass
cup, which he was holding in his hand, to the ground from
above threw, incredulous of the Saint's miracles, saying; If this glass Antony
shall preserve unbroken, this one certainly I believe a Saint.
Which, although dashed against a rock, yet wonderfully
preserved; soon his errors renounced, with faith
perfect he began to believe in Christ. A certain Cleric,
deriding the inquisition of the miracles, the glass which he had dashed on the ground being preserved, he is converted. with most grave
suffering is struck: who at last, to Blessed Antony
with vow made, healed, becomes professor of his sanctity,
taught by experience itself in himself, becomes l.
[46] Many other things also through B. Antony wonderfully
done are, indeed not less true than those written above,
although not so solemnly approved: of which
still very few briefly to explain, The Saint appearing impedes the destined killing of a Presbyter, but several
it pleases in general to touch on. Certain Paduan men
conspired against the death of a certain Presbyter,
& to him in a certain place hidden ambushes
set. Where Saint Antony, in the effigy of one
of the Friars, whom they did not know, appeared; & to them,
awaiting the Priest to come, he from
the place altogether did not depart. Whom when they ordered, that
he pass thence; & not wishing to pass thence, their intention
he said he knew; they suspected, the health of his arm obtained is lost by one to use it badly. lest
someone perhaps had betrayed them; & began to ask,
who he was. Who when he replied to be Antony,
them very stupefied, so from the conceived
perversity he withdrew; & to publicly confess what
had happened, glory to God giving, he induced. A certain
man, having one of his arms altogether useless,
full health in it through B. Antony deserved:
Who striving soon to pervert the Lord's benefit to wicked
use, made himself not undeservedly unworthy
of it. For when, on the occasion of received health,
to enemies still vengeance he said he would render; with strength
immediately lost, to the former state of infirmity he was returned
.
[47] These for the present from B. Antony's miracles to explain,
briefly to have touched may suffice: Epilogue. whose besides
these by glorious merits, from the day of his passing
unto now, of the variously troubled the necessities
cease, dangers perish; leprosy, demons,
error, death, calamity flee; sick people each
rise as healthy; chains yield to captives, to shipwrecked
seas; lost strengths & members
retrieving of both sex of every age receive:
which all if anyone require to be explained more,
let those who truly feel these things relate, to whom also testimony
of the truth let the Paduans bear m.
NOTES BY D.P.
APPENDIX
On the miracles produced for the Canonization.
From the Ms. of the Convent of Ancona.
Antonius, of the Order of Minors, at Padua in the Venetian dominion (S.)
BHL Number: 0591
FROM MSS.
PrologueTo the Praise & glory of omnipotent God,
Father & Son, & Holy Spirit, &
the glorious Virgin Mary, & S. Antony.
The Miracles, which before the Lord Gregory
Pope IX, with the whole Lateran people hearing,
were recited; succinctly, with previous however
truth, to excite the devotion of the faithful,
we have undertaken to annotate.
PART I.
Health given to the sick, especially the contracted & paralytic.
[48] The contracted are healed with the hump removed; On the day namely, on which the body of B. Antony
in the church of the holy Mother of God with praises &
due honor was laid; a certain woman,
Cuniza by name, monstrously contracted, with wooden
instruments which are called ferulas, to the place of the sepulcher
supported came: on whose shoulder
so miserably had her bent, that
except by ferulas supported in no way could she walk.
Who when before the Saint's tomb a little
in prayer prostrate had stood; with the shoulder soon leveled
, with all looking on the hump vanished; & with the ferulas
put aside, the woman erect returned to her own.
[49] In the City of Padua a certain woman, Ricarda
by name, likewise another, was almost known to all the citizens; who
for the space of twenty years bearing dried legs, so much
had been deformed, that by a certain callous union
her knees adhered to her chest & feet to her buttocks.
She when on a certain day for the sake of begging, with
the other poor, to the memory of the holy Father
borne on a litter had come; pressed by heavy sleep, seeing a girl healed from a hump,
she was somewhat dozing, with head inclined upon
the ground. While she was thus resting, a voice
of one crying out she heard; Thanks be to God, for
she has been freed. Roused at last the woman,
by the most holy Father's merits restored to health was departing with many accompanying her, beheld.
The woman therefore arose, that she also might enter to the tomb
for the cause of curing. And when to the doors of the church
she had approached; behold a certain boy seven years old appeared,
& preceding her with joined hands, to the entrance
invited: Come, come in the name of the Lord;
for he will free thee. She, following the footsteps of him preceding,
to the threshold of the church dragging herself she came; but
when she was placed at the door, that boy disappeared; & led by an angel to the tomb,
yet she herself to the enclosures of the sepulcher proceeded. With her praying,
behold two balls, like an egg, between her thigh
& sides burst forth; & with a certain humor
subcutaneous running, the said balls to the lowest of her feet
descended: & like shaken hands
making noise, with many hearing they sounded. At last
her legs, for the space of twenty years dried up,
before the eyes of all were extended: & with the skin loosened, in year 20 of infirmity.
revived fleshes to the former stature grew.
So with the litter-bearers dismissed, the woman
returned home: & through the middle of the city walking,
with the citizens her acquaintances astonished, with firm steps she walked.
[50] A certain woman, Mary by name, when at a time
she had followed her father's mares, beside the river which
is called Brenta b, under a walnut tree had sat down;
course came to her; & having taken her with arms,
to another walnut tree from nearby quickly carried her.
And when carried, wishing to use force on her, to the ground
he had cast her; so miserably broken he left her,
that with a humped chest & contracted knee, &
also a vertebra of the hip distorted from the haunch c, by her father's
leading to home she returned. Who for five years
& more so contracted, to the most blessed Father Antony's
tomb borne, through his merits to former
health was restored. For it seemed to her,
while she was being healed, between flesh & bones lightly a hand
was being led; her limbs also, long with anxious pain
worn out, like ointments more sweetly being soothed.
[51] & another from 8 years, But another woman, Gilla by name, from eight years
contracted, with her left leg dried up & nerves
shortened, could in no way set the step of her feet
on the ground; whom her husband, named Marcoaldus,
borne on a horse before the Saint's tomb suppliantly
placed. And soon to prayer prone betaking herself,
with such anguish she began to be urged, that the great
heat, which had invaded her, not able to bear;
with men carrying her, with a draught of cooler air
her spirit she refreshed. And when brought back after a short time,
before the Saint's tomb she was imploring mercy;
the hand of a man, touching her womb, & her body
trying to lift the woman felt. But she
wishing to know, who he was who had touched her with hand;
with eyes opened no one approaching her
did she see. Understanding therefore the woman, that it was divine
help which she felt; immediately by herself she rose up;
& with the crutches dismissed, rejoicing & healthy with her husband
she departed.
[52] A certain girl, Agnes by name, for three years
destitute of all bodily strengths, suffered from
the sickness which they call d atrophia;
so that with the intestines bound by too great dryness, as
quickly as she took food, through the mouth immediately undigested
& raw entirely she sent back: at length the disease so
prevailed, a girl retaining no food, that with her throat closed she could scarcely swallow saliva
or anything soft. So brought on a certain day,
& placed upon the Saint's tomb,
with very great pain wounded, she seemed to approach death.
And when the pain, which had pervaded her body,
she was calling, saying, she from great hunger could
swallow a whole bread. So taking up
her daughter the mother rejoicing leading home, with food given
her at once & retained, the dry body its former moisture
recovered, & she returned to her own.
[53] At Capodiponte e a certain girl, Samaritana
by name, another contracted in knees, for gathering legumes with
other girls having entered her father's field, with knees
suddenly contracted in no way could return; but with others carrying
her she returned to the paternal threshold;
& so with the illness growing, for three years crawling
with her hands she walked; & with a miserable spectacle her buttocks
dragged adhering to the ground. So on a certain day to the sepulcher
of the Saint coming with her mother, Confession
made, supplicant she approached the ark; & a very brief hour
remaining there, by the most holy Father's merits to former
health restored, on her own feet she returned to her
own. Which when to the ears of the people of Capodiponte
had been announced, with bells rung to her coming
they went out to meet; & God's magnificence with eyed
faith seeing, they praised with due veneration.
A certain Frederic of the County f of Concordia,
when at a time from the church of Pulcignis
incautiously had fallen; Likewise contracted in the kidneys, with kidneys contracted, only
with crutches supported, could walk, or move
locally. Coming moreover to the sepulcher
of the said Father, with vow made his former health he received;
& with crutches dismissed, walking erect, with all
who had seen him before wondering, to his own
he returned.
[54] In the city of Venice a certain woman, Caesaria
by name, another with hand & foot distorted, for two years & more with one
hand contracted, her left foot from across
bore distorted: who with miracles of the holy
Father heard, to Padua quickly hurried. And when on account of
the multitude of the infirm she could not approach the tomb
, with her shin extended she tried to touch the place of the sepulcher
. To which when she had stretched her foot, anxious for salvation,
soon such pain seized her, that
with her bowels stirred from the bottom & threatening to come out,
from pain she sweated. Those who were present seeing
the woman's anguish (for now from weakness she could not speak
) removing her from the sepulcher, near
the temple wall for the sake of rest placed. Where
when she stayed for some time, with sweat receding she rose;
& with health of hand & foot obtained, due thanks
giving to God, joyful she departed. Prosdocima,
once wife of Mainerius de Nocrite, with hand & both
feet contracted, likewise another, in a certain Mastellus g to the
blessed Father's tomb was carried. Who when over
the ark had been raised, her feet with all seeing
were erected, & to former uses fully
restored; her hand moreover a little trembling,
began to be opened immediately & extended; so that,
with the guards of the ark warning her in advance, that one she would close
& again open.
[55] & with neck distorted, A certain Margarita of the Paduan city,
when on a certain night by the benefit of sleep she was refreshing herself, from
high to the ground she seemed to have fallen. Waking
moreover the woman, was found to have a distorted neck,
& her left hand together with her foot equally shortened,
so that with heel suspended she could scarcely
touch the ground with the tips of her toes. But when on a certain day
upon the holy Father's tomb she had been placed;
with the neck soon erect the head returned to its becoming state:
& with hand & foot's health received, through the same
Father's merits freed she came down. & another in foot, A certain boy
, Alvertus by name, when from his birth
unto the eleventh year, had had his left foot distorted
; the upper part toward the earth
turned, the toes to the heel of the right foot reversed
he bore; whose father, to direct the foot,
woods often was wont to bind: but soon, on whatever
occasion to loose it happened, to the accustomed twist
it sprang back. So on a certain day, when
the boy's mother to the ark of B. Antony with her son suppliant
had approached; & when remaining there a little time,
vehemently had sweated; from the guards of the ark
restored to his mother, with soles turned to the ground home
he returned.
[56] Massaguerra of h Saccile, for two years
having his right leg contracted, bore his foot
suspended. He when on a certain day, using crutches, contracted in leg for 6 years, to
the ark of B. Antony had come; vehemently to sweat
began. But when the anxiety of pain, which had invaded him,
he could in no way bear; a little
he withdrew himself from the ark. Those running who were present, trying
to lift him up they erected; & soon with all seeing,
the nerves of his foot were extended; he finally,
with crutches dismissed, hastily returned home: to him
ran out the whole neighborhood, & with tears poured & bells
rung, gave thanks to God & B. Antony. A certain
young man, Tridentinus by name, with a certain bone
growing in his back's spine, a hump-back, for the space of five years
walking hump-backed, with hands extended to his knees,
supported by a certain crutch, to the sepulcher
of the Saint came. Whom when his mother, full of faith,
upon the ark had had a little raised; descending
soon the hump, came down erect; & with his mother,
with the crutch dismissed, joyful & praising to his own
he returned.
[57] A certain man, Veridolus by name, from very great infirmity
shaken, & another, with kidneys broken a hump
drew; so that, with head almost let down to the ground, supported
by litter-bearers, he walked. So by his mother's
leading, of the holy Father coming to the sepulcher,
began at once with such great pains to be urged, that with his whole body
in a certain way dissolved, he was generally sweating.
But with the sweat receding a little, the said man before
those standing by extended his kidneys; & through the Saint's merits
that hump disappeared, made level. In the city i
of Treviso a certain woman, Venetiana by name, & a hump-back: for two
years & more she had carried a hump in her chest,
like a loaf; she bowed her head to her knees,
when she moved herself by any necessity. Coming
therefore to the blessed Father's tomb, for three days
praying him, was restored to the desired health;
& with the hump made level, & head raised, to God & B.
Antony giving thanks, she departed.
[58] Colangria of Montagnana, for a year &
month with body k dissolved, made a vow to the most holy Father
, that to his tomb for the cause of health
she would have herself carried. She when on a certain night, likewise a paralytic,
lying on her bed, had fallen asleep; with a noise heard,
as if the foot of the bed had been struck, awakened, trembling
watchful she was awake. And when after a little
again the bedside was being struck, fortifying herself with the sign of the Cross
, the woman cried out; Who touches the bed?
And she heard a voice saying to her, Boldly cross thyself.
But she. Who art thou, Lord? I am, said Antony,
And the woman crying out said to him; Holy Antony,
free me. He replied: Behold, thou hast been made whole
. In the morning, the woman healed arose; &
through the Saint's merits feeling no weight at all,
afterwards healthy remained. A certain Bartholomew
of Plebe l Sacci, when from infancy he was mute
, & a paralytic: & for fourteen years through the whole body
with paralytic plague dissolved; to the sepulcher of the holy Father
with vow made suppliant came. Where when, with faith &
devotion full of prayer, he persisted; with the tongue's bond
loosed, he confessed to God; & he who on a man's back borne
had come, on his own feet was departing.
[59] A certain woman, Micholeta m by name,
when for eleven years mute & speaking nothing at all
had been, Mute & weak: of all body's strengths destitute
she languished. Who when the wonders, by the holy Father's merits
exhibited, from those telling she had received; to his sepulcher
she had herself carried, for the sake of health. And when, with most full devotion
asking mercy, before
the ark she lay; through the same Father's merits, healthy
she departed. likewise a mute man of Forum Julii. A certain man, of Forum Julii, when he was groaning
destitute of the tongue's office; to the ark of the most holy
Father, led by his mother came. Who when before
the tomb devout he stood, long lost reclaimed
his speech. In the County of Ferrara, a certain
woman, Maria by name, from four years
with her whole body dissolved, continuous tremor of her head
she endured. So to the place of the holy Father's sepulcher
coming, & a Ferrarese paralytic: in devout prayer she remained; & suddenly
her nerves began to be solidified, & her head from the customary tremor
was quieted. And rising the woman, before
many stood immobile upon her feet; &
restored to plenary health, praising God, to her own
she returned.
[60] Ermerina of Vicenza, for the space of five years
with feet dissolved, when by any necessity
she moved herself, likewise two others. with trembling motions her body forward
& backward she bore. So coming to the holy Father's
tomb she lay prostrate for prayer; & soon, the long desired
health she merited to have. Likewise another
Woman, Bilia by name, for three years with whole body
dissolved; with trembling steps, to the holy Father's
ark, distressed she came. And when before the tomb
in prayer she had stayed for a longer time, with heat
growing, a horrible tremor rushed upon her. They wept
moreover the men & women, who were present, seeing these things.
But when outside the temple's door carried, a little
she had breathed; with the heat receding, the tremor equally departed;
&, restored to former health, to her own with joy
she returned.
NOTES BY D. P.
PART II.
On the blind illuminated, & various diseases cured.
[61] A certain man of Poccili, Sconitus by name, having
his feet putrid, A gouty man is cured, & swelling with the knotted inflation
of gout; borne on a man's back, to the sepulcher
of the holy Father came. With Confession made,
when from a certain Friar he had received penance;
dismissed by him, to the Saint's tomb was brought.
Where when devoutly he had asked the Saint's suffrages;
soon with such velocity healed, to the Friar to whom he had confessed
he returned, that from too great suddenness,
the Friar himself astonished, here and there through the cloister
him made walk. A certain Friar, Theodoric
by name, of our Order, A one-eyed Friar, for two years
deprived of vision of his left eye, from
the bounds of Apulia, to the sepulcher of the holy Father Antony
suppliant came. Who when for some time with the Friars
at Padua he stayed, before the Saint's tomb the grace of health
he was imploring more earnestly. At length
obtaining the desired light, rejoicing & praising, to
his fatherland, whence he had come, he returned. A certain Teutonic
woman, by name a Carolina, for seven years
destitute of the office of both lights, when to
the holy Father's tomb devout she had come, for a small interval
of time before the ark in prayer remained; seven years blind,
& with the light recovered from heaven, rejoicing & praising,
she returned to her own.
[62] A certain girl, Auriema by name, for a year
& half deprived of the lights of her eyes, & another for a year and half: for recovering
health was carried to the tomb
of the holy Father. Who when the veil, with which the ark was covered,
to her blind eyes she had applied; through his merits
soon with eyelids opened, the long desired light she received.
Leonardus of b Corniclanus, for three years
deprived of the light of one eye entirely; likewise blinking for seven years, of the other
so much in blindness, that he could not by voice distinguish acquaintances
from unknown; to the reverend Father's tomb,
for the cause of recovering salvation, came; and when,
with prayer poured, for a small time before the ark
he stayed; restored to the office of both lights he departed.
Flos de Gemma of Loreto, when for seven
years had been entirely deprived c of the office of the left eye
; coming to the blessed Father Antony's ark, & one-eyed, endowed with the desired
light, giving thanks to God, to his own
with joy he returned. A certain woman, Alexia
by name, & blind, when for five years of both lights'
use she had been totally deprived, to the sepulcher of the man
of God, long lost through his merits received her sight.
[63] In the Paduan city a certain woman, Michalotta
by name, & epileptic, suffering from epileptic plague, from
the excess of the disease the light of her eyes had lost, &
how often near death she appeared. Whom
when her mother to the Saint's tomb for the cause of health
had carried; upon the ark a little raised, soon
with eyes opened she received the lost light, & from that
time with epileptic plague was in no way troubled. One deaf man, A certain Rolandus
, surnamed Bolgarus, with the sickness of his head
very grave growing, for the space of twenty
years made deaf; standing devout before the holy Father's
tomb, to former health was restored
, another, & rejoicing to his own returned. Leonardus
of Venice, from four years, from contraction
of humors, with ears obstructed, altogether deaf
was made. He when on a certain day to the sepulcher of the man
of God with suppliant devotion had approached, the desired
at once he recovered hearing. Another moreover, Menicus
to the place of S. Antony's sepulcher, & a third, for the cause of obtaining health
, came suppliant. Where when, mercy
asking, he had been; restored to plenary health,
praising God & joyful he departed.
[64] A certain Paduan citizen, Peter by name,
had a daughter called Paduana; An epileptic & deprived of step, is cured by him living; who when she was four
years old, & enjoyed no use of feet at all,
like serpents crawling, with hands
walked. They said however, that suffering from epileptic
plague, she was wont to roll about often & fall. On a certain
day, while the holy Father was still living, making journey
through the city, he met her father;
whom carrying in his arms he began to ask, that to his daughter
he would deign to bless. Whose faith S. Antony
attending, he blessed her at once & dismissed. The father
of the girl returning home, sustained by a little chariot
here and there through the house compelled her to walk, who
in a short time so recovered, that with no support at all
she needed; nor from that time, in which the Saint had
signed her, did she afterwards feel any passion
of epileptic disease. A certain boy, Simeon by name,
for three years shaken by passions of the falling disease
, prone to the earth as often his face
he dashed; another at the tomb of the dead one, & so miserably palpitating after the fall,
similar to a dead man he appeared. So solicitous his mother
for her son's salvation, to the sepulcher of the most holy Father
led him: & with prayer made returning home,
in no way further any symptoms of the said
suffering did he endure.
[65] In the county of Padua a certain woman, to a neighboring
house for seeking fire went forth; are raised a girl drowned returning
to her own, her little daughter following her,
in a certain ditch, with water & mud filled, with back
face floating she found. Running therefore weeping
the mother, her drowned daughter from the lake of filth drew out,
& placed her on the edge of the ditch.
But flying to the sad spectacle not
on high, with head turned downward, the drawn
waters he was trying to expel. But not even so was
voice in her, nor sense: because with lips & cheeks
pressed together, all hope of salvation of all had departed.
At length therefore with vow made, her mother promised
if revived to her daughter to restore he would deign.
Which sent forth; soon, with all seeing
who were standing by, the girl moved her lips; & with
someone's finger inserted into her mouth, the waters at once drunk
she sent out; & through the holy Father's merits with vital warmth
cherished, she lived again.
[66] & a boy. Something similar happened in the city of Comacchio.
There was indeed there a certain man, Dominicus by name:
who, that on a certain day he might do some work,
going out from his house, had his little son in his
footstep following. And when a little from the dwelling
he had withdrawn, looking back he saw no one
was with him. So astonished, around
looking, his drowned son in a certain pond sad
he beheld, & running soon drawn out, to the mother
he handed over suffocated. Who immediately with vow made,
with groaning voices the most holy Father's help invoking
with whole heart, through his merits revived her son
rejoicing she received.
[67] In Apulia in the city of Monopoli f, near the place
of the Friars, a certain youth digging the earth, with a bank
when a certain boy had seen buried in earth, Is saved one oppressed by earth falling from above; running
& wailing he announced to his mother. Furthermore the mother hearing this,
began with palms her face to strike, &
her hair to tear, & running with tears to the place
of the Friars, with miserable voice cried out, saying;
Run, Brothers, run: help me, because
the earth has covered my son. Which heard running
the Friars, with mattocks & other instruments
began to dig, where the earth they had seen to have fallen;
with the mother of the youth continually crying, S. Antony,
restore to me my son. Digging therefore they found
his feet, livid from the weight of the earth;
then indeed his buttocks bruised by the earth. Others moreover
striking h with hoes, in i the hood that he wore on
his head three holes they made. And when the boy
from under the earth they had drawn, alive he appeared, but heavily
shaken. To the Friars asking
how he could live under the ruin; he replied; B.
Antony held his hand over my throat.
Which hearing, very many who were standing by, to God & S.
Antony paid due thanks.
[68] Incredulous of the miracles A certain Soldier of Salva-terra, Aleardinus
by name, when from the early time of discretion he was
deceived by heretical depravity, with wonders heard
of the said Father, on a certain day with his wife & family to Padua
coming placed at table, with the others dining
concerning the miracles of S. Antony was talking.
But with those asserting that he was the Saint of God,
with the cup of glass which he held in his hand emptied, into these
almost words he burst. from these he takes test in a glass dashed to the ground: If this cup unbroken
he shall keep, whom you assert to be Saint; the others true
I will confess that you contend to persuade me of him
: & he threw from the seat, in which they were sitting
at dinner, upon the pavement the cup.
Wonderful to say! Dashed on the stone the glass resisted; &,
with many seeing standing nearby in the square,
unbroken it remained. Which miracle seen, by penitence
led, the Soldier himself eagerly sprang forth to the glass;
& bearing the unbroken with him, what had been said
or done all in order to the Friars
he related. With Confession devoutly made of his sins,
with penance enjoined on himself humbly with devotion
he received; & faithfully adhering to Christ, the virtue
of him most constantly preached.
[69] A certain Cleric of k Anguillaria, Guidoctus
by name, likewise a Cleric when on a certain day placed in the Chamber
of the Lord Bishop of Padua, having secretly mocked the witnesses
bearing witness about the miracles of the most holy Father;
the following night through his whole body with pain
most strongly began to be urged; so that, without any doubt
, the judgment of death he believed was
threatening him. But unworthy of mercy reckoning himself, is punished with pain of the whole body,
his mother humbly with prayers he approached, & that
the grace of health he might deserve to obtain in his faith, a vow
to the Saint to make he besought. Which done, before
the day dawning he recovered; & he who had derided
the witnesses of truth as faithless, the public witness himself of truth
made, preached Christ's glory.
[70] By chance on a certain day men together & women, in number
almost twenty-six, that to Venice they might go a ship
one at S. Hilary they embarked. And when
at the hour of Compline at the lagoon near S. George
de Alga l they had come; with a most grave storm arisen
to the aforesaid place they were trying to flee. Are freed 20 perishing in the Venetian sea.
But prevailing the whirlwind shaken, to unknown
to them altogether places they were carried: for a certain mist,
with wind together & rain, so thick
from above was lying, that hardly seeing each other,
of salvation entirely they were despairing. At last with Confession made
of their sins, & from the Priest who was present
absolution received, with cries & tears
howling, to God & B. Antony themselves suppliantly
they devoted. Immediately with vow made, around the ship
the storm quieted; with shadows lying upon them however,
where they were, or whither they were going, no one of those present
recognized. And behold from the ship itself a light came forth
shining, which sailing & weeping together
for joy was preceding; & them to the place of S.
Mark the lesser, near Venice, safe led.
To which when by the most holy Father's merits, from the hand of death
snatched, they had come; soon the going-before from their
eyes light disappeared, & with them placed in safety the conduct
beyond it withdrew.
[71] A certain woman of Mount Silex m, making journey
toward Padua with her husband, The pilgrimage to S. James denied, the irritated woman, with others accompanying,
her preconceived gladness of mind with words &
laughs she was showing: for her husband recently before
had promised, that to S. James to visit with him the thresholds
he would lead her, as she was asking. So wishing the aforesaid
man her joy & laughter equally to temper,
said to the woman: Why with so many words & laughs joyful
dost thou overflow, & deceived by vain hope dost thou loosen thyself with importunate gesture?
Know that I have altogether changed my purpose,
& in no way shall go whither thou hastenest.
And when the husband with such words exasperating her
had persisted, after long at last silence with face changed,
the woman replied to the rebuker; unless the promised
journey of pilgrimage to me with work thou shalt compensate, know
that I in the name of Jesus Christ & B. Antony in waters
these which flow past must be drowned. But he in no way
giving faith to her words, & throwing herself in the name of S. Antony, but rather
with face hardened calling her foolish, the promise to fulfill
more steadfastly refused. So with confidence lifted &
all hope frustrated, the unhappy woman turned her hands on herself;
& with B. Antony's name invoked, headlong
she gave herself to the waters. But seeing the women who
were present rolling in the middle of the waves, astonished
very much with rapid course they flew; & forgetful
of feminine modesty, with buttocks wet & all garments,
from the waters they draw her out wrapped. Whom, when drawn out
she had been, is saved from the water, & dry thence is led out. on the shore placing; wonderful certainly what
I narrate! with the other women wringing their garments
, & of the waters' abundance drawing out; she indeed
not with a thread of the underweft wet, on the bank of the river
was found. Which deed indeed although to silliness
rather we ascribe than to virtue; yet of the holy Father
these merits before God we believe could have
obtained, that whom we have known truly always
to have been a friend of simplicity, the simplicity of a woman,
though foolish, in the middle of the waves he kept
unharmed.
[72] Wishing any disease in place of purgatory, A certain Sister servient, of the Order of poor
Ladies, Oliva by name, when still
the most holy Father's body was unburied,
approached suppliant & kissing his hands; among
other things moreover which she asked, to be indulged her by his merits
she asked, that all penalty which by her sins
requiring she had merited, in the present to her God would inflict,
nor anything to be punished in the future would reserve.
But with prayer made the woman entered the monastery
, & becoming compos of her vow, & soon through her whole body with most strong pain
tortured, from the immensity of pain herself
to bear she could not, but the other Sisters with screams she greatly
perturbed. Who having received a little health
about night, on the following day with the other Sisters
with them she secretly entered the refectory;
& at table with others placed, with renewed
pains began suddenly to be urged, so that in no way
did she take food, but in the manner of a woman in childbirth here and there
upon the table she rolled & cried out. with the Saint's tunic applied she is healed. At the order
therefore of the Abbess she was carried to the infirmary; &
she who with all vows asked the penalty to be inflicted on her
in the present, with multiplied prayers from the same the remedies
was demanding. At length remembering the woman
hidden; soon brought to her over her body leading
she applied, & immediately all pain departed.
[73] A certain woman of Trimegonum, Tumita n
by name, when with the wonders of the holy Father heard, Panic-grass entrusted to her is kept from birds. to
his sepulcher with highest desire she had longed, nor of coming
had the faculty; namely because, for
driving away the importunity of sparrows, of the panic-grass
which she had at harvest, she had been appointed guardian;
on a certain day coming to the enclosure, by which the aforesaid
panic-grass was surrounded, to S. Antony she vowed a vow,
that if it from sparrows he should keep untouched,
his sepulcher's place nine times she would visit. With vow
made, immediately in one column a great multitude of the said
birds from the enclosure departed; nor upon
the willows surrounding the panic-grass any, that she could see,
sparrow remained.
[74] The vow neglected by the mother, the disease returns to the son: A certain Boy of the Paduan city,
Henry by name, with inflated neck having endured the greatest
suffering for fifteen days; his mother
solicitous vowed to the Saint a head with neck of wax to
his tomb to bring. And when on a certain day
her son to the sepulcher of the most holy Father she had led;
returning to her own the said boy health
of neck immediately he obtained. But with the mother delaying
to render the vow which she had promised, the boy's neck
began again to be inflated, & with former pain to be urged.
But she, conscious of her guilt, rightly grieved; & the promised
head with neck of wax to the sepulcher
of the Saint she sent. Which done the swollen neck,
with the pain suddenly receding, subsided; & after a few days
intervening, to plenary health was restored. A Soldier
of Camporotundo, Bartholomew by name,
had his daughter heavily afflicted with the disease of stone, the heavy pain of the stone is healed.
so that at certain times of year like
with compassion, & with too great pain wounded, suppliantly
& devoutly to B. Antony vowed a vow, beseeching,
that the desired health of her daughter to render he would deign
. With which sent, a certain little stone immediately
through the lower parts the girl threw out, & thereafter of the aforementioned
sickness no suffering she endured.
[75] Other miracles are passed over. These therefore aforesaid, & most others, signs of Virtues,
the Lord of majesty through his servant
Antony deigned to work, which are not written
in this book: yet from many these few selecting
I have written, that & to those wishing to add to his praise
I might minister an occasion of glory, & by the brevity
of style I might provoke study of reading. For if through each
his signs were written; I fear lest, as the multitude
unaccustomed, in the minds of the weak the scruple of doubt
might generate.
NOTES BY D. P.
COROLLARY
On the Canonization declared by Pontifical Bulls.
Antonius, of the Order of Minors, at Padua in the Venetian dominion (S.)
FROM MSS.
[76] By so many & so great & many more other miracles
declared divinely the sanctity of Antony, quickly
from the Apostolic See obtained, The Canonization celebrated 30 May, which from it could obtain
certainty among mortals highest. Before
the first year from death had flowed, the Canonization was celebrated
, as said in the Life num. 33. on the day of Pentecost
30 May; & in the next month was issued
differing only in the day of subscription.
For since many things had to be transmitted, nor in one
were they written or given day, of different times
they bear marks. One is held in the Vatican Regesto
num. 12, In the month of June the Bulls are dispatched: under Kal. July; & the series of the whole matter
or original description, among ancient archives
of Anagni found, is preserved at Rome in the Vatican
by mandate of S. D. Gregory, to himself reported the Most Reverend
D. Calligarius Bishop of Bertinoro,
writes Rodulphus; which I however, says
the same Wadding, was unable to detect. We desire
certainly that it be detected. Meanwhile one Saviolus detected
page 52, the following day, that is, on the second of Pentecost
given, & directed to the Paduans in this tenor:
BULL OF CANONIZATION.
[77] Gregory the Bishop, Servant of the servants
of God, of which a shorter one, to Venerable Brothers, Archbishops,
Bishops, & beloved sons, to the Podestà & People
of Padua, greeting & Apostolic blessing.
The letters, which through the beloved sons G. Prior
of S. Maria de Monte-Crucis, the Archdeacon
& Canon, Fr. Gerardus, & Fr. Spinabellus;
& the noble men Schinela & Robert Counts,
Paschalis & Charles Paduans, your messengers
, your devotion has sent to us, directed to the Paduans, with paternal
benignity we have received; & both their series,
& what to us on your behalf the same prudently
took care to expound, we have understood diligently.
For the rest, when both through the same letters, & through
the messengers themselves you have humbly besought us;
that, since the Lord has conferred such glory on the holy memory
Blessed Antony, that (for giving
knowledge of the first stole of his immortality, &
& such miracles flashing, that his among
other Saints not to be invoked his suffrages is unworthy;
him to the Catalog of Saints to ascribe we should take care.
[78] We, although the Roman Church, in so sacred
very great maturity, been wont hitherto to proceed;
yet the zeal of your sincere faith & devotion,
which to Us & the same Church you are known to have,
attending; at whose prayers the canonization had been matured for confounding heretical
depravity, & strengthening the catholic faith;
him to the Catalog of Saints, by the counsel of our
Brothers, & of all the Prelates with the Apostolic
See existing, we have taken to ascribe.
Wishing therefore that the Paduan city, as
to others by example; Your University we ask,
we admonish more attentively, & we exhort, & in remission
of sins enjoin upon you; that
in the fear of the divine name, & love & devotion
of the Apostolic See, immutably you may persist.
For We, since we bear you in the bowels of Jesus
Christ, to your honor & profit willingly, is signed 1 June:
as much as with God we shall be able, we shall attend.
Given at Spoleto, kal. June, of our Pontificate
in the sixth year.
[79] A longer other, Another more prolix, & more universal,
& given two days later, thus recites Wadding:
ANOTHER BULL.
Gregory the Bishop, servant of the servants of God,
To Venerable Brothers, to all the faithful, Archbishops &
Bishops; to beloved sons Abbots, Priors, &
other Prelates of Churches, who shall inspect the present page,
greeting & Apostolic blessing.
Since the Lord says through the Prophet, I will give you
to all peoples for praise & glory & honor;
& through himself promises, that the Just like the sun in the sight
of God shall shine; Soph. 3, 8, Mat. 13, 43 it is pious & just, that,
those whom God by merit of sanctity crowns & honors
in the heavens, we with the office of veneration may praise & glorify
on earth: when he rather is praised &
glorified in them, who is praiseworthy & glorious
in the ages & in the Saints. For that his virtue's power
he may wonderfully manifest, & the cause of our salvation
mercifully work; his faithful, whom
always he crowns in heaven, frequently also honors
in the world; to their memories making signs & prodigies,
through which heretical depravity may be confounded, &
Catholic faith confirmed; the faithful, with the torpor of mind
shaken, may be excited to insistence of good work; he expounds that God wishes his Saints to be honored also on earth,
heretics, with the mist of blindness in which they lie
driven off, from the trackless may be led back to the way; & Jews & Pagans,
with the true light known, may run back to Christ,
the light, way, truth, & life.
[80] & that he declares it through miracles; Whence We, dearest, although not as great as we ought,
as great as we can thanks we give to the Bestower
of all graces; that in our days, for
the confirmation of the Catholic faith, & for the confusion
of heretical depravity, evidently he renews signs,
& wonderfully changes; making those flash
with miracles, who the Catholic faith, both with heart
& mouth, & also with work, have strengthened. Of which
number of holy memory B. Antony, of
the Order of Friars Minor, who once living in the world
flourished with great merits, now living in heaven
flashes with many miracles, that his sanctity by certain
indications may be proved. For when long ago venerable
our Brother the Bishop, & beloved Sons the Podestà
& Commune of the Paduans, to us through messengers
their own & letters had humbly besought; in which Antony excels, that, since
the Lord has conferred such glory on the same Saint,
that for giving knowledge of the first stole of his immortality
, & evident experiment of the second, his sepulcher
so many & such miracles he gives to flash,
that his among other Saints not to be invoked suffrages,
is unworthy; about his miracles witnesses to be received
we should order.
[81] We, attending, that, although for this that
someone is a Saint with God in the triumphant Church
, alone suffices final perseverance, according to
that, Be faithful unto death & I will give thee
with men in the militant Church, two things are necessary,
virtue of morals & truth of signs, namely
merits & miracles; that these & those to each other
attest, since neither merits without miracles,
nor miracles without merits suffice fully, to
provide among men testimony to sanctity;
but when sound merits precede, the Pontiff finding, & clear
miracles follow, they provide a certain indication of sanctity; that
they may induce us to his veneration, whom God
from preceding merits & subsequent signs
exhibits to be venerated: which two from the words of the Evangelist
are more fully gathered; They moreover going forth preached
everywhere, with the Lord cooperating & the word
confirming with the following signs: to the same Bishop,
& beloved Sons Fr. Jordan of S. Benedict's,
& I. * of S. Augustine's, Priors of the Order of Friars
Preachers of Padua, the reception of witnesses
about miracles of the same Saint, we have taken to commit. Apoc. 2, 10, Mat. 16, 20.
[82] Lately however, both through the relation of the aforesaid
Bishop & Priors, from information sent to us, & through the depositions
of witnesses on this received, of his
virtues & insignia of miracles being made more certain,
& having experienced sometime by ourselves the sanctity
of life & admirable conversation of his, as
he was with us sometime laudably conversing;
to the same Bishop, Podestà & Commune
aforesaid, through solemn messengers their own & letters to us
with insistence again beseeching, he declares, that at the prayers of the Paduans that the same
Friar to the Catalog of Saints we would deign to ascribe;
that by Apostolic authority (as is fitting)
on earth, who (as by clear signs & evident arguments
appears) is honored in heaven; him, who
corporally dissolved with Christ to be deserved in
heavenly places, lest his due honor & glory to detract
in some way we would seem, if glorified by
the Lord we would allow further by human devotion
to be deprived; by the counsel of our Brothers & of Prelates
all then at the Apostolic See
existing, to the Catalog of Saints we have taken to ascribe.
[83] When therefore, according to the Gospel truth,
no one lights a lamp & places it under
the house may see the light; & of the aforesaid Saint the lamp
hitherto so has burned in this world, that by
the grace of God, now not under a bushel, but upon a candlestick
he has deserved to be placed; your University
we ask, we admonish more attentively & we exhort, by
Apostolic to you written mandates, that the devotion
of the faithful to his veneration salutarily
exciting, his festivity on the Ides of June every year
you may celebrate, & cause solemnly to be celebrated: & to those celebrating the feast he grants Indulgence. that
by his prayers the Lord besought, grace in
the present & glory to us may grant in the future. Mat. 5, 16 We
moreover desiring the sepulcher of so great a Confessor, who
with the brightness of miracles illustrates the general Church,
with congruent honors to be frequented; to all
truly penitent & confessed, on his festivity it,
unto the eighth day, every year with due reverence
visiting; of omnipotent
God's mercy & blessed Peter & Paul's authority
confiding, one year from the penance enjoined on them
we mercifully relax. Given at Spoleto
III Nones of June, of our Pontificate in the sixth year. 3 June.
Note* John
ANOTHER LEGEND, OR THE BOOK OF MIRACLES
Once inserted into the Chronicles of the Order,
& from the Mss. brought out by R. P. Luca Wadding.
Antonius, of the Order of Minors, at Padua in the Venetian dominion (S.)
BHL Number: 0595
FROM MSS.
CHAPTER I.
Heretics confounded & converted by miracles.
[1] Preaching he is understood by every nation. The most glorious Father, S. Antony of Padua,
one of the elect Companions of S. Francis:
whom the same holy Father, on account of his life
& fame of preaching, his Bishop a called;
when at Rome in the Council, by mandate of the supreme
Pontiff, to innumerable pilgrims, who there
on account of Indulgences & the Council had gathered,
he preached (for there were there Greeks, Latins,
Franks, Teutons, Slavs, & English, &
of other diverse languages) thus the Holy Spirit
his tongue, as once of the holy Apostles,
made wonderful; that all, who heard,
not without the admiration of all clearly understood him:
& each one heard his own language,
in which he had been born. And then so arduous & mellifluous
things he poured forth, that he rendered all suspended in stupor & admiration
: on account of which the Pope, the Ark of
the testament called him.
[2] When S. Antony was preaching at Rimini, where
errors disputing, he desired them to be led back to the light
of truth. They indeed, made stones by obstinacy,
to his holy speeches not only not
acquiesce, but to hear them totally despised.
But Saint Antony, with God inspiring, approached
on a certain day to the mouth of a river b, beside the sea,
standing on the bank which approached the sea & the river;
& began in the manner of a sermon the fish from
the part of the Lord to call, saying: Hear the word
of the Lord, fish of the sea & river, since it
to hear despise the unfaithful heretics. he calls the fish to a sermon; Behold immediately
approaches before S. Antony such a multitude of great & small
fish, that never so great
together in those parts was seen: & all kept
their heads a little above the water. Thou wouldst see there fish
great adhering to lesser, & arranged in a great number & wondrous order, & lesser under
the wings of the great peacefully pass through & also remain.
Thou wouldst see there species of various, & each
to those like themselves running, & as a certain
painted field, with variety of colors & figures
wonderfully decorated, before the Saint's face arranged.
Thou wouldst see there troops of fish, great & huge,
as battle-lines of camps arranged, places at
the preaching obtaining. Thou wouldst see there middling fish,
middling places taking; &, as taught
by God, without truculence in their places to stand.
Thou wouldst see there of small fish a copious multitude,
as pilgrims to the Indulgence
approaching, & to the holy Father, as to
preaching, divinely arranged, first the smaller fish,
second the middling, third where the water was
deeper, the greatest fish, S. Antony attended.
[3] With them so arranged, S. Antony began
solemnly to preach, saying: My brothers,
Fish, you ought much for your measure to give
thanks to the Creator, who in your dwelling
gave you so noble an element, he makes words to the praise of the Creator: so that waters
sweet & salty, as is expedient, you may have. Refuges
moreover multifold he conferred, that you may avoid the inconveniences
of tempest. He showed besides an element to you
translucent & clear, that the ways through which you walk,
& foods more fully you may see. That also you may live,
the same Creator administers to you necessary foods.
You in the creation of the world, for blessing,
from God had the precept of multiplication. You
in the flood, with other animals outside the ark perishing,
without harm were reserved. You with wings adorned
& with virtue strengthened, everywhere run, as
it pleases. To you was given by command Jonah the Prophet
of the Lord to keep, & him after the third
day to set back on earth. You the census to the Lord Jesus
Christ, when as poor he had not whence
to pay the stater, offered. You, before the resurrection
& after, were for food of the eternal King.
For which all you ought much to praise &
bless God, from whom so many singular goods
beyond other animals you have received.
[4] At these words & similar exhortations, some
fish emitted voices, others opened their mouths, &
all heads they inclined; with signs which they could,
praising the Most High. At this reverence
of the fish exhilarated in the Holy Spirit Antony, they applaud in their own way; &
with most high voice crying, said: Blessed be the eternal
God: because more do honor the aquatic fish
to God, than men heretics: & better do hear
irrational beasts, than men in faith unfaithful.
The more however Antony preached more,
the more the multitude of fish grew; & none from their places
which they had taken receded. At which miracle
running together the people of the city, approaching also
the said heretics, & seeing so unusual a miracle
& worthy to be wondered at; compunct in heart,
all at the feet of S. Antony, that he might make preaching to them
, sat down. Then S. Antony opening his mouth,
so wonderfully about the Catholic faith
preached, with the conversion of many heretics following. that he converted all the heretics there existing
, & the faithful strengthened in faith with joy
& blessing sent away. The fish also leave from S.
Antony, as if rejoicing, asking, with faces
& heads applauding the Saint, to the parts of the sea
various departed. The Saint moreover there for days
very many preaching, by converting heretics, the greatest
fruit made.
[5] In the parts of Toulouse, when the holy Man
against a certain most perfidious heretic c about
the saving Sacrament of the Eucharist most strongly disputed,
& had almost converted him, convinced, to faith;
after many things the heretic added; Let us leave, the presence of Christ in the Eucharist
he said, words, let us come to deeds; If thou, Antony, through
miracles canst show in the sight of all,
that there is the body of Christ, with all heresy abjured,
to the yoke of faith I will submit myself. And when the Saint
most confidently replied he would do this; he subjoined.
I will shut in an animal for three days, &
with the hunger of famine I will torture it; & after the third day I will lead it out
in the sight of all who will be present, & I will show
to it ready foods; & thou shalt stand with that, which
thou assertest is the body of Christ. If so much hungering an animal,
leaving the fodder, shall hasten to that God, whom
by every creature thou assertest to be adored, the Ecclesiastical
faith I will truly believe. To whom the holy man gave assent
without delay; & on the appointed day a concourse of people happens, he proves through a famished mule,
& in a very wide square it is gathered. Is present that
heretic, surrounded by a most wicked throng of his accomplices
, leading out a mule, which by hunger of famine
he had tortured, with fitting food. Celebrates there
in a certain chapel S. Antony: & after the Mass
in the sight of the people he brings the most holy of Christ's
body: & with silence commanded he said to the mule; In
the virtue & name of thy Creator, whom in hands,
although unworthy, truly I hold; to thee I say, animal,
& I command, that immediately humbly coming, due
reverence thou make: that from this may know
heretical depravity, that every creature is subject to its
Creator, whom the Sacerdotal dignity treats
continually at the altar. Meanwhile to the famished mule
food is offered. Wonderful certainly! For the animal so
tortured by hunger, in sight of Christ, the food set aside it adoring, after the words
of S. Antony, the food disregarding, immediately with head
bowed unto the knees, before the life-giving
Sacrament knelt. Joy is made to Catholics, with heretics
not undeservedly confounded: & that said heretic,
according to the promise, yet with all heresy abjured,
made faithful, obeyed the mandates of the Church.
[6] It happened once in the parts of Italy, that he was
by heretics invited. Whose invitation the Saint
accepted, that he might from their errors recall them,
by the example of Christ, who therefore with publicans & sinners
ate. And because cruelty presumes,
with conscience perturbed; the heretics, To poisoned food provoked, whom frequently
in sermons he confounded, devising malign things,
poisonous & deadly food before B. Antony
set: which by the holy Spirit was at once revealed.
And when over their conceived malice with pious &
peaceful exhortations he was rebuking; the heretics themselves
lying, & imitating the father of lies the devil,
said they had done this for no other reason, but that
they could test that Gospel word's truth,
by which is said; And if they shall drink any deadly thing,
it shall not hurt them. Mar. 16, 18 They urge therefore, that he take the food set out;
promising, that if to him nothing harms, of the faith of the Gospel
they shall adhere perpetually; & if he should fear to take
the food, he takes it without harm, falsity they will judge to be contained in the Evangelical
words. But S. Antony intrepid, over the food
made the sign of the Cross; & the food taking with his hands
, said to them: This I shall do, not as tempter
of God, but as of your salvation & our faith
of the Gospel constant & intrepid emulator. So with the food
taken healthy he appeared, nor did he feel in body any
harm: which seeing the heretics, to the Catholic faith
were converted.
NOTES BY D. P.
CHAPTER II.
The Saint's miracles when he was Custodian of Limoges.
[7] When S. Antony was Custodian a of Limoges,
in Holy week, At Limoges, at the same time at a sermon to the people, on the night of the Supper, at Limoges
in the church of S. Peter de Quadrivio, at the morning
hour, was sowing there gathered peoples
the words of life. The Friars Minor in the Convent however,
at the same hour of mid-night, of the morning Office
the praises to the Lord were singing: Custodian moreover S. Antony
was for one Lection to be read in the morning
Office ordered. While therefore the Friars in the Office
had advanced unto the Lection, which S. Antony
was about to read; suddenly he in the middle of the Choir appeared,
& the Lection solemnly chanted. Astonished
moreover were not undeservedly the Friars, at the same time in choir he appears with the Friars: who were present;
because all, that he then was in the town for preaching,
knew. For at one hour God's power
made him to be with the Friars in choir, where the Lection
he chanted, with which read he disappeared; & in
the church of S. Peter with the people, to whom the seeds of life
he sowed: but present in the church, so long was silent
before the people, as long as the Lection he continued in
the choir.
[8] A similar thing to have happened to him at Montpellier is read
in a certain Legend of that Saint b, in this way:
In the time when S. Antony was lecturing, The same happened to him at Montpellier; it happened
him to preach once on a certain solemn feast, where the Clergy
& the whole people were present. With the sermon
begun, came to his memory enjoined on him
. For the custom there was, on chief festivities,
for two distinguished Friars at the Convent Mass
to chant; & then on the servant of God this office
incumbed. Whence very much from this grieving,
& as if he wished to sleep upon the pulpit inclining himself,
his head also with his cap immediately covering, the man
of God at the same hour was seen in the church of the Friars to sing
Alleluia, as also S. Francis at the Chapter of Arles. for a long hour his body in the pulpit
before such a multitude remaining. To no one therefore
doubt, that just as omnipotent God, the holy Doctor
, namely S. Ambrose c, to the obsequies
of B. Martin willed to translate; & B. Father Francis
to Arles to the provincial Chapter carried,
while this Saint about the title of the Cross was preaching; so
to this venerable man wonderfully he granted; demonstrating,
that to the same Saints in merits in some way he was
equal. & with the aforesaid office diligently completed,
into himself at once returning, the preaching which he had begun
he excellently continued.
[9] In Limoges existing as Custodian, a certain
Novice, named Peter, by breathing he frees a monk from temptation: of leaving the Order gravely
was tempted. Then the man of God, by divine revelation
instructed, of the flock entrusted to him bearing solicitous
care, more inwardly compassionating the little sheep wandering;
inflamed by the divine Spirit, into the mouth of the said Novice
breathed, with his hand opening his jaws, saying: Receive
the Spirit. Wonderful certainly! Immediately as the youth
felt in himself the spirit of the holy Father, on the ground suddenly
falling, breathed out his spirit. But when S. Antony,
with the Friars who had run up standing by, him
from the ground with his own hand raised; immediately taking back
his spirit, asserted that he had been snatched to the choirs of angels
, & wondrous secrets of God there to have seen narrated. The Saint
moreover, willing, not to himself, but to God's power
to attribute the said miracle; said to the said Novice,
that of those things which had been revealed, more to say
he would not care. From then from that Brother all temptation
departed: nay, as the same related, from that
then living in the Order, without any temptation's
dart he endured: & with virtue from on high clothed, in
holy conversation profiting, was made to others
an example.
[10] At the same time, when the blessed Father with God leading
to the Abbey of Solignac d, of the Limoges
diocese, was descending; likewise another, by clothing him with his tunic. a certain Monk of the same
monastery, from the lubricity of the flesh temptation had
suffered long: against whose vexation & wicked
impulse, although with fasts, vigils &
prayers he wore his body, refreshment did not
have. For God indeed his care & remedy
to B. Antony was reserving. So when the said Monk
had perceived B. Antony's sanctity; approaching
him, & to him in Confession all his sins
& the said temptation revealing confidently, his suffrage
suppliantly & humbly he asked. But
the holy & pious man, the Monk drawing aside,
& his tunic from his own back stripping, the same to the perishing
man delivered to be put on. Which put on,
as if a certain force buried in the tunic, & from heart &
most chaste body derived, by such weight of purity &
cleanness that heat of lust was repressed,
that from then motions of the flesh the said Monk in no way
troubled, as he afterwards before many &
several times testified.
[11] The woman's hairs torn out by her jealous husband, In the same country was a certain woman, to the Friars
very devout; who for them sometimes
bought necessities; & had a husband Jealous,
& moreover impious. And when in a certain evening for
the Friars' necessities long she had stood, so that at night
she came home; her husband reproaching said;
Now thou comest from thy lovers. It is true, said she,
of the Friars Minor, whom for God
I love, & on the occasion of these I stood so long. But he,
full of anger, took her by the hairs; & so
dragged her here and there, that all that hair
& the hairs he tore out. Which seeing herself,
the locks she had collected; & by faith enlightened, the hairs upon
the pillow she placed; & them arranging there, her head
upon them inclined: in the morning she sent to
S. Antony that to her quickly he might come, because not
was it well with her. Believing moreover the holy man that she wished
to confess, to her to approach he hastened. And she: Brother
Antony, behold how much I have suffered for your
Brothers. And with what had been done narrated, in
spirit she subjoined; & restored her husband's love. If, said she, you wish God for
me to pray, I know that hairs God as before will restore
to me. And the Saint; Go woman, hast thou made me
for this come? And departing, made to be called the Friars,
& narrated to them what had happened to the woman, & that
also suppliantly was asking: & said: Let us pray, Brothers;
& God shall regard (as I hope) her faith. And
immediately, with the Saint praying, the hairs arranged of the woman's head
are restored as before. Returning moreover her husband
the woman showing her head, what had happened to her she narrated.
Who astonished, & by God regarded internally,
with suspicion & jealousy totally departing,
obedient to the Brothers from then much was made &
devout.
[12] When indeed the Saint had come to Brive, of the Limoges
diocese; For the Friars laboring there first he received the place of the Friars Minor
; & in a certain crypt, removed from the place,
excavating, which flowing from the rock receives drops;
there in great austerity of life solitary to contemplation
he gave himself. When indeed the cook did not have
what for the kitchen to the Friars he would prepare; signified
the saint to a certain lady devoted to him, asking
that to him from her garden she would send vegetables, with which the Friars
subject to him he would refresh: then however was the greatest
inundation of rains. So called the lady her maid,
& her gently addressing, from rain he defends. asked that to the garden
quickly she would hasten, & necessaries for making
the kitchen to the Friars she would bring back. Which the maid much
troublesomely bore, alleging the inundance of rains:
to the garden however, conquered by her lady's prayers,
at last she went, & necessaries for the kitchen of the Friars
gathered, & to the place of the Friars far from the town distant
brought back: & yet, although the rain never
even for a moment ceased, was not in any
part of her body or in her clothes wet. To
her lady so altogether with dry clothes returning,
reported, how continuously it was raining, & yet
her the rain was not touching. Peter of Brive,
of the said lady's son, Nobiliac e Canon,
that miracle which from his mother he had heard, in
praise of the Saint frequently, with exultation & joy,
related.
[13] When indeed in the same country he was, in a certain
evening after the hour of Compline, The devil's illusion he reveals, he in prayer, as
was wont occupied, some Friars, the oratory leaving,
saw a certain great field
of a certain friend of the Friars full of men, who
the field seemed totally to dissipate, & the ears
by the roots to tear out. Sorrowing the damage of so great a friend
of theirs, to the man of God with hurried step running,
the damage of so great a friend of the Order with clamoring voices reported.
To whom the man of God replied: Let them, Brothers,
let them, & to prayer return; because this is our
adversary, who is striving to give us an uneasy night
, & from prayer your minds to perturb. Firmly
know, that to the field of our devout one this
time damage none or destruction will be brought.
Obey the Friars the warnings of the holy Father, until morning
the outcome of the matter awaiting: but in the morning
the field everywhere observing, they saw it
as before, untouched entirely & unhurt: from which both
the devil's fraud they knew, & the devotion
of the Saint & his prayer, from the known fraud of demons,
in greater reverence they had.
[14] When once at S. Javanus f of Limoges
diocese he was preaching; & predicts another. & such was the multitude
of people gathered, that could not contain it
the magnitude of the church, the man of God had to a certain
square's width turn aside with the multitude
of the people gathered. But when from wood suddenly
for himself a place they had prepared, & the man of God that
place had ascended, in the beginning he said to them; I know that
the enemy will make insult to us in the sermon, but
let us not be terrified, because his malice will hurt no one. A small
delay he made, & the place in which the Saint was standing
with all wondering collapsed, & neither to himself nor to anyone
did it bring any harm: from which to greater
reverence of the man of God the people were animated, in which
they saw shining the spirit of prophecy, & with the place again
prepared all heard him more attentively.
[15] When once at Bourges in a synod he was preaching, to
he said; To thee I speak, Horned one. The Archbishop with fruit he rebukes. He began moreover
certain vices, by which the Archbishop in conscience
was wounded, with such fervor & such clear &
solid testimonies of Scripture to detest; that suddenly
began the Archbishop to compunction & tears,
& to devotion not experienced hitherto,
to be moved. With the synod finished, to him humbly
taken aside, the wound of conscience he opened; &
from then to God & Friars more devout, in God's service
studiously occupied himself.
[16] The rain importunate to the sermon he suspends, When once at Limoges to the preaching the people he had
called & such was the multitude of people,
that narrow was reckoned any church
for so great a multitude to be gathered; to a certain
spacious place, where formerly had been palaces of Pagans,
which place is called Pit of sand, the people
he called; that there the people might better be received,
& more congruently by celestial words be informed.
While indeed the Saint, in the greatest fervor preaching,
the people with mellifluous words to listen more attentively
with mind he suspended; suddenly began to be heard thunders,
fiery flashes seen, the earth all around drenched. & rain began
to be sprinkled. But when the people, fearing tempest
& rain, had begun from the place to be moved, & in mind
to be perturbed; the man of God, them gently comforting, said:
Do not move yourselves, nor of the rain in any way fear;
because I hope in him, whose hope does not confound,
that now the rain to us will not harm. Acquiesced
the people in the words of the man of God: & he who binds waters in the clouds,
God himself so held the rain over them, that
everywhere around the city most abundantly it was raining, &
yet after the word of the holy man not a single drop upon
the people fell, who in hearing the divine speeches
was attending. When indeed with the sermon continued for
the earth everywhere most abundantly drenched,
& the place in which they had stood without wetting
they saw; God in his Saint they extolled the power.
NOTES BY D. P.
CHAPTER III.
Other miracles of the Saint in Italy & Gaul; dead raised, the martyrdom of a child not yet born predicted.
[17] Once with S. Antony preaching, arose from the people
his preaching disturbing. A fool to sane mind he restores: Admonished moreover by the Saint
gently to be silent; he replied, that he would not do so,
until he gave him his cord. The Saint
indeed loosing his little cord, gave it to him. Whom the fool
embracing & kissing, sense recovered &
the use of reason: & with all wondering before the Saint
prostrate, for his cure giving thanks, to
glorify God in his servant the whole people
he excited.
[18] a letter written by him When indeed saint Antony at Padua by preaching,
by hearing Confessions, & by giving spiritual counsels
, not a little for some time had labored;
for spiritual quiet desiring to prayer &
contemplation to give himself, wrote to the Minister that to him
he would concede, that to another place fit for this
he could transfer himself. When indeed the letter he had written
, & it in the study he had left; he approached to the Guardian
& asked humbly, that to him he would procure some
bearer of the said letter. Whom found, the servant
of God to the study for that letter returned; but
it diligently sought, where he had left it not
he found. And thinking that perhaps, because to God it did not please
that from that place he should withdraw, therefore the letter
could not be found; carried by an Angel he wonders. with purpose changed he said to the Guardian,
that that letter to send he did not care. Wonderful
to say! With the days counted & completed, in
which the messenger could, if sent by the Minister,
have returned; B. Antony received from the Minister about those things
which were contained in the aforesaid letter, a responsive
epistle: namely that to the requested place
to stay he could, for his spiritual consolation,
pass over. To be believed reasonably, some
Angel, in the form of a servant, that letter to the Minister
had carried; that to B. Antony he might satisfy, & his
petition to be acceptable to God by such a miracle to demonstrate
.
[19] B. Antony, of the good pleasure of S. Francis,
was the first studying in Theology, with Friar
Adam de a Marisco the Englishman, in the Order through general
Chapter ordained: & they approached to
the Abbot b of S. Andrew of Vercelli, who then among
all Theologians more excellent was held, By the Abbot of Vercelli, whose disciple he had been, who &
the books of B. Dionysius newly from Greek had translated
into Latin, & most beautifully commented:
for then from Milan to Vercelli had been transferred
the general studium. The Abbot indeed them kindly
received, & so much in them by elevation of mind he advanced,
that the same Doctor Abbot said, himself taught
by the unlearned, & the celestial hierarchies in their souls
really to have depicted. In those moreover five
of B. Dionysius, is much praised his spirit. to such serenity of mind & light
of wisdom they came, that those hierarchies,
not only to have learned, but to have run through they seemed.
Whence the same Venerable Abbot rendering testimony
about B. Antony, Comment. chap. 3 particle
… d under letter V, thus says: Frequently love
penetrates, where physical knowledge stands outside. We read
for some holy Bishops, less imbued
were with physical things; who, as the mystical Theology
with the capture of mind drawing, the heavens penetrated, every
physical knowledge most subtly transcending,
unto the most blessed Trinity. Which
& I in holy e Friar Antony, of the Order
of Friars Minor with peculiar familiarity have experienced
: who although less imbued with secular letters;
with purity of soul & ardor of mind kindled,
mystical theology with the capture of mind & fervently
desired & abundantly drew; that I can say
about him, what is written of John the Baptist; He was
interiorly, he shone exteriorly. &c. Joa. 5, 35.
[20] This holy man indeed did not presume to Lecture,
however much asked by the Friars, He begins himself to lecture with B. Francis assenting. except with B.
Francis's prior will: to whom such in writings
is said to have given response: To my dearest Brother
Antony, Friar Francis greeting in Christ.
It pleases me that the sacred Theology thou shouldst lecture to the Friars,
provided through such study the spirit
thou shouldst not extinguish, as in the Rule is contained f. Farewell.
And (as some report) B. Antony himself, sometime
was the companion of B. Dominic g, while they were Canons
Regular. When however once at Padua a certain
Abbot of black Monks preaching,
& the words of Paul to Dionysius commemorating
he was hearing, wholly altered from the sweetness of the word of God,
for a great space of time was rapt.
[21] The Psalter taken by theft, he recovers. When however at Montpellier
to the Friars he was lecturing Theology; it happened that a certain
Novice had departed from the Order, & with him at night
of the Lord taught, furtively nonetheless took.
This moreover hearing the man of God, very grieved; &
then, with prayer & divine power procuring, the devil
with an axe to the Novice, through a certain bridge fleeing
& crossing, met terribly, saying to him:
Return to the servant of God Antony, & to thy Order
with the Psalter; otherwise by the mandate
of God I will kill thee, & into the river I will cast thee headlong.
Trembled & was astonished the Novice: but still
the devil, of tall magnitude made, &
foul & horrid; that the Novice, soon by fear
divine seized, returned to the man of God, offering
the Psalter h, recognizing his fault, the Order
tearfully going to ask.
[22] On a certain day, when B. Antony was coming
to a certain town for the cause of preaching, a child under boiling water he keeps unharmed: a certain
woman was holding her son near the cauldron
next to the fire for the cause of bathing; & hearing that S.
Antony wished to preach, from the fervor of hearing
as if alienated, believing him to be placed in a basin,
him in the cauldron she placed; & in haste forgetting
her son, running to the preaching she left him there.
But with the preaching heard when she returned home,
asked by the neighbors where her son was; she remembered
that him near the fire she had left, fearing him
burnt, to tear out her hair, to rend
her face, & to proclaim herself wretched. And when
hastening, with many accompanying her, she came to
home; she found the little one in the cauldron, playing
with the boiling & bubbling water. Then all who
were present, not undeservedly astonished, when the boy no
sign had of injury, lifting up their voices,
to God & the Saint they rendered thanks.
[23] When also once S. Antony a certain castle
for the cause of preaching had entered; to his preaching
leaving in the cradle. Who after
the sermon returning home, another deceased he raises. found her son dead
lying in the cradle on his back. Who about her son's
sorrowful death, to B. Antony was returned, him
for the resuscitation of her son begging. Who to her
condoling, confidently twice & a third time said: Go,
because God will do good for thee. Who believing in the words
of the Saint, returning home, alive she found her son,
whom she had left dead; with little stones,
which before he had never had, playing.
[24] He is seen holding the child Jesus in his arms: When moreover once in a certain city B. Antony
was preaching; was hosted by a certain
burgher, who assigned to him a certain chamber
separate, that quiet to the study of contemplation he might give himself
. With the blessed moreover Antony alone praying in the chamber,
the burgher was going through his houses. Looking
moreover solicitously from devotion at the place, where was praying S.
Antony; he saw through a window embracing secretly
most beautiful & pleasant: whom the Saint was embracing
& kissing, incessantly his face contemplating.
The burgher indeed, astonished & altered
by the beauty of that boy, within himself, whence had come
that so pleasing little one, was thinking. That moreover
boy, the Lord Jesus, that by that burgher he was seen,
to B. Antony revealed. Therefore B. Antony, after
him, after the departure of the boy, as long as the Saint himself lived,
what he had seen to reveal; yet after the death
of the holy Father, the said vision the same burgher to the holy
with tears revealed i.
[25] makes sins appear deleted: In the preaching of S. Antony a certain one was so
compunct from sins, that none from groans
could confess. To whom the Saint: Go, & all sins
of thine, of which thou shalt remember, write on a little paper;
& immediately bring to me: Which when he had done, all
quickly were deleted.
[26] recognizes the demon under the form of a messenger: When once on a certain solemnity B. Antony
in a certain church was preaching; the ancient
enemy, in the form of a courier entering, brought letters
to a certain noble Lady, whose son had
special enmities; & in those letters was contained,
that the said son of hers in such a place by his enemies
had been slain. Then S. Antony, who nothing of
that with corporal ears had heard, said immediately:
Do not fear, Lady, because thy son lives,
& is well, & safe will return: & this one, who
now came, is the devil; who did this, that the preaching
he might disturb. And immediately he like smoke
vanished.
[27] When once S. Antony a certain Lady
of k Anicium pregnant visited, to a pregnant one he predicts she will bear a Martyr; & she herself
& her conceived one to him commended; after
prayer to her returned, said to her: Stand in good hope
& joy: for the Lord will give thee a son, who will be
great in the Church of God, & he will be a Friar Minor &
Martyr; & many to the palm of martyrdom by his preaching
he will lead. She gave birth to a son, who was
Philip named: he entered the Order of Friars
Minor; & at length, when on this side of the sea very much
he had advanced, by divine nod from devotion beyond the sea
he passed. When indeed the castle of Azotus l was treacherously
handed to the Saracens, which is fulfilled with Azotus taken by Saracens, & all the Christians
almost two thousand had been delivered into the hands of barbarians,
all by capital sentence were condemned.
When indeed among them was the said Friar Philip,
he obtained that he be beheaded last, that all the others
by comforting to the Lord he might win. All moreover by
his words comforted, asked whether they wished, by denying the faith
, death to escape, or by standing in faith of death
the punishment to experience; unanimously they wished to hold
the way, which Friar Philip should choose, replied.
Then Friar Philip, all gathered,
with efficacious & comforting preaching made,
said: Dearest Brothers, be ye constant in faith:
because this night, to me the Lord revealed, that
with a thousand souls I am through the way of martyrdom of heaven
the glory about to enter. And so exhorting all, &
their Confession hearing, death for Christ's
faith to choose rather they replied. And when the holy
men for Christ's confession were beheaded, & he himself with 2000 whom he was animating tortured. &
Friar Philip continuously by preaching in faith was strengthening;
the Sultan m angry to him bit by bit the joints
of his hands made to be cut. Who when not on account of this from
preaching ceased; made him up to the navel
to be flayed. But with him on account of this from comforting
the Christians in no way quieting, his happy tongue
he made to be cut. Who nonetheless mute,
with inestimable fervor inflamed, continuously preached;
until all were by sword
consummated. Lastly indeed he himself, with hood removed
with greatest devotion, beheaded, the palm of glorious
martyrdom carried off. When moreover for four
days the Saints' bodies unburied lay, came
the Sultan to the place; & them without any stench,
not without admiration, found incorrupt. From which
clearly is shown, with what certainty has prevailed already
completed B. Antony's Prophecy.
NOTES BY D. P.
They err who wish the monastery, which now of Canons Regular is, to have been then of Benedictines, & therefore to these to be numbered the Abbot, so by antonomasia called. Paciecus by proper name calls him Ambrose num. 35, I know not by what author, except that Cardosus says, others Ambrose Ansbertus the Benedictine to opine, but who in the year 890 flourished; others Ambrose Camaldulensian, who died 1490. These therefore rejected, I shall not doubt of him to believe Franc.
Augustine a Basilica Petri, in Hist. Chronologica Pedemontii chap. 36, treating of this Abbey, as founded about 1220: to which the first from the Canons Regular of S. Victor of Paris was Abbot prefixed Thomas, distinguished Doctor & writer of several learned works, & especially on Dionysius, as testifies this his epitaph, whence in the year 1226 dead he is understood:
Twice three, with twenty running, a thousand, two hundred years, when Thomas died, venerable Abbot first of this temple, & most skilled in all liberal arts, & Master in Hierarchy: now in this ark is enclosed, whom with celebrated fame the sacred Page enlivened.
still anything to have survived to Christians in all Palestine, when in Syria only to them three places remained.
CHAPTER IV.
Acts after the return from Gaul unto the holy death of Antony.
[28] When indeed afterwards from the Custodianship of Limoges
unburdened, A glass cup broken; from Limoges toward Italy
going with his companion, through the Province of Provence
he was passing; in a certain small place a certain woman,
them by report afflicted compassionating, them for God's
love into her hospitality led. That therefore
woman, as another Martha solicitous, bread &
wine to the table set, & from a certain neighbor of hers
to make with the temptation an outcome, permitted that
that woman, from the cask wine drawing for the Friars,
incautiously of the cask the clepsydra a left open,
& the wine through the whole pavement was poured out.
The companion also of B. Antony, inadequately the cup
receiving, it on the table so dashed, that the foot
to one part, & the bowl whole to another part
remained. About the end therefore of the dinner, when
the woman fresh wine wished to offer to the Friars;
entering the cellar, she found the wine to be all through
the pavement poured out. She returned moreover to the Friars
weeping most bitterly, with prayers he restores, & for the loss of the wine beyond measure
afflicted. Which when she had revealed to blessed Antony;
the Saint much compassionating her, his head upon
the table among his palms reclining, prayed the Lord
with fervor. And while the woman him thus praying
was looking on (which is wonderful to say) the said
glass cup, which was on one part of the table,
upon the foot which was on the other, by its own motion or
rather by divine impulse placed itself. Which seeing
the woman & astonished, quickly the cup she received; &
the cup strongly shaking, restored by the virtue
of prayer she saw. Believing therefore the woman, that
the virtue which the cup had restored, could the wine
lost restore; & restores the spilled wine to its cask. with hurried step to
the cellar she hastens, & the cask which barely before was
well half, so full she finds, that to the summit
of the cask the wine was gushing & boiling
as if new. Which seen the woman was beyond measure
rejoicing & astonished: but when S. Antony felt himself
heard; immediately from the place, of true humility
withdrew b.
[29] In Italy indeed existing, to preaching & confessions
to hear continually devoting himself, when at a time
from preaching returning, In Italy he heals a contracted boy, through a solitary way
he was walking, that of the returning multitude he might decline
the applause; a certain woman, & herself by
very much in seeking laboring; with her little son
carrying her own, with arms & legs from birth
contracted, with the Saint meeting her, threw herself at
his feet, beseeching with tearful groans, that to the desolate
mother compassionating, with the sign of the Cross her son
to bless he would deign: for she was hoping
from this her son to obtain perfect health.
Which when Christ's servant from profound humility
was declining to do, she increasing her laments, &
prayers doubling, Lord, have mercy on me, more insistently
she was crying out. The pious man indeed, with afflicted mother's
& languishing offspring's compassion moved,
with his companion nonetheless exhorting, a man famous for goodness;
the sick one, with the sign of the Cross made, in Christ's name
& virtue blessed. Wonderful to say! Immediately
the boy healthy arose; & whom the sad mother sick
had borne, by his own virtue walking,
home most joyful she brought back. The man also of God, not
to his merits this, but to the faith of the woman ascribing;
asked that, while he lived, to no one she should divulge.
[30] A certain girl named Paduana, when already
four years she was, of the step of her feet deprived, in the manner
of serpents crawling she went; & an epileptic girl besides. & with the falling sickness
suffering, rolled frequently foaming, & to
the ground she miserably dashed herself. Whom when her father
, Peter by name, once was bearing in his arms; he met
unexpectedly S. Antony, from a certain
preaching, which he had made, returning: whom
with great devotion & confidence he asked, that
his daughter with the sign of the Cross he would consign. Whose
sincere faith the blessed Father seeing, her from
head to feet in the name of the Trinity consigned.
Which done, came at once the wondrous power
of God, which firm step to the infirm one provided, so
that freely without anyone's help she could walk:
from the falling disease also immediately her healthy
he made c.
[31] In the Paduan city a certain noble woman,
while she was accompanying Saint Antony, Fallen into mud she keeps her garments untouched: with a great
multitude of people, going out for the cause of preaching to the fields
; at the passage of a certain meadow into mud
she fell, with the press of those passing impelling.
Who at the moment of her fall, to herself & her precious garments,
which newly she had put on, danger to threaten not
doubting, to God & his servant to be kept &
protected herself humbly commended: she feared
indeed her fierce husband's indignation to incur, if
home she had returned with garments soiled. Was present
immediately to that woman the Saint's patronage, which she asked.
Wondrous certainly! With garments untouched at length from
the mud proceeding, with all who were present & her
fall had seen wondering, & God & the Saint
praising, to the place of the preaching very joyful
she came.
[32] Another certain woman, the man of God, going out outside
to sow the living seed, from far absent she hears him preaching: desiring to follow,
by her sick husband prohibited, remained
home sad & wasted. Who walking on the upper floor
of her house, through a window, which seemed suitable
toward that region, devoutly began to look,
in which at the same hour S. Antony was preaching,
that at the sight at least of the region she might rejoice, of which
to her had been denied access. Wonderful to say! While so
the woman with suspended mind was looking; suddenly, with that
virtue operating, of whom alone it is just desires to approve,
the Saint's voice preaching to her ears sounded:
with whose wondrous sanctity & sweetness held,
while at the window she was drawing the hour, she to her husband from this
rebuking replied; I hear Friar Antony
preaching. Whom when he with word equally &
mind was deriding; knowing that from two miles, by which
was distant the place of preaching, a man's voice
could not be heard; but that woman this certainly
asserting, ascended that man to the same
window, that what his wife affirmed he could
experience. And from then to the servant of God with peculiar friendship
adhering, the wife's devotion from then he did not
impede.
[33] It happened frequently, that the man of God Antony,
panting for the salvation of souls, remedies
which he could to sinners, that from sin they might withdraw,
he applied. Nay, what is wondrous, efficaciously he excites to penance; to many
persons in the night sleeping he appeared; & calling
them by name (as they were narrating to the Friars) these
he added: Rise: Go to such a Friar, or to
such a Priest, & confess to him such a sin,
at such a time by thee in such a place committed:
which yet no one else knew except God. And so
through this way many sins, which from shame
in no way dared to confess, by sacramental
Confession were expiated.
[34] It happened moreover once, that a certain of
Padua, Leonardus by name, whose excess a foot cut off to the man of God among other
sins confessed, that with his foot he had struck his mother
, so that to the ground she had fallen from the enormous
impulse. Which the man of God horrified, in the fervor
of spirit rebuking him, among other words of reprehension
said: A foot, which strikes father or mother,
ought immediately to be cut off. This moreover the man
simple not rightly understanding, & on account of his fault
& the Saint's exasperation made sad; home
quickly returning, his foot immediately
he mutilated. The rumor indeed of so great a crime immediately the whole
city traversing, to the ears of Leonardus's mother
came; who with haste home
returning, & her son thus mutilated seeing, when the cause
she had learned; went to the Friars, crying out: of
Friar Antony she complains, who her son had killed
on this account. The Saint moreover her
excusing, legitimately himself excused: & soon to
him coming, with prayer premised, anxious & devout, with prayer he restores.
joining the foot to the shin, with the sign
of the Cross made, with sacred hands for some time above smearing,
immediately the foot so inserted & consolidated was to the shin.
And the same arose the man eager & unhurt, exulting
& leaping & praising God d.
[35] There was a certain powerful man, but most cruel
tyrant, Eccelinus e of Romano, of Padua
& surrounding places tyrannizing; Ezelinus the tyrant publicly daring to rebuke, who
when in the beginning of his tyranny the slaughter of men
most great had made in Bologna, perceiving this
intrepid Father Antony, to him to go personally
attempted: whom seeing he addresses with these words:
O enemy of God, most savage tyrant, & rabid
dog, how long shalt thou not cease to pour out the blood of Christians
innocent? Behold remains the sentence
of God over thee, most hard & horrid: & many
other most grave & harsh things to him he said. The surrounding
indeed satellites expected that he would order
him, as he was wont, immediately to be slain: but otherwise was done
, with God disposing. For the same tyrant, as suppliant has him, on account of the brightness from his face flashing;
at the man's words compunct, & every ferocity
of mind put aside, as a most gentle lamb made,
at his neck with the girdle soon hung, before the man
of God prostrate, not without all astonishment, who
were present, his fault humbly told, amendment
according to his good pleasure repromising: afterwards
to his accomplices astonished said; Men fellow-soldiers,
do not at this wonder: for most truly I say to you,
that I saw a certain divine brightness from this
Father's face proceed, which me so terrified, that
at his terrible vision into the depth of hell
I thought suddenly I was sunk. And from then in great
devotion him he had, & as long as the Saint lived,
from many evils which he had done, as he himself confessed
afterwards, he withdrew himself.
[36] When indeed the holy man frequently against
the said tyrant's cruelties boldly preached; he
wishing the man of God's rectitude & justice cunningly
to test, a solemn gift through the hands of his servants
sent to him; saying to them; That, as humbly
& devoutly as you can, to Friar Antony you shall present
from my part; the offered gift in his name he refuses, if however that he shall receive,
immediately him you shall kill: but if with indignation
he shall repel, all things with patience bearing return,
bringing no trouble to him. When indeed
those fraudulent ministers before him with all
reverence had presented themselves; they said, thy son Eccelinus
of Romano to thy prayers commends himself,
beseeching that this little gift, which to thee
for devotion he sends, thou wouldst receive, & for the salvation
of his soul to the Lord prayers pour. The holy
Antony, with great indignation saying
to them reproaches, & by him is praised: the whole gift rejected; from
the rapines of men himself nothing to wish to receive asserting:
but that all their things were in perdition; &
that immediately they should depart, lest their house be polluted
by their presence, he cried out. They indeed confused returned
to the tyrant; to whom when all that had happened
they had related, he said to them; He is a man of God, let us dismiss
him, let him say for the rest what seems to him.
[37] to the field of S. Peter he withdraws, When therefore through all that Lent,
& until Pentecost, with the fodder of the word of God he had fed
the Paduan people, because the time of harvests was pressing,
that to prayer & study of sacred Scripture
in the time of vacation more conveniently he might attend,
he transferred himself to a certain remote place, which
is called the Field of S. Peter, in the house of a certain one who
was a lover of Friars Minor, whom also there at his own
expenses he sustained. [Him] himself as
an Angel to him sent from God with great devotion
he received: & at his urging, beneath
of mats he made to be made: in which he, & two companions
of his most perfect, namely Friar f Lucas & Friar
might attend. After a little of corporeal strengths
he began suddenly to be destitute; & dies among the Nuns & therefore to the Convent of Padua
to be carried he ordered; but with many running to meet him,
the humble man such honors fleeing & applauses,
to the place of the Friars, of the monastery of Ladies
poor serving outside Padua, himself
betook: where with the illness growing, after words
of edification & signs of devotion, that most holy
soul passed from this world to the Father. in year of age 36. There were
moreover in all the years of B. Antony's whole life
thirty-six: for he lived in his paternal home, for
fifteen years; in the monastery of S. Vincent, for two
years; in the monastery of holy Cross of Coimbra,
nine years: lastly in the Order of B.
Francis, illustrious with many signs & miracles, ten
years he happily consummated.
NOTES BY D. P.
CHAPTER V.
Various miracles of the Saint after death in various places.
[38] At the very hour of death to the Abbot of Vercelli the Saint appearing, On the same day moreover, on which S. Antony migrated
from this life, the most famous & in sacred Scriptures
most erudite Abbot of Vercelli, was in
his chamber, intent on divine meditations, solitary:
whom the holy man, while he lived, with chief love
had followed, & frequently with mutual
colloquies of divine Scripture they fed themselves. Whence
the same Abbot, in a certain Comment of his, of
B. Antony himself says thus: Friar Antony, of the Order
of Friars Minor, of pure theology in the mystical sense
drew most fully, illustrated by the grace of God. When therefore
the Abbot thus alone was staying; at the same hour in which he died, the servant
of the Lord to him alone entering, after mutual
salutation kindly the Saint added; Behold, in his fatherland he says to go, & frees him from angina.
Lord Abbot, that leaving my little ass at Padua,
I am going to my fatherland hastily: & immediately, when the Abbot
in the throat, where then he was gravely suffering, more familiarly
he had touched, & at once from sickness he had freed;
going out outside, disappeared. He indeed the Abbot,
considering that perhaps to his native fatherland, namely
Spain, he was going; of his death totally
ignorant, that him at least a little he might retain,
arose; & him outside not finding, the servants of the monastery
he met, where was Friar Antony
anxiously inquired. To whom replying, that he
had not come, & where he was they utterly knew not; he
firmly asserted, that he just now had seen him, & to him such things
he had said, & the Saint himself miraculously had cured,
& suddenly had gone out. Was sent immediately to the place of the Friars,
who were in that town, if perhaps they had seen him!
& with him not found, the aforesaid Abbot to heart
returning, most certainly understood, that the blessed Father, through
the passing of death, to the celestial fatherland's feast
happily had gone: & noting the time diligently,
afterwards he found clearly, at the same hour at which to him
he appeared, he migrated from this life.
[39] He is canonized as a Doctor of the Church, From that day therefore, of the divine face shining
with regard, continually began miracles to overflow,
prodigies to be done, & wondrous signs to be perpetrated: which
to the ears of the Lord Pope Gregory IX brought, through
solemn Paduan messengers, with prior examination
& mature deliberation, on the day of Pentecost
the same Pope, with indescribable solemnity, with the miracles read first
before the multitude of Prelates & peoples,
& by all approved, & in the Trinity's
name to himself the sign of the Cross impressed, the blessed Father
Antony ascribed to the Catalog of Saints, on the day of his
death, June thirteenth yearly to be venerated:
then, after Te Deum Laudamus solemnly chanted,
with high voice he began that of Doctors Antiphon,
O most excellent doctor, light of the Church: which
indeed with all the Clergy solemnly chanted, after
the Versicle, with proper Prayer most devoutly terminated.
[40] with Lisbon exulting, though ignorant of the matter: And on the same day all the Lisbon people,
whence this Saint had originated, with greatest
solemnity rejoiced: yet the cause of exulting
of this kind utterly they were ignorant: for of his
Canonization for that day nothing utterly they were thinking.
Nay what was more wondrous, the very bells of the same
city with no one ringing, by themselves giving sound,
so to speak, of so great a Father glory to their citizens
were proclaiming. After a small interval of time it was found
, that on the same day the most blessed Antony
had been raised by the grace of Canonization. With so great
miracles therefore the mentioned city illuminated
with flashings, the major altar of the Cathedral church, in
honor of B. Antony himself, honorably dedicated:
whose feast, with signs following, yearly there
solemnly a is celebrated.
[41] In the same City of Lisbon, a certain little boy
b, Parisius by name, of B. Antony by the line of family
german, & son c of his sister, perhaps five years old,
with other children in the sea playing, his nephew drowned he raises. with overturned
boat, alone with the others swimming was drowned. The mother
indeed after three hours running. her son dead
from the fishermen received. The father indeed wished to bury him;
the mother indeed cried, either him with me dismiss,
or bury me with him. And turned to B.
Antony, she said with tears: My brother, & if
to strangers thou art pious & wondrous, to thy sister cruel
shalt thou be? Be to me wretched propitious, & to me my son
restore: for to thee I promise, that him in thy Order
to divine service I will dedicate. Soon the boy arose
unhurt; & with the mother fulfilling the vow, in the Order
he holily lived & died.
[42] When once certain ones of the miracles of the Saints
were colloquying with each other, & one of them B.
Antony's prodigies much extolled; among other things that
miracle of the glass, by an incredulous one upon stones
from high cast & not broken, into the midst
he recited. With this indeed heard, From a dry vine he gives wine, some other as
derisively took a glass cup empty; & dry vines
in his hand holding, said: If B. Antony
from these vines grapes to be born should make, that the cup
thence with must should be filled, this I would reckon a miracle;
& then I would believe that miracle, which
thou hast reported about the cup. Wonderful to say! Suddenly
those vines grow green, & with green leaves are adorned:
then grapes are born, flower, & ripen;
at length from them wine is pressed, & the glass
vessel totally is filled: which miracle seen
astonished, from mockers were made praisers.
[43] The Queen of Leon great hope having in
B. Antony, held her daughter of eleven years, dead, to a dying one appearing he heals,
against the will of the King & Barons, praying
& saying: Blessed Antony, I was from thy fatherland, restore
to me my daughter. At whose devotion arose
the daughter, & her mother rebuked, saying: May spare
thee God, mother: for now I would be among the Virgins
in glory. Blessed Antony so insistently, at your
prayers, God besought; that me to life restoring,
to you he sent: but one thing know, that
the Lord to me promised, that I would not stay with you
except for fifteen days d.
[44] a blind man feigning he renders truly blind, When B. Antony at Padua with many miracles
flashed; some heretics his prodigies deriding,
wishing publicly to preach that they were fictions, came
to Padua; & a band e dyed with blood upon
the eyes of one of their companions binding, before the tomb with high
voice they cried; weeping & saying, that he
unjustly had been blinded; & therefore the people they were asking,
that all for his illumination to B. Antony
would supplicate. When moreover thus for a space of an hour
they had stood; began, he who had feigned himself blind, with high voice
to cry, B. Antony has restored to me sight. Then
the companions running, & the band removing, that before
the people of the feigned miracle f they might mock; over the band
both eyes remained; & so were deluded those who
were deluders. Whence terrified & compunct in heart,
publicly confessing the fraud, after devout
prayer all the light of faith, & he the light of his eyes
from B. Antony deserved to obtain.
[45] & similar mockery with leprosy he punishes: When a certain leper, hearing the fame of the miracles
of B. Antony, had himself carried to Padua;
he met a certain heretical Soldier, who from B. Antony's
miracles detracting, said: Whither goest thou, wretched one?
May thy leprosy come upon me, if thee Antony
shall be able to free. The leper indeed confidently himself under
the ark of B. Antony placed, & his suffrage devoutly
implored. To whom sleeping B. Antony appeared
saying: Rise quickly, because thou hast been cured of leprosy: &
go to that Soldier, who my miracles derided,
& bring to him sandals g, because with thy leprosy he
is putrefying. The poor man rises healthy, & goes to that
Soldier, by his incredulity leprous: & said to him,
B. Antony commanded me, that to thee leper my
sandals I should bring. He indeed the Soldier compunct,
with a vow made that he would never detract from him, was
from leprosy cleansed & cured.
[46] Once certain Paduans were awaiting a certain Presbyter
to be killed on a certain way: the meditated killing he prevents, to whom
visibly appeared B. Antony, saying to them:
Why are you here? Withdraw quickly. They replied:
Nay rather thou, good Brother, go on thy
way, because we shall not at all withdraw from here. And when
the Saint said, neither shall I withdraw from here; they said
to him; Who art thou, who such things commandest us? He replied;
I am S. Antony. And immediately they terrified
to the ground fell, & the Saint disappeared.
They indeed to that enemy with highest meekness
approached; & with the vision related, peace
among themselves confirmed: which was through the city publicly divulged.
[47] likewise vengeance to be taken: A certain Soldier, in a certain battle wounded
so gravely, that by no remedy of physicians
could be freed; with a vow made to B. Antony,
was immediately to former health restored. But
cured, ungrateful for grace he thought, how, since
he was cured, he could best avenge himself.
But blessed Antony the following night him to
former infirmity led back, & ingratitude
was punished.
[48] neglect of vow he chastises, When a certain Boy of Padua, Henry by name,
his neck having inflated, gravely was tortured;
with a vow made by his mother, that to him a neck of wax
to the sepulcher she would bring, immediately he was cured. But
with the mother dissembling the vow, again the neck is inflated,
& he with too great pain is urged. The mother indeed
with the conscience of her guilt grieved, & the promised waxen
neck to the Saint brought, & immediately the boy was healed
.
[49] he heals mute & deaf, A certain Abbot, with his faithful servant, who for twenty
years had been mute & deaf, compassionating, vowed
to B. Antony, that if he him to health restored,
to guard his altar he perpetually to him would offer:
who when he had sent him to his sepulcher,
immediately he obtained perfect health, & there
to guard the church remained.
[50] When once lady Aldonsia, daughter of lady
Tarasia h Queen of Portugal, with such infirmity
was burdened, To Aldonsia the royal dying girl appearing, that by physicians abandoned, of her life
no hope remained; her Mother the Queen about her
death was irremediably vexed: whence turned
to B. Antony, with many tears him devoutly
for suffrage invoked: Help me,
most holy Father, because thou from this kingdom wast
born: & pray for me to the Lord, that to my daughter
he may grant health i. Aldonsia indeed the girl at night
middle a little fell asleep, & saw B. Antony
saying to her; Dost thou know me?
I, said he, am S. Antony, who came to thee, by thy
mother's prayers invoked: whence one of two
choose, either to pay the debt of flesh, & the Lord
will dismiss to thee thy sins, & due penalty, so
that today with me thou shalt be in paradise; or with thy mother
still in the world to remain, her with the option of life or death given he heals. & I will restore to thee
continuous health. She indeed more bodily
health loving, was there freed: & receiving
began her mother crying out to call, saying:
Lady, behold here is B. Antony, who me healthy
has made. Immediately indeed the Queen, with other ladies
running, her healthy finding, all to God &
B. Antony thanks rendered.
NOTES BY D. P.
He who has not a wife, & for wife has a concubine, from Communion let him not be repelled; only that of one woman, or concubine (as it shall please him) let him be content with the conjunction: by which example in Sweden & Denmark, with the left hand is said to be contracted; so that offspring thence born succeed not in the kingdom, nor is she so taken called Queen, yet is by Christian rite truly wife. The French call it conscience marriage. So the writer of the Frankish Annals Carolus de Cointe understands, that Charlemagne, generally by the Church known as Saint, in his last age (which most must have been removed from giving public scandal) is read, after the death of his third wife, to have had four successively concubines, in the Life num. 23 without scruple & dishonor named.
And certainly who would believe, that Alfonso, free of the conjugal bond, for nearly twenty-six years preferred to live as a fornicator than as husband? when meanwhile the holy King Ferdinand did not doubt, to call those so born his brothers, & to commend them together with his german Alfonso at his death to his son & successor Alfonso X: at which place, num. 147 letter g, from the Royal-genealogical Catalog of Rodericus Mendez-Silva we named the children, Mary was born, outside royal marriage begotten, in all twelve, who all or most after the divorce begotten in this way will be honored. Yet that the miracle was done with King Alfonso still living, it must have happened with S. Antony also still living: since the King died one year before him, as has been shown, on the Life of S. Ferdinand, & it is plain also from the agreement, between him & Alfonso the Lusitanian made Era 1260, that is in the year 1231, 13 April, after composing with his elder sisters & their mother, for the succession of the Kingdom of Leon, the controversy: such as none existed for him, with other sisters & their Mothers, as by the condition of their natals nothing of right in the paternal kingdom pretending.
With similar success played also a rustic, of whom Rodulphus Tussinianus book 2 of the Histories of the Order page 272 treating of the place of S. Antony of Gemona near Udine: There, says he, is narrated, that B. Antony, a certain oxherd asked, that he would lend him a cart for carrying bricks for the construction of this place. He (as is the rustic custom) dissembled that he could not lend the cart, because he was conveying a dead youth; who however was sleeping. B. Antony departed: the rustic indeed smiling the sleeping youth began to rouse. Sleeps he.
The rustic insists & urges: whom when he could not rouse, he felt truly dead. Then, leaving the wagon & oxen, runs wailing to the holy man; with profuse tears poured at his feet prays, beseeches, that he raise the youth. The blessed man, moved by prayer, moved by the case, makes the sign of the Cross over the lying one, & murmurs with mouth & spirit, & raises to life the youth called back. Wadding the same relating in year 1227 num. 19 cites also a Ms. Legend, certainly this which now we illustrate; so that we may fear lest this place fell out of our hurrying copyist, to be restored from the Roman apograph.
of Lisbon the matter simply as he found transcribed: Paciecus preferred to dissemble the whole, than with Wadding to understand the Queen of Leon, the first wife of Alfonso, of whom above, just as Dulcia & Aldonsia, the same name is: but it opposes the not at all girlish age, but of one forty years old or greater when Antony was dying, & the mother's withdrawal into the monastery far from her daughters, for whose cause once only she is written to have gone out, going to deal with the mother of S. Ferdinand Berengaria, the second wife of Alfonso. What if to the third & true wife of Alfonso, but not Queen, the same name & fatherland was as the first, who having already experienced the Saint's patronage in one of her daughters, more confidently sought him for the other? Certainly among the daughters of Alfonso, either natural or from unequal marriage born, is counted in the Royal-genealogical Catalog Doña Aldonsa, betrothed of Count Peter, whence proceeds the family of Lords Ponce de Leon Dukes of Arcos. could have been german sister of Mary the raised: Nor would it be much wonder that the title of kingdom was confounded by an Italian writer, through lapse of memory, & to whom perhaps came up the aforementioned wife of Count Henry, without distinction of times. Hither therefore can make what Wadding alleges, & wrote S. Augustine book 22 de civit. chap. 8. Miracles wherever they happen, are scarcely known to a whole city, or whatever place of co-inhabitants: for usually even there very few know, with the rest ignorant, especially if the city is great: & when elsewhere & to others they are narrated, not so their authority does commend, that without difficulty or doubt they are believed, although to Christian faithful they are indicated by the faithful.
this indeed one of the first three, about year 1218 begun to be founded, in the town which is midway between Lisbon & S. Irene: but, if the Leonese King's wife she was (which we think) commonly also called Queen, rather at Leon the matter happened, where in the year 1240 a built Convent is said; but Alenquer Marcus added, from preconceived opinion about Tarasia Infanta of Lusitania, whom & her Sister Sancia the common people call Holy Queens, as on the Life of the prior shall be said 17 June; & so not altogether would be to be rejected that opinion, if the rest agreed.
CHAPTER VI.
Eternal salvation cured for the desperate or about to despair, with himself & S. Francis appearing.
[51] There was in the kingdom of Portugal, in a place which
Linhares a is called, a certain Lady
of that castle very powerful, Lupa by name, having
who with the devil instigating was most cruel, &
ensnared in various crimes. What more? Since she had
special devotion to B. Francis & B.
Antony, in extreme infirmity desperate, on account of
the magnitude of her sins, of the salvation of soul she did not
care; nor did she wish, however much to this
led, to confess. And when thus sad & desperate
she lay; behold there entered two Friars Minor, her
comforting, & to confession & penance
leading. She refused, asserting that she had committed so many
sins, by the Saints to hope of pardon is led & confesses: that God on account of any
penance to mercy would not
be bent. The Friar indeed, who seemed the older,
said: if you wish your sins to confess & to be contrite
of them, I receive all upon myself, & of my goods
you a partaker I make, & by virtue
of the Lord's Passion to you eternal life I promise.
Altered was at these words the woman, & to
penance animated; & from wolf to lamb converted,
of her sins is contrite, & with great
tears confesses; & after she the habit of the Friars
Minor asked; & through the hand of that Friar receiving,
in the Lord happily fell asleep: & immediately
those Friars disappeared. Whence all thought
not unreasonably, that those were S. Francis
& S. Antony b, to whom so much she was devoted,
& whom for her help she assiduously invoked.
Her body indeed was in the Convent of Guarda c buried.
[52] whom snatched from him the demon complains; When after a little a certain squire
wished to go to the said place Linhares, where the Lady
Lupa had died, on a certain night he heard
saying: O wretched! evil service for thirteen
years I did, & in vain I labored. The squire indeed
all terrified, returning to himself, with the sign of the Cross
fortifying himself, in the Lord comforted said: I adjure
thee through Jesus Christ, that thou say, who thou art? & why
dost thou weep? Replied she: I am the devil, who
for thirteen years, in the form of a woman, to Lady Lupa
lately dead in many crimes served;
that her, by her sins requiring, after death
with me I would lead to the depth of hell: but now
at the end came two hooded Friars Minor,
whom before she had loved; & her to penance inclining,
& from my power her soul snatching,
with them to the joys of heaven they bore. And this
shall be to thee a sign of this truth. When thou shalt be at Linhares,
where she died; thou shalt hear a rumor in the people,
that a certain smith has killed his wife; but with two other souls he says compensated. &
he shall be seized, & for uxoricide shall be hanged: &
I, who was the cause of his killing, both the smith's
& wife's souls to hell I shall lead; & for
one lost two souls thence I shall gain. With these heard
set out the Squire: & when he was at Linhares
the smith hanged, who had killed his wife, he found:
& he what he had heard to all wondering revealed.
[53] In the same kingdom of Portugal, in the town d Santarem,
was in the time of King Denis e a woman
to S. Antony. She by the devil possessed, that her
self she should kill was tempted: & it seemed to her,
that Christ was speaking in her heart, by inspiring saying:
Wretched, thou hast done against me so many iniquitous things,
that, except perhaps by killing thyself, thou canst not
be saved. When these & similar things internally persuading
her not little disturbed, willing her
to vex externally, appeared to her saying: I am
whom thou hast offended; if however thou shalt go to the river which
Tagus is called, & there for satisfaction of thy faults
submerge thyself, I will remit all thy sins, &
to thee eternal glory will grant. When these things frequently
appearing he had said, & once her husband
was away; deluded on a certain day, at the third hour she was going
to the Tagus river, that by drowning the diabolical
suggestion she might fulfill. She commends herself to S. Antony; & sleeping And passing before the church
of the Friars Minor, that to B. Antony, whose
feast it was, she might commend herself, into the same she entered:
& prostrate before the altar in the chapel of S. Antony,
with tears she prayed, saying Saint Antony, in
thee always I have had confidence; I beseech thy benignity,
that to me thou wouldst deign to reveal, whether to drown
myself is the good pleasure of God, or totally to abstain.
[54] While moreover thus she was praying, sweetly she fell asleep;
& appearing to her B. Antony, said: Rise, woman;
& guard this f little paper, through which from the vexation
of the demon thou shalt receive health. And rising from
sleep, she found on her neck a certain charter of
parchment, on which in golden letters such things were written: she receives from the appearing Saint an amulet,
Behold the Cross of the Lord, flee adverse parts, the Lion
of the tribe of Judah has conquered, the root of David, Alleluia, Alleluia.
And then that temptation she lost, & as long as she
that little paper had, her the devil did not vex. But
when King Denis these things her husband relating heard, the little paper
aforesaid he had, & immediately again the devil
her woman invaded. The husband indeed compassionating his wife,
since the little paper to recover he could not; at length,
with the Friars Minor mediating, a transcript
of the little paper from the King he had; & given to the woman,
her, as the principal little paper, from the vexation of demons
freed. And devoutly with tearful contrition
having confessed, & to God totally converted, for
twenty years in holy conversation living, she ended
in peace her days; to many miracles efficacious. & King Denis that charter
among his Relics placed, with which, at S.
Antony's invocation, many miracles were
performed.
[55] In the Castle of the kingdom of Portugal, which Berta g
is called, was a certain woman, Sera named, By her adulterous husband ill treated woman. who
to the Most Blessed Francis & Antony singular
devotion had. Her husband moreover was lubricious
& wicked; who with concubines, with his wife abandoned
, not only wicked life led; but his wife
having hated, frequently struck & in many ways
afflicted: by which so much the wife's grew
sadness, that desperate she decided, that from so many distresses
to escape, by hanging her life to end. And when
on a certain night, with the husband absent, & others of the household
sleeping, she had set up a rope in her chamber, while she ties a noose for herself, & within
the noose she wished to place her neck, & herself with the devil
instigating to strangle; at the door of the house was knocked
strongly with a cry. Then the Lady immediately
hiding the rope, to see who was knocking, approached:
& when she had opened the door, she saw two Friars
Minor, who her, that them within the house
for the love of God she would receive, humbly asked. The Lady
indeed asked them whence they were, & by what names
they were called. Who when had replied, that
from far parts they were, & one Francis &
the other Antony was called; Enter, she said, with the Saints appearing to her she is saved, for the love
of the Saints Francis & Antony: & with the table set
while they were eating, with sacred discourses the Lady they refreshed.
By which she altered to good, proposed,
on account of their reverence, not to execute that
night, what to her had suggested about hanging the enemy of human
race.
[56] & the husband to good fruit is led back, The Friars enter the chamber assigned to them for sleep:
the woman enters her bed: & at the same
hour the same Friars to her husband appeared saying:
We are Saints Francis & Antony, to thee
sent by God, to thee announcing, that unless thou convert
from thy evil way, & with concubines dismissed alone adhere
to thy wife to us devoted, within three days
thou shalt die, & in the chasm of hell shalt be sunk. For
thy wife this night, by thy vexations afflicted, herself
by the neck would have hanged; unless we to her hospitality
had come. Thou therefore go to her, & as a sign
ask from her the rope, with which she wished to strangle herself. Terrified,
the man & suddenly excited, of his sins is contrite: &
in the morning rising, came to his house. Had risen
then his wife: & with the Friars not found, but
the bed prepared, with the counsel of his wife revealed to him. as if no one had slept in it,
she was not undeservedly astonished: because whence they had gone out,
since all things were closed, she could not think.
Then her husband coming, his wife kindly greeted,
& said: Dearest, where is the cord with which
this night thou wished to strangle thyself? But she standing astonished,
I know well, said he, what grace to thee
they made, & thee & me from death of body & soul
Saints Francis & Antony freed,
whom thou this past night didst receive in hospitality. Confesses
she clearly the truth: & with her vision revealed,
pardon asks humbly from his wife: & so both
in all charity & concord long living, full
of exercises of virtues, Saints Francis & Antony
equally praised.
[57] Near the castle which is called Torres Novas h,
in the village which is called Elbron, On the feast of S. Antony laboring in the kingdom of Portugal,
was a certain married woman; who while on the feast
of S. Antony to grind wheat, from the aforesaid
village Elbron to the castle of Torres Novas, with
the anterior part rushing upon her, the sack with wheat,
which she carried on her head, to the ground threw,
& made her fall on her back. And immediately came
receiving, began to lead her with him. And first
he led her through a certain very wide field, she is alienated from her senses: from where
to a certain well they came, horrible &
very dark, from whose mouth horrible flames
were seen to ascend up to heaven: smoke
also most thick, black & fetid, thence exhaled;
& there were heard from within of tormented & tormenting
roars & strong cries, laments also,
weeping & great wailing in the same chasm
resounded. & with the punishments of hell shown to her by an Angel, And inside that woman with trembling
looking, saw various kinds of men, & various
offices in which they had transgressed, variously by
demons tortured. For fraudulent merchants,
fiery purses on their necks bore; usurers indeed,
with burning money by the demons were fed; ravishers,
adulterers, homicides, false witnesses, judges,
other sinners with fitting penalties were tortured.
Then she asked the youth her conductor
, what was that place? Who replied, that
it was the infernal well. And, what was wondrous, very
many there she saw who still were alive, to those penal
places deputed, & in the society of demons
walking, from the city of Lisbon & town of Santarem,
whose names he did not conceal: yet
in those places she had never been, as was said. Nor
does it seem incredible, if in a vision so future things as
present are demonstrated.
[58] After these things that woman is led to another
place, delightful & pleasant; painted with beautiful variety
of herbs, & with all kinds of flowers &
fruits adorned; in which she saw a certain
great tent, very high, of wondrous magnitude
placed: from which certain men
most brilliant, with wondrous variety of garments adorned, crowns
bearing on their heads, & the glory of paradise, two by two processionally
proceeded: at the end indeed was one as a bridegroom,
with wondrous adornment decorated, to whom that whole processional
honor seemed to be attributed. Asked
that youth by the woman, what was that place, &
who were those, whom she had seen with such adornment &
beautiful order walking; he replied, that place
was the rest of souls, she learns the feast of the Saint is also held in heaven, & all those were
saved; & that last one, with such pomp proceeding,
was S. Antony, whose feast, just as on
earth so was venerated, & much more excellently by the Saints
in heaven: & on the solemnities of other Saints,
others alternately solemnize similarly. And therefore, said
the youth, hither thou hast been led, & these things hast seen; that on the Saints'
festivities from servile work thou abstain, & to observe it more religiously. &
to the Saints due reverence exhibit, especially by
abstaining from evil works. While the soul moreover
of that woman thus was being led, her body to the castle
aforesaid to be buried by the people was
borne, because totally dead she seemed. And
while the place of burial was prepared, with all seeing
& astonished & terrified, that woman arose; &
first before them, afterwards before many others, &
me i who these things wrote, the series of the aforesaid vision related.
[59] About the year of the Lord one thousand two hundred
ninety-second, Robbers with the Saint preaching converted. related a certain
man, very old, to a certain Friar Minor, that
he himself B. Antony had seen; &, when robber & ravisher
was, & of the number of twelve robbers who
in the woods dwelt, for plundering & spoiling
whatever travelers; all twelve, hearing
the fame of B. Antony's preaching, mutually agreed,
that to his preaching on a certain day,
under unknown habit, they would gather: for those reporting
to believe they could not, that of such efficacy
was his word, that burning, like another Elijah,
like a torch it seemed. On a certain day him preaching
they come; who when his fiery eloquences a little
had heard, began of their sins to be contrite
& compunct; with the sermon finished, of
their sins & crimes were compunct. Whom
when the pious Father from Confession in order had heard;
he forbade them, that in no way they should return to
their accustomed crimes; to those not returning promising joys
eternal, to those returning indeed unheard-of punishments.
Related also the same old man, that some of them to
accustomed offenses returned, & life (as the Saint
had foretold) quickly with unhideable punishments ended;
those not returning however, in peace & in the Lord
rested. To that old man the Saint enjoined,
that twelve times the thresholds of the Apostles he should visit;
who on the twelfth returning from Rome, these things
on the way to the Friar with tears related; expecting,
according to the Saint's promise, of eternal life the joys, after
this course of misery, to attain.
NOTES BY D. P.
CHAPTER VII.
Miracles by witnesses before the Bishop of Padua confirmed a, & some others.
[60] A Brother with tongue twisted mute & deaf, A certain Convert of the Nuns of Padua, of age
twenty-five years, from birth
deaf & mute, whose tongue was a little prominent
outside the throat & most shortened in the manner
of a vine of the press twisted, so that it seemed to one looking
flexible b & wrinkled; once & a second time was by spiritual
vision induced, that to B. Antony's suffrage
he should turn with his whole heart. Who rude &
beastly, ignorant what the vision designated; first
through the house, afterwards through the squares S. Antony sought:
on the third indeed, with the same vision similarly excited
, to B. Antony's church coming, with
the devotion which he could spent the night, & the Saint's help
frequently invoked. After the ninth hour
indeed, with a certain divine light surrounded, suddenly
& over his whole body with too much sweat covered, great
commotion to feel he began, his tongue rectified he receives the faculty of speaking. both in his head &
in his members. What more? Suddenly was reduced his tongue
to its due quantity, & of speech he received
the benefit & hearing. For immediately was opened
his mouth, God & B. Antony for so great a benefit
blessing: &, what was wondrous, with a certain
new tongue, but fully intelligible in that comprehended
idiom, he spoke: nor did he know
except few words, for common use of speaking
necessary, to him divinely inspired, that those from
men he had not learned; with all wondering,
who him mute & deaf from birth reported.
To the novelty of which miracle peoples of both sex
flowing together, the young man, who before Peter was called,
by reason of the prodigy, from then judged to be Antony
to be called.
[61] Out of curiosity calling forth the demon A certain man near Padua, wishing certain
hidden things to know through demons, on a certain night
in a circle of incantations placed himself with a certain
Cleric, who through magical art knew demons
to invoke. When therefore he was within the circle, &
the said Cleric demons invoked; came demons
with highest noise & roaring. And when the man
terrified knew not to the demons to respond anything,
suddenly his tongue totally tearing out, &
his eyes from his head plucked out. When moreover he opened his throat
, no trace of tongue appeared: & in
the place, he becomes blind & mute: where before had been the eyes, was too great
& deep depression. When therefore with pain of heart on account of his fault
& penalty he was vexed, & could not his sin
confess; to B. Antony's suffrage to invoke
totally himself converted. And when in the Convent
for many days & nights praying he had remained, &
the Friars in the Mass, but by the Saint under the Mass is cured. Blessed is he who comes in the name
of the Lord, were chanting, & by the Priest the body of the Lord
was elevated; new were to him eyes in his head
restored. Gathered at such a miracle very
many, & together with him praying God, were beseeching;
that he who by S. Antony's merits to him eyes had restored,
& his tongue to render he would deign. While indeed
the Choir, Agnus Dei singing, Grant us peace,
was finishing; God immediately his tongue restored &
speech, with which B. Antony's wonders he extolled.
[62] A certain Friar named Bernardinus, of
Parma originated, from too great infirmity for two months
mute existing, to such weakness of spirits
had come, From a suffocating humor mute,
that he could not a candle extinguish
applied to his breath. And although by the more
skilled physicians of Lombardy, by red-hot iron,
nine times, to his throat & once to his head applied, for
his cure was labored; no remedy
had, but rather an increase of infirmity.
Threatening therefore the danger of suffocation, to S. Antony
at Padua he is brought; & before the ark prostrate,
the Saint's suffrage he asked devoutly. And there
first began to spit, & breathe out strongly, still
mute. Continuing moreover his prayer, with
many Friars & frequency of people, at the sepulcher of the Saint is cured: who to him
by reason of feast & miracle attended; suddenly, with horrible
pus emitted, speech he recovered, & plenary
health: & breaking forth in praise of the Saint,
even that Antiphon, Salve Regina &c. with
the Minister & Lector, who to such a miracle
had run together, with joyful voices singing they finished.
[63] in water suffocated a boy, with him invoked is raised: A certain boy of twenty months, named
Thomasinus, whose parents near the church of B.
Antony of Padua dwelt, near a certain vessel
full of water incautiously had been left. When indeed the said
woman home returned, seeing the feet of the boy above
the vessel a little prominent, approaching
she sees the head of her son lower in the bottom of the vessel, with feet
upward raised: & with wailing him she draws out,
now dead & cold: who weeping & crying out
the whole neighborhood immediately stirred. Came therefore
very many, & some of the Friars with workmen,
who some in the church of S. Antony were repairing:
& the boy seeing extinguished totally, compassionated
were with the mother's tearful pains. The mother indeed to
B. Antony's merits turning, his help
clamorously invoking, vowed that the weight of the boy in
wheat she would give to the poor, if him B. Antony
from the dead raised: & after a little the boy rises,
& alive is restored to his mother.
[64] A certain woman of the Forlì diocese, Beatrix
by name, a dangerous disease which narta
is called, in the skull of her head rooted, in the size
of a fist, suffered for ten years. Who when she could not
find remedy by the most skilled wit
of physicians; a woman from a grave ulcer is freed. began B. Antony's help most devoutly
to invoke; promising, that if health to her
he restored, his altar with silver thread she would surround. And
the same night B. Antony to her sleeping appeared,
& (as it seemed to her) that swelling, with the same
patient's sweetness & complacence, into four
parts divided, & so full restored health.
Disappeared therefore the vision, but did not disappear
the Saint's virtue. After a little, according to what the vision
had demonstrated, that swelling into four parts is divided;
& with great pus emitted, healthy & smooth
it left the head of the Lady, S. Antony's miracles
preaching. For to Padua she came, & according to her vow
the tomb of the Saint with silver thread surrounded.
[65] A certain Friar, Cambius by name, of the Province
of Romandiola, with horrible rupture, A Friar with the sepulcher touched is cured of hernia. of the intestines
falling lower with weight, notwithstanding an iron circle
applied, irremediably aggrieved, came
on the day of S. Antony to Padua, that his help
he might implore. And because, on account of the multitude of the sick
for remedy running together, he could not among
the columns of the tomb place himself; with his hand the sepulcher he touched,
& it afterwards, with intestines falling, with
great confidence, applied. Wondrous certainly!
Immediately the intestines to their proper place returned, &
the rupture in which was no small opening, so is closed
& consolidated, that, as said Friar
Cambius, hardly on the forehead was a part more solid, than
the place of the aforesaid opening. Whence afterwards strongly
leaping, to the Saint's praise he said: It is not long
that such things to do I was not able.
[66] In the year of the Lord one thousand three hundred c sixty-
seventh; When Prince of Aquitaine d
Edward the illustrious, Unwillingly to a war in Spain to be led off, a great army of soldiers
was gathering in aid of Peter King of Castile, through
Henry his illegitimate brother from the kingdom ejected
& put to flight; was commanded from the part of the said Lord
Prince to a certain medical surgeon, who was called
Peter, in the city of Bordeaux staying,
that his line he should follow, for the cure perhaps of those to be wounded;
which on account of many things was to the same Peter
most grave & bitter. Seeing yet of the same
Prince the confirmed will, to whom to resist he did not
dare; since to B. Antony special devotion
he had; & this before the saint's image deprecating; to the Convent of Friars Minor
of Bordeaux confidently he approached; & at his prayers
image of B. Antony sculpted of wood, Mass of
him celebrated. Which when devoutly the same Peter
heard, intent on the same Saint's image;
with great fervor prayed, that if the aforesaid way was not
for the utility of his soul, B. Antony it
mercifully should impede; & if it was, to this of the praying one's
will should render inclined.
[67] with it refusing he is assured Wondrous certainly! While so saying, the image
attentively he looked at, he beheld it the head here and there agitating,
in the manner of a man denying something indicating.
Who exceedingly astonished, thinking that
perhaps from vehement imagination & of phantasy
the smoke true, what was sophistical, seemed;
all interior forces he gathered, his sight sharpened,
& thus attentively the image observing the said prayer
he resumes: & with him clearly seeing, again the wooden
image as if denying, the head here and there shook.
And Peter with the Mass said, with himself wondering departed; ignorant
what such a portent designated; whether
namely by such a sign S. Antony indicated, that the said
Peter with the said line should not proceed; or,
that if he should, it would be useful to his soul: &
so astonished & doubtful to his own home he is
returned. And after a little a messenger came to him
from the part of the Lord Prince, that to his presence
he should approach without delay. that he was not going. Approached immediately to the house of the said
Prince Peter: whom the Seneschal meeting, said
to him: Are you ready to go with the Lord Prince
into Spain, as he enjoined on you? To whom Peter
fearing replied, Lord I am ready to do in
all things the Lord Prince's will. To whom the Seneschal
smiling, with cheerful face replied;
You speak well, as good & faithful: & the Lord
Prince grants you for your consolation,
that here you remain, unless you receive other in mandates.
He indeed with joy the church of Friars Minor
approached, & to S. Antony giving thanks, before
some Friars the aforesaid he narrated; & that they are
true, with letters touched sacrosanct, by oath confirmed.
[68] In the time when the Paduan City was snatched
from the hand of the perfidious tyrant, the aforesaid Eccelinus de
Romano, by the hand of the Lord, to his savage acts
giving end; with the Legate e of the Church surrounding &
his army with continuous siege the said city,
on the night of B. Antony, Padua to be recovered by the Pontiff is foretold on the Octave of the Saint, when the Guardian of Friars
Minor of Padua, Friar Bartholomew of
Corradinus, by spending the night at the sepulcher of the same
Saint was watching, & for the liberation of the said city meanwhile
was begging with tearful prayers, from the said
tomb such a voice sounded very clearly: Friar
Bartholomew, do not fear, nor be saddened so much;
because on the octave of my festivity the Paduan city shall be
reconquered, with accustomed liberty & ancient immunity
to enjoy. So it happened, with the Lord disposing.
This voice moreover several Friars f,
then in the church watching, which thereafter is more festively venerated, testified that they truly
had heard. Which afterwards to the Paduans'
notice coming, they decreed his Octave
solemn, like the feast, every year with immense
gladness they would observe: which decree
until g now, by God's grace, more diligently is observed.
[69] When in the year 1263 to the new church the body is to be transferred is dug up, In the year indeed of the Lord's incarnation one thousand
two hundred sixty-third, after to God
it pleased by the merits of his Saint, from under the yoke of the Eccelinus
tyrant aforesaid, who had depopulated her, the city
Paduan to snatch; her citizens, to the Saint
with interior devotion fervent, a most great & solemn
church for him built. The body moreover
holy to translate establishing, when on the Octave
under earth had lain hidden, they had dug up; was found his tongue
so fresh, ruddy & beautiful, which for
twenty-seven years i & more under earth had lain hidden,
as if at the same hour the most holy Father had departed.
Which the venerable man, Friar Bonaventure,
then General Minister of the Order, afterwards k
Cardinal & Bishop of Albano, is found the tongue incorrupt. who was present
at the joys of this Translation, in his hands reverently
receiving; bedewed with the flow of tears,
to address it began most devoutly with such words before
many: O blessed tongue, which always the Lord
hast blessed, & others to bless hast made;
now manifestly appears, of how great merit thou art with
God; & impressing on it sweet kisses & devout, ordered
it apart honorably to be placed l.
[70] In the time indeed of the Lord Boniface m Pope
eighth, The image in the tribune of the Lateran expressed cannot be effaced. was repaired the tribune of the Basilica of the Saviour
of Rome in the Lateran, which Episcopium is called:
for whose painting in mosaic work were deputed
two Friars Minor, in that art skilled & not little
experienced. With the images designed,
which the same Pope there to be painted had ordered; seeing
those Friars that still places remained, in
which other images could be placed; of their own motion,
or perhaps by divine instinct, the Blessed Francis &
Antony n here and there they painted. Which to the same
Lord Pope's notice brought, ordered
certain Clerics, this to him from envy reporting,
saying; of the image of S. Francis, after
it is there, equanimously we tolerate; of Saint
Antony of Padua here to do what have we?
Go therefore, & his image destroy, & in place
of him B. Gregory's image to be made cause. Who approaching,
& one after another ascending o,
confessed themselves by one terrible person, there to them visibly
appearing, from high to the ground to be cast down; & as if into fury turned, from
the begun were impeded. And (as the said Friars painters reported)
some of them immediately, all the others within a short time spirit
breathed out. Hearing this the said Pope,
to the reporters commanded: Let, said he, stay
that Saint as he wishes: because, as we see
expressly, we could with him rather lose than
gain.
[70] There was at Begium, a Castle of the kingdom of Portugal,
& to the Order of Friars Minor with such love
bound, Appear the Saints to the dying one, that to them he conferred there a place for
building p a Convent, & for buildings many things
gave. When moreover he was most gravely sick,
on a certain night four Friars, with many others
in his chamber watching, awaited his exit.
Held from devotion the said Peter the habit
of the Friars, & heal him; with which he had chosen to be buried: & behold
two Friars Minor, one at his right,
& another at his left, appeared to him: to whom one
of them said: Peter, dost thou know us? And he: I know
you to be Friars Minor, but I have no
notice of the persons. And he: I am S. Francis,
& this is S. Antony: & on account of the devotion
which to us thou hast always had, & the benefits
which to our Friars in this Convent thou hast exhibited,
we have been sent to thee to console, & the habit in which afterwards he may die they bless. & from this sickness
to cure. And then he Peter adoring,
asked S. Francis, that the habit, which over
himself he had, to bless he would deign: which done,
both disappeared. And he with such velocity recovered,
that all present to stupor turned;
& from then twelve years he survived, of no
treasures bearing the key, except of the chest in
which was that blessed habit, with which he was
dead & buried q.
NOTES BY D. P.
Certain also seems that when the Lateran Mosaic was placed years at least 60 after the death of S. Antony, the Franciscans generally all, even Presbyters, the beard nourished: for at Villefranche of the County of Nice with the Franciscans is seen a monument of Eleanor of Savoy, dead in the year 1296, where she is expressed in a bier, with three Religious Franciscan attending her, & those (as appears) Priests bearded, as a tablet thence taken shows. Now however on the contrary the Conventuals nourish a beard, but chastised with a razor, the Recollect shave it entirely, the Capuchins quite unshorn wear it. So habits & customs are changed by the mere flux of time, with no notable fault of anyone: that in these to glory is vain. The others, standing at the foot of the bed domestic of both sex, lament also themselves expressing, in gray habit & unadorned painted all.
p The Catalogs of Provinces & Convents, after the Epitome of the Annals of Wadding by Haroldus, bring no light to this: for what was made by Bartholomew Pisanus in the year 1400, in the Province of S. James, to which then Lusitania pertained, no name has approaching this. The Catalog indeed of the year 1516, where the Province of Portugal, distinct from the Province of S. James, is in the order 96, is destitute of the names of Convents. Gonzaga also among the Portuguese Convents no similar indicates; so that this name very corrupt must be, if any Begii was, long ago to have ceased. In the neighboring S. James or Leonese Province, according to the aforesaid Catalog of the year 1516, is numbered 29 the Convent of S. Martin of Trebeijo: which place if in the borders is found, may be believed to have once pertained to Lusitania, & here to be noted.
q Wadding, on year 1358 treating of the beginnings of the Valentine Convent in Spain num. 9, from Gonzaga hither refers a similar favor conferred to another of the Order's devotees in these words: There dwelt once at the third milestone from this place, in the village whose name in Spanish is Pulche, a certain pious man, of the Minoritic institute most loving: who received the Friars passing there most humanely. When indeed for many days no Minorite came, gravely seized with infirmity he desired the presence of Religious to enjoy. Appeared the Order's Coryphei Francis & Antony, & consoled his soul departing
& a little after placidly, with great hilarity of spirit fell asleep in the Lord. For the rest from defect of the Clause customary in such things, I seem to myself able to infer, that all from num. 68 to here related, were successively collected, just as perhaps in various Mss. they were found. The Novelties of Padua from the year 1256 to 1364 by William & Albrigetus Cortusi collected, & after Albertinus Mussatus's Augustan history with Felix Osius's edited book 9 chap. 8, on the year 1346 narrate, how a certain Vicentian, who on account of fracture of leg was lame, & pains very often endured, nor could be freed; in a dream admonished the body of B. Antony of Padua solemnly visited, who former obtained health. Then is added In the same year … through B. Antony of Padua are made many miracles, by which seen many female sinners to penance were converted. Then book 19 chap. 2. In the year of the Lord 1350, …when the Duke of Poland was at Padua, going to Rome, before he wished the thresholds of Blessed Prosdocimus & Justina to visit. He wondering at the beauty of the temple of Blessed Antony the Confessor, asking, learned it to be the temple of the Father of the city. A certain companion of the Duke deriding the Saint, said, Is it truly Antony, by whose name pigs bear little bells? Who immediately by God's judgment is judged. For his hand with arm is weakened entirely, which in pronouncing the word he showed against the temple, whose mouth is extended even to the ear. The Duke wonders. Then of the portent the cause he seeks: the Duke's son refers the series of the deed. The Duke in mind reflects, what he is to do; with celestial light illustrated says: Let him be implored with prayers, who has struck. Who immediately the sinner before the sepulcher of Blessed Antony the Confessor personally presented. Who with tears poured prayed most devoutly, & so much, that the prayer of Blessed Antony passed into heaven, by whose prayers & love the aforesaid Noble from God former regained health. The Duke wonders & rejoices. With him the whole city exults. Becomes a concourse of citizens. The Saint in prayers & offerings is praised, to whom honor unto the ages of ages. This was in the same year, on the day X April.
APPENDIX.
Antonius, of the Order of Minors, at Padua in the Venetian dominion (S.)
FROM A MS.
§. I. On the translations of the Body & Ark, & the incorrupt tongue of the Saint.
[72] The Paduan city had been, according to the Saint's prediction, in this Octave, freed from Eccelinus's tyranny in the year MCCLXII, as under the end of the Miracles premised num. 67 we have seen; nor did it doubt, to whom it ought to refer the receipt of so great a good. So with greatest study attempting the part of the larger Basilica, to that point more slowly advanced, from vestibule to choir, to bring to the summit, & into it from the old that (there verisimilarly still standing, where now the posterior part with the choir is) into the new it decreed to transfer the bones, on the next Easter's Octave, & the same VIII April: The bones dug up in the year 1263, 8 April, S. Bonaventure (as above num. 68 is read) executing the decree. By him then also to have been translated into a new chest, & a tomb more highly erected can not seem doubtful. Since indeed Polydorus & others say, the translation was made, to that place where now the Saint is honored; it pleases to believe, was hastened there some extemporary little chapel, in which the sacred Ark remained, until the year MCCCX, when (as Wadding has num. 6) Fr. Gonsalvus the General Minister, on the feast of Pentecost, then VII June celebrated the general Chapter at Padua, in year 1310, 3 June, in which was made the translation of the tomb of S. Antony to the middle of the church, certainly already at least the first part perfected, since the City in the year MCCCVII for that end had assigned a certain gabelle, returning yearly four thousand pounds of Mezzanin coin, as Polydorus says chap. 5. And by this reason I believe the commodity given to the Curators of the Antonian chapel, is transferred to the middle of the church. from the same new church's North side, with simpler work erected for the time, another in the same place more solidly & more amply to undertake, which today still perseveres, variously afterwards adorned, & at length with marbles clothed entirely.
[73] The incorrupt tongue is brought to the sacristy; The aforesaid exhumation of sacred bones, admirable made the tongue of the Saint, found such, as we read num. 68. but other there is not said, than that it ordered S. Bonaventure separately honorably to be placed, verisimilarly in the Sacristy. Bartholomew Pisanus, who at the end of the XV century flourished, in the book of Conformities part 2 page to me 82, Lord Friar Bonaventure, he says, Cardinal of Albano, being of the Order General, with the translation of the body made, when he had opened his ark, after * 25 years from his death, with the body dissolved, his tongue he found, secretly taken away is placed under the altar; sharp, entire & red in the mouth: which afterwards when a certain General wished from the place of Padua to bear away, never saw any gate whence he could exit. Whence the same in a certain placed in an altar: & to a certain Friar this being revealed by the General Minister, this Friar, after thirty four years coming to death, to the Friars indicated. Which reverently from the aforesaid altar taking in a certain crystal tabernacle they placed: & today the same to those looking is whole & sound.
[74] Polydorus adds, that the aforesaid altar major was, found in the place noted by L, placed in the middle now of the church, then indeed, when not yet was the posterior part built, of the anterior the last arch occupying; whose place even now is noted in the pavement, by a stone inscribed with the letter L. So he, from sole verisimilarly tradition: & therefore to his Annals to insert this Wadding did not wish: yet credible makes it the aforementioned L, to which not easily another explanation thou wouldst give, than that thus is begun the word Lingua; let Saviolus wish noted by it the word Locus, to demonstrate that in which the first sepulture of the Saint was. Meanwhile Polydorus chap. 33 describes the situation of the stone, somewhat from the middle declining toward the Chapel of the Saint; so however, that perpendicularly is laid under hanging from above of the Crucifix of gilded copper, by Donatello of Florence fabricated; & terminates the first part of the church, namely there where it agrees then to have stood the altar which I called major: where sometime had stood the high altar. in whose place afterwards succeeded an odeum, as was then the custom dividing the choir from the rest of the church, & a Crucifix from above hanging having which also for some time there hung with the Odeum removed, now indeed removed even itself & elsewhere seems translated: because the iconism of the church sent to us represents the choir free, & with a lower fence of three feet supported by columnettes is divided from the church.
[75] What kind was the crystal tabernacle above mentioned by the Pisan, not easily can I say; The tabernacle of the same tongue is silver. nor also when or by whom curating it was made, which like a Eucharistic ostensorium or remonstrantia we have received engraved elegantly in copper, where the sacred tongue obtains the place which in such a work the body of Christ is wont to hold. This whole here to exhibit superfluous I reckon, since such things are everywhere obvious, but great & with so much artifice elaborated. Enough that part to express by which is contained the Tongue.
[76] The base of the ostensorium or tabernacle has impressed on itself certain insignia of Nobles, of those perhaps whom they call the Presidents of the venerable Ark, every year wont to be elected; the Massarii formerly they called, that is of the sacred Mass or house or treasury guardians) whose beginning although the year MCCCXCVI to be older Polydorus reckons chap. 60; was verisimilarly by the Massarii the Ark cared for, cent. 15, he did not find however in public either of the city or of the sacristy writings of full government distinct notice before the year MCCCCV, in which on the day XX October, D. Francis son [N.] of Carrara Paduan deposits four hundred & four gold ducats, into the hands of Galvan Lactuca Paduan, Syndic of the Convent & Official of the fabric & church, professing himself to have received the same sum in his own & Colleagues' name, namely Rev. Antony of Padua Guardian, Rev. John of Brugine, of the Order of Minors John Galvan, Sulimanus Specialis, & John; Errigus the Notary. Is moreover the aforesaid tabernacle three altogether geometric feet high, as the same in the year MDCLXIX by the hand of Iacobus Ruphonius to be sculpted Pet. Sav. vot. cared for, & in the 17th cent. in copper sculpted. I understand Petrus Saviolus, voti reum. I have of the same tabernacle also another copy, of feet a little more than two, which in the year MDCXCIII at Augsburg of the Vindelici sculpted Leonardus Heckenaver, & Fr. Petrus Angelus Sandri Minor Conventual Venetian dedicated to Charles II Count of Lichtenstein, Prince & Bishop of Olmütz. In both the same are found at the base insignia, as also to see thou canst in the premised tablet.
[77] In this tabernacle (whose age that it exceeds one hundred years I would hardly doubt) found that in the year MDLXXXI, in year 1581 Ignatius Martinez kissed the tongue of the Saint, from our IV General Congregation from Rome to his country returning, P. Ignatius Martinez, the Lusitanian; & it for veneration's sake kissing, so suddenly changed was, a man already aged, & a year aging more than LX, that the spirit & tongue of the Saint he seemed to have put on. Therefore with the manner of old Rhetors put aside, he began to preach Apostolically, with such spirit & fruit, that he moved all Lusitania. The whole thereafter sixteen years to boys, poor, rude, slaves, soldiers, in Christian doctrine to be imbued & to piety to be formed, with great charity, with great ardor of spirit, he consumed… So on all feast days, once & again he preached to the people, & to those detained in galleys, & them with ardent words to detestation of sins inflamed: by which kind of speaking infinite would be to enumerate, what to the Lusitanian people utilities he procured, He went to houses that man, in the Academy of Évora before King Sebastian & his uncle Henry the Cardinal Doctor Theologian created; went that man, I say, doctor of the poor: gathered in the forum, in the garrisons, in the galleys multitude; where with his scepter, that is reed, the whole kind of speaking changes. venerable, began most resonant to teach; until sent by the Moderators to Coimbra, that to our he might be a perfect preacher's exemplar, who Christ should announce by words & morals & no other than the Crucified, in a short time extinguished was, on the day XXVIII February, in the year MDXCVIII, with such great mourning of the whole city & fame of sanctity left after himself, as is to read in our writers, & by name in Philippus Alegambe, in the Library of Writers of the Society, whence the premised we have excerpted to S. Antony's glory: much however more fully of the same deeds set forth P. Matthias Tanner, in the posthumous work most recently published whose title, the Society of Jesus the Imitator of the Apostles; or distinguished deeds & virtues of those, who from the Society of Jesus, in procuring the salvation of souls … through the whole world with special zeal sweated.
Note* rather 32
§ II. On the jawbone & other Relics outside the Ark & later translations.
[78] The jawbone separately is preserved, That the aforesaid tongue adhering to the sacred head he might more commodiously separate, S. Bonaventure
removed from the same also the lower jawbone,
says Polydorus (as if he wished to signify, that the found
body, only with flesh consumed, with firm still
union was entire) & so those two Relics
remained separated from the other bones, which were enclosed
within that ark where at present they rest.
The most illustrious Guido Charles of France Bishop
of Porto Cardinal of Bologna, of the Apostolic
See through Italy Legate, who remembered himself
by the merits & intercession of the Saint to have been freed from
death, decreed for the jawbone to be cared a most elegant
silver tabernacle, in which also
are seen his insignia. It is indeed a most splendid work,
having the form of a head, as if in the year 1263 separated, for whose face is the thickest
crystal, through which the same is seen. Nor
this only, but also one bone of one arm,
as the tablets show, by the same sculptors
elaborated in the years before noted, one indeed according
to nature high two feet & four thumbs, the other
to one foot & as many thumbs contracted; which
here in smaller form thou seest.
[79] On the roll running below these words are read.
To the translated Divine Antony, in the year 1263, & imposed on a silver head, Cardinal
Guido this silver case gilded, of marks
36, for the mouth & holy arm prepares most devoutly, &
addresses; O star of Spain, Gem of Poverty,
Antony Equal to Scythia (rather Father of Knowledge), Form
of Purity; Thou the Light of Italy, Doctor of Truth, that
you solemnize Padua with signs of brightness. If the rhythm here
already from the beginning there or elsewhere was read, it would have been
to be wished, that those in its own age's Gothic, that is
Teutonic letters, & with Latin numerals not Arabic ciphers
nor Italian letters had expressed of that roll its
not at all ancient author; By Guido the Legate kept for the Saint, then we would read no doubt,
PR̄ SC̄ITIÆ, whence Par Scythiae made the unskillfulness
of the transcriber, perhaps of Polydorus; certainly some one no
than he himself was more careful to persons & times
to distinguish. For are confused manifestly the translations
two, one of the year MCCLXIII, under S. Bonaventure,
in whose age no Bishop of Porto was Guido;
the other, not in the year 1263 but 1350: made before the General Chapter, celebrated
at Lyons in the year MCCCLI, in which decreed says Wadding,
that on the day XV February by double rite should be made the Office
of the Translation of S. Antony lately made, namely in the year
preceding; of which num. 8 he had written, that the Legate
sent into Lombardy … betook himself to Padua,
where he caused the second translation to be made of the body
of the same Divine, to the silver ark; & of the great
part of the head, to the most precious case, at his
expense skillfully elaborated. The occasion of confusing them
provided Pisanus, with no order them collecting,
from which would appear B. Antony's sanctity & excellence;
among which the last place holds the translation preposterously
written, just as first is narrated what the Legate, after
what Bonaventure did.
[80] More accurately the whole action notes, but for
the year MCCCXLIX, after the celebrated translation of the body 14 February. extending the year unto Easter,
William & Albrigetus Cortusi, in the history
of the novelties of Padua & Lombardy, from the year MCCLVI
unto MCCCLXIV; in whom of book 10 chap. 1
thus is begun. Guido Count of Bologna of the supra mare,
of the Title of S. Lucy Cardinal Presbyter, of the Roman
Church Legate, with the Lords of Padua meeting
& Laics with the whole Clergy, entered Padua, &
his seat placed in the Palace of the Lords with three hundred
horses, at the expense of the Lords in the year MCCCXLIX.
… The body of B. Antony the Confessor translated
was on the 14 February. Then over his Ark the Lord
Legate Mass celebrated, with present
Lord Patriarch of Aquileia, Archbishop
(S. Bertrand, soon Martyr to be, as the same Cortusi
here indicate, whose Acts we have given 6 June) Archbishop
of Jadra, (Nicholas of Sosa of the Order of Preachers)
Aldrovandinus, Bishop of Padua; Bishop
of Verona (Peter de Pinu, a little after translated to
the church of Perigueux in Gaul) & many other
Bishops & Prelates.
[81] Was Guido, of Robert Count of Bologna &
Auvergne, Was he created Cardinal in year 1342, & of Blanca, from Robert of S. Louis last
son born, son; from Tournai to the Cambrai
Episcopate, & thence to the Archbishopric of Lyons,
& at length to the Cardinalate promoted, & beyond
the year MCCCLXIII living, by many Roman
Pontiffs' legations laudably has been discharged.
His family coat of arms, much simpler represents
this statue; which in his Gallia purpurata
Peter Frison: but the shield placed in the middle of the base relates
more worthy. Who in the same base are represented Saints,
I do not define; I suspect however the first to be Prosdocimus,
Proto-bishop of the Bolognese Church, then S.
Francis, then S. Antony; who both also
under the chin are represented; & S. Antony again before
the breast. Credible moreover to me is, first the statue at the expenses
of the Cardinal was fabricated, then the subjected
base at the sacristy's expenses; & of the same century are adjacent others: when also was joined to the sacred
jawbone the bone of the arm, but not from the time of the same
Guido there placed. The same moreover, separately
now is held in its own tabernacle of which below. Meanwhile
both in the base & in the statue thou wilt note the habit, such as
unto today the Conventuals wear, very different
from the Observants, much more from the age of S. Antony,
when in use was only that which afterwards the Capuchins resumed,
as is plain from the Lateran Mosaic above.
[82] the same if for the body made a silver ark, Of the silver ark, of which Wadding mentions,
no mention elsewhere, not even in Polydorus: verisimilar
is however, that within the marble ark is enclosed
another, the immediate custodian of the sacred bones. Unless
we wish to opine, that silver indeed fabricated Guido,
to be publicly to veneration exposed in that which then
perhaps first had been completed new chapel, with the tomb
destroyed or translated which in the middle of the church had stood, not
in the year MCCCCLXXV it had pleased, by the old church's
custom, the holy body to place under the altar, that
above it daily could be offered sacrifices,
by Priests from everywhere for devotion's cause flowing together
(which by Jacobus Zeno then Bishop on day XVIII
June was consecrated says Polydorus chap. 25) was taken up
again the prior marble ark, & the silver into
other uses converted, since now no more to be seen:
& then also was separated the bone of the arm aforesaid,
to the jawbone to be joined. Were made afterwards other
& other changes in the said chapel, by which something changed
about the ark was, I have not whence to affirm
or deny, that it was opened is not credible: for as often
as something of the Relics was to be lent to princely men,
it always received from the silver case of the sacred chin
will appear from the last §. of the following Analects.
[83] In the year MDXXXII the whole chapel was begun to be
incrusted with marble, The marble moreover new ornament in year 1587 was decreed. as below from Polydorus describes
Wadding. When moreover the completed work was held; it seemed
in the year MDLXXXVII to the most Reverend &
Magnificent Presidents of the sacred ark to be made for the same
ornament equally of marble, & such that to the rest of the chapel
would correspond, both by price of exquisite stones,
as of anaglyph works & statues
of brass apparatus. & now a model was made,
& the work had been undertaken Mark-Antony de Surdis
& Vincent Moscattelli, sculptors of Padua,
with Baptista Lorenzo Venetian, three thousand ducats
for it bargained: but begun this, suspended
hung, on this account that more maturely to be deliberated some had judged
. So Polydorus, writing in the third year after.
Now when this completed is held, remains to understand,
what about the Ark aforesaid has been done.
We shall understand moreover these & many others when shall be completed
the fabric of the new Sacristy, within the next two years,
as is hoped to be completed, when P. Mag. Joseph
Pasqueti, in the Analects num. 11 to be praised, will give
his supplement to the history of Polydorus, with many
figures then to be illustrated.
[84] Came forth in the year MDCLXXXVII at Padua in Italian
speech a Catalog of the sacred Relics, preserved
in the Sanctuary of glorious S. Antony of Padua,
with the care of Count Antony Maria Borromeo, Noble
of Padua, President of the church of Relics & treasury
of the same Saint, where in the first place is named the Tabernacle, From the Catalog of the year 1687
containing the chin with teeth. III, Tabernacle,
modern silver, with the bone of the left arm,
of the same glorious Saint, adorned with a circle of rubies:
whence I understand that bone was taken out from the prior tabernacle,
that separately more impressively it might be placed: & this to have been ignored
he, who the Augsburg tablet to be sculpted from the Paduan
took care, otherwise it omitted. To the same moreover
Saint pertain the following. IV Tabernacle silver,
in which is seen that glass cup, which
here at Padua by some incredulous, from a most high window,
into a hard rock cast down, entire remained;
when they said, as Holy was Antony,
as unbreakable that glass. V, Statue of S. Antony
silver, are enumerated several other Relics of the Saint in which is the bone of his finger: of the same perhaps,
of which another joint had the Infant of Lusitania
Peter. VI, Tabernacle with the hair-shirt of the same
Saint; VII, Tabernacle with little balls & corals
with which is encircled the Clerica, (that is, the Clerical Crown)
of the same Saint: for also is found XI Tabernacle,
in which is placed the remaining skin of the head; whence
is confirmed, what was said above about the skin or (as below
is called), the sacred head reserved. VII Tabernacle of skin
with the hair of the same. IX, Tabernacle
of gilded silver with the tunic of the same & flesh
of S. Barnabas, perhaps from that foot, which at Florence have
the Augustinians, with the shin nearly to the knee entire.
XII, Tabernacle with one tooth of the same,
I know not whether from the inferior jaw already separated taken,
or from the superior reserved. And all these Tabernacles
are of gilded silver: but from that walnut tree,
on which the Saint was wont to preach, is had num.
XIII his statue; & num. XIV Cross, with the insignia
of the House of Zabarella, in various tabernacles. both; & finally num.
LXIII, Book of sermons, covered with silk & adorned
with silver, with marginal postils by the hand
of the Saint, written.
§. III. On the Relics of the Saint, which by singular zeal Kings & Princes from Padua obtained.
[85] That Bone of the Arm, which to the sacred jawbone joined
we have said above, From the bone of the Arm uncertain by whom or when,
not to be entire, but at one extremity mutilated,
appears through the crystal to those looking; what was made of the rest
, is unknown; except that through the things below to be said it will be established,
from the same bone almost alone to have been received the particles
those, which to various Princes & Cities communicated
we read. To the King of Lusitania a particle was sent; And first Wadding on the year 1263
num. 13 asserts, that when Sebastian of Lusitania the King,
& Margaret of Austria of Philip III wife,
at the Most Serene Republic of the Venetians, insistently
acted, for obtaining some particle of the Relics
of S. Antony; to the King was sent a part of the Arm,
in the year MDLXX; to the Queen in the year MDCX, another part.
The same from Wadding transcribing Paciecus below
to be praised, the King indeed says, num. 167, the part conceded
to him deposited in the church of S. Antony himself
at Lisbon; To the Queen of Spain nothing thence was given, the Queen indeed in the following num. asserts, that
which fell to her augmented the sacred treasury of the Palace. But
all things more accurately searching Georgius Cardosus, in the Hagiology
of Lusitania, denies that to the Queen anything else was sent
than one finger; but to the King denies that there was asked or
given anything at all: but what at Lisbon is held
he says is part of the sacred head, to which even now adhere
the hairs of the clerical crown, of the arm indeed, which to possess
glorious to that royal city would be, to be wished he says
that it be true that it there is held; but both of one as
the other part the translation, by Wadding asserted,
says is a thing unheard of.
[86] So contrary mutually assertions
the fight, & both erring in something parties, will reconcile
Petrus Saviolus, with produced, in a certain
Appendix to his Paduan Treasure, public Instruments,
but from the skin of the head: whence will be established, that to Sebastian indeed truly
was sent a particle of the bone of the shoulder or arm;
but to the Queen of the Spains part of the cuticle; what this
is, thou wilt be taught by Cange from the Laws of the Lombards
book 2 tit. 7, §. 2, where is decreed what to be done,
If anyone shall make a wound on the head, that only the cuticle
is broken, which the hair covers.
This therefore the Lusitanians owe to the Queen, given (as
Cardosus says) to the natal house of the Saint himself; the joint of the finger from elsewhere is held, the finger
indeed or one of his joints brought Peter the infant,
of his pilgrimages this fruit perhaps
bringing before the year MCCCCXXXIV, with his father John I
still living; nor afterwards does he seem
from Spain to have departed, until he died, by
the envy of rivals to death precipitated in the year
MCCCCXLIX.
[87] But let us come to the promises & by Saviolus produced
Instruments. In the year MDLXXIX on the day XX January, The first the Venetian Senate had ordered to be given 1579, Nicholas
de Ponte, by the Grace of God Doge of Venice &c. To the Noble
& Wise men, Aloysius Justinianus, by
his mandate to the Podestà; & Francis Cornelius, Captain
of Padua, faithful & beloved, greeting &
affection of love wishing, writes in the language henceforth
vulgar, that the request made by the Most Serene of Portugal
King, through the medium of beloved Noble Matthew
Zani, from his to the same Majesty legation
returned; for his particular devotion desiring
something of the Relics of S. Antony; that he would deign
that most desired grace from the said city to obtain;
about the same matter the day before given dealt with the Bishop
of the place; & orders that they also deal with the Magnificent
Deputies to the Ark, that of fragments outside
the same preserved they bestow such a particle,
as they with their Bishop will judge d.
to the Royal Majesty conveniently to be conceded.
[88] then another to the empress in the year 1580, The same then, with a similar request of the Empress
received through the Legate of the Republic at the Emperor
(Matthias was here, & his wife Anna) similarly,
but more briefly much wrote, on the day XVII December MDLXXX,
to Aloysius Grimanus the Podestà, & to Daniel
Priolus the Captain: who both having executed what to themselves
had been committed, what for the King of Lusitania they obtained,
although is not found in the Acts, is understood yet
somehow from the following in favor of the Empress, on whose
desire when consulted in the year MDLXXXI, & to Ferdinand the Archduke in the year 1597.
XVIII January, agreed should be given from the bone of the arm:
And again, with the memorial received of the Most Illustrious &
Most Reverend Lord Count Hieronymus de Portia,
Apostolic at the Most Serene Archduke Ferdinand
Nuncio, & with the Magnificent Lord proposing
Count Julius, was decreed XIX May MDXCVII, that
in his favor also it should be acted, with that order & manner,
which was observed XV February MDLXXX, at
the instance of the Most Serene King of Portugal; & XXII
December of the same year, at the instance of the Most Serene
Empress.
[89] In the year MDCIX, XIII January Leonardus Donatus,
by the grace of God Doge of Venice &c. The same Senate had interceded for the Queen in year 1609, to Noble
& Wise men, Angelo Corrario the Podestà, &
Francis Maurocenus the Captain of Padua, orders,
that they deal with the Governors of the Ark, that in
favor of the Most Serene Queen of the Spains (Margaret
of Austria married to Philip III) they consent to take
from the Relics of S. Antony, either the cuticle, or
ceremonies, in a similar matter wont to be observed, & observed
in the year MDLXXX, when similarly was taken a particle
for the Most Serene Empress. So in the year
MDCX, on the day Monday the first of February, called &
congregated the Council of Magnificent Lords
sixteen in the customary place, from the said number were brought in
the below named Reverend & Magnificent
Massarii of the venerable Ark of D. Antony the Confessor, & the Paduans had decreed to send the cuticle,
in their name & of their colleagues: who set forth
the content of the subscribed (here indeed above
indicated) Ducal letters, urging on
the present business to be had the opinion of the said Magnificent
College. With these set forth & the Ducal letters seen
aforesaid, considering meritoriously those to be considered,
for the due execution of the said Ducal letters;
was deliberated, that the said Rev. & Magnif.
Massarii ought, with due solemnities &
ceremonies observed, to send to Venice, to the Most Serene
our Lord, one particle of the cuticle of the body
of the said Glorious S. Antony, from that which is found
among the Relics of the said sacred body, in the custody of the said
DD. Massarii, to be accompanied by two Magnif.
Orators, to be elected for this effect by the Magnif.
Council & by the part of the said DD. Massarii. And
so to be noted was ordered; with the subscribed names of the present Sixteen-men
twelve, & of Massarii
four. Consequently moreover on Tuesday IX February,
Congregated again the College, & with present
fourteen of the XVI-men, was resolved, that
the Lords Actual (are those of the subscribed three first)
understand that they ought to seek some Bishop,
if perhaps any at Padua present is found,
& him in the public name to beseech, that the office that
(of separating the said particle of cuticle) to fulfill he would deign; otherwise
to require to the same end the Lord Archpresbyter,
or someone else Prelate.
[90] These premised, follows the Instrument of donation
& translation, which the Bishop of Concordia being asked to decide, in year 1610, Latin all of the tenor below written.
In Christ's name Amen. To all & singular
the present to be seen, read & heard, known
be & openly evident, how [by] order
of the Magnif. DD. Deputies for useful & Magnif.
DD. Sixteen Magnif. of the City of Padua to part
under the day XIII of the instant (or current of February)
in the Congregation of the Most Reverend & Magnif.
DD. Presidents to the rule of the Ven. Ark
of glorious S. Antony, Confessor of Padua, taken
for the obedience of the letters of the Most Serene Prince of day
23 (hence correct that above by typographical error written
13) of January past to be perfected; the Most Illustrious
& Most Reverend D. Matthew Sanuto Bishop
of Concordia, by the same Magnif. Deputies summoned
into the Sacristy of the temple of S. Antony the Confessor
of Padua, where all the sacred Relics of S.
Antony himself, which outside the Ark are found, & many
other Relics & offerings are deposited,
betook himself.
[91] And on the first approach by the same Most Illustrious & Most Reverend
Bishop the sacred thing celebrated; it rightly does: & afterwards with the tabernacle
existing, within of the cuticle having of
S. Antony himself, received; & from it extracted the Relic
of the same cuticle, one part he cut off; & so cut off
in a certain small tabernacle of crystal, silver
covered closed, with a little cross above,
he placed; & that with the seal of the Venerable Ark sealed, &
placed back in a certain pouch of velvet red with gold,
under the ordinary custody, together with the tabernacle in which
the remaining cuticle was placed back, placed, thence
afterwards to be lifted up, & to the Most Serene Prince, who asked
the Relic itself, for the will of the Majesty
of the Queen of the Spains serving, to be presented through
Magnif. D. Cyrus Anselmus & Aloysius Cortadinus
Doctor, are named for it to Venice to bear Legates, Paduan Nobles, of the same
Magnif. City Legates, & Rev. P. Baccalaureus
Benedict of S. Albert, in place of the very Rev. P.
Mag. Vincent Corradutius, Guardian & Commissary
General; & Magnif. D. Antony Francis
Pasinus, likewise Noble Paduan, Presidents
of the same Ven. Ark, & from the Congregation of it
to this elected. With present continuously the Most Illustrious
Lords, Angelus Corrarius Podestà & Francis
Maurocenus Prefect of Padua; & Magnif. Lords
Marsilio Papafava, Alexander Zacco, Hector
Doctus, & Count Vincent of S. Boniface,
Deputies of the same Magnif. City of Padua; &
also the abovesaid R. P. of S. Albert, R. P. Mag.
Bonaventure Rebecca, in place of R. P. M. Angel
Dianinus; R. P. D. Fr. John Antony Rizzi, in place
of the very Rev. P. Provincial; day 20 Feb. Magnif. D. Mark
Antony Lazara; Magnif. D. John Nani, in place
of Magnif. D. Numitor Crassus; Magnif. & Most Reverend
D. Paul Tarvisius; & the abovesaid Magnif.
D. Antony Francis Pasinus, all Presidents
of the abovewritten Ven. Ark, & RR. PP. Friars
Francis Gambarotto & Augustine Pasqualinus,
Sacristans of the church of the aforesaid glorious S. Antony.
[92] All these things were done in the year from the Nativity of D.
N. Jesus Christ one thousand six hundred tenth, Indiction
eighth, on the day Saturday twenty-third of February;
with present Magnif. D. Sertorius Ursatus the Knight,
John Bapt. Zacco, Reynaldus Papafava, Checho
of Leone, Bartholomew Docto; & John
Brizzacarenus, all witnesses called & had,
& others many.
[93] Which Relic, so as above extracted
& placed back, the abovewritten R. P. D. Fr. Francis
Gambarottus the Sacristan, on the day Saturday XX of the said
Month of February, received; & it consigned
to Magnif. D. Alexander Zacco, one of the Deputies
of the Magnif. City: who that into the hands of Magnif.
Lords Cyrus Anselmi & Aloysius Corradini Doctor,
Legates as above, delivered, who it
afterwards ought to R. P. Baccalaureus Benedict of S. Albert,
President of the Rev. Convent of S. Antony aforesaid,
as above, to deliver, to be presented to the Most Serene
Prince of Venice. With present Magnif. Lords,
Peter Bradiolus, & Antonius Enselmius witnesses
asked, & many others. So far the Instrument, for which received the Duke gives thanks.
whose I know not whether also an example to Venice
was transmitted, was with the Relic itself: at least
the Most Serene Duke does not mention it, XXVII February responding
to the aforesaid Podestà & Captain of Padua, to their
letters given XXIV of the same; & signifying themselves & Legates
Paduan with the office committed to them discharged, with obtained
& to Venice brought aforesaid Relic, with greatest
satisfaction of the Duke himself. Follows in Saviolus
of an instance by the Most Reverend P. General
(I believe of the Conventuals) to be brought into deliberation;
his instance moreover I presume to have been
for a similar grace, in favor of some Convent or
Prince. More to divine is not permitted.
§. IV. On the particle of the sacred Arm, to the Venetian Republic donated in year 1652.
[94] When in year 1652 was erected at Venice an altar of the Saint, In the year MDCLII on the day XXIX February, wrote
Francis Molino, by the grace of God Doge of Venice
to the Noble & Wise men, Andrew
Pisano by his mandate Podestà, & Sebastian
Justiniano Captain of Padua, faithful beloved,
greeting & affection of love; & further in Italian in
this sense. In the most troublesome constitution of present
difficult circumstances exercising the Senate
accustomed acts of exemplary piety & religion
toward God's honor; with the effect of highest zeal
& singular devotion, decreed by vow to be erected
an altar in the new church of S. Mary called from Health,
to be dedicated to the glorious S. Antony of Padua,
that him there it might invoke, the Duke orders the Relic from Padua to be asked. as its advocate
before divine mercy; that with concurring
plenitude of his merits, our prayers may be strengthened
, & confidence of divine protection, in such great
weakness of human power. We wish therefore with
the same Senate, that in that which your prudence to you
shall suggest most convenient manner, you signify
to the Presidents of the Ark of that Saint & Deputies of that
City, this our counsel; & at the same time the desire
lively by which we are held, of obtaining some
portion of the Relics of that Saint, outside the Ark
preserved, that with due veneration & in a decent place
it may be preserved upon the aforesaid altar &c.
[95] They executed the mandate; & consequently
on Monday XI March MDCLII appeared before
the Magnif. DD. Actuals, & XVI-men in the customary place
gathered, the very R. P. Philip Cerva President
of the monastery of the same Saint, The matter II March is proposed, & the very R. P. Mag. Zanotti
for the P. Provincial, in their & Colleagues'
name; & also the very Ill. D. John Ponte, &
the very Ill. D. Benedict Salvaticus Knight, for D. Julius
Beolco President of the Ven. Ark: & they signified,
… decreed it had been to grant a particle from
the bone of the Arm, preserved with the Chin of the glorious Saint;
that they also above declare their will. They
indeed thus to have assented, that for the future to be cautioned they asked the integrity
of so sacred a Relic, is plain from the rescript of the Duke
XIII March, testifying pleasing to himself had been the promptitude
of the Presidents in providing assent: & is decreed to be made, under the condition that this not be asked further. Meanwhile
attending to the reasonable desire of the XVI-men, lest hereafter
they be obliged to any Prince to give even the smallest
particle of their glorious Saint, to consent the Senate,
that by positive decree such alienation, in
favor of whatever Prince or other person,
be prohibited. New then letters, given XXIII
March, the same Podestà & Captain the same Duke
admonishes, designating to them the day & manner by which to transmit
the said Relic they ought, as afterwards he did
through letters VI June in Italian dictated: with which
also he sent an example of the petition,
by those whose interest it was to him offered on the same day, which from Italian thus
into Latin I render.
[96] Request the Deputies above the fabric of the church,
named from Salvation, formal expression
of public sense, about the disposition of things concerning
the reception & custody of the Relic of S.
Antony of Padua, 6 June ask the curators of the fabric, which, in execution of the decree, conceived
on the day XXIX past of February, into this city
ought to be brought, to be placed upon the altar, which
they in that church is fabricated. While moreover to the Rectors
those are dispatched the necessary mandates, for
the transvection of the said Relic; congruent it is, that be defined
the rest, in its coming to be observed. Be decreed
therefore, that on the evening of Sunday or Monday,
as one of them for the said Translation to be made shall be chosen,
D. Primicerius of the Patriarchal church of S. Mark,
Pontifically vested with Canons & musicians
of his church, processionally come to the bank
of the small island for receiving the said Relic, by Religious
from the City of Padua & Superintendents of the Ark deputed
to be brought; & so it be carried to
the church of our Protector S. Mark, & be placed back
in the Treasury; & be guarded for itself, unto
the festal day of the same Saint, that may be defined the manner of making the translation, next Thursday, XIII
of the current month. On this day moreover, under a precious
baldachin, by D. Archbishop, publicly to be requested,
that to that end to confer himself he wish to S. Mark's,
processionally be carried to the church of Salute;
& be placed upon the altar to this by the Deputies of the said fabric
devoutly to be adorned, that at it be celebrated solemn
Mass, & other prayers be recited, on similar occasion
accustomed to be used.
[97] To the procession be ordered to come all
Ecclesiastics both secular & regular of this
city, the major Schools, both Seminary,
Ducal & Cathedral Canons with our Most Serene
Prince in the gilded mantle, Orators
of Princes, & the whole Senate in red habit. The Relic
itself remain the whole rest of the day exposed in
the said church; where, with all from the whole
city Orders gathering, be implored the Saint's intercession
before God, for the relief of the Republic in the most troublesome
these distresses. In the evening return D. Primicerius,
with the same as before retinue, from the church of Salute,
& in one of the neighboring areas receive the aforesaid
Relic, to be referred to the church of S. Mark, &
in the former place to be placed back, & there diligently to be guarded,
until completed shall be the fabric of the said altar. From
now moreover be admonished the Magistrate of the Armory, & other things at Venice to be observed,
that he take care on day XIII of the current to be constructed in the customary
manner a bridge, just as is custom to be made
yearly in the month of November for the veneration of the most blessed
Virgin from Salute. Be decreed also that by
our College, in that which more convenient to the Senate shall seem
manner, be indicated to the Most Illustrious D. Patriarch,
the Most Reverend D. Primicerius, & the Master of ceremonies
the public & definite will, that by each individuals
respectively to be fulfilled it may be. Be asked also the Capsarius
of the Procuracy, that from the number of reliquaries, preserved
in the treasury of the church of S. Mark, the more beautiful
& worthier select, which, with special
letters, by a person expressly deputed to the Rectors
of Padua tomorrow be brought, that in it be placed back that
part of the humeral bone, which is to be sent here. And of the whole
such Decree one example be delivered to the Deputies
of the said fabric, for their notice & instruction,
the other be sent to the Paduan Rectors.
[98] Done was what was asked, & on the same day to
the aforesaid Podestà & Captain the Duke himself thus wrote. The Duke writes to Padua,
Since approaches the time, when must beginning
be given to the execution of the Senate-consult on the Translation
of a certain Relic of glorious S. Antony, whose feast
next Thursday will be celebrated; we have decreed to mandate
to you, that immediately with summoned the Deputies of this
City & Presidents of the Ark, you indicate; that,
as to your first letters XII March given
gratefully we understood their prompt affection
for exhibiting to us a good part of the humeral bone; next Sunday in the retinue of several
so the public will now is, that the Translation
of that be made on Sunday or Monday, in such form & manner,
as to your piety & prudence most convenient
shall be esteemed. It seems moreover to us, that be done it
can in a boat, with altar & wax tapers decently provided, in
which also come the Superior of the monastery, with some
elders & honored Religious of his, &
four at least partly Deputies of the City,
partly Presidents of the Ark; the Relic to be carried, to which boat be added &
another, with congruous number of other Religious:
which together & directly land at the small area, on whose
bank the aforesaid most holy Relic they will meet & it
receive, privately indeed, due however
with reverence. D. Primicerius our with Canons
& Chapel of the Ducal church to our Protector
S. Mark sacred, that there it be guarded unto
day XIII June, when will be augmented the solemnities
& other ceremonies expressed in the Decree, of which to you
for fuller information we send an example.
[99] By the Primicerius rightly to be received: We have also ordered the Capsarius of the Procuracy, that
from the more precious reliquaries one immediately there
he direct to the same end, in which to God's honor
& the Saint's veneration the aforesaid Relic be preserved.
Confides the Senate, that from the accuracy
& zeal of you both, our Republic
representing & chosen in this business,
whose care all vehemently presses, will refer
the same effect, which in other public utilities
with highest merit to you, has experienced; expecting
of this mandate's execution soon to be informed,
that be disposed all to the reception of the aforesaid
Relic opportune.
[100] which to Padua announced 8 June, Then further, in the name of our Redeemer
Jesus Christ, in the year from his saving Nativity MDCLII,
Indict. V, on Saturday, VIII June, at Padua
to the sacristy of the RR. Fathers of S. Antony, came
the Most Illustrious & Most Reverend D. Georgius Cornerus,
most worthy Bishop of that city; the Most Illustrious &
Excellent DD. Andreas Pisani Podestà, & Sebastian
Justiniano Captain, together with the Most Illustrious
DD. Peter Buzacarin Knight, Octavius Frizimelega
Doctor, Leo Lazara & Zacco Zachi, Deputies
Actual of this City; & also the very
R. P. M. Vincent Fulina Guardian, the very R.
P. M. Francis Ser-Zanotti, in place of the Most Reverend P,
Provincial; the Most Illustrious likewise Lords, Count,
Ludwig of S. Boniface, The Bishop separates the particle, Count Jacobus Zabarella,
John of Ponte Doctor, Julius Beolco President
of the Venerable Ark of glorious S. Antony. He moreover
Most Illustrious D. Bishop with his own hand opening
the reliquary of the sacred Chin, in which also is preserved the bone
of the Arm, the same bone he extracted, & with a saw cut off the part
to His Serenity destined, & to be brought to
the famous city of Venice … the remaining
part by the same Most Illustrious was placed back in the prior place;
& again sealed, with present & subscribing
Excellent DD. Jacobus Cassina Knight of qu. D.
Mark, & Ludwig Saxony of qu. Excellent D.
Victor, witnesses. Finally on day XI June rescribed
to the aforesaid Podestà & Captain the Venetian Duke as above,
that from their letters the order of things done having been known,
conforming to the aforesaid Senate-consult, most fully satisfied
to himself was; which at Venice is received 13 June. And because, said he, things could not be better
disposed than you disposed them, we indicate to you
the most full Senate's nod; & we signify,
how much you have accumulated through this action your prior
merits toward the Republic. What afterwards was done
at Venice, sufficiently from the premises is understood. One
I note, that bone of the Arm which to the chin or jawbone joined
is held, there sometimes is called the bone of the Scapula or Humerus,
inasmuch as by the name of humerus also comes the first bone
& greatest thence depending; as it is
called by Andreas Vesalius & other Anatomists.
[101] The other bones of the Saint seem from year 1475 to have remained immobile, From the Instruments also above produced clearly
to be established seems, that the custodian Ark of the sacred bones,
from immemorial time, & at least from year MCCCCLXXV,
was never opened; when not even the Venetian
Senate, ever presumed to demand, that from
it anything be taken, to whatever place or prince
to be given, with those which outside it in the Sacristy were preserved
content. What therefore in num. 82 from Cardosus
was said about the Finger, or particle of Finger; & long before taken away part of the finger by Guido Card. Legate. that
I would persuade myself was plucked by Cardinal Guido in the second
Translation, & by him venerably borne about
as long as he lived; with him dead however, through various cases,
came into the hands of Peter the Infant of Portugal.
[102] Of the cuticle, adhering to the sacred skull, that no
mention is made among Authors, I do not greatly wonder; since
this in cadavers long buried is sufficiently frequent: so much that
in some even the hair to have grown was detected: for all
admiration of all things drew the
tongue, such as we have said, incorrupt. & also the cuticle of the sacred head. So remained
intact the Cuticle, not only in the first, but also in the second
Translation; in the third moreover some, in which we believe to have been separated
the bone of the Arm & Chin joined,
it was found that already had fallen off, & in another certain
smaller reliquary placed back; which when there also
to be held knew the Venetian Senate, & wishing to the most powerful
Queen of the Spains something more notable to bestow,
than to the Lusitanian King had granted; he asked to be sent
either cuticle or tooth (for these also nearly all in their places
are still firmly adhering), of the former indeed part preferred
to give the Paduans, than a tooth, not so easily
divisible.
ANALECTA
From various both printed & manuscripts.
Antonius, of the Order of Minors, at Padua in the Venetian dominion (S.)
FROM VARIOUS.
§. I. On the church at Padua founded by the Minors, commonly called of the Saint.
[1] The beginning of this collection let Valerius Polydorus
make, Paduan, Conventual, author
of the sacred Memorials, pertaining to the church
of the glorious saint Antony, at Venice edited in the year
MDXC. The book is in Italian written, & extended through
Chapters LXX, in which to a Latin summary contracting,
lest we should labor, makes the diligence of Luca Wadding,
on year 1263 & ff. the argument in the title
proposed in few words embracing. Whose however
before I propose his words, it pleases to exhibit the form
exterior of the church.
[2] The exterior figure of the church in a tablet This tablet is much more accurate than that, which is expressed
in Rodulphus Tossinianus page 83 v.
& in Polydorus on the front of the aforesaid book. This hides the frontispiece
of the church, that more distinctly it may represent
the posterior part: in ours, after a more recent example from Padua
lately sent sculpted, besides the frontispiece
thou also seest at the letter A the gate of the Convent, to which
on the other part the letter D responds the entrance to the garden.
The chapel of the Saint notes the letter B, beneath which extended
another under the letter C, of the most noble Obizi family
is, for covering tombs of the same erected. The smaller turret,
at the letter E, from the old house reserved seems,
on account of the bell, with the explanation of the notes. which while the Saint lived to
either his sermons the people, or lectures called
the school. To the peribolus of the cemetery adheres the monument
of the Papafava family, & the same peribolus's corner occupies
the equestrian statue of Gattamelata, of whose person another
notice in the Paduan books in vain seeking, by chance
I seem to have found below. Meanwhile this exterior of the church
form considering, all will agree with those saying,
it was fabricated in imitation of some Constantinopolitan ones,
with all the major vaults peaked
into round domes or cupolas.
[3] To the exterior fabric's view ought to follow of the interior
form exhibition; & would follow, except that the tablet,
it representing & here equally sent, was so imperfect,
that one not present a sculptor, the true
idea of the whole matter in mind to himself to figure cannot
which into copper he transfer, especially in the choir, where the chief
elegance of the work is. That therefore omitted, desirous of such
notice the reader I refer to below to be represented
view of the Antonian chapel, which since the northern
wing of the church built in the manner of a Cross terminates, cannot
of this wing the form to the eyes be presented, but at the same time be formed
some idea of the remaining parts, similarly proceeding
to the Choir, & to the sacristy into which
the southern wing ends, & to the principal door
in that order in which in the table above placed disposed are seen
the domes of the vaults. Meanwhile what with the chisel not yet we can,
let us explain with words, taken from Wadding on
year 1263 num. 9.
[4] There are who think the anterior part was the house of Juno: The temple, into which was brought S. Antony's
body, before granted to the use of the Minors, into such great
extent went, that with the best of Europe
shrines compared, if not all to be preferred deservedly
it can; namely the ancient by the ancient comparing, not
however by more recent ones, of which this & preceding century
more excellent fabricated no one can doubt: Most ancient
is, some centuries before Christ
born constructed: To Juno some wish at one time
sacred, & that very which Livy mentions.
With cult changed for the major house of the city was held, & by that
was called name House MAIOR; until in the year
MCCXXIX James Corradus, Bishop of Padua,
this distinguished by title, S. Mary Mother
of the Lord: then from frequent cult & augmented reverence
of S. Antony, by antonomasia Church of the Saint
is called. Coalesced the house from two churches;
one old, which we have said of Juno; the other
more recent. That one is extended from the eastern gate, unto
the organs & order of marble columns
near the choir, in that place where the supreme
altar was: this comprehends the choir & towers belfries
major, & whatever beyond the choir is. more certain is, that for the more humble Minors given in year 1229,
So far from the sense of Polydorus Wadding: to whom deservedly
contrary Peter Saviolus, in the Treasure of the City of Padua
page 72 & ff. shows (which also is plain from
the Acts num. 39) the house called of S. Mary, & to the Franciscans
attributed by Bishop Corradus, more humble
was, such as loved the beginnings of the Order, in humility
founded; & of that which once to Juno stood something to remain,
in that which now we behold house, does not allow
to be believed the form of the structure, having nothing in common with the older before
or a little after Christ, & in many things Gothic architecture
referring. Not to mention,
that such great age difference, as great as Polydorus
places, between one & other house, necessarily
would be plain to the eyes of those looking, & the very stones would speak it:
in which yet no now appears notable
diversity.
[5] the new & larger was begun in year 1231, Let us say therefore, that the fabric of a new was begun,
not only of an addition, but of the whole temple, whose
artificer was Nicholas Pisanus, in that age a celebrated
architect, in the year MCCXXXI, in which the holy man from the living
departed: but on account of turbulent motions under Eccelinus the work was ceased
, until the year MCCLIX. Other
intervals also had the structure unto the year
MCCCVII, when decreed the Paduan University, to give
for the structure of the same church pounds four thousand, perfected in year 1307.
under the rule of D. Hugh of Oddis of Perugia, a man
most illustrious: with which strong support was completed the church,
besides the great dome, which over
the choir is, & from various offerings increased in the year
MCCCCXXIV. The church is long feet two hundred
eighty; wide, one hundred thirty-one; high,
one hundred & ten. The part prior many has
columns, domes, apses, Its extent & majesty & four towers
belfries: of which the major, high very &
pyramidal, an Angel has with trumpet sounding, at
the variety of winds turnable.
[6] The part posterior, beyond the choir, has nine
chapels, very beautiful: among which to the choir
is interposed a spacious portico: & above this rise
two belfry towers octagonal of wondrous artifice, & interior ornaments,
but of more wondrous over the sole dome of foundation.
The great dome, which over the choir fabricated
we have said, on eight great columns rests.
The whole roof with leaden plates is covered.
The temple's front, besides other ornaments, porticoes has
ample, & two walking places; one above,
the other below, on various supported by columns.
The choir's seats LXXXVIII, with variegated work, with beautiful
artifice, with carved & inserted woods, especially of the choir & altar, various figures
expressing, conspicuous are rendered: made Laurence
Canetius of Lendenara, in this art most distinguished,
in the year MCCCCLXVIII. The major altar,
erected in the year MDLXXXII, with marble columns,
& various incrustations is adorned; with many likewise images
& statues of brass [with which the old altar was adorned
] cast by Donatello of Florence in the year MCCCCLXVIII,
decorously composed.
[7] The repository of the body of Christ, with precious stone,
with statues likewise of brass, around disposed,
in the middle of the high altar, the authority & majesty
expressing, together with the altar was completed
with ten thousand of gold; with the Prefects of the work Hieronymus
Campagna of Verona, & Caesar Franco
Paduan. Candelabrum of rare art: In the choir is seen a candelabrum
of brass, high eleven feet, of wondrous beauty
& gracefulness, with one hundred & four figures
carved, with singular art, by Andrea Riccio of Briosco,
of this last century the most commended statuary,
cast. This singular work the writers of Paduan things
all commend, & the Artificer
himself, with the epitaph hung at the sepulcher, by
the same is praised. The choir is surrounded by gates &
iron doors, with reticulated weave excellently put together,
at the expense of William Gattamelata of Narnia, Captain
most strong in war … The same enclosure above
adorn in the circuit twenty-five stone statues
& twenty candelabra: from each side however of the gates
principal two brass simulacra.
[8] From the exterior part twelve are had tablets
or plates distinguished, which to the right & left
of the major door of the choir are seen. These cast in the year
MDVI the aforesaid Riccio, brass tablets storied, in one of which Judith
the Hebrew sleeping or rather wine-buried beheads
Holofernes; in the other indeed is drawn the Ark
of the covenant, which from the house of Aminadab with greatest
triumph, with David going before, with citharas, timbrels
& cymbals, & solemn dance is led into
the holy city. Other ten made Bellanus of Padua,
in the casting art most distinguished, in the year MCCCCLXXXVIII.
Express they sacred histories of the old
Testament; Abel, by Cain struck; Abraham,
immolating Isaac; Joseph, by his brothers
sold; & certain other very distinguished things., the brass serpent, in the desert exalted;
Samson, the Philistines with houses cast down
overwhelming; David's with Goliath encounter; Solomon,
the contention of the harlots dissolving;
& Jonah, into the sea cast. Other has
the choir external ornaments, of columns, vaults,
statues of brass, by Titian Aspetto cast;
likewise of brass Crucifix gilded, by Donatello
above mentioned cast. Above the altar of the church
is seen on the wall a rough stone, formerly of S. Antony pillow
believed to have been. Outside the choir, upon two
marble vaults most excellently brought forth, rise
twin pneumatic organs, of which both
have ten pleural rules, to modes to be sung
or broken: most skilled casters, Vincent
Columbus, & Vincent the other Columna.
§. II. The Antonian chapel's form & ornaments & other monuments of Paduan piety toward the Saint.
[9] Icon of the chapel & monuments placed before it: To the description of the church passes Wadding to
the description of the Antonian chapel, to whose better
understanding will serve a larger tablet here added, which
also embraces the whole northern wing of the church,
as I said, with various there placed of illustrious persons
monuments: of which two, with numbers 1 & 2 noted,
which at the first pillar here are seen, are cenotaphs,
the first of Hieronymus Michael Venetian Patrician;
the other, of the Knights de Lazara Paduan Nobles,
of whose right also is the altar to that pillar opposite
placed under the title of Resurrection & num. 4.
what indeed num. 5 is noted, to Saints Sebastian, Louis,
Ursula sacred is, the Monument indeed noted
num. 3. is of the most Excellent Caterinus Cornelius Venetian Patrician
& Duke of Crete. So to us the Antonian Convent's
Fathers, the seen ectype much praising;
grieving however, that they did not warn of the silver candelabrum
major, who here at the side of the Gospel
stands before the altar of the Saint, when transferred with its base
to be to the horn of the epistle, that place it might make to another new
of similar form, to which is placed a marble base, with great
artifice & from one stone, in the form of three Angels
mutually adhering carved. I would have wished also at the first
step at the altar to be displayed of brass cast valves two,
certainly elegant, & more distinctly expressed gilded chains,
splendidly woven of crosses & flowers, whence
hang four major lamps; or rather both these
& those to be removed, on this account that not sufficiently in the table discerns
the eye how far apart they hang from the chapel's frontispiece:
to which while closer, than is fair, they seem to hang, of that
frontispiece's elegance somewhat they hinder.
[10] Now Wadding let us hear, what from Polydorus
he received briefly & in Latin rendering. To the left, says he, its dimension.
of the organs, toward the North, in the anterior
building of the basilica, is constructed the Saint's chapel,
feet long forty, wide twenty-five,
begun in year MDXXXII. Whose such is the majesty
& splendor, both in material as in work, that
with the first chapels of Italy it can be compared. The frontispiece
all of marble has transverse bands or
cornices excellently carved, exposed in vaulted
wall statues optimal, drawn five
arches with columns four of whitest marble, &
with great pillars two. In the front's middle inscribed letters
three; Re. Pa. Po. namely, Respublica Patavina
posuit. The same chapel around eleven
arches & of great value columns inside is adorned,
& nine square marble tablets, in which
sculpted most elegantly human figures beyond
one hundred three, indicating various actions of the holy man.
[11] & in it sculpted the Saint's miracles. At the left the first sculpted Antony Minellus
Paduan, in this art most distinguished, expressing;
the Saint, of this sodality the tunic putting on; the second
by unknown author, represents the miracle of restored
hair of a woman, by her husband ill treated
on account of benefits paid to the Friars; the third, the Saint's father,
falsely accused of homicide, by the same
freed; made Hieronymus Campagna of Verona:
the fourth, the little girl submerged to the living
recalled, work of Iacob Sansovini of Florence; the fifth,
similar miracle of from the sea drawn small drowned;
elapsed is the memory of the maker: the sixth, of the avaricious
money-lender's heart, among the moneys hidden; sculpted
this Tullius Lombardus; & also the seventh
of restored foot, which to himself cut off the youth,
by the holy man on account of striking mother
severely rebuked. Of the eighth the author is unknown, to whom carved
the miracle of one cast into stones a man, but altogether unhurt.
In the ninth expressed Antony Lombardus, distinguished
statuary, the little infant, a few days born, articulated
speech the suspicion of adultery from his mother turning away.
Of the vaulted roof the cuirass is of earthenware or
gypsum dome, work of Titian Minius Paduan, sculptor
distinguished, in finishing & casting forms of every
thing most skilled. In the middle of the dome inscribed
these words, Gaude FELIX PADUA, QUAE THESAURUM
POSSIDES. The pavement, both of the chapel as
of the whole Church, with squares of red & white
marble strewn.
[12] In the middle of the sacristy laid Relics, in an ark
of most singular stone, of indeterminate color, The ark of the sacred body: near his
death divinely found, & fabricated by the holy Four-Crowned,
who suffered under Diocletian
the Emperor, whose feast the Church celebrates. Sustain
this altar columns four in the form of the ark,
to which is ascended through marble steps seven,
with both sides of the same material drawn sides to the horns
even of the altar, which super-imposed columnettes, &
in the four corners as many brass Angels very render
beautiful. Above the altar three are simulacra of Saints
of brass, & to the staircase's ascent close gates
two of brass, by the above-named Titian Aspetto cast
in the year MDXC. So far from Polydorus Wadding,
who in few words here could not write, about the Angels & Statues
of brass & gates two. Indeed not hardly
I would have believed; if this same is the ark, I say in which not Cardinal
Guido (as he hallucinates) but S. Bonaventure
the sacred bones first deposited, it itself to have been by miracle found.
[13] Such something already we have seen on the preceding day in the Life of B.
Guido of Cortona, about which to note some things. nor with difficulty there we believe
the writer almost contemporary: here indeed deservedly we require such
some testimony, with those whose hitherto
writings we have given silent. That moreover may be believed that ark
was fabricated by the holy Four-Crowned, new
work would need to be a miracle; nor without revelation it
could be known: & already XXVII May treating of S. Liberius
of Ancona, we have seen, the same to be said of the ark, in which placed
he lies, without any verisimilitude. More safely
thou wouldst believe what num. 132 asserts Paciecus, & I myself
in the year MDCLX experienced, from the same ark, to those approaching nearer
& for veneration's cause kissing, blown perpetually a certain sweet odor, of balsam's
odor most similar; which odor is presumed to be
miraculous, while no other natural cause of it appears.
[14] But I return to Wadding; who after the description
of the Antonian chapel, to the sacred of it & the rest
of the church's furniture passing; Sacred opulent furniture: Many, says he, are preserved
in the inner sanctuary or sacristy Relics of Saints,
& sacred furniture most opulent, of which greater few
have churches. Ten has crosses silver,
statues sixteen of Saints: chalices fifty,
one gold of price of gold pieces five hundred
twenty; tabernacles silver three larger, smaller
others for preserving Relics of Saints thirty,
candelabra great ten; lamps many,
but one of immense bulk; statues from vow offered
of greater weight four, of lesser thirty-nine;
silver tablets seven, a whole ship, with all
riggings adorned; a great statue, idea
bearing of the city Paduan; besides other minute
furniture very much…
[15] Nor with time it decreases, but daily more
is augmented this house's majesty & splendor. the confidence of the faithful in the Saint most great, So deserves
the frequency & magnitude of miracles, which
unto this day, on account of merits & intercession of the most holy
man, with God so willing, endure; that
of so great a matter, through the whole world
so far & wide the fame is spread; that the Christian religion
another Patron hardly has, besides the immaculate
Virgin Mother of God Mary, whom
on account of daily miracles to this Divine for cult he prefers,
or whom with richer offerings or more ardent
prayers, for salvation in greatest dangers to be obtained,
more frequently invokes. Wherefore deservedly to this
Divine such august & distinguished temple erected
was, which of so great unto this day of veneration
among all nations, but in primis among the Paduans
is… For beyond what was above mentioned, decreed
the Republic in year MCCLXV, that with the same
solemnity of cult should be celebrated the Octave of the feast day, &
the feast, on account of obtained on that day singular benefit of liberty;
that in the public forum twin should be erected here
& there statues, one of S. Antony, the other of S. Prosdocimus,
Peter's disciple & first Bishop of Padua: &
days eight before, & as many after the Natalia of S. Antony
free fairs could be held, in the forum of S. Antony
called.
[16] In year also MCCLXXV established that in the vigil,
night, & feast day of the Saint, to his basilica be offered
the military insignia of the City, & guarded the sepulcher
& be made a public & universal supplication
to the same church, to which would come the Bishop
with the whole Clergy, the Podestà with civil
state Orders, & sodalities & communities
of artisans with kindled wax tapers. In the same year
ordered, that always, for greater solemnity & people's
exultation, on the Octave of the feast, would be run in the stadium, proved by various arguments.
& three prizes proposed to those grasping.
On the very octave day the Podestà of the city, with accompanying
Optimates, in the basilica would meet, would hear solemn
sacred, & thanks for that day freed city to render,
& donaria to offer. In year finally MCCCCXXXV
Michael Quarante-otto, Professor of Caesarean Law
& Dean of the college of Legists, ordained, that
the Doctors of the Faculty to the same solemnity convene,
with Doctoral ornaments distinguished, kindled wax tapers
bearing, & each collateral companions
have from the Minorites: which afterwards imitated
the colleges of Physicians & Philosophers. At length
with multiplied daily offerings, that into one
they be gathered, & in a common ark deposited,
was established in year MCCCLXXXVI (year MCCCCLXXXVI?)
which in God's & S. Antony's honor to be spent,
were prefixed four citizens of Padua
& three Minorites, every year by the Podestà of the city
to be elected; & has been increased so the income of offerings,
that many thousands of gold pieces in yearly revenues are treasured.
More & more distinct who will wish let him Polydorus himself
read, also about to exhibit all more illustrious of the church
of the same cenotaphs & epitaphs, altars &
chapels, conceded Indulgences, established Confraternities,
set offerings, & other similar.
[17] An Anonymous Paduan, author of a newest printed
Collection, of which below §5. his second to
the Reader admonition thus weaves. In years MDCLXXXIII
& IV, wonderfully conspired the zeal of the Presidents, both
secular as regular on whom rests
the care of rightly spending the alms in the Saint's
honor offered. Then was begun &
completed the silver Cross of the major altar, of three thousand
ounces: to which added six candelabra of the same metal,
each of one hundred & forty ounces,
& together with the Cross exceed the price of sixteen thousand
ducats. Was strewn also the whole sacristy
with white marble; closets of walnut fabricated elegantly,
with disposed above between columns tablets,
representing more recent miracles by anaglyph work. Some more recent ornaments,
Was made also a silver pallium for
the same principal altar of work likewise anaglyph; & with silver
covered a book, by the Saint's own hand illustrated
with notes; & for the seats for major feasts to be covered
was made a silken precious apparatus. Then in a great
tablet, by the hand of Matthew de Petrochis, was expressed
the tree of the Seraphic Religion, for the adornment
of the cloister, in which part it touched the church; & many
statues of brass were cast, which the venerable Sacrament's
tabernacle still lacked. Besides many
other splendid works are revolved under the artificers' hands,
& by name a great Ceroferarius, to be composed
with another, who already for several years made
hangs in the Saint's chapel. Of all these
& also of more precious offerings, from great Princes
this year brought, an accurate reckoning
to those curious of such notices I shall give in an addition
to the book of P.M. Polydorus, Minor Conventual,
going to treat of new fabrics of this church.
So he, after in the dedicatory to Francis Monsinus
Epistle he had made mention of the silver lamp,
perpetually before the ark of the sacred body together with other 40,
to burn, by him offered in year MDCXXXIV when he was about to ascend
the Venetian fleet that most distinguished Duke,
going to free the whole Peloponnese from Turkish tyranny.
Now I understand the Collector, Anonymous to me
hitherto, to be P. Mag. Pasqueti, who about the promised supplement
to Polydorus being asked, replied, then first
he would put hand to that work, when shall be
completed the fabric of the new which is being built Sanctuary;
is hoped to be completed within the next from the editing of this volume
year; much certainly, while these are being printed,
through the summer of year 1697 promoted I understand.
§ III. The patronage of lost things to S. Antony usefully commended.
[18] From Italy to Portugal I pass, the Saint's homeland,
where he is held Patron of deperdita,
writes in the Notes to this his Hagiology day
Cardosus: yet he confesses, unknown to himself is the first
of that devotion origin: nor I in seeking it
shall labor; only I shall say, through almost all regions diffused,
with happiest & unexpected successes daily
is approved. At Alcacer a ring is recovered by a miracle, fallen into a well; Examples Cardosus brings two from the Flos-Sanctorum
of P. Paul of Portalegre, which Ms. is held
he says in the Eligian Library at Lisbon, where is narrated,
first; that at Alcacer, which town has surname from Salt,
there was someone most devoted to S. Antony,
& wont his feast day every year with various
pious works to honor, especially by procuring Masses
& feeding the poor. To him on a certain day from a well,
which in the atrium of his house he had, water drawing,
while the bucket to himself he was drawing, fell out
from his finger a precious ring. Was anguished by the unexpected
case & loss the good man, because the well was deep
& much water left no hope of recovering
the loss. Sufficient yet he had to commend the matter to S. Antony
, with further care for the damage put aside,
as it seemed, irreparable. When moreover on the same day
festive according to custom in prayers in the church of the Saint to be poured
he was attentive, behold his servant began to cry,
Good news, Good news. Has appeared the ring
of my Master. And narrated that to him drawing water
had fallen out the bucket from her hands into the well: which
to recover when into the well she had sent a hook,
not only the bucket from the water she drew back, but together also
the master's ring, so aptly placed on the bucket's
bottom, as if it had been by someone's hand placed there. Which
matter all hearing the minds & tongues to thanks
to the Saint to refer dissolved.
[19] Another case is, that when a certain merchant
through that river was sailing, which leads from the city
Cetobriga, another, to one sailing to Setubal a ring fallen into the river, commonly Zetubal, by foreigners called Sintubes
; & at the mast of the ship standing, was holding out a purse
full of coins; this from his hands was struck
through the sail of the ship, imprudently by the captain loosed.
Wide there in place & deep was the water,
& therefore no hope of recovering anything. Therefore
with the ship landed at the port, that merchant to the Convent
of Minors took himself, & for himself to be sung asked
the customary Antiphon:
If thou seekest miracles; Death, error, calamity,
Demon, leprosy flee; the sick rise healthy:
The sea, chains yield; members, things lost in a fish is received:
Seek & receive the young & old.
Perish the dangers, ceases also necessity;
Let those who feel narrate; let the Paduans say,
The sea, chains yield &c.
Glory to the Father & Son & Holy Spirit.
The sea, chains yield &c.
At the same time when these were being sung, fishermen
certain their in the same place loosing the net, among
others the aforesaid purse drew out, which without
any diminution returned to its master.
[20] Gonzaga, inquiring into the origin & history
of the Convent, about the year MCCCLXXX founded in the town
of Avilés, of the Province of S. James or Galicia; To the right,
he says, of the major chapel there side stands an altar,
to the glorious Mary Virgin dedicated, & similarly a third at Avilés, over which the blessed
Father Antony of Padua's image presides. This
most devoted John Alphonsus of Oviedo merchant,
& his dear wife Aldonza Gonzalez while
they lived, that to themselves all things by the Saint's merits from
vow might succeed, more religiously they venerated; &
to the Friars of this place sumptuous dinner, on each
anniversary day of the same Saint, they offered;
nay dying to their heirs certain estates &
houses by this law from testament left, that this
very thing they also & their successors every
year should provide. It happened therefore, that during sailing,
the ring, which from his dear parents by hereditary
right he had received, from the finger of Nicholas Alfonsus,
the founders' aforesaid nephew, into the sea fell. from him who annually offered the dinner to the Friars:
And when the feast of B. Antony pressing, on which to the Friars,
according to the grandparents' mandate, dinner to prepare
he had decreed, some fishermen, who fish for the banquet
more sumptuously to be furnished should catch, solicitously had sent;
ring by the cook was found, into the net fell. Which
all to the blessed Father Antony's benefit attributing,
praised God: especially however he himself Nicholas
Alfonsus; who & with greater devotion toward the same
Saint in the future was carried; & the event of the matter, as
altogether had happened, to his glory in the circle of the aforesaid
image more curiously to be painted he took care. These because most true
are & by witnesses worthy of faith proved, here
to subjoin I have taken care. So Gonzaga.
[21] Paciecus a most similar other narrates, which happened
in a ring of a certain Knight, born of Trent, & also a fourth: &
through a certain arm of the nearby sea sailing; who
when it to his friends by chance for inspection he was offering, into
the waters fell, nor by any diligence could through divers
be retrieved. Hence, says he, sad the master, of mind
from sense to turn aside cause approached a certain friend,
Guardian of a Franciscan Convent there: who
him somewhat sad seeing, & the cause having learned; persuaded
him not to omit to S. Antony to have recourse, by procuring
one Mass through the Religious of his place. He obeyed
the Knight, & the Mass he heard; with which finished, to
the forum he went, to buy fish for the alms to the Friars
to be sent: & when various kind & magnitude
some he had bought, to the Guardian he sent. In one of these
moreover when it was being cut found was the ring,
& to his master announced, as him & all
conscious of the matter filled with joy, so & devotion toward
the Saint greater inflamed.
[22] Likewise the Ms. papers of Ambrosius Catharinus on the way fallen, Fr. Ambrosius Catharinus, Bishop of the Order
of Preachers, by virtue & erudition most distinguished,
certain works he had written, & among them a book
on the Glory of Saints, in which what follows itself
he relates. Having gone out at one time with his companion from Toulouse,
he was carrying a book Ms., to bring it to the press
; together with other fruits of his studies on
paper, & namely various Annotations for disputing
with heretics. This whole bundle on
the way from him fell out, nor was the loss observed before
than some leagues had been made, Then indeed (as
is fair to believe) he grieved over the lost labors & vigils
his: wherefore he returned to Toulouse by the same way, nor
anything found: then through himself & through the Governor
of the city his friend, all things he did, that the lost
papers he might recover; but in vain. Therefore again to the way
he gave himself, sad altogether; & since human
remedies had failed, S. Antony remembered, he vowed,
if him interceding the lost he should recover, to the other
praises of Saints he would also add the benefit,
which through him he asked & hoped, if of the vow compos
he became. Hardly the words he had pronounced, when to him
some papers he had lost. wondrously are found, He replied that he had lost, &
notes adds whence it could be recognized. Then the traveler
led him that traveler into the place where lay all, without
defect: & Ambrosius, recognizing the favor
received, the matter whole at length in that book he described,
as here briefly is related. Are not present with me
books of that Ambrosius, in the world called Cancellotti Politi,
& at length Archbishop of Compsa: only
from Antonius Senensis & Gesner Libraries I know,
this, which is alleged, book, together with other several
printed at Lyons in year MDXLI: which when thou shalt have found,
through thyself thou shalt learn, how well this Pacieco epitome
with the text agrees, which otherwise originating to give
I would have preferred: died moreover the Author, with many writings most distinguished,
in year MDLII.
[23] D. Inicus Manrique (the words again are of Pacieco
in Latin rendered) Bishop of Cordoba &
Inquisitor of Spain General (from year MDXXXVII, To the Bishop of Cordoba lost his own ring
according to Tamayus de Salazar in Notes to 18 May,
unto MDXL) singularly toward the Saint was affected,
on account of frequent favors by him on himself
conferred experience; but which to him in the case of lost
ring, with which he had been Bishop consecrated,
for so long failed, that more manifest to many it was. Many
he to that intention had taken care to be made sacrifices,
until at length of recovering it the mind he despaired,
vehemently by that loss saddened. So affected days
some had passed, when over the table, on which
several guests reclining he had, with brought up of Saints'
miracles speech, said he himself, very much
he was devoted to S. Antony, nor less to the same obligated
on account of received benefits; now however, he said,
I have something to complain about him, because
when behold on the table itself, at which they were reclining,
was seen to fall a ring, by an invisible hand it is returned, by an unseen hand
thrown: which matter the Bishop & all the others
with admiration filled, at the same time & devotion toward
the Saint kindled.
[24] Among the many of this kind which are narrated,
the more memorable is, & to a Capuchin Friar a blessed grain, through an ant. in the manner of the wrought miracle,
the less precious was that which is said recovered.
A certain Fr. Lay Capuchin in
Sicily had lost a praying grain, from his rosary
hanging, which on account of attached Pontifical
Indulgences he prized much. This to him not paying attention
had fallen out, & long in vain sought in the desperate
was counted; when to the Friar came to mind the Antiphon
prenoted: which when he recited; behold
an ant, which straight to the Friar tending, the very
grain in mouth was carrying. The Friar indeed it having received in
pious dissolved tears, gave thanks to the Saint. On
account of such events Cortesius, a distinguished Astrologer,
who in that faculty certain works published (Hieronymus
perhaps, by homeland Valencian, by Nicolas Antonio
in the Spanish Library called near the end of the previous century
to have published a Lunarium or perpetual Prognosticon, &
also a book on natural Physiognomy & various secret things
pertaining to nature) Cortesius, I say, the Astrologer,
if ever was asked to make figures, for things
lost to be recovered to serve: Cortesius the astrologer persuades in such things the Saint to pray, to reply
was wont; Lords, my best & true figure is
to invoke S. Antony, this indeed experienced often
I have: this use as means; for all others
of vanity much have, of truth very little; the innocent
they defame, & generate ill-founded suspicions
. What moreover he was persuading in words, also was praising
in writings: for in that place, where the rules to be handed down
were for making such a figure, he placed
the Antiphon before cited, with the ordinary Church
Collect of the Saint.
[25] Best certainly counsel, which I myself,
although I do not wish to confirm with many to me privately known
examples, yet one cannot keep silent, which most useful to be teaches frequent experience, years before
fifty here at Antwerp wrought, with me indeed a boy,
but so tenaciously impressed on memory as if today
it were wrought. A female merchant of middle station (as here
mercantile no less by women than men is exercised)
for merchandise to a first-class woman merchant
sold, a syngrapha she had received, payment from it
after the agreed term to receive. & already the established
time had elapsed, when the syngrapha is sought & inquired,
but in vain. She went nonetheless, entire faith to herself
to be given even without the syngrapha trusting, in
that for many already years with the same matron commerce
she knew she had cultivated with best faith, her in turn toward
herself much often experiencing confidence. She confesses therefore candidly
what the matter was, & to be believed she asks, that whom she had never
failed she herself the lady witness might be. But
for the money she receives reproaches, as if long ago paid
paid to be again she were demanding. Stung this matter so sharply the woman,
well to herself conscious, now of the money less
than of her own estimation solicitous. So immediately
she to a witch, by common fame to her known hidden
generally to reveal to those seeking: but good fortune to
my mother she fell, to whom when her mind's heat
& counsel she had opened, sounder another she received, that
namely in S. Antony's honor one Mass to be said
she herself at the hour should procure. She went, procured, heard the Sacred,
& home returned; returned moreover, the servant
of the Merchant aforesaid at the door she found, who was ordering she put aside the solicitude
, the Lady for she was ready even
without the syngrapha solution of the pretended debt to exhibit
on her word, as one to whom deservedly to be believed even in such a case
ought.
[26] Wondrous is moreover with how great sometimes pious men
with simplicity of the Saint use the work, A bucket from a well wonderfully received, sometimes
not to be excused, if not sincerity of mind would supply the apparent
defect of reverence. To a discalced lay Friar,
water about to draw, into the well had fallen from his hands
in vain had been applied, nor long delay would allow
the present necessity of having water; to there by chance neighboring
oratory's altar he resorts, & whom there he found
of the Saint a wooden little statue with a cord he ties, & it
casts down into the well, & again to himself draws back;
& just as rustic confidence had preconceived, so with
the holy image he drew out the bucket, with the arm of the wooden image
adhering. So Paciecus num. 145, who if of each
by himself narrated times & authors or witnesses
he had indicated, just as in the case of the aforementioned lay Capuchin
he noted in the margin Salucium book 9 chap. 11
at the end; more certain certainly faith would obtain: but to one writing an Epitome
care it was not to attend to minutiae
these, to a historian however not contemptible.
[27] Let close this Paragraph, from Francis Solerius's
Ecclesiastical History of Japan, taken example,
book 12 chap. 15 in which are contained acts, for edification
memorable in the regions of Nagasaki, & a three-year-old Japanese among the gods in vain sought,
Arima, & Omura in year MDC, from letters brought thence
. Lost was a three-year-old boy; & all in vain
with diligence sought, no other counsel to the parents
left, than that from our Society's Fathers
one they should ask, whether anything further to be done by
them was. He persuaded that with prior confession of sins,
the little one to the Deipara & his guardian Angel
& S. Antony, of lost things Patron, they should commend:
then, since Saturday was, he himself
the Sacred of the Divine to the same intention made,
after all our Religious's prayers
the business he had commended. On the same day moreover
about noon was found the little one, under a certain
most dense thicket, where except a demon to have carried
him no one could. Was found moreover entirely
unhurt, & of any evil free, which thing
to the efficacy of the prayers for him made attributed deservedly
by the parents was, & by Bollandus long ago,
in the prepared for this day 13 June, noted I found,
to be referred to the praise of S. Antony.
§. IV. Other miracles of S. Antony in various kinds.
[28] The Cortusii two William's & Albrigetti's
history, In year 1450 a Pole mocker of the Saint of the novelties of Padua & Lombardy,
from year MCCLVI to CCCLXIV brought down, & with
Albert Mussatus & other writers of Paduan affairs
was edited at Venice in year 1636. In it book 10 chap.
2 is read a matter especially worthy of memory in this manner: In the year
of the Lord MCCCL… When the Duke of Poland was
at Padua about to go to Rome, before he wished the blessed
Prosdocimus's & Justina's thresholds to visit. He wondered
at the beauty of the temple of B. Antony the Confessor, asking
learned it to be the temple of the Father of the City. A certain
companion of the Duke, deriding the Saint, said, Is this
that Antony, by whose name pigs carry little bells?
(He wished Antony the Egyptian indicated,
in whose name why pigs are nourished with a bell hung at the neck
, teaches P. Theophilus Raynaudus in the Antonian Symbols).
Who immediately by God's judgment is judged. For
the hand with arm is weakened entirely, which in
proof of the word he extended against the temple, whose
mouth is extended even to the ear. The Duke wonders: then
of the prodigy he seeks the cause: the Duke's son tells the order of the deed.
While the Duke in mind reflects what he is to do, is punished, & suppliant is healed. with celestial
light illustrated he says; Let with prayers be implored
he who has struck. Who immediately the sinner before
the sepulcher of B. Antony the Confessor personally presented.
Who with tears poured prayed most devoutly,
& so much that the prayer of B. Antony passed into heaven,
by whose prayers & love the aforesaid Noble
from God former regained health. The Duke wonders
& rejoices: with him the whole city exulted: becomes a concourse
of citizens: the Saint in prayers & offerings
is praised, to whom honor unto the ages of ages.
Was this, in the same year on day X April. The year
it was of the Jubilee, to which (as from Matthew Villani
writes Odericus Raynaudus in the Annals) an almost
infinite people to Rome flowed together, also men & women
Princes from the Ultramontane, among whom was
some primary leader of the Polish forces,
here the Duke of Poland named, under Casimir
the King.
[29] A shipwrecked man, from death saved in the Algarves, To our century closer are, which from Wadding
& Gonzaga remain. He in part 3 of the Seraphic History,
in the Province of the Algarves, about to treat of the Convent
XVIII of that Province, about year MDIV in the town
Sines & in the name of S. Antony begun to be founded, through
thus begins. When a certain man; among the curling
sea's waves borne in a little boat, nothing else except
shipwreck was expecting; & at length to the rocks dashed,
to the most high cliffs had adhered; himself to the glorious
Virgin Mary & blessed Father Antony of Padua
from his innermost heart commending, by their favor
& benefit from such peril was snatched.
Which when to the inhabitants of his country had become known, an eremitage
they began, gives occasion to the founding of a Convent. which yet to the end, with cooling
that first impulse, they did not at all bring. With which finally
matter through certain Franciscan Friars, who from
Castile parts to this kingdom had landed, as
first known, so much those neighboring peoples
with their exhortations & sacred sermons
on account of the interrupted work they chid, that to the building of one Convent
them they compelled, among
whom the noble & most devout George Hurtado's
toward the Franciscans benevolence & affection most
shone: he indeed to the Convent from his own faculties
people, by such example excited, what to
its perfection was desired, should provide.
[30] These things Gonzaga: Wadding indeed on year MDI
num. 8, going to speak about the Order of the Conception, A Noble girl, by a jealous Queen closely shut up, begun
indeed about LX years earlier, but then to the Minors
first commended; that Religion's origin, with
benefits of B. Antony joined, thus relates: Had married
John II, King of Castile, in year MCCCCXLI, according
to Garibay book 16 chap. 38, Elizabeth Edward's
King of Lusitania, not daughter as by error Wadding,
but from John brother deceased niece. She
with herself led Beatrice a Silva her relative,
among handmaidens dearer, James first Count
of Portalegre & B. Amadeus the Franciscan's sister.
Of form most distinguished to love many began:
but also to the King, beyond what the Queen wished, she pleased: virginity she vows,
& so the suitors' fires kindled, that
not once with slaughters & great duels about her
was fought. At these things so grieved the Queen, that
the young one in a narrow chamber she shut up, & food
& drink she punished. She, like another Jonah from
the whale's bowels, from that gloom prayers pouring out, the danger
about to redeem, chastity to God devoted under
the Genitrix's auspices, if in such great straits she would prove
showed herself, with white garment, with a blue mantle around clad, & by the Saint is freed.
& the pledged liberty's faith
with three days passed she paid. The indignant Queen's power
& the court's perils about to decline the girl, from Tordesillas
town, in which these things happened, to Toledo
fled. But unexpectedly two Franciscans meet,
who in Portuguese speech the same in her purpose
strengthened, & she would be of many Virgins
Mother preached, & a little after from sight
disappeared. Of these one, from speech & signs,
afterwards D. Antony she judged.
[31] In year 1678 a merchant on the way What follows of more recent memory is, from a printed
Florentine of year MDCLXXVIII, of a matter before
three years done, which at Naples in print first published
I think. The Florentine example the Most Illustrious Magliabechius
to me sent, which from Italian thus into Latin I render.
In April month of year MDCLXXV, Antony Tortamanus
of Monte-Muro, a town of the Neapolitan kingdom,
to S. Antony's cult most devoted, to Ferrandina was going,
linen cloth to buy. To him, on the very evening dining
at a certain friend's, two other guests themselves
joined, both known. They indeed, because either from
his words they had understood him provided with money, or
this in mind preconceived from that he was going to buy cloths
; when in the morning to the way had given himself Antony,
& had descended into a valley which the public way
intersects, on the border of Picerno & Baragianae,
three of those at the same time meeting he had, with whom in the evening
he had dined, not as friends, but as robbers; who having ordered
stand with ropes they constrained. In these straits
placed twice it occurred to him to S. Antony to invoke, & at the same
moment fiercely of them one with a heavy his head
stroke with a little axe inflicted, saying; Go, by companions to be despoiled, the saint invokes, & is killed: invoke
now S. Antony; equally the other two against the wretched
Tortamanus rise up, with many wounds
him pierce, meanwhile while the first, twelve times
doubling the stroke, was beating the head. So slaughtered
into a certain ditch they carry, & with rocks & branches
they cover; where five whole days lying,
& now putrefying, with worms he was beginning to swarm.
[32] but on the fourth day after he is raised, Then first appeared the Saint invoked before;
& dead twice by his name calling,
as from sleep he excites, now more than four-day-old:
he wipes blood, removes worms, & with hand
seized places in the way which leads to Picerno,
whither journey for him was; where dismissing him said;
Twice invoked, twice also I called thee, that I might excite:
go, & beware lest of vengeance taking thou shouldst think, or
those who hurt thee accused thou shouldst go: but daily in
my honor three times recite Pater & Ave. Hardly from
horror was in himself Tortamanus, more nearly by admiration
of done things, than before by blows dead;
with resumed however somewhat spirit his home
he returns, nor for two months thereafter anything
speaks; nor dared his domestics
cut his hairs, under which they saw worms
swarming. At last on the feast of S. Antony voice in first
these words he resolved: O Saint Antony! Then
further what to him had happened he narrated.
[33] The matter moreover happened on day XV April, just as
is plain from the tablet hanging at the altar of the royal
church of the Fathers Minor Conventual
of Naples, & about himself acted after two months attests. with whom is preserved the authentic relation,
signed by D. Bishop of S. Angelus & Bisaccia, who
Tortamanus himself legitimately examined,
professing the miracle so extraordinary in
himself to have been worked. The same related is found in the most recent
of such benefits collection, at Padua
printed in year MDCLXXXVII; where is added, the process itself
in the Convent of the royal church to be preserved, where
even then was living Tortamanus, made himself
colloquying with a man of great nobility, prudence
& gravity, from him heard, that at the time
of the deed done, in the Neapolitan kingdom he was, &
from Tortamanus himself he had asked, what done his soul
was meanwhile while his body so lay: who
replied, that not far off it had gone, & considering
the wounds inflicted said, How great cruelty
they exercised on this wretched flesh!
[34] A Bengalese Prince captive with the Portuguese, In year MDCLXXX to Rome from the Cape Comorin
wrote P. Vincent Dammey of our Society
Orders to receive cause, a certain Cleric,
to a mission quite heroic, where this
ours, both on account of the defect of laborers, &
on account of the longer distance of place (for of two
months is the journey) to reach cannot. The origin of the said
mission to this ours also is very similar. A Prince
namely in those parts Gentile, to whom now
Antonio d'Orufano the name, by the Portuguese years ago
about twenty by war was captured; who when for much
time to his doctrines most obstinately adhered,
nothing by the strongest reasons, & in Gentilism pertinacious, both by others, &
especially by our Fathers proposed moved
to embrace our faith; at length to it his mind
inclined, excited by a salutary, dream shall I say,
or vision? through which S. Antony of Padua
himself to him conspicuous stood; & imitating a loving Father,
today still trace in his face he carries about; by S. Antony chastised was preacher of faith; & persuaded,
with obstinacy laid aside, to the true faith hands to give, & himself
to his people's conversion to devote. Which &
immediately to execution committing, with the salutary laver of Baptism
to be cleansed, & by Antony's name to be called
he himself wished, & with the same his mission to be distinguished,
it is called for commonly the Mission of Lord Antony. The new
here Apostle & himself & his all things devoted to the conversion
of his people, he by words equally & examples
his teaching, with fervor supreme, & fruit, to the fervor
& zeal responding.
[35] through a vision with the Saint's cord flagellated. By similar letters from East India to Lisbon
written, & thence on day V January brought in year MDCLXXXII,
was written the miraculous conversion of a certain
Indian youth, in the kingdom of Bengal. Had bought
him the Augustinian Fathers, & all applied diligence
to overcome could not the pertinacity, willing
in his paganism to live constantly. On a certain
day, when alone he was acting in one of the chambers, where
was an image of S. Antony of Padua, was heard vehement
cries to make. There run the Fathers,
& hear the man asserting that the Saint
himself, with his cord with which he was girt sharply him flagellated,
ordering that to the faith of Christ he should be converted.
As also within a few days he did; & a Religious habit
taken up, began to preach the Gospel,
with such fruit, that briefly to twenty thousand of Pagans
he converted; & the Augustinian Fathers, unequal
in number to those to be baptized & congruently instructed,
assented to companion Missionaries more nearby
acting: who after they ran together, Fire his image keeps off & into the white
already harvest their sickle also began to send,
is multiplied daily of new Christians
there a multitude altogether admirable. With similar private
letters faith we have received, that in year MDCLXXXVI, II June arisen at Venice a fire, & transferred
into a place called la Barbaria delle tavole,
of two days lasted a space, with damage to a whole
million estimated: a certain citizen moreover, having
an icon of S. Antony of Padua, is said it to have exposed
at the door of his house against the flames, & so
alone this saved was, with the rest around around
burnt.
[36] A Calvinist, doubtful about confessing the Catholic faith, There at Venice, in year MDCLXXVII came forth
an Epistle, two years before written at Florence, under this
title; Easy method of finding the true Church by the light
of reason, To Catholics proposed by a certain
Calvinist or Reformed, through God's mercy
infinite to the bosom of holy Mother Church
Catholic Apostolic Roman lately reduced.
The author most briefly & nervously, from five
propositions premised, drawing a saving conclusion;
lest by sole human reasoning compelled he be believed
to embrace the Catholic faith, of the means,
which God for his conversion to use willed, the chief
he explains, & after others subjoins. In these & similar
reasons established my persuasion, of the truth
of the Catholic faith; Rome departing, & at Venice
some weeks passed, at length to Padua
I came: where in the temple of S. Antony, of Padua
called, after in my customary manner the divine majesty
with my whole heart suppliant I had prayed, an image
painted of the same Saint contemplating, the greatest
in mind commotion I perceived, & of spiritual
I seemed to myself to be flooded with a torrent of thoughts.
This commotion of mind much of increase
took, while at the ark of the same Saint again God
I was praying, & considering his miracles, everywhere
there in marble expressed: efficaciously by this sight of image & his miracles he is impelled. again vehemently
grew, with examined to the temple adjacent the school,
which of the same Saint they name; where among other
Saint's miracles more particularly I had noted that,
which there of the prostration of the mule, before the most holy
Eucharist's sacrament, is painted. From there
so living illumination & persuasion
internal of the truth of the Catholic faith I perceived, that the following
morning from Padua departing, to my journey through
Lombardy to be pursued, & in following days
until Milan I came, nothing else
in mind to revolve, nothing else to think I could,
than now my prayers from God to be heard; who
so sensible manner me to the true faith, by mediation
of his glorious Antony, about which Saint in darkness
still placed worst I had felt, called. So
constant & vehement that persuasion was, that poverty
& the rest of the world's adversities willingly, if
it had been necessary, for the name of D. N. Jesus Christ in the Church
Catholic Roman to make profession,
I would have endured.
§. V. Benefits from S. Antony obtained, through P. Bernardus Colnagus S. J. p.m.
[37] Died Colnagus 1611: In year MDCXI on day XXII April, at Catania in
Sicily, where he had been born, most piously, nay
most holily died, as he had lived, P. Bernardus Colnagus,
of our society a Priest plainly Apostolic:
who as had been in sermons to the people to be held excellently
fruitful; so in the same office most distinguished
Antony of Padua, with chief always affection cultivated,
The Life of the man, sometime (as is hoped) among the Saints
to be referred, was written in two books by another of our Society
printed in year MDCLXII: but of book second
chapter 8 is inscribed, Veneration of S. Antony of Padua
wondrous: which Chapter here I transcribe.
[38] who Saints his Patrons From all of the blessed heaven's citizens numerous
assembly, many Divines with special veneration followed
Bernardus; & among them indeed Peter
prince of the Apostles, Thomas Aquinas,
Bernard of Clairvaux, Vincent Ferrer,
Ignatius Loyola, & other founders of Orders,
whom in sons he loved & observed uniquely;
but especially & above all Antony of Padua
& Francis of Paola with intense study he cultivated..
And of those indeed not more lover religious,
than imitator vigorous, virtues for himself in life & morals
to be expressed from earliest years he had taken;
especially indeed angelic mind's brightness, &
of pouring for Christ blood perennial & burning
desire. Then nothing not he did in those Divines,
whom I have said, in favor asked; sweetest
with them mixing colloquies day to pass accustomed,
& even at the very table of his Heavenly ones not unmindful,
bread fragments with Cross marked to each he dedicated. in various ways used to cultivate, Sacred
their effigies, by whose sight he might inflame himself,
& to which on knees vows he might make, never
did not have with himself. To friends also or to whatever
at length others, where it bore opportunity,
with words most eloquent of such great Heavenly ones love & religion copiously & gravely he persuaded. At Venice,
Genoa, Brescia, Mantua, Naples, Rome,
with his sermons the peoples to these Divines'
cult he inflamed. Indeed not some to Bernardus
that they repaid grace, when & visible
not infrequently themselves they showed, & by this not
otherwise than of first admission of friends some
sweetly & familiarly they used; nay even arcana
celestial to him very often they opened; which among, that
is distinguished, that the year & place of his death, by their
favor, he was taught.
[39] And since about S. Antony of Padua speech
now incidentally arose, & toward S. Antony especially devoted, so Bernardus into this Divine's friendship
himself penetrated, that thou wouldst doubt, his into the Heavenly
confidence, or his into a mortal man almost
domestic humanity, greater moves admiration.
It was indeed when he himself to his companion, with sudden suffused
pleasure of mind, narrated, S. Antony
his with admirable beauty, which in human words
cannot be expressed, to himself was visible; in stature,
taller. For when in my custom, said he, on my board
I was lying, with most serene light surrounded
to me he came, with a long & most pleasing colloquy me
he refreshed, at length & with most sweet embrace long bound:
nor with these content, the whole of Saints friends
cohort, in long order proceeding, &
among these John Maria Colnagus at Palermo from life
departed, he showed. He grieved moreover immediately,
God's gift, with silence to be covered, imprudently to have manifested; in turn is held most familiarly,
& therefore with the highest he exonerated with prayers, that
what he himself rashly had poured out, more cautiously that one in secret from others
he might keep. Meanwhile he did not intermit to repay this Heavenly
with all observances; whenever it was right, the sepulcher
for religion's sake to approach, & the sacred ashes to venerate;
praises in elegant verses to weave, that more easily
all others to this Divine's love he might attract: & whatever him invoked obtains. him
from journey, wherever he proceeded, in his temples
most sweetly to salute; not only little flowers to bring,
but also tears & sighs to pour forth;
nay & papers with himself to bring, in which, as
petitions, dutiful in others' causes deprecator,
what each through this Divine from the Numen obtained
they wished he himself had written down; whatever
he asked with no business about to obtain.
[40] So to a fallen Brother of S. J. strengths for the next day he repairs; Long it would be to commemorate, how many & how
excellent, above nature's power & order, benefits
this Wonder-worker, at Bernardus's prayers as if
by friendly force compelled, on various mortals conferred.
A few only to enumerate here it pleases. And, that from
domestics we may begin, a certain Antony, of our
family Adjutor, while at night now grown in erecting
the Saviour's cenotaph through holy Week
vigorously, & not less imprudently work was placing;
with footing failing, I know not for what cause, headlong
from high he fell, & with limbs much bruised
& broken to bed was brought. This when Bernardus
knew, to D. Antony's whom in his chamber he had
image turned; Saint Antony, said he,
necessary it is Fr. Antony tomorrow day unharmed,
to complete the Lord's sepulcher to return:
wherefore come, health bestow. And immediately
himself to the bed of him lying he betook, a Cross well
large he made; S. Antony, said he, may heal thee;
tomorrow unharmed be, & the last hand to the sepulcher
apply. Obeyed the sick man; himself he wonders: arose,
& with all wondering girded himself for the work; & with strengths
entire, what he had begun, in time completed.
41] At Naples called to a girl of first nobility, [he heals a girl moribund,by the physicians now nearly given up, after customary
salutation offices; S. Antony, said he, to
thee to visit comes, who for thee of longer life the grace
obtained. Cheer up, cheer up! good be of soul: it is not
now what thou shouldst fear. Was not vain Bernardus's prediction,
the matter itself & outcome taught. John Maria
Tedesca, already by all Christian faith's
mysteries, in a monastery among Virgins dedicated to God,
to the journey of eternity prepared was. But the girl's
parent, a noble man, Bernardus, that to her he might come,
besought. So to the grates, as the custom bears, about
dying John making words, to one of the Nuns
who was standing by, with usual simplicity; Do we wish, said he,
John to restore to health? To which
she smiling; Altogether, let us heal her, Father. Sent to her his crown,
So let us heal her, subjoins Bernardus; let us pray
S. Antony. With the word he was himself with raised to
heaven hands, & three times repeats the customary to Christians
of well auspicing formula, In the name of the Father,
& Son, & Holy Spirit: & at the same time her,
which he had in hands, Crown, to John
with death wrestling sends. Nor vain were prayers:
the sick, as first the Crown she had obtained, of diseases
& death victor, began to recover; & at length
firm & strong, on feet she rose up.
[42] Maria de Consulo, of the third Order of S. Francis
alumna, for a whole already year's space mute, trembled
in head & all limbs, in vain applied
of physicians counsel. Called to the lying-down
Bernardus, asks, by what name she is called: to whom the domestics;
Now a year has revolved itself, from which with lost
power of speaking she was muted. But he turned to
the sick one; A Tertiary mute I indeed, said he, through D. N. Jesus
Christ & S. Antony I command, tell what to thee
name; & at the same time over her tongue with finger he made
bound she looses; & what formerly in baptism
she had received, the name Agatha she pronounces. Then the Father
her trembling head & the rest in order limbs with the Cross
signs; in the name of Antony to speak orders, & in the virtue of D. N. Jesus Christ & holy
Antony, to be still orders: when suddenly, as
they had been ordered, they became still: orders her hands, by the violence
of the disease closed, that themselves they unfold, & soon
themselves they spread; & in this manner, with admiration
fixed of all who were present, with full health the languid
he endowed; finally, Now thou art healthy, said he: on the twentieth
day from now also thou shalt walk. Who when thanks
was giving, them to S. Antony the Father transferred, whom
namely of this prodigy author he affirmed. & sick he heals: Because
yet not enough expeditely to speak she seemed Agatha,
of wine a little first he himself tasted, then to Agatha
offered: with which drunk, always more & more
her tongue to speaking she had obedient;
& twenty, which he had prefixed, days having gone around,
not with difficulty, on her feet supported, she walked.
[43] likewise an arm wounded, Was carrying about someone an arm, with gaping
wound badly affected. But when Bernardus over
it with saliva the Cross's sign expressed, & him to
S. Antony to depart ordered; soon he with the arm, with the wound
as soon as possible coalescing, from all healthy
was astonished. Another for months altogether ten labored
with most frequent & nearly perpetual fainting of spirits,
which both the power of speaking had removed,
& to faints of soul not rare subject had made. frequent fainting, This one
when Bernardus's prayers he had begged; asks the Father, whether
of physicians experienced he was the art. To whom he: indeed
himself of pharmacies & physicians used, with great indeed
expenses, with no however benefit. Then
Bernardus; grave melancholy, What, said he, the chief physicians could not,
God can; & at the same time the heart of the sick with thumb signs;
to S. Antony to depart, & in Bernardus's own name,
of heart & head the salvation to ask orders.
Obeyed the sick: & quickly to the inveterate & twin
evil remedy he found. A woman also, from black
bile abundance, near delirium was distant: persuaded to this one
Bernardus to S. Antony herself to confer. She, nothing
delaying, the Saint approached; & immediately, with shaken in
head of melancholy mists, healthy departed.
[44] What more? Hardly any is of diseases kind,
which by this celestial physician's help & his prayers
he did not put to flight Bernardus. The lame either
by the sole name of D. Antony, or by modest touch rightly
to walk, & others of every kind of diseases: & on plants equal to walk made. Others
of limbs mutilated or by cardiac disease oppressed,
or for the fifth already month with blindness afflicted; others
finally either by shaking fever shaken, or by black
bile intemperance to madness nearly reduced, of long-lasting
these evils he freed. What? that even with a little flower,
to the right knee of the Saint applied, eyes already
by physicians deplored he restored; the fever, with given to
be eaten what of S. Antony he called fruit,
quickly drove away; the most bitter teeth's pains, of the same
Divine's image, not like a poultice imposed,
but only as a gift given, immediately extinguished;
of a poor woman a little gold, by evil arts taken,
with poured to the Saint prayers thus to be returned he made, that
in the very Patavinian Guardian's altar, what Bernardus had asked,
as from the Divine handed over, joyful she found: which
all by sworn witnesses are legitimately confirmed.
[45] Beyond others moreover pleasant is, what follows.
At Catania by Superiors' order, with the supporting
S. Agatha's Sodales, he had withdrawn into a place, one
not more league from the city distant, to the Sicilian sea's
shores especially pleasant, & a customary eels'
station; to those fishing & eels desiring, that with perpetual studies & preaching
labor wearied, of soul & body strengths he might restore.
There, the sacred thing in custom performed, while companions
through all the shore scattered to catching fish gave work;
he himself by prayer study carried away, customary
Church's task from book religiously paid: at length
indeed to his own returning, how happy was the fishing,
asks. To whom they, fishes indeed extracted
well many, eel however not even one.
So with the hook which first had come seized, & into
the sea cast; Come, said he, blessed mine of Padua,
from the deep sea's bosom an eel for me bring forth.
Hardly had he finished, when hooked he draws out, a most great one he catches with the Saint invoked. but
small. Laughed at this Bernardus; &, What this, O my
Saint? said he: a little fish is what thou givest, not a fish.
So shall be thy munificence, & of blessed hands
worthy either prey, or gift? I return: & because this
is not sufficient for all, a larger that thou bestow remissively
I beseech: & with the word the fish & hook into
waves again he casts. Nor longer was the deed. As if
at nod he had ready of the Numen & Heavenly
clemency, an extracted of unusual magnitude eel
his companions cheered: which yet, when in mensae
set was, he himself, by celestial allured delights, as
other earthly all things, fastidiously contemned, nor
touched; & with tears abundantly poured, in the old custom,
of food nearly nothing through that day took, among
feasts fasting.
[46] Plain is, Antony of Padua for things either
by theft or chance lost, to the master to be restored, Asked the Saint to pray for lost things, by
God destined: but also plain was, P. Bernardus
with this Heavenly especially to be gracious:
whence familiar was to most of this matter cause
to Bernardus, & to him to his Antony to flee,
& by vows to be bound. Now forty days had elapsed,
from which someone a mule, I know not by what case
lost, in vain sought, only by miracle to be found:
Bernardus yet he approached, that his he might obtain
prayers, what to be done by the Supernal he believed:
nor in his hope was deceived. He held by chance a clove
in hands: so he gave to the man in commands;
let him go, & in his name this flower to S. Antony
in the sacred to him church to offer; certain, the blessed Youth,
who in delights had little flowers, the offered
with the flower prayers with prone ears to receive. He
indeed the commands did; but with idle outcome: makes that the mule long sought be brought back; & therefore
again, after some days elapsed, to the Father he presented himself, kindly
complaining, prayers in vain to have fallen. At length
when the Father the same had ordered, & that one obedient to the word
Antony's help again suppliant had implored; behold to thee,
under dawn of the following day, knock at the doors two of family
Franciscan sons; & one indeed, on the mule
long sought sitting, by nod signifies, let the master descend,
& his receive jumentum. But hardly that one
had descended, when these from sight departed, of such great benefit
memory & admiration in pious client's soul
left.
[47] Mourned also another someone, a thing, in few
precious to himself, to have perished. When therefore counsel taking
cause to Bernardus he had conferred; & to a boy the place of the lost thing he indicates, he, as he was
with the Divine very familiar, to the son of the same man
ordered, that the Patavinian Saint he should approach, & from himself
piously saluted with highest beseech with prayers, not at all
grievously let him say to the suppliant asking, where in places,
what to the father had perished, to be found may be given; if otherwise he do,
his lamp for well many days oil to lack.
Obeyed diligently the youth, candid & upright,
with counsel in appearance irreligious or rash; &
& hardly entered the house to do the commands, to a man
religious of distinguished form, & with what modesty of face
with what flower of age conspicuous, whom by chance meeting
he had, without ambages he explained, what the other had ordered.
When that one smiling in the Syriac idiom replied,
how & in what place the lost thing to recover
he might. & that in Syriac, which he was ignorant of, language: This youth at the matter's novelty astonished, first
hesitated; then in the place, to him in Syriac indicated, the thing lost
he sought, found; & long doubtful of mind he hung,
what more he wondered; whether himself, in a foreign which
he had never learned tongue skilled, or the matter by doubled
prodigy found? Certainly the man, as he was rude
& of thick memory, the Syriac which from the Divine he had received
words, to P. Bernardinus Riccinus, in languages
skill & life sanctity famous, related; &
these from the Syriac idiom drawn forth to have been he learned.
[48] likewise that he may make return the lost ring: At Catania a muleteer, with mule lost wonderfully anxious,
that he might console; Go, said he, to S. Antony's
altar, & to him two wax candles to be brought light, that
in the Divine's honor they may burn until consumed, & at the same time
so to the Saint from me announce; Thy Bernardus
wishes, that not before this day pass, than that the mule
to me thou bring back. Obeyed with best faith the muleteer, &
of his confidence reward took. Under the very Angelic
Salutation signal, hears at the doors knocking;
& opened the window, the mule by a Franciscan brought,
from joy hardly of himself possessed, admits; about him
who had brought, not solicitous. When yet from sudden
joy himself he collected, to the cenobium of S. Francis
he flew, thanks about to give. But no one was who either of
the Monk or of the mule, about which the muleteer many things asked,
anything had known; especially of that time,
at the second already night's hour. Thence therefore soon to the College
he conferred himself, & Father Bernardus longing
he called out; who nothing wondering, the man taught,
S. Antony's by benefit received the mule; who office
of a faithful friend discharged, him in time had brought back.
[49] To a rustic, who for many days a horse in vain
sought he was bewailing, to another a horse, he foretold it would be that through S. Antony
he should recover. Lapsed thence days not many,
hears the farmer behind the house's gate who was admonishing;
Come on, receive thy own, good man, horse. So
he opens the door, & the horse at third night's hour to the house
led, with bridle & saddle adorned, joyful he saw.
In this nearly manner to another rustic man,
similar help asking, he denounced; Not indeed
the mule, which thou hadst lost, thou shalt find; know yet
its price altogether to thee to be restored; to another he returns the price of lost things. the ring
indeed lost, by thee shortly to be found. Nor
otherwise was done. Soon following day was present, who
for the mule fifty scrutati was counting; another
finally, from whom the ring than opinion sooner he received.
[50] To that point at length our Bernardus's into proved
Antony of Padua's power & piety confidence
grew, that, if to deaf ears his past
to have been prayers he believed, even amicably to complain, &
with sweet first kiss to the sacred image of the same on knees
impressed, Of the Saint wonderfully familiar, gently to be a little angry, & sometime
soft to threaten threats he dared. When at length of vow
bound he obtained what by friendly force he had extorted,
with all gladnesses to walk, to his Saint corollas from
flowers to weave, praises in metrical enclosed numbers
to sing out, the icon to embrace, with kisses to caress,
& in ways all to himself the Patron to oblige much
he longed. And seemed the Divine in pious Father's candor
not moderately to be delighted.
[51] for a horse lost not heard himself thinking, By chance came, that Bernardus a benefit
for a woman from the Saint asked, &, although ignorant,
shortly obtained. A horse was lost, but
by the husband not yet conscious wife found. So
judging the Father his prayers not to have had weight;
S. Francis of Paola's Religious, to the Divine's house
he sends; &, given into hands a little stone; Go, said he,
to S. Antony; & to him say in this manner: Father
Bernardus, O Blessed, says, heart to thee to be this stone harder,
that the benefit so much desired not
thou hast granted: proof of love, the exhibition is of work:
to what so prolix delay, where hastened necessity
help demands? While therefore the little one the commands
is performing, & with imposed on the altar little stone, as had been ordered,
for a while to the next confessional himself
he withdraws; sees from the high altar to come forth a Franciscan
family alumnus, gravely & kindly smiling;
who, Behold thy stone to thee, was saying: with him as if hard he expostulates. return to
the Father, & to him from me announce; nay indeed, himself in
heart a stone to carry around, who so often by experience
taught, not yet to himself has persuaded, the grace
long ago to have been granted. Which when Bernardus received,
suppliant from the Heavenly pardon asked, & of his
confidence accused tardiness. At Rome also, when
the Saint slower was to hearing Bernardus's prayers,
long & much patiently bore of benefit procrastination; & delay he chid.
at length indeed three on paper he wrote
words, of supplicant petition turn to take, Delayed
enough it is. The little paper so on the table left
in the morning he found, in meter charmingly completed, as if a certain
most desirable epiphoneme, Conquered patience,
conquered.
§ VI. From printed Italian of Bernardinus Genovesius & Thomas Vandinus.
[52] Besides hitherto cited writers to hands
mine two others have come (for all to enumerate,
what attempted to do Arthurus of the monastery,
less necessary I think) two, I say to hands
mine have come, & those Italian. From edited year 1606, The first at the beginning of this
century the argument that assumed, & in year MDCVI
printed at Rome dedicated to John Baptista Victorius,
Pope Paul V's nephew, Bernardinus Genovesius
of Trapani, of the third Order of S. Francis professor.
The other Thomas Vandinus, of Bologna, of the Order of Minors
Conventual; whose lucubration, & 1647, at Rome
printed I know not what year, reprinted we have at Macerata
in Picenum, under the note of year MDCXLVII, From both
moreover it pleases to excerpt & Latin to make more illustrious
some, hitherto not commemorated.
[53] At Castagnaro, of the Vicenza dominion a town, a man
by name John, a certain tower he had. To
this when had come some necromancers, &
they had detected, & had departed; a certain servant of that
Noble entered the same house, saw in it
many animals, flying & terrestrial, of terrible
form; & among them three horses of enormous magnitude
& horned, & fire with whole body breathing;
& on them riders of terrible plainly appearance as many
& gigantic, with faces to horses' rumps
turned, who staves in hands carried. Astonished
at these things the youth to flee thence wished, & thence mute & blind, is cured: & himself with the Cross
to sign; but neither could do: wherefore
to the Deipara Virgin & B. Antony, what with voice he could not,
with heart himself commended: but immediately worst
held blind & mute himself he felt. Thence flowed
to him days some, after which in a vision to him appeared
S. Antony with a Cross in hand exceedingly splendid,
& said; Come, son, trust in God's goodness. Awakened
the man, with signs which he could asked his domestics,
that himself to Padua they bring to S. Antony:
in whose house soon when brought, sight
& speech he received, & home returned, to God &
the Saint giving thanks. The same relates Vandinius, &
notes year MCCLXXVIII, in which the matter happened.
[54] A rabid & possessed woman At Ferrara a certain woman so direly was tortured
by a demon, that the whole city with terror she filled:
for whomever she could seize, with hands,
feet, teeth most badly punished, with injuries
& curses all receiving, & with these calumnies
most grave mixing, & in ways altogether unspeakable & foul
her body throwing: nay & house to inflame
she attempted. Had she uncles two,
who with the brother dead the niece to themselves had received, care
of her to take: by those intemperances to weariness led,
when other remedy none they found, of a dog
like with strong chain bound they thrust into
some corner of the house, that not to anyone to hurt
she could. The mother indeed, of the daughter the lot grieving, to the celestial
physician turned herself; & to help to call
began the Deipara Virgin, & whatever in mind
came Saints, & specially B. Antony:
& thence, as if certain of help to be obtained, persevered
insisting in prayers, fasts, & alms;
until appearing to her the Saint; Rise, said he,
woman: healed is for thy daughter. Went therefore
with great faith there where the daughter was held, & found
such as she hoped: & falling on knees,
to the Lord & his Saint, for the benefit so prompt,
gave thanks: at the mother's prayers to sane sense is restored: nor with these content, with great
voices that to announce began, so that not only the whole family
admiration & gladness but the whole soon
city filled, which in throngs ran to
that house, with their own eyes to see so great
& friends, brought to Padua the girl now sane:
& among other offerings there made, the chain
with which the daughter had been bound, in eternal of the matter memory
in the chapel hung,
[55] likewise another by her husband brought, A few days after these, a certain called Sophia,
from the March of Treviso, wife of John of Castelfranco,
years already ten possessed, to Padua
was brought by her husband, devoutly hoping, that
on the day of the same Saint's feast to be freed was his wife
from the importunate guest. And truly such she seemed to him soon
, because quietly entered the church she had advanced
to the ark to be kissed; wherefore to prepare the return
he began. Hardly to the way they had given themselves, when to roar
the woman, & face as before to twist horribly:
wherefore both her husband as kinsmen,
recognizing the evil's gravity, immediately returned whence
they had come. But she struggled with all efforts lest
into the church she be dragged: nor better counsel
was found, than that with ropes strongly bound
to a seat, there they would bring, in vain crying out & resisting.
When moreover thus her to the threshold even of the church
they had brought, with broken seat & ropes all
burst, to the contact of the sepulcher. began she in foul manner to twist
her face, & with monstrous gape mouth to open, & with whole
throat to swell horrendously. Hence much labor &
sweat was to her bound holding many,
nor except through highest trouble & fatigue
of the same drawn there she was, that the Saint's sepulcher
with head & hands she touched: which done subsided
the fury, & returned to mouth & body the customary form, together
with sane mind: with which she soon thrown into
knees; O saint Antony, said she, saint Antony,
mercy. Then with done to God & him thanks, exulting
returned with her retinue; & the seat, as
it was, broken left, in memory of so great a miracle.
And these may suffice from Genovesius to have proposed:
more suggests Vandinius, from which the following
few we select.
[56] At Rome it happened, that of a certain citizen a slave
took flight: which when he long in vain had sought,
to the Convent of Ara-caeli he conferred himself, &
the Friars asked that his of him recovering desire
to God & the Saint they commend. A few, after
days returning the servant, The fugitive slave is brought back, the master in the very house's door
meeting he had; & by him asked, whence &
how he was returning; he answered; into Lombardy
even brought himself, met a certain Friar, threatening,
that unless he returned to his master
him there to kill he was; but otherwise, him himself not to dismiss,
until safe he had brought back. Believed the patron
his indubitably, the return's author to have been
S. Antony of Padua: this yet that he might know
more certainly, asked from the servant, by appearing to him Saint: whether that Friar
if he saw he was about to recognize. He moreover affirming,
that excellently; led the man to the church of Ara-caeli:
where soon as they entered the chapel, with seen the Saint's
image, of his own accord said the fugitive, Behold the effigy
of him who return me compelled: at which wondering the Guardian
& Friars, the matter's memory in writing committed. At Setubal
in Portugal, to a fisherman a certain Saint's
devout, loose at night was a little boat his own, & into the sea
by the impulse of waters drawn: which he in the morning seeking
& not finding, & not knowing where to seek, likewise a boat from the river taken away. to his Patron
he commended. Two days after of the same place
an inhabitant certain, to Coimbra going, & from journey
turning aside to a town certain maritime,
three leagues from Setubal distant; heard youths
some mutually colloquying, & openly narrating
how on the previous day seen there had been a little boat, with adverse
wind & sea stormy along that shore
to advance, in which alone one seemed Friar Minor,
& he steering: & at the same time & the place they indicated,
where they had seen it: where coming they found
on the sand cast, & by the sea given back they brought back to Setubal.
[57] In the convent of Perpignan of S. Francis are narrated
miracles following two, The innocent from capital punishment is snatched; before others there celebrated.
The town governed a man learned & devoted
to the Saint, who I know not of what crime accused
falsely before the King of Aragon, ordered was to be beheaded.
He his innocence with many prayers commended
to Antony; & when now he was being led to the place
of punishment, appeared in the air S. Antony, & with hand
taken up snatched from the ministers of justice, & to a certain
his chapel led. The matter to the whole observed people,
& through expedited messenger to the King brought, easily
to him persuaded his minister's faithful innocence, that him
immediately from infamy he might free. The very moreover miracle
in the same chapel painted is seen, under the note
of year MCCCCXXIX, & in the city's Annals inscribed
is read. In the same chapel also the following case
happened. A Valencian noble's servant had fled,
& toward France had seized journey, certain himself there, The fugitive slave is stopped at Perpignan.
because Christian he was, free to be. Followed
meanwhile the fugitive his master, & wherever
he passed place took care a Mass one to be said in honor
of S. Antony, journey his to him commending: when
moreover to Perpignan he came, which is of the Spanish
Aragon cities toward France last, &
him to the end into the church of S. Francis, & chapel,
of S. Antony was entered; his slave
there he found; confessing, two days himself entirely there by force detained
by that Friar, & the Saint's image on the altar imposed
he indicated: about which matter asked soon
public instrument, there is preserved.
[58] In year MDCXVII on day XXIV May, a fortuitous
fire seized a great abundance of nitrate powder, within
Mallium is named, in the gardens of the Fatuorum. Huge
was not only its, but also of neighboring
houses ruin, under which not fewer than
fifty persons life lost, At Padua under houses' ruin safe were found hurt by far
more. Among the others whom that ruin either oppressed
or involved, was sought Francis Antony,
of Bernardinus Fursanus & Petrina de Montesilice
son, of three years a little boy, beneath a heap
of stones high above six cubits hiding
for hours about two; whence taken up, & to have died
believed, brought his father, to the steps of his altar
over which the Saint's body rests: & by the mediation
of the father's faith & prayers, alive was brought home.
The same happened under the same ruins of the caught Marietta,
three-year-old daughter of D. Anna Taliapetra, a boy & girl three years old. believed
similarly by all dead. Both moreover
is established from the Process, at Padua formed before the most illustrious
& most Reverend D. Paulus Gualdi, Noble
Vicentian, Archpresbyter & Vicar General of the church
Cathedral; D. Aloysius Ponte, Primicerius
of Padua; the very R. P. M. Paulus Sansoni, Inquisitor
of Padua; & the most Excellent D. John Casparus Zumella,
Fiscal Advocate, under the day last of May
aforesaid.
[59] In Catalonia's city Gerona, a girl
was ten years or twelve, of the poor mother
poorer daughter, because with hands & feet seized,
not only nothing of work to do by herself she could, but
nor food to mouth to put. Another for ten years, in hands & feet seized, On a certain day in other
occupied the mother, when unfed she had left wretched
her until evening, & this about her
forgetfulness was complaining; Would, said the mother of weariness
full, it would please God hence quickly thee to take into
His paradise, nor further I should to thee serving
labor, to whom no hitherto remedies profit.
Afflicted that mother's voice the girl beyond measure,
so that not even at the very evening to be refreshed she wished; & remained
the whole night uneaten, with appearing SS. Francis & Antony, until in
the church of S. Francis would be given a signal to Matins.
Then moreover, recollected of the huge miracles
of S. Francis, within herself she said: If true are, O S. Francis,
what are narrated of thee, will experience also I the power
of thine, in this so grave my infirmity;
& me & my mother free from so great weariness.
Behold moreover appeared to her S. Francis, &
S. Antony, of whom this one the feet, that one the hands of the lying
took, & raised up on the ground placed, &
healthy dismissed. With them departing asked
Francis the girl; Lord, who art thou, who to me
& my mother hast made so singular a grace? Replying
moreover, that one himself to be whom so devoutly she had invoked,
rise now healthy ordered & disappeared.
She indeed wondering & exulting, called out
her mother, with neighbors some her before
doors speaking: who when so loud daughter's voice
heard, immediately with companions running to her,
wondered healthy entirely to see; suddenly is consolidated: & manner asking,
to narrate made, how S. Francis
she had invoked, & appearing to her Friars two her healed.
The Bishop of the place, the matter understood & examined,
the girl with much retinue to be led to the church
of S. Francis, where she seeing his image;
This is, said she, he who me freed from the danger
of death, & healthy rendered.
[60] the plague at Florence is calmed. Further how to no wretched it is vain help
of S. Antony to invoke, no other more certain witness
can be than the Paduan city, of his miracles
nearly innumerable conscious. But also the Florentine
city, no less to the same obligated as devoted,
vehemently augmented, on account of very many in plague
time from present death's danger snatched by S. Antony,
to whose hence chapel, in the church of the Conventuals
of holy Cross, daily are brought
anathemata of every kind, & Masses to be procured
are asked. But why am I silent the Spoletan city,
where canonized Antony was? & where the feast
of him, with the same with which the most solemn whatever rite,
is celebrated? Naples indeed Patron the same
Saint chose, fabricated of the same a silver statue,
& in the chapel of her Protectors placed,
on account of distinguished which there has wrought miracles,
& which quickly as I hope canonically approved will come forth
into light.
[61] So much moreover there grew the people's toward
the Saint devotion, that in year MDCXXXIII, At Naples Patron is elected the Saint, in the church
of the Conventuals S. Lawrence called, under his
invocation was instituted a Confraternity, in number
more than three thousand, inscribed having
several princes & nobles of both sex; which
most solemnly & with greatest apparatus this public
had beginning, on Sunday second of September
before the most Eminent Cardinal Archbishop,
Viceroy & Nobility universal, concourse
of people attracting the magnitude of Indulgences for that
end from Rome obtained. Will be given also soon
beginning to new in the same church chapel, at fifty
thousand of scudi, as they say, going to stand.
Will rejoice moreover the Brothers & Sisters by participation
of all good works, & fraternity of his is instituted in year 1633. sacrifices
& prayers of our Order: & if among them
are found poor sick, will be provided to them
of physicians & medicines, & also in case of death
of funeral expenses, & moreover of subsidy
of fifty Masses for whatever so dying.
These things Vandinius.
§. VII. More recent miracles from year 1666 in Italian collected, & printed 1687.
[62] The collector of miracles anonymous Most recent among Italians, who to me has come to my notice
& to our hands has come, an Anonymous
Conventual is, of whose wishing to hide labor, under
the auspices of the most famous of the Venetian then in the Peloponnese
recovered forces, afterwards also of the Republic the whole
most Serene Duke Francis Morosini, in year MDCLXXXVII,
into light sent forth Fr. Joseph Pasqueti, Minister
Provincial & Commissary General of the same
Conventuals in the Province of Aemilia, by the Saint himself
to be surnamed accustomed. The author (whom now I understand
himself to be P. Joseph) in the first to the Reader
admonition, with enumerated six Italians, piously & eruditely
in the same argument with memory more recent versed; The others,
says he, from every nation many distinctly
alleges P. Sanctius Bordegati, from the Order of Minors
Observants: but no one was who (omitting the Life)
to alone miracles to be collected in this century gave himself,
before the Knight Pona of Verona. He to that pious
work & not less fruitful beginning gave; alleges others up to year 1666: but did not
advance beyond miracles which living had wrought the Saint
& those few, since speech is of a little book which under
the title of the Saint of Padua to be printed he caused in year MDCLI.
[63] A follower Pona had of his Order a Religious
writer up to year MDCLXVI: explains whence he received his. &
to him from mandate of the Lords Presidents of the venerable
ark succeeding I, those to the present even
year MDCLXXXVI bring down; some excerpting
from facund & diffuse paraphrase. P. Maggi Conventual
of Milan on the Responsory of the same
Saint; others I had from P. Clement Bellabona, similarly
Conventual, with the help of P. M. Joseph Bondola
of Naples, of Theology Rector in the Academy
& College of Padua, the rest from printed papers
flying, at Venice, Naples, Verona, & elsewhere
sent, & also from noted by P. Felix Caprioli,
Curator of Masses in the aforesaid church to be said;
who yet professes hardly the least
part of graces, daily from the Saint flowing forth,
& votive anathemata & Masses & tablets
painted somehow recognized, to have been able to receive
in writing; on this account that very many themselves subtract from the cognition
of the Custodian of the sacred ark, or among divine Offices
approaching with vow paid silent depart. How
infinite yet of benefits the number is, by pious
faithful received, will be able from this brief of years
twenty eclogue to be understood, in which style followed
clear & simple, with what sincerity I could
& brevity I have used; not observed always
the order of times: & by the same reason I intend to proceed,
if God shall give life, to the greater of him & of the same
Saint glory. These & other things prefaced the Author,
to the matter undertaken proceeds: I neglected
by him of time order I preferred by interpreting
to introduce.
[64] The innocent from the jealous husband is saved, In year MDCLXVI in November month, at Viterbo
his wife with him having of infidelity condemned,
returning from Mass at home awaited, with drawn
into the killing of the innocent sword. She at the same time the stroke
about to pierce herself of the iron in chest received, at the same time S. Antony
invoked, & it as if into bronze cuirass struck
itself curved into a bow, & so stiffened. with bent into bow sword: At this
miracle the man moved, & divinely illustrated, pardon
from his wife with bent knees asked of the crime, against
the innocent attempted; the sword moreover, in the same state
remaining, to the Saint's altar hung venerating,
where by all is seen, of perennial
prodigy so great witness. There & in the same year, but
in December month, a girl certain to the Saint devoted, freed
from grave with which she was held infirmity, the girl with neglected vow into disease falls back. of gray color
garment from vow put on; soon yet as to stand
for her health she felt, that thrown off, of prior
luxury & customary use's habit she resumed: but in the night
following returned to her the fever, & she from another cause opening
the chest, in which deposited her former tunics she had enclosed,
all into ashes reduced she found; & the fault acknowledging,
it from the Saint to her to be forgiven asked, & the ash-colored
resumed, & well thereafter prospered.
[65] In year MDCLXVIII in November month, of the Paduan
merchant & wealthy wife, A Paduan possessed at the ark is freed, by a demon
invaded, year already fourth was tortured
by that cruel possessor. In vain had been applied
over her by Presbyters exorcisms however many: but
when to the church & thence to the altar of S. Antony brought
was, first indeed on the ground herself prostrated,
horridly howling & all present terrifying,
then erected by herself toward the ark venerating
proceeds, the rails opens, under it
herself places, & there quiet remains, until is completed
what for her was being done Mass: thence moreover with joyful plainly
face returned, asked from the bystanders, where
was that little Friar, by whom she had been to the ark
led. Him indeed although had seen no one, no one yet
did not exclaim, O Saint Antony, this is thy
miracle. Likewise another at Bologna, At Bologna in year MDCLXIX in May
month, a noble matron Francisca Conti, for two years
by an infernal spirit possessed, & in vain several Exorcists
experienced, vow vowed to the Saint thaumaturge;
And when him often had invoked, in the night of day XXVIII
month aforesaid, in dreams appeared the Saint; &
with hair seized into her mouth seemed to impose
the image of the Deipara, & to bring forth certain words,
not enough by her understood: at which gone out serpents
various, by their sight terrified left; whence
awakened she, & herself freed feeling, with bare
feet came with her husband to Padua, her own from vow
to pay, & grace received to declare.
[66] At Burano, of the Venetian city neighbor town,
in the same year in November month, Hieronymus son
of John Amadeus & Saint his wife, a boy thirteen, is cured the leg of the boy by gangrene eaten,
when for some time had borne the right leg by erysipelas
eaten, the disease into gangrene passed, which
the whole leg so corroded, that many of the very bone fragments
through the wound were brought out: wherefore it seemed, that
altogether to be cut off. This when the sick understood,
with seized his holy Patron's image, to kiss
it began; & with great confidence to vow,
that if without surgeon's work he should recover, the whole
life going to wear habit ash-colored he would be. & therefore to be cut off: Hardly to that himself
he had bound, when to return to him former vigor
he feels, the leg inspects, entire he finds, rises
from bed, walks through the chamber, & finally
to Padua came a leg of wax to offer, & what he had vowed
to fulfill proceeded. In the same year & month
from Mestre to Venice were sailing some Religious
& Trevisan citizens; shipwreck to suffer they are saved: when neighbors of the island of S. Secundus
hands the oar struck off. Was tossed by winds & waves
the little boat, nor anything else than death they awaited
all. But with invoked the Saint's help, in
city canal, where the miracle they published, with hung
to the Saint's altar what they had promised anathema.
[67] Of homicide the guilty, & to the gallows condemned, At Ravacini, which of the Lords Marquises
of Rangone of Modena fief is, in the same year
& month, Stephen Baronocini of Imola present
was at homicide by his master perpetrated;
& this escaped seized himself; [& the crime among
tortures confessed], was condemned to death [at Ravicini
to be undergone]. He languished therefore in the most obscure prison:
but the Saint's help fervently imploring, [vowed as long as
he should live, the Vigil of the Saint & every Tuesday
with fast to keep, & in ash-colored habit to approach the sepulcher,
& that with begged through journey food: then]
through a vision to himself to be said heard; Proceed further, Stephen,
to commend thyself to me: for thou shalt not die.
So joyful announcement animated, the capital sentence
secure received, & said to his Confessor, himself death
not to fear, on account of the Saint's promises. Hence
led out into the place, where to be fed are wont those who with extreme punishment
are to be affected, on the very Antony's holy Vigil, the Church's
Sacraments indeed religiously received, but of food
& drink nothing to admit wished, accustomed that day
fasting to pass. Then on the very feast handed to the executioner,
& proceeding to the destined for punishment place was kissing
his Advocate's image, [from the place's governor
D. Mandenus to him offered]; but devoted to Antony, is freed from death. & confidently was saying
that he would not die: which also he was repeating, with neck
double] noose [thin one, thicker the other,inserting the executioner. Nor him his confidence deceived: when
indeed about to be cast down from the ladder he was, was heard in the air a crackling
certain, of bursting ropes, [to the executioner alone
not observed: so cast down] he is, [prone
indeed on face, but no part hurt, & only
with light bruise under the left eye marked. So
the guilty, into the ground fallen, raised on feet, to cry
began, & others to cry out made, Long live S.
Antony. Moved this matter our Religious of Modena,
that rigid examination above to be instituted
they took care: which done, when approved by the Archbishop
the miracle was, hung at the Saint's altar
Stephen the noose with which he had been to be strangled,
& into the Order of his under lay profession to be admitted
asked & obtained. The same miracle, with circumstances
those which in brackets [ ] I have enclosed, narrates Rusconius
page 107, & from him the Flemish Epitomes author,
of two below to be produced the prior, in year 1676 edited,
& adding, Stephen then still to live.
[68] In Dalmatia, in November month of year MDCLX,
when the Cretan war between Venetians & Turks
was raging, A captive with the Turks is loosed from chains, an Albanian certain soldier, who into Turkish
had come servitude, & for many years had borne
the cruel insolence of the barbarians, runs back
with whole heart to S. Antony's help to implore, & him
soon to himself conspicuous he had: who with broken his chains
flight commanded. Mandate executed he, without
delay to Padua came; & in received grace's testimony,
the iron as it was broken hung. with swollen enormously eyes In the same
month, but year MDCLXXIV, at Florence happened,
that Francis Maria Ricci, of a butcher certain
son, sight lost, still within infant years
placed, with eyes so swelling, that of gold
apples magnitude they equaled. To human
remedies despaired to the celestial parents ran back;
& a Religious certain to the little boy applied
of him plucked, & with oil of lamp the parts hurt anointing.
Behold moreover in the night following was heard
the little one to exclaim; Is present S. Antony, is present S.
Antony. Run awakened the parents, & the little son
with all removed tumor to sight former restored
they find. likewise this with arm incurable. In the same time of Francesca, daughter
of Peter Brendanus & Elisabeth Borghi of Barberini,
nothing had profited curing the right arm remedies,
for eighteen days applied. Therefore to Florence
herself with her mother conferred, & there in the church
of holy Cross, before exposed there S. Antony's effigy,
vowed, that for whole year ash-colored she would be clothed,
& immediately Mass to be said she would procure. Hardly moreover
the vow she had pronounced, & in the arm, of which all
sense she had lost, this to return with strengths felt;
& moving it in part all, seemed
to herself by the Saint to be guided; & so fully healed thanks
rendered.
[69] At Naples, in year & month aforesaid, bought
as slave a man African, to a Knight certain served;
who occasion taking great silver stealthily to bear off,
together with another servant flight seized, & embarked
on a ship to Sicily to seek began. The fugitive with stolen slave, To the shore
now near caught a tempest: which the flight's companion
cast into the sea, & under waves buried.
The same to himself fearing the Moor, unexpectedly felt himself
by hair by Antony seized, saying, Restore
what thou hast stolen, otherwise thou shalt die. This said
led back him the Saint to the port of Naples,
where was the master his: is brought back to the master: who Masses some
for the Saint procured, there sought indication some
of his fugitive. So prostrated on knees the slave, pardon
from offended master asked, & easily obtained,
with exposed what he had received, & fulfilled of restoring
silver mandate. The same, body together with soul
gained, is saved a fallen from on high boy, of the faithful number through baptism aggregated.
There at the same time, a noble matron,
at the window standing, from the very high palace's portico falling
saw her little son: & Antony
invoking, beheld to stand erect on feet without
any injury.
[70] & girls two. Plainly similar to this is, what in year MDCLXXI
in November month had happened at Padua to a girl certain;
who from sublime fallen headlong, upon ground with living rock
strewn, whence broken whole to be raised believed;
healthy arose, as if on soft feathers she had fallen.
In the following year, six days before the feast
of the Saint, another girl of seven years, at Rome had fallen
from the highest house of her parents: the case
moreover of dashed to ground body so grave was, hurt
vehemently in head, that more than an hour she remained
of sense & motion devoid, & therefore for dead was mourned,
so much more bitterly that she was to her parents
only. The father, as he was most devoted to the Saint, with knees
on the ground placed, began his Responsory to recite;
& recollecting of a little image, which in a little book
of prayers placed he had, it to his daughter's mouth applied:
who soon, as if from a deep aroused lethargy,
rose on feet; into her parents' embrace rushed;
& these, suffused with sudden joy's tears, with nearly half
the city accompanying, hastened to the church
of the Apostles, which of the Conventuals in the City is;
where their vows offered, & then in writing handed
the miracle was.
[71] In the same year MDCLXXII, in November month,
stolen from someone at Venice had been some furniture
of silver: Of theft undeservedly suspected & the theft was attributed to
would be deposited preserved. He of all ignorant into the house
of the Noble neighbor was summoned, & was being compelled
to render of them, what he did not know, account: nor profited
with words & oath to attest ignorance, but
more savage the Noble with struck on the head of the man often
stick, him with the last stroke broke open;
then with drawn sword, nothing moved by the tears of the innocent
before himself kneeling, the stroke he was wielding; when
he exclaimed, S. Antony, help me; & suddenly
felt that fierce one by invisible hand only himself to be drawn back
entirely, as much as was necessary, that in vain fell
the stroke brought, not once, but a third time. often from death, Nothing yet
by it milder made the other, but his own himself rebuking
cowardice, to servants ordered that the merchant,
with hard ropes bound, be thrust into a chamber
some, afterwards to be handed over to the judge, easily (as he believed)
going to extort confession of the crime, never
by him perpetrated. But who knows not, that there are not
strengths nor human counsel against the Lord? then & from chains through the Saint is loosed.
Consternated by threats & lifeless by injuries,
of strengths is left the innocent, & in the very deficit
conspicuous to himself he had the Deipara with S. Antony; by
whom sweetly comforted, & from chains loosed
was: he indeed the Noble, to saner returned mind,
& with the strokes inflicted calumny penitent,
humbly asked the man that to him he would forgive,
dismissed free: who immediately to the sacred urn
at Padua came, votive anathema with thanks
action hanging up.
[72] At Cracow, of the Polish kingdom metropolis, in year
& month aforesaid, to prison was committed
on account of certain crime's indications hard subjected
to questioning: to which unequal he, rather than multiplied
deaths to experience, brief one chose,
with confession not of true crime once to be incurred.
Pronounced therefore on him sentence, all he was in disposing
of happy exit to better life, The false crime confessed in torture, making
many alms to be distributed to the poor, &
at the altar of glorious of Padua several Masses to be procured
establishing. When behold, on the very which the funereal day
preceded night, with chains loosed himself to the judge presents, & is freed: in prison to him appeared
the Saint, & with stocks & chains broken opened
the doors, & said: Go with these chains to the judges,
& say, that S. Antony of Padua in
this manner thee sends to them, that they retract the sentence.
Obeyed the man, & faith to the judges made
of his innocence; whence with whole city the Saint's
glory celebrated, at whose there altar hung up
are seen the aforesaid chains with manacles,
just as thence testified the Conventuals
there Friars. Likewise another from robbers despoiled, In the same again year & month, a Vicentian
citizen, Francis Vilegus, business of his
cause having gone outside the city, fell upon
robbers four, who all which he was carrying money
& very clothes him despoiled. Hence he
most afflicted, by the name of S. Antony to entreat them
began, that his at least garments they would return; they
indeed even the money restored, with heard venerable
name moved.
[73] A Presbyter of Spain paralytic, In the same year, but in April month, appeared
at Padua, from the kingdom of Castile brought a Presbyter,
affirming, that with dire of many years paralysis
to all use of limbs incapable, much at length
with confidence the saint had invoked the Thaumaturge:
& when this several times had done, him to himself at night
to have appeared in dreams, & to have said; To Padua go:
there thou shalt be heard. Obeyed he, & to the ark
of the sacred body brought, first by Confession expiated
his soul, then most holy Eucharist received
from the hand of a Religious one our. P. M. Antony
Coxialis of Padua: afterwards, with all wondering
, fell prostrate over the steps of the altar. There
he for some time immobile remained, At Padua at the ark receives use of limbs. then through himself
rose on feet, & walking through the church was blessing
God & his Saint, for so evident in
himself wrought miracle. About which when the most Reverend
Inquisitor legitimately proceeded, the Presbyter deposed
the benefit having obtained, that having received the Most Holy
he saw from the ark to proceed as a flame
burning, which stroke in face thus prostrated; to have felt
moreover himself, in the very fall, that all of limbs
junctures were dissolved from the prior connection, & himself
in a moment healed from long-lasting that & incurable
infirmity.
[74] Antony Loquabus, in year MDCLXXIX in November
month, From high leaping, lest to prison he be shut, in the territory of Bari shut in a chamber
of a certain palace, by deep river surrounded,
when he feared to prison unjust to be committed, the Saint
invoked; & from the portico, palms seventeen high,
leaped, without any injury; & found at the river's
bank a little boat, into its deep bed himself
committed. When moreover to the rapidity of the flow of that he could not
resist, into the very he cast himself, with hands firmly
clinging to the little boat. Was borne this where it was impelled
by waters, & he again S. Antony invoked,
& himself felt from the water lifted to be placed back into
the boat. In the same moment a hunter certain on the bank
appeared, through the rapid river safe escapes. who animus to the wretched adding, was striving
him with extended of willow branch to help. But it grasped,
while he strives the boat to the bank to land, himself
again into the water rolls; & the Saint
invoking, so close to the bank he reached, that the aforesaid
hunter to snatch him thence could: whence to Naples
landing, immediately to the church of Minors himself
conferred, & thanks to his benefactor gave.
§. VIII. Pursuit of similar graces from year 1680, 1, 2 & 3, at Naples obtained.
[75] In the very Neapolitan city happened in November month,
of year MDCLXXX, a mother certain, Is saved a boy from high fallen, who
thing for cause him to put down on the threshold of a window well
high. She while elsewhere occupied, & herself to the little one
turned, saw him from the window to fall: & crying out,
S. Antony, S. Antony, looked out from the window,
whence saw erect on feet without injury
any, similarly to cry out, S. Antony. & by a chariot to be crushed, While moreover
so he was crying out, there with poured horses' course drawn
necessary was him by hooves of those to be crushed: but
the boy with hand sign to the horses made, who in a moment stopped
as statues; with all, who were standing by
& were seeing, wondering & praise to God's servant
giving.
[76] With the Saint invoked the tempest ceases: From Calabria to Naples was being borne a ship, in the same
year & month, laden with silk: which when
had seized so grave a tempest, that the sailors
resisting unequal, now themselves by waves to be swallowed
believed; of them one of their Patron remembered;
Nothing else to us remains, said he, than that recurring
to S. Antony, the ship we commit to winds'
judgment, & meanwhile some prayer let us say
in the Saint's honor. With this finished they saw at
the stern a Franciscan Religious, who said; Do not
fear, but the ship to its course allow; I to you
will be present; & with that said disappeared, twins in birth dead are raised, & to the sailors animus
returned, & tranquility to the sea. They indeed, soon
as to Naples landed, first care was to the savior
Saint thanks to render. There in the same year, after
most atrocious of two days' tortures & wailings, the parturient
woman twins had borne, but dead: which
when she had seen, eyes & hands to heaven turned; &,
One at least, said she, O S. Antony, alive to me
grant. In the evening moreover when coming the Parish-priest,
their burial to take care, customary for such
prayers had recited, both began to breathe,
& even now through the Saint's merits healthy & robust live.
[77] In the year aforesaid & November month, day
stood with a little among arms son,
when entered there his enemy, with 20 wounds pierced is saved, him with dagger
struck twenty times pierced; he himself to protect not
able, while of his beloved little son he was caring. Runs at
the noise the wife, & the husband his own she saw swimming in
blood: then S. Antony's implored help,
& his Responsory printed from the neighbors
received, these suddenly cured. it with the sign of the Cross to one of the wounds
imposed, & suddenly closed she wondered. Thence in order,
to the others in similar manner to be cured she proceeded
was; until with all healed on feet the man, now
entire & healthy entirely, rose, as if no part
hurt had been, & to thanks to the Saint to give went.
[78] In year MDCLXXXI, a Noble certain Neapolitan
was, Joseph Caesar called, Is stopped of straw heap dangerous fire, & wont yearly
to the Convent of S. Lawrence to give of wine a barrel, This one
from the lands which he had, of Gandi, Marani, & Patria:
& in this last place's courtyard preserved a great heap
of straw, & near it a hayloft, contiguous
to his palace. Into the very straw heap
in October month, after a foul tempest,
fallen lightning it inflamed. To extinguish
the fire when no industry sufficed, recourse to
S. Antony is; & to his ascribed benefit,
that, although frequent sparks were borne to the hayloft, &
into the palace had been brought a great wood abundance,
both yet from fire untouched remained. In the very also
city Neapolitan, is healed burnt within swaddling bands infant. in year aforesaid in December month,
the wife of John Baptist Purpura, drying
cloths, for wrapping tender six month daughter prepared,
incautious fire in them caught, & so in those wrapped
the little one. Could not she otherwise than
by wailing & tears indicate the pain, nor to this calming
sufficed the parents' caresses; until to the woman,
to the Saint devout, came to mind the bands
to loose: which done the infant she saw with bruise covered,
especially around the back. To this moreover to be cured another
did not apply, than oil from Antony's lamp
taken; with which anointed the burns, within few days
were fully healed: which by offered wax attested was
the mother.
[79] There in year MDCLXXXII in November month,
to Charles George, dwelling in the little village of Pietas,
certain ruinous had ascended, Dangerous from high fall of a girl, going to bring back thence
stockings certain there by wind brought, to fail her
feet she felt; & at the same moment headlong rushed,
from a height of palms about eighty. Falling
she had invoked the Saint, to whom then she was doing
into an extant there beam she had struck her head, on the ground
yet placed herself she wondered; no wound bearing,
except a small in head bruise, which itself quickly
healed was. but short of damage. Much before, in March month namely
of the same year, of Judith-Antonia Blanca, from the district
of S. Lucia at the sea, an abscess in head born, of putrid
& fetid matter much great through nostrils
was discharging: who the nine-day aforesaid for that cause
instituting to her holy Patron, felt on second Tuesday
day, Abscess of head cured: to herself from head into mouth to descend of withered flesh
with the abscess ceasing, healthy remained. In month also
November of the same year, when Antony, son
of Januarius Carala, years only four born, a chariot
wished to mount in the retinue of certain little ladies;
with failing footing so unhappily fell, a boy by a chariot to be crushed is saved.
that with moved at the same time wheel itself passed through the forehead
& arm, which it was necessary by such weight
to be crushed, unless called for help S. Antony, the boy
with all wondering unhurt had preserved.
[80] There at Naples, in February month of the year prenoted,
Emmanuel Caravascianus, with most grave infirmity
laboring, Apoplectic to death & by apoplectic stroke deprived
of senses, hours altogether four had lain; when
under midnight saw coming to him a Religious
of our Order, bearing in hand closed
because now I subscribe to the grace to be made to thee; & so
disappeared. Then to his sense restored Emmanuel,
produced Antony's name; & to assisting him
in agony speaking, Now, said he, him I have seen, who
to me said, & by his wife to the Saint commended, that he was subscribing the grace. The following
morning the sick's wife to S. Lawrence with bare feet herself
conferred, going to pray for her husband, for him there
going to procure Masses several with Responsory. Thence returned,
at her home found the physician, wondering
over the bettering so sudden & unexpected of the husband:
at the same time running to the mother three-year-old
son their Antony, with seized her garment all
way her was drawing to the door, going to see, as
he was saying, S. Antony before the doors: nor to acquiesce
he wished, quickly recovers. until she should follow him. Who when to the threshold
had come, & asked, where was the Saint;
Too long delayed thou hast, said the little one: now has gone
he. The sick man moreover from that time with great steps
advanced to full recovery, &
from bed rising, vowed all days of Tuesday in
the Saint's honor to fast, & Confession
& sacred Synaxis to use.
[81] Again at Naples in year MDCLXXXIII, to
Apollonia Bragante, wife of Paul Ronze, [Three times through vision admonished to give a candle to the feast, as she was wont,] who
dwelt at the slope of S. Martin, & yearly was wont
to provide candles for the festivity of S. Antony, came
XI June a beggar of the third Order, for his
of S. Antony in Pausilipus church: but when one
alone at home she had, deny it forced was by fear
of her husband. On the third day after, on the night the feast preceding,
appeared to her the Saint, complaining about the candle
denied: to whom herself excusing Apollonia, to buy
she promised & to send. The same on both sides happened
the following night; & awakened the woman to her husband the vision
narrated: when at length she had obeyed, he moreover ordered, that her
which then alone was at hand, immediately she should send.
Again indeed on the third night appeared the Saint; & much
than before harsher, by the arm of seized her; Grave
indeed to me is, said he, that thou wouldst not the candle
asked send: I want it altogether, & therefore
to thee I have said, myself to be S. Antony. To whom she; I would have sent
indeed, if I had had who would carry. Then the Saint:
Tomorrow morning will come to thee a certain my Religious,
to whom it thou shalt give. On day therefore XVII June came
[82] On the same day of the same Apollonia daughter year-old,
headlong from the highest stairs to the first step
fell; her little daughter unharmed from stairs falls, where her grandfather caught still breathing, & brought
to the mother: who when to her Saint had commended
the little one, opened suddenly eyes, & found
was of injury free. On the next Monday day XX of the month,
the same infant playing on a podium certain, again on the head
fell to the height of two stories;
wherefore the bystanders her believed dead: & again fallen is raised.
sad indeed the mother, & no less full of faith
than of tears, received placed under the image
of the Saint, which she had at her home, praying that her
daughter be restored to her. Hardly the prayer had finished, when
the girl, as from sleep aroused, opened eyes;
& turned to the mother said, Mama. Then of blood
something through mouth & ears to her went out, & she still
nursing, with hand extended toward the image, was seen
to indicate to wish, that he the Saint had been the liberator
her.
[83] There & in the same year, but in March month,
D. Nicholas Grassi, A boy sick to death, President of the royal Chamber which
the Summary they call, by the most Excellent Viceroy
for time deputed into Etruria, procuring
the state of royal there garrisons; Rome he passed through
in return, going to venerate that sacred City's sanctuaries,
with his all retinue. There at the end
of carnival sick to him to death is son
his only, & by physicians given up. On this cause
most afflicted mother, as she was very devoted to the Saint,
when to him suppliant prayers she was pouring, on the very Tuesday day
before Ashes, under the third hour of night, heard
her son, whose name was Philip, to pronounce the name
of S. Antony, And she indeed approached the bed
of the lying, asking what he wished; but the little boy,
with motion of tender hand, far that she withdraw seemed
to admonish, as if a certain his consolation
he impeded. Withdrew therefore, & again heard from
him with voice more strained the name of S. Antony; & when she asked
again, with the Saint seen, what to him meant that S. Antony's appellation,
answered the boy; I saw a little Friar, whose
habit was of color blackish, namely S. Antony,
who in hands held some flowers ruddy
& white, with a book & a little child
upon him sitting, & was this splendid all
like silver. suddenly recovers. More to say he knew not, but more indicated
advancing thence into better health, so that
of March month following on day fourth, found was
all healthy. Brought then to a certain church,
where was an image of the Saint, & turned to his mother;
Such altogether, said he, O lady mother,
was the little Friar, who me healed; & whenever he saw
someone of the Conventuals, His, was saying
habit was that. Returned further Lord
President to Naples, with wife & son, came to
S. Lawrence, going to give thanks to the Saint, & the benefit
to publish.
[84] There, Joseph Persicus, through the maritime from
Petra-piscis called walking, was invaded by
to seize, & now arm his right
held; invoked he S. Antony; & so was done,
that only the underclothing the horn tore, with flesh lightly
only grazed: another then stroke he received in
the left hip, but without damage. Growing worse
yet the peril seeing, into the sea himself cast. Nor
there safe was, for was following also there the ferocious
beast, until by invisible hand drawn back, dismissed
the man, continually invoking the name of the Saint. John
Baptist Florelli, Bituntinus Musician contra-alto,
from a certain rheum lacked for six
months the use of voice; escapes unhurt. seeing moreover in vain to be applied
whatever medicines, turned himself in June month
to the Saint: & through sisters whom at home he had,
made to be instituted a nine-day Tuesday, but without
fruit. On first therefore June, on which fell the day second
of Tuesday aforesaid nine-day; & at S. Lawrence
was being begun a twelve-day devotion toward
the Saint, To a rheumatic Musician use of voice is returned: with fasting & frequenting of Sacraments,
to be drawn out unto his feast;
himself also to the same religious exercise disposed,
with premised Confession & Communion in
the church of S. Lawrence. Thence returned home, took
apothecaries; & on the same day felt to himself to return
the voice, which exercising at the cymbal to be clarified in
hours he felt, until to former state it was restored.
[85] In August month, to Joseph Amendola enormous
in right foot pain came, who with all
applied of physicians & surgeons remedies
was exasperated more, A leg much paining, with great faith turned
himself to the intercession of S. Antony, of whom
at his home he had an image, & took care that before
it the lamp should burn for days continuous thirteen:
on the day moreover thirteenth, of the very lamp's oil he made
to himself foot to be anointed through a young niece, added
some flowers, such as upon the altar of the Saint
are wont by his devotees to be offered: & immediately began to be diminished
the pain: & continued for days a few
unction, all departed; & he going to give to the Saint
thanks, to S. Lawrence came. In the same place, year,
month, Antonia, daughter of Bernardinus Palermus, of years
fourteen a girl, from sublime podium headlong
head struck on an arch certain of stone,
& nearly lifeless to ground came, by oil of lamp is healed. with copious blood
flowing through right ear. In the very moreover
deadly faint seemed to her to see most beautiful
little Friar, who by hair of seized said,
that although by her invoked he was not, with regard yet
of accustomed her toward herself devotion he had striven
for her from this peril to be freed; to be broken her
at the arch was head, unless with his hands him he had lifted.
Was wont she thirteen times to recite Pater & Ave
daily, & with herself to bear an image of the Saint, engraved
on a coin, which then she found somewhat
broken about the loins of the effigy, that might be indicated the Saint
himself impetus of falling in that part to have received:
to which benefit grateful herself wishing to show the girl, without
delay put on the habit of the Saint.
[86] In October month, Antony Ruppolus, an aromatarius
in the city's forum, Lethally wounded in head, very devoted to Saints
Antony & Francis of Paola, & on Tuesday days
wont with fasting to be observed to celebrate in honor of the prior;
on such day came into a brawl with a cooper certain,
& with knife lethally struck in head, fell. In
the very moreover fall seemed to himself to see Religious
two, of whom one S. Antony, the other Francis
of Paola represented, lovingly lifting him.
In actual matter moreover on feet stood; beyond hope & quickly is cured: & without help
of any returned home. There inspected the wound
was found unto the bone the knife to have penetrated, whence
also was taken a fragment two fingers wide,
just as related the physician. Wonderful moreover
to all was, that to such dangerous wound no fever
came or any discharge; & so quickly was fully healed,
that to whom the first plaster had been placed
on one Tuesday day, he on the next Tuesday came to S. Lawrence,
the benefit going to acknowledge.
[87] Finally in November month, Antony Ludovicus
Scarpanus, likewise inveterate gangrene, for two years suffering bitter gangrene
tortures, with evil in shin arisen & thence through
hip serpentine toward breast, & with so many wounds gaping
that he seemed another S. Lazarus, no expense had he spared
for remedy to be found. At length friend
his Matthew Capuanus, of the man pitying,
to him persuaded to have recourse to S. Antony, through a novena
in the church of S. Lawrence to be held. Believed this to himself
to profit the sick, & given counsel begun
to execute, on second Tuesday day with Mass finished, felt
his heart to be filled with joy, as if he heard saying to him
the Saint, Thou shalt recover. On third day of Tuesday, prayer
repeated from the church to one going out; a meeting friend
another said to him; Immediately confer thee to D. Fabricius
Arcera, a Calabrian physician: he indeed will heal
thee. Obeyed the sick, & to the physician went, under whose
hand to be himself months several was thinking:
but within twenty two days perfect recovered
health, & that to the Saint received he attributed.
§. IX. Graces at Venice & elsewhere annotated from year 1683.
[88] In year MDCLXXXIII D. Timothy Syrus,
Maronite, A schedule of exchange lost is recovered: of the Medinensian city in Mesopotamia
Archbishop, at Rome in June month had lost
de propaganda fide to him given, in subsidy
of journey to be made, nor to find it whatever
applied diligence he could. So to the church
of the Holy Apostles he conferred himself, Mass over
the altar of the Saint going to make: home moreover returned, are helped those perishing in the sea:
the desired schedule he found on a little table open,
on which altogether nothing else was. The same Prelate,
to Rome coming, agitated was by great tempest
between Sicily & Malta: but to those despairing of
life companions courage added, by persuading that to
the first altar of the Saint to him to come each candle
one would offer; with which vow pronounced, seemed
to themselves to behold a certain light on the ship's mast,
by which were animated through the troubled & great fog
obscured element, & quickly the port reached.
[89] At Modena in November month was being agitated in judgment
of greatest moment a cause, & various judges &
law experts long had wearied, with great that party's
prejudice, a desperate suit to concord is led back, in whose favor to be decided the suit
was; nor attempted concord's way through many months
anything had advanced. So that party better
to a novena to the Saint to be celebrated turned, & on last
day of Tuesday to all amazement was agreed
from justice & equity, no one intervening.
There in the same month, hemorrhage is stopped; by flux of blood to extreme
danger brought a noble matron, no
to herself wished to be applied remedy, than oil from
the Saint's lamp taken: & shortly recovered. In
the district of S. Lawrence at Florence, into fire fallen an infant is saved: on the Saint's very vigil,
into fire fallen an infant upon coals with prone head
lay, until the mother ran up: who immediately
the Saint invoking, & the boy lifting nor one
even his hair singed found. In Monte-Varchio,
of Etruria a small town, in a contracted brawl pierced
was through whole body Mark Malvolt. Lethal
altogether the wound was judged by experts: by Father yet
Mag. Ghettini anointed with oil of lamp, likewise pierced in brawl, which at Padua
before the venerable ark was burning, there brought, healthy
the next morning found the surgeon, with modest
yet scar, to more certainly testify the grace
to the Saint ascribed.
[90] In the Pisan territory to a noble Matron, with
two now marriageable daughters, to a matron with daughters burdened, life is extended. brought to the extreme
of life & poverty, appeared S. Antony,
to whose honor often a novena she had made, for relieving
souls in purgatory held: & her required,
whether at that hour she preferred with him to pass to
the glory of paradise, or to remain among the living longer; most pleasing
indeed to God & to himself had been her devotion.
To whom she, considering the daughters' necessity; If,
said she, to my salvation it is conducive, to live I would prefer:
& herself heard she understood, & from bed rose
in a moment. Which the Saint's benefit in print published
to be asserts P. Mag. Panzerinus of Volaterra,
[91] In the same year's June month, D. John
Bogiani, An old man from a fall weakened, is healed: in his year of age LXVI, dwelling at Venice
at S. Blasius of Castello, from high fallen had broken
his shin: after days a few care,
vowed himself going to visit his altar at the Conventuals;
& there although with difficulty, to carry himself he wished
upon crutches. When moreover he approached the church,
restored to himself the shin feeling, of crutches
one from himself he threw to a candelabrum of the church fixed;
whence taken that, a girl from high falling, hangs on the pinnacle of meeting podium unharmed. to the altar hung was, after rendered
actions of thanks. There, in the same year
& month, from very high window falling a girl six-years-old,
at the prayers of the father the Saint invoking,
middle in air hung with garment to the pinnacles of the lower podium
; & thence taken up was unharmed; as testified
the father, for paying thanks himself presenting.
[92] In July month moreover, Angelus John-Maria's
de Glandibus, A lost computation is recovered. from the region of S. Apollinaris, had lost
which to find nowhere able, his grandfather Bartholomew
Rossi besought, that at the altar of the Saint
with the Friars Mass he would procure to be said. This heard
when from the church he went out, met three
rustics, of found computation among themselves talking,
& wishing its master to know, to whom
it willingly they would return. This when the old man heard,
said, that paper to be his nephew's, & that for
it to be found he had procured Mass to the Saint to be said.
It therefore received, returned to the church, for doing
thanks & benefit to be published.
[93] In the same July month, John Baptista Sartus,
dwelling above the crossing of S. Pantaleon, deposed,
that sailing to the fairs, at Andria to be celebrated
accustomed, on the day of indulgences of Assisi, A little boat overturned are drowned son & father:
together with D. Matthew goldsmith of Rialto & of others
some, middle in Adige, outside the gate
of Cavanella, had seen at distance a little boat, to the same tending,
drawn by a horse: who when into headlong flight
suddenly himself gave, quickly to overturn the little boat they beheld,
with undoubtable danger of death of passengers
four, son namely & father & others
two, from the town of S. Apollinaris in the territory
of Rovigo. At the same moment of time by the aforesaid
John Baptista was invoked S. Antony, that
to the perishing he might come: & behold immediately turned
was the little boat, the aforesaid two within having. The father
moreover farther drawn away by the river, was lamenting his son
nowhere appearing. So those who were in the ship
now made nearer, proceeded the Saint to invoke: with the Saint invoked he is brought out half-alive;
& the horse's rider with him himself committing to the river,
the wretched but half-dead by tunic seized,
& with help of oars from the ship offered
to the bank drew, together with the others supplicating
to the Saint, that even the son he would save from death. While moreover
everywhere they look around the river, if perhaps some
indication of the lost youth they could note; paces
thence thirty they see a whirlpool as of boiling
vehemently water, this for an hour suffocated, & in the name of the Saint cast
there oar, they felt unaccustomed soon weight heavy.
They draw therefore him from the water, together with the youth
who him had seized, after a whole hour
under waters he had been, livid all & with closed eyes
& clenched teeth without any sign of life. Such
into his ship brought John Baptista, & of garments
stripped; then taken little book, is raised. in which besides the image
of the Saint, was his Office & Responsory,
began the same to apply to various parts of that, as
it seemed, corpse, meanwhile while the father with great voice
was crying; S. Antony, my son; S. Antony, my son
. He indeed at that double that invocation
twice the head lifted; & with them proceeding in the Responsory
to recite, began copious water to vomit,
& on the same day rose on feet, beyond
all expectation, free & healthy by benefit
of the Saint.
[94] In August month a widow rustic, with family numerous
& by disease difficult burdened, when of all utterly
subsidy & of the very bread destitute herself she saw, arose
from bed, as she was, & to the altar in the church
of Friars conferred; whence returning home, found
there, uncertain whence or how, brought
two sextarii of flour. a poor sick is helped; In November month D.
Andreas Pamasetti, surgeon at the Bridge to Honesty
called, to the glory of the Saint swore in the hands
of P. M. John Philip Lutus, distinguished of the order
of Conventuals preacher, that called
to cure Aloysius Bongioli, so gravely wounded
in left hip near knee, that the very veins
& nerves cut were found unto the bone, knee incurably hurt is healed: whence
most copious flowed blood; after to stop it
in vain various medicines he had applied, necessary
he had a cautery to apply: in which act he himself
was suggesting to the patient, that himself fervently he commend
to the Saint. This indeed immediately to help coming,
not only in a moment the flux stopped; but the wound,
by itself believed lethal, or at least the shin useless going to leave,
within few days healed.
[95] In the same year, Dominica Arcaini, of S.
Augustine street, likewise an immedicable apostema: an apostema troublesome & incurable was suffering
in the rump. But when she had vowed nine days
of Tuesday to the Saint to be observed, & sometime mortal
altogether tortures was enduring; she said: S. Antony, through
God's love & Mary's bowels, help me; &
these saying she, & with great faith ointment
certain applying, burst the abscess, ceased
the pain, & she from bed rising in the morning following, which
Tuesday was, came to the church of Friars, for cause
of Confession & Communion, & for exposing
the grace received.
[96] is found long in vain sought instrument, In November month, a distinguished certain Senator
Venetian, in a criminal cause, for which as Advocate
he served, had lost a process, whence not little
was endangered his honor. For many days he
labored & sweated, in his whole palace it
seeking, together with ministers some public,
scrutinizing all chests & places, for such processes
to be kept destined. But when all diligence
in vain yielded, made his Patron at his
altar in the church of Conventuals Mass to be said; & that
so devoutly heard as required the gravity
of the business, with such confidence to be filled he felt, that thence to
the curia going he said to ministers: Again armaria
all scrutinize: I trust indeed that S. Antony
you will make the desired process to find. Nor
vain his faith was: first indeed paper, into which
returned hands they put, was that which was sought.
The same narrated, that from villa returning with
his mother, in the way in the lagoons he had had various consanguineous,
who into his boat having crossed over, & the abundance of silk by theft taken is restored. announced
theft to have taken all the silk which at home
they had, more than two thousand ducats.
To whom matron this, not moved, replied;
I trust in my Saint Antony, to whom to burn a lamp
I cause & frequent Masses to be celebrated, that going
to pass three days are not, but my all silk
I shall receive. And this plainly so happened, with the thief detected, &
the theft entirely restored.
[97] With axe thrice struck on head by brother, recovers: At S. Euphemia, of the diocese of Brescia town,
happened in the same November month & year, Hieronymus
Dusi to contend in words with his own brother
on cause of his wife; with whom while quietly at the hearth
he sits, suddenly bursting in the other, with a little axe,
which in hand he held, three lethal wounds inflicted on the head
of the innocent brother, which all incurable judged
the summoned Surgeon. So, together with
his wife & children, fervently invoked S. Antony,
vowing to Padua to make pilgrimage, as soon as possible
he had recovered, as within few days happened; as,
with brought anathema he testified. Similar something before
twelve years in the diocese of Vicenza had happened, in year
namely MDCLXX, likewise with many shots pierced. when Antony Martinelli, living
with some suspicion of evil to be brought to him from somewhere,
at his home in the dead of night surrounded was by
many assassins, he himself few with him companions having.
In vain was asking for life to be spared by those conjured
into his death. So among continuous of shots
against him discharged fires, was invoking help of Antony; &
for dead left, preserved himself miraculously
from all wondered he himself, & gratefully testified.
[98] In year MDCLXXXIV in February month, to Vespasian
Storari happened at Mantua, Are saved, to be crushed by a chariot, that on the chariot pole
standing, & fallen snows shaking off, he fell
between both horses, nor to defend himself from their
kicks could. He was commending himself to the Saint, & unhurt
remained, although of shins one he had had
under one of the wheels, with light only bruise marked:
& therefore for fulfilling vow to Padua came, & the matter
to P. Felix Caprioli, of Masses president, narrated.
[99] & two cousins by shots attacked, In the same month in the town Villa, Peter &
Nicholas Merici Brothers, son each one
outside had sent, to cattle their in pastures custody:
who by as many robbers with shot attacked,
when fervently to S. Antony they had commended themselves, to one
indeed of them part of hairs modestly, to the other somewhat
of jacket & undershirt was singed, the rest
unhurt. The same Peter, fearing lest by justice he be apprehended,
with invoked similarly the Saint immune remained.
In May month Bartholomew Antony Minerbensis,
far from his home caught in a forest by
three robbers, when from asked what they
wanted three shots' strikes as answer he received,
invoked the Saint, & like dead on ground fell:
by them moreover so left, healthy everywhere
himself wondered.
[100] & a woman to be killed by stepson: In the same month of May, at Padua appeared
in testimony of grace, in this which follows
manner obtained. A stepson certain her own, absent
her husband alone her at home finding, her chamber furiously
burst into; & with many reproaches & insults loaded,
began with a small sword to strike through all body, while
meanwhile the stepmother the Saint invoked; until, sated
with rage, wearied withdrew. She indeed with summoned surgeon
to be inspected herself had given, was found nor one
even wound lethal to have, & within few
days healed from all was.
[101] an alms by an incredulous is not accepted, In the same year in November month, a matron
certain of Cremona narrated, before D. John
Baptista Scarella, of the venerable ark Curator (they call him Agent
) professed she, that she had lost of great
price a necklace; & admonished to the Saint Mass to be said
to procure, when small in him confidence she had, an alms
yet thereto required to her friend she gave,
saying, herself nothing thence to hope. After few
days she found in the chamber the very necklace, & next to
it placed the alms, for the Mass given; with saying
her little son, that he had seen a most beautiful Friar
entering the chamber, who the aforesaid necklace had
in hand.
[102] Offspring by vow conceived, In the same year & month, a Lord certain,
most noble & rich in possessions, with sterile long
marriage using, at the suggestion of his wife
to the Saint devoted, with her undertook the novena often
mentioned: but on the sixth day of Tuesday returning, while
from the church they return, pregnant herself the woman felt,
& full of joy to her husband said. And he indeed for
days some joyful himself showed; coming in moreover
gradually spirit of jealousy, to suspect began,
his wife from adultery had conceived. Which when deeper
into his mind had descended, on a certain night
of sleeping the womb with a dagger pierced, the jealous father from the womb of mother is rebuked, & at the same time a voice
thence proceeding heard which said: What
dost thou, impious father? Life which just now thou hast given thou wishest
to take away, both from me & from innocent mother my? At these things
he confused & terrified, withdrew from the chamber; in the morning
returning, his wife, whom he believed he would find
extinct, found as before healthy; & to her
falling at knees, the matter whole narrated, & pardon
asked. To the evidence moreover of the miracle, he beheld
on the womb of the wife as many marks, as from the prick of a flea,
as wounds to her himself to have inflicted he believed.
[103] Fr. John Antony of Como, of stricter
Observance Minorite, at Padua appeared, a woman, recovered an earring, repenting of expense in Masses made,
& narrated, & in writing attested left, that
at Milan a certain Matron an earring of great price
lost, nor with whatever labor sought could she
find; & at length running to S. Antony,
to the Sacristan of the church of S. Francis sent a quartum one
Mutinensis, humble in that State of coin, that in
the chapel of the saint be procured two Masses, at which to attend
even she wished. When moreover from the church
home had returned, & the earring with its mate joined
had found in a chest, all cheerful narrated the success
to her husband; & not considering that grace
to her had been made by the Saint, added, to grieve to her
that she had expended money, elsewhere going to be more useful.
Condemned the generous Knight his wife's tenacity,
& himself to wonder said at such words. for her then she finds returned the alms. After dinner
wished she earrings to take up, but again one only
she found; & in the other's place placed coin,
which for being said Mass she had donated. Which whence
it was not at all doubting, & that to herself penalty
merited acknowledging, to be indulged indeed to herself she asked
& the earring to be restored, but the grace desired not
obtained again; except that more cautious thence & more devout
to the Saint rendered, him to herself studied to reconcile,
permitting that the matter done even publicly be preached
from pulpit, with her name suppressed. The same therefore
to him at Milan heard, in year MDCLXIX at Padua
to be written caused P. Hyacinth Biumo Reformed,
then dwelling in the Convent of Horta & Sacristan.
§. X. Graces declared in year MDCLXXXV & thereafter.
[104] D. Francis Cimante, Canon of Adria,
was compassionate to the unhappy state of his little niece
, To an infant from continuous eye motion seeing nothing, Blanca-Rosa, daughter of his brother Nicholas &
Nicolettae the Wife; who in second from birth month
spasm lethal suffered, & continuously sick
unto life's sixth month, thence remained
of sight deprived, with her eyes moving assiduously up
& down, so that the pupils sometime not
were seen. When moreover red-hot iron to be applied
the physicians had judged, hoping by it to be stopped able the disordered
that motion, & the eyes to due state
to be restored; did not wish the uncle to such sad experiment to be present,
but in the year aforesaid in January month to Rovigo
went, their quiet & sight is returned, the niece commending to S. Antony; & vowing,
that with her health obtained he would present her with
four candles, to his which at Adria is altar;
at which also he would procure to be celebrated a Mass; a garment
also of votive color about to be, with which first
the girl her parents would clothe. Hardly the vow he had pronounced,
when ceased the motion of eyes, & health
from day to day fuller returned, as then with hand
his Francis himself sworn wrote, in year MDCLXXXVII,
on day II June.
[105] In the same year MDCLXXXV in June month, Joseph
& Prosdocimus Calza, Is averted danger from an overturned cart, from the field to Bologna
returning in a cart, into another to themselves meeting made
ran; whence consternated their horse,
with cart overturned was running headlong: but with vow to
the Saint sent they escaped from such present danger,
everywhere unharmed. In November month
of the same year, a Presbyter certain testified, that
going to Assisi, likewise from a fallen on rider horse, to the Indulgences second August
to be gained, near Carianum with his horse fell;
from under which to rise in no way able, the Saint
invoked; &, with turned itself to the other side
the horse, saved to Padua brought his vow.
[106] The Saint's image from fire & water remains unhurt: In year MDCLXXXVI on day XXI March, at Pirano
fire seized that press, which from Puncta is surnamed,
with greatest of the whole village danger; near
indeed was great abundance of hay. Through intercession
yet of S. Antony, all things which there were
remained entire: & what greater to all
stupor brought, was the image, which fixed to the yoke
of the very press, remained intact, not only from
fire, but also from water, which to it to extinguish
copious was poured: just as Zorzius
Petronius once of Dominic, with his own hand's
writing & name's subscription affirmed.
[107] to death adjudged is saved, In Corsica, in July month of the same year,
George Costa once of Antony, on account of faults
not light & homicide perpetrated relegated under
penalty of head, into hands of justice came & to death
was adjudged, But when to the Saint he had commended himself,
day & night bewailing his lot, besought
by the Jesuit Fathers the judges dismissed the guilty:
who to Padua coming, with hung up tablet testified
the grace, to himself by the Saint made.
[108] In year from Christ's nativity MDCLXXVII,
Indiction IX, on Saturday XXXI August, A pottery kiln with unhappy success kindled, at Verona
in the house of dwelling of me Notary, with present
D. Dominicus Peregrini once of John, of Allegre Bonatis
son of Dominic, & Antonia Viglaro once of
Francis, all of the island of Porcatia witnesses;
appeared D. Peter Lorenzoni, once of John Baptista,
of the community of the said island; & at the instance
of P. M. Francis Antony Perletti, Guardian
in the convent of S. Firmus-major of Verona, deposed;
how on Tuesday last past XI June, about
the twelfth hour, with prior blessing of R. D.
Bartholomew Brunelli, Curate of the same island, he had set
fire to the pottery kiln furnace, which he had near
the forum there, & in it to twenty two thousand of cups,
squares, & little dishes, is again kindled, without new material, for whose
bakings are wont ordinarily to be expended twenty carts of trunks
& bundles of branches, to fifty. He
indeed that to be heated the furnace he might give beginning, to
sixty bundles had thrown with two carts of trunks,
in the morning moreover following day X of the month aforesaid
about noon, fell the mouth of the furnace; & itself
so blocked, that to greater of wood abundance to be thrown
no remained way; flames however, which to kindle
the furnace ought, were leaping outside,
it cold remaining, as if never in it fire
had been. At these things astonished & confused Peter, nothing
else of counsel had, for escaping damage
that all his fortunes would overturn, than the help
of S. Antony to implore. When therefore in following
days he had procured Masses two to be said at his
altar, in aid of purgative souls, & was asked
to commodate work for unloading some
carts, wood bearing, to himself he seemed at distance to behold
as if burning the furnace; & to it approaching
& all illuminated seeing, ascended, to the stupor of the city of Verona. &
from every part kindled noted, although nothing
of new material had been thrown in. Lasted moreover the fire
unto Tuesday, when to the church of the island
running Peter, made another Mass to be said at the altar
of the Saint; & thence returning the furnace extinguished,
& all within disposed vessels so perfectly
baked he found, as ever they could have been. With which
miracle published, ran infinite people to
the furnace; with desiring each part some
of cup or square thence to take in which the Saint
he might praise. He indeed Peter, after the Office for souls
of Purgatory procured, to Padua passed,
thanks to his benefactor to give. And I Bartholomew
Bonvajonus, once of D. John Baptista of
the district of S. Peter Incarnarius of Verona, public
by Venetian authority Notary, the premised all
faithfully copied from my Acts. In witness whereof
&c.
[109] In the same year, when the coachman of D. Knight
Hercules Manfredini, Peregrinus Zanotti, Among consternated horses fallen & to be crushed coachman, heroes
his to the church was conveying; consternated horses him
so terrified, that with reins fallen from his hand,
they in poured running gave themselves. When therefore
he leaped from the pole, reins to recover; so fell,
that with two kicks in chest & head struck,
the chariot even over himself passing sustained;
meanwhile while from soul himself he was commending
to S. Antony: remains unhurt: which to him so well turned, that from such
danger unhurt he escaped.
[111] From the land Ulmi of the diocese of Padua an anathema
brought, likewise another under house's ruin. going out July, Stephen Morari;
& narrated, that under two houses' sudden
whirlwind overturned ruin caught, he XXIX
of month aforesaid alone of sixteen escaped unharmed,
through vow to the Saint made, with the other fifteen
among rubble dead & buried together.
[112] Others from cruel tempest escape. In September month moreover through Lake to the Venetian
city neighboring sailing many, so cruel
of life had despaired, unless hope they had had
not at all vain in the holy Thaumaturge: to whom, after
six most perilous of tossing hours, vows their offered,
safe to the city landed.
[113] The chamber of a matron the Saint praying, When a certain principal Matron at Venice
was staying in the Praetorium, about the third hour
of night, so terrible arose a storm, with winds
& rains pregnant, that to the whole region terror was struck.
Was praying she in her chamber S. Antony,
when suddenly the roof of the palace collapsed, only that part
safe, which of the matron the chamber covered. Ran
yet to the ruin she herself, that under beams' & rocks'
heap might seek her three-year-old son
her Aloysius; is saved, with rest of roof falling, as also her son; for to the others modest injury
having suffered, alone he was missed. When moreover not
was found, running to the window the afflicted mother,
began with strained voice to cry; S. Antony, return
to me my son Aloysius: son return, miraculous
Antony. Behold moreover, him all joyful
& healthy brought to her a man certain, & he was reporting
him found under beams, so aptly between themselves crossed,
that the boyish body's part none had touched:
& this she sworn affirmed, in the hands of a certain
Religious Conventual. to her is healed an arm deadened. The same in the following
year MDCLXXXVII, suffering a vehement from head
flux, through neck into right arm,
of this all use had lost, nor profited whatever
of physicians counsels: vowed therefore a Novena
to the Saint to institute, & on first Tuesday day confessed
& communicated, before from the church she
went out, free herself felt, & such home
returned, with all of her household & physicians'
stupor.
[114] In Armenia is calmed a fire. In the same year MDCLXXXVII, in February month,
the house of Isaac de Nazar Armenian flame
seized, at the same time, in which he himself before the altar
of the Saint was occupied in prayer; where the matter understood admonished
to run, replied himself the house's care to S. Antony
to leave. Nor vain his faith was; he indeed
prayers continuing, in very brief time extinguished
were the flames: of which matter witness a tablet,
brought from Armenia is preserved still with the custodian
of the sacred ark.
[115] In the very year in May month D. Francisca Navari,
at Faventia fell into a well of feet fifty
deep: Fallen into well safe is brought out, but the Saint in the very fall calling back,
seemed to herself to be sustained above the waters; whence
safe brought out, on feet with her husband to Padua
came, & the grace testified to the President of Masses, P.
M. Augustine Panighetti.
[116] In June month Peter Andreata, from Mestre
near Dolo, & another from a river. was coming for devotion's sake to Padua,
along the bank of Brenta river on a horse; whose
when foot one had failed, was endangered the rider lest
he be suffocated: but the invoked Saint, safe led him
to the bank, as he himself coming testified.
[117] In the same month Dominicus Aquarioli, at Venice
dwelling in the field of S. Simeon the major, by
an enemy unexpectedly attacked, with several dagger's
struck blows was hurt: Is healed lethally wounded; of which wounds although
one altogether lethal to be pronounced the surgeon,
from all yet quickly recovered. The Saint invoked.
In the same month June for Forestus-Polyxene, so
grave jealousy a certain man married
seized, on this account that his wife he had seen with
his neighbor speaking; that after grave injuries to her
inflicted, also threatened death quickly to be brought. a modest woman
Of her innocence conscious the woman, did not cease her
day & night to commend to the Saint, to whom & vow
of Novena to be made she pronounced. That devotion begun
so much nothing subsided the conceived once fury of the husband,
that called aside, after many reproaches,
she not in vain the Saint was praying to be made defender &
witness of her innocence: with loosed gun's wheel fire
it did not give: at which prodigy the man consternated, pardon
of the deed asked & obtained, & with the same to Padua
came, that which had been done to depose to the honor
of the Saint.
[118] & on a chariot driven precipice. At Venice to Rome from vow were going nobles
certain, & when to Seravalle they approached, whether
from coachman's inadvertence, or horses' consternation,
headlong they were rolled from a mountain more
than fifteen paces, crying, Help,
help, O S. Antony. But hung the chariot at the edge
of the precipice, in which all to be crushed they were; nor
any either of horses or of men was hurt, & not even
the chariot lightly was damaged.
[119] Dangerous of stone section, In the same month June of the year prenoted, a Paduan
Noble of dire stone pains longer to be endured
unequal, had defined a day, on which the section he would undergo
rather than a thousand deaths: nor from that counsel
to divert him could the tender of domestics
& consanguineous tears; to all indeed he was replying,
so great himself faith to have in S. Antony,
that none less than so many others he believed himself the grace
his to enjoy. He asked therefore that on next Tuesday
day, as to him sacred, above the most holy ark
be exposed venerable Eucharist; before which
with made several Masses, intrepidly & constantly he endured
the section, through which extracted to him the stone
was. with confidence in the saint rightly succeeds, Although moreover the safety of him after many days
seemed to be brought into danger, twice yet anointed
with oil of lamp, through the hand of a certain Religious
Conventual at present lives healthy, & shortly,
will be present together with anathema votive his heart
to the Saint devoted going to offer. In July month D. Peter
Lonigo of Treviso, along the bank of Sile river
riding, with stumbling jumentum into water fallen,
when himself to extricate from the lying horse not
he could, S. Antony invoked, & to the bank miraculously
borne himself found.
[120] In the same year in November month, to a matron
certain of Brescia was brought the little body of beloved
& only little son, in river drowned: a mother with drowned son death to herself to bring, is restrained, who at his
sight of pain impatient, when she could not by lamenting
be sated, headlong was going to death; & found
within chamber a little knife seized, chest
to herself going to pierce; when by invisible hand to be retained
her arm she felt, & eyes lifting saw on the wall
to hang an image of S. Antony, to whom she was devoted.
Hence to herself returned & prostrated on the ground, pardon
asked of the designed crime, & to Padua brought anathema,
near the chapel of the Saint to be seen.
[121] There at Brescia, in the same month, lethal fever is healed, with acute fever
was held a man noble & wealthy: who his strengths to fail
feeling, vowed, if he should be healed, together with his wife
to Padua to come. Begun then a Novena
was, under which on third Tuesday day, with confession & communion
received, returning home the woman, her husband
found free from fever: wherefore at the tomb
of the Saint hung a vow with silver rim enclosed.
§ XI. The Belgic Collection of John vander Borcht, whence are given other miracles & fruits by use of the Antonian Novena.
[122] In year MDCLXXVI with us at Antwerp, in Belgian
tongue was edited by the prefixed-titled author
& Wonders of S. Antony of Padua, with peculiar
practice of nine-day devotion, in his honor
to be instituted, collected from various writers.
He from chap. 49 unto the end (end moreover of part first
is held with chap. 5) sets forth some to Belgium
our proper, & therefore worthy here to be commemorated,
because elsewhere nowhere to be found. The most erudite &
with his writings most known, D. Nicholas Vernulaeus,
of S. Theology Licentiate, & historiographer of King
Catholic, & President of the College Milian Luxemburg
in the university of Leuven, going to render
in year MDCXLVI in March month accustomed of given & received
reckonings, some, of which he needed, writings,
could not by any diligence retrieve. In this
perplexity, mindful of benefits already otherwise from S.
Antony received, promises Masses some
through himself & others to be said. Hardly the first he had said
on the following day, when from the church home returning, museum
his again to scrutinize entered; & required
writings openly on the table exposed found, as
from his autograph is established, whose truth always
ready was with oath to confirm.
[123] In the same year similar something also at Brussels
happened, & at Brussels, D. John Gomez Cano, a man exceedingly
honest & upright. To this one from the chamber of Royal audience
stealthily had been removed some of great moment
writings, pertaining to his suit in the Court of Brabant
pending, were missed moreover those now
for whole three months. Hence not modestly disturbed,
solace from S. Antony in this manner he received.
After vow of to be procured some Masses,
sad John was walking in the cloister of Friars
Minor at Brussels; when there entering venerable
in appearance Friar Minor, with appearing Saint. him saluted in Spanish, asking
of grief & solicitude cause. To whom he;
Taken from me stealthily are instruments certain
of my suit, & therefore here I have come going to procure Masses some,
that S. Antony them me to receive should make. Then
the unknown that Friar to him said: Go, & a Mass in
honor of S. Antony hear, & trust them to thee
tomorrow to be in proper hands restored; as altogether
it happened, & by them mediating the cause obtained
Cano. Nor was doubted but that Friar was
S. Antony himself, since in the whole Convent no one
Spanish knew, except the Doorkeeper of the house & Father
Confessor of the same Cano, both to this one most
known: wherefore in a beautiful tablet of the deed
series to be painted he caused, & it in the Choir of the church
to be hung.
[124] Of money, by fear of robbers, into waters cast, Rev. D. Laurence Jacobi, Pastor at Heylissem
inferior, a village of Brabant between Tienen &
Hannut, freely before a Notary declared, in faith
of Priest, that in year MDCLIV, with Condean &
Lorraine forces all around the region depopulating,
necessary he had on Passion Sunday
flight to take, nothing of his things to carry off able,
except a sack containing to florins
twice thousand Brabantine in gold. When moreover closer
clinging to his tracks soldiers he sensed, his sack
cast into a pond, & stealthily thence taken, near the Abbey
of Heylissem; noting to himself accurately the place, that with departed
soldiers his money thence he might recover. But
could not this so secretly do, but that be observed
by a certain his parishioner; others who were present,
sound indeed of falling into water sack heard,
but did not notice what it was.
Nor far thence went the Pastor, observe wishing
whether some of the soldiers anything had perceived; & at length
of these secure went away. But the garrulous that matter to all
publicized: whence someone, his this to be occasion
thinking, the sack sought & found took away.
So with departed soldiers returning with many
his subjects the Pastor, to seek the money,
all for three days labor vain was; nor other
to the good man remedy occurred, than confidence in S.
Antony, to whom he made through Minors of Tienen many
Masses to be done, & he himself also several made, with added vow
about his vigil with fast on bread & water to be passed.
[125] Already nearly three months had passed, when about
the feast of S. John Baptist Schultetus of Heylissem
wife to the Pastor came, & said herself to be able
to indicate the person, with whom the money was, a part receives the devoted to the Saint;
only to herself she should promise, her under secret of confession
hidden to have. But he with such condition
did not wish the thief to know: & sad to his home went.
Evening was when this had happened, after which to bed
going, seemed to himself to see an unknown otherwise man,
with secular clothing clothed, who to him showing the sack
was saying: Behold thy money, but not all.
Then it seemed to himself to his parochial to have passed,
where was a certain Friar Minor, not very dissimilar
to P. Aegidius Langole Guardian of Tienen;
whom when he wished to salute, & not to be the Guardian
he recognized, back foot drew, & at the same time he heard
the name of a certain his Parishioner, of
whom nothing less suspected ever he had. After
this vision, or dream if I should prefer to call,
at high morning he approached the wife of Schultetus, going to ask whether
to him she wished to indicate the person, whom the day before she had not
wished to reveal. With her the deed altogether refusing, to
the Abbey himself he conferred, going to deliberate with a Religious
certain what especially he should do. But before than
the Pastor he speaking heard, indicated that with him
was the greater part of the lost money, by a thief into madness turned, nearly also the rest. from a third
certain person brought, with written promise
also of the other part to be restored. Recognized
from the species of coin the Pastor his money, & it
received from the aforesaid Religious. Behold moreover a matter
wondrous. While these are done in the monastery, that man,
who to the Parish-priest had been named in sleep, into such
fell madness (which thing hundreds & hundreds
testify can) that by consanguineous to be led
he had to Geldenacum, where at S. Medard's Relics
such sick are wont to be cured. Here he before many
witnesses repeatedly cried: The money to the Pastor shall be returned:
behold by many Aethiopians & demons me
persecuting I am afflicted. By this reason also the other
part of money returned was, not yet all, as
to him had been foretold: which all then in writing
he testified, with the Minors of Tienen to be kept, ready
it with oath to confirm.
[126] Good sum, to a sower lapsed, Lord John Bernaert, noble Gelder,
inhabiting a parish whose name Brouck-huysenvorst,
in the very of his province metropolis, in year MDCLXV
had received in gold one thousand six hundred florins, which
lest to himself by soldiers & robbers be taken
fearing, those had tied in the extreme corners of his
shirt: but home returned, found of these two
with loosed knot of money empty. Sent therefore hastily a servant
to the Maas, if perhaps either on the bank, or in the boat
with which the river he had crossed, that money to himself had fallen out:
but in vain. Sent also to his wife, then at Roermond
dwelling, who the matter would indicate. She there the Convent
of Minors approaches, & Masses some of S.
Antony for herself to be made asks. Was procured also that through
all the around-lying parishes, by Pastors from
pulpit be announced to the people reward of one hundred
fifty florins, to him to be given who the money
could indicate. Six weeks had passed,
when the money all, in a sweatcloth wrapped & hung
to the end of a staff, was thrust through a channel into the sacristy
of the aforementioned parish of Forest, secretly is restored, & there
by the sacristan thus was found. He immediately to the Parish-priest:
who quickly coming, before two
witnesses then by chance present in the church, the little kerchief
unfolded, & found full of gold coins,
with sand mixed, as if thence collected they had been,
with a paper thus written: This money let be returned to Lord
Bernaert, dwelling at the place called de Kolke:
he indeed let give to the church alms. Was
this the very same which had been lost money, except that
were lacking one hundred fifty florins, to the finder
promised, who to himself his reward had reserved:
all moreover thus testified the Parish-priest & Sacristan,
& the Noble himself with his wife, even to oath
to perform ready.
[127] money & worked silver stolen, No less wondrous was, what from years
not so many at Mechelen in Brabant happened.
A certain Domicella, there dwelling at the way of Vaccarum
called, washerwomen home had brought, to clean
linen furniture's cause. One of them observed
money chest not well closed to be, &
silver of domestic service vessels not enough cautiously
guarded: by which opportunity enticed, when home
going to return solitude from witnesses she had obtained; the chest
opens, a good thence of money sum receives, with
some necklaces, & whatever of worked silver at
hand to have besides she could, her home takes off.
Hardly thence she had departed, this indeed into a river to cast, when one of the maids the matter
noticing exclaimed; Lady, Lady,
all our silver furniture stealthily taken is.
This heard immediately is sent to the Convent of Minors,
that of S. Antony three Masses be done. Meanwhile
the thieving woman, before to home return she could,
with such began intemperance to be seized, that ignorant what she was doing,
at the mill of Hanswijk (as afterwards
she confessed, & the matter itself taught) the rest home
brought; but so consternated, that no to body & soul
rest able to find, still on the same day,
under the fourth post-meridian, when of Minors
the church is wont to begin Vespers to be opened, there
she came; & to a certain six seven year-old little boy,
at the door found, delivered the money with
necklaces, this indeed to the Church of Minors to bring is forced. in blue linen wrapped, to the value
of three about thousand florins, that it he would give
to the Religious whom he saw in the temple. Took the boy,
& running said: Father, Father, take this money,
& bring to the way of Vaccarum to Lady
her who it has lost. Asked the Religious, whence
it was. A woman, said the boy, who there is standing,
it to me has delivered, at the same time & the place shows: to whom
himself turning the Friar, her indeed still
he saw, but rapidly departing recognize could not.
And these I have had from the mouth of that Father, who the money
& necklaces received, & brought back.
[128] Nearly to me had fallen out Antwerp, in which yet
many such cases have happened.
A maid certain a coral of praying little balls
string having stolen, it at Ghent, Another stolen thing from similar necessity restored. a city ten
leagues distant, had sold: but when for it to be recovered
certain Masses to S. Antony were said;
with such she scruples to be afflicted began, that even therefore alone
she returned to Ghent, that it she might buy back & restore.
Another from a house taken was a cup silver,
& at the Monte-pietatis as pledge given.
Is said similarly a Mass one, & the thief so is afflicted
that to rest could not. But no more having
money with which the cup he might redeem; another steals
in the vicinity; & there pledges, & the prior,
with received for the second money, liberates & restores.
Meanwhile for that also a Mass is procured,
& by similar necessity bound the thief, the pledge paper
cast into those, whence the second cup
he had taken, houses; & so was known, where
the cup was, & to the master commodity given of it
at no great price redeeming. So far the prefixed-titled
book's part first, which its Author ends by attesting,
end none himself to be about to find if to collect he wished,
what in each Belgian cities have been wrought, & daily
are wrought; & passes to to part second,
which he calls Introduction to the Novena or nine-day
devotion exercise; & its origin
& fruits various by examples declares, as follows.
[129] In year MDCXVII, at Bologna in Italy lived
marriage living, but without desired its fruit.
Frequently to her were narrated miracles of S. Antony,
whence into great excited confidence, at length to
the church of Minors herself she conferred; & there before the Saint's
altar prostrate, began fecundity to ask,
with prayers which she could most fervent. This while
she does internally, felt consolation of mind plainly unusual;
& it for pledge having of heard prayer, home
returns. Next moreover night saw in
dream S. Antony, with great light surrounded, is ordered by the Saint to make a Novena;
who to her said: Go, woman, nine times returning Tuesdays
to the church of Minors, & there with received Sacraments
prayers pour before my image, & them
know to be heard. Sprang the woman joyfully, &
faithfully commands of the Saint fulfilled, nor with less faith
fulfilled his promises felt, on the ninth day passed, from
her husband made pregnant. But he, as he was harsh
& jealous, feared lest from himself the conceived fetus was;
& therefore the wife began, she indeed bore a monstrous offspring, as of certain adultery
convicted with words & deeds badly to treat.
To this evil, from God's all things disposing providence,
another came. For when filled the time of giving birth
from her came forth the fruit, all deformed & monstrous
appeared, hardly any of human species bearing.
She nonetheless faith full, in cloths wrapped to be borne
orders to the altar of the Saint: on whom placed as
he was, to be heard immediately from the very swaddling lamentations as
of recently born infant; with which excited the wretched bundle's
bearer, ran to the altar, the bands loosed, over his altar is reformed. & for
monster a most beautiful little infant found: which
not only the afflicted mother & family, but
the whole city with admiration & joy filled.
[130] Was this like a far-sounding trumpet, for commending
to all the use of such novena, A woman by jealous husband not only
through Italy, but also Spain, Gaul, Germany
& Belgium not without manifold fruit, of which
behold for thee specimens some, from all elsewhere related
different. At Turin in Piedmont a certain Secretary,
so far himself had allowed to be carried away by jealousy spirit
against his wife's innocence, that certain to her life
to take away, led to the highest solarium of the house,
& of clothes stripped, with ropes bound to a stake. Then
with one hand dagger drawn, with the other deadly
cup offering, to choose ordered with which to die she preferred.
She in doubt caught, when by no prayers
flexible mind of husband she saw, the poison
chooses; & in taking it with raised to heaven eyes,
to S. Antony Novena vows. Immediately moreover bitter
that potion into sweetness turned, pleasantly her refreshed;
meanwhile while the man, with perpetrated (as he thought) crime,
into country went, on the morrow to return, & dead
his wife to find, & secretly to give to burial.
But astonished, when healthy & cheerful to stand at
the stake he sees. Nothing yet thence wiser, another
much more harmful potion to drink her orders; twice forced to drink poison, is saved.
which when she, with renewed internally former vow, now
much than before more confidently had drunk; remained indeed
as before unharmed, but to the man with impunity not was
now twice attempted enormous crime. For his little son
theirs, by chance into the solarium ascending, found there so
badly held, & nude & to the stake bound mother;
loosed her, what was done learns, & to the aunt
narrates: this matter brings to the Magistrate, by whose
order is seized the guilty, & the cause examined &
verified merited penalty is fined.
[131] A girl Roman, of slender but honest
parents born, of a powerful & rich youth
blandishments & promises bent at length was, A poor girl, under hope of matrimony made pregnant once & again
that under confidence of matrimony to be contracted herself to his will
she would permit. Hence with offspring pregnant, could not long
hide from parents: who family's disgrace threatening fearing,
decide the fetus before than be born to extinguish,
even with peril of mother. This she noticing,
& with tears entreating, holily
was swearing, with no other end to have sinned, than that to her
& their poverty through ensuing matrimony
she might provide. And so indeed then escaped the danger:
but again with the same under the same promises
fallen back, is impeded lest herself she hang, & again pregnant, knew not how
parents the matter she might hide; when her deceiver
with no neither blandishments nor tears could be induced, that
of the often sworn promise faith he might keep to the pregnant.
Now noose the wretched was thinking, when to her in mind
came S. Antony, before his image suppliant
prostrated she, in year MDCXLIX, Novena vows.
On the fourth after day is celebrated in the church of Minors a festivity,
solemn Sacred celebrates Cardinal Columna,
is present in most crowded throng the unfaithful suitor; &
closer approaching the altar, & a rich suitor her to marry is forced. on himself fixed sees turbid
& threatening of holy image's eyes; & so consternated
back falls, of strength & nearly spirit destitute:
Is run to water, & with it sprinkled into himself
returns, & what to him had happened openly confesses. The rebuked
with fierce gaze of the Saint infidelity certain
his, & interior word, him with quick death to be punished,
unless he should come to senses. So with contracted what he had promised
matrimony, life he himself, fame entire
the girl saved, opulent obtained bridegroom, who
to her parents could & wished to come to aid; whence & thanks
to the Saint gave.
[132] Is healed a knee hitherto immedicable, Hieronymus Berdontelli, experienced in the town
Suanensis a physician, of himself yet so careless
was, that a small in knee wound he neglected;
until it useless to himself to be rendered he felt. Then namely
he of surgeons to implore help, but in vain.
Was going indeed daily into worse the evil, & after
vain of four years curing, intolerable
was bringing forth to the wretched tortures, until a Novena to S. Antony
he vowed, & devoutly fulfilled. Then fully healed
in a moment the knee was, as his he himself affirmed
autograph, which in year MDCLII signed in
the very of the place Convent is preserved.
[133] likewise a womanly hernia shamefacedly hidden, In year moreover MDCLIV was a noble Matron,
who her name hidden wished, from the same shame,
by which with flowing down to herself intestines she did not wish surgeons'
hands to admit for curing the evil, as
was persuading her husband, with continuous her & grave
tortures lovingly compassionating. At length a Novena
to the Saint to be instituted she vowed, on whose last day
while to prayer she was insisting herself to Antony commending,
was seized by faint of strengths so violent, that the extreme
her hour to be she believed. But into bed
brought, sweetly fell asleep; after sleep
moreover felt herself from all torture free, & viscera
into natural state restored; today still
healthy, & daily thanks giving to her benefactor.
[134] In a certain village of the diocese of Cologne, Nederpreis
called, not far from Sibricha, of the Blankenberg
territory a toparchy, & enormous at neck scrofula. in year MDCLXVII
was a six year-old boy, named Leonardus Nieukirchen,
who with ulcerous at neck was burdened with scrofula,
& it so great, that with it inclined the head into shoulder
bent. With no expenses spared the parents,
that their son from deformed that evil they might relieve, but in
vain: was growing indeed daily the scrofula, & now
six whole months had fixed the boy to bed, in limbs
all stiffening useless. This so wretched
state of his son, when to his for time Vice-pastor
one of the Minorites they had indicated, persuaded he a nine-day
of Tuesday to the honor of S. Antony to celebrate,
with procuring & hearing as many Masses, which
to be said he himself asked undertook. Began moreover on the very
first day to be alleviated the evil; & proceeding by weeks
the curing, on the last day so disappeared, that
nor trace even remained. The matter to the whole neighborhood
most known, asked by the parents a Notary
public, in writing received; which when the Archbishop
had read through, permitted the matter as miraculous
to be published, to the honor & devotion of S. Antony
among his to be increased.
§. XII. Utility of the Antonian Responsorium, from two Flemish books proved.
[135] That Antiphonarium, which from occasion offered
in num. 13 we described entire, is believed
by S. Bonaventure to have been composed. To the Responsory joined Collects, first one, The Roman printing of year
MDCVI, to the same subjoins a Collect, in this manner to be recited.
℣ Pray for us S. Antony, ℞ that worthy
we may be made of the promises of Christ. Let us pray. Thy Church
God may the votive commemoration of B. Antony, thy Confessor
gladden, that with spiritual always
it may advance helps, & joys to enjoy may deserve eternal.
Through D. N. J. C. This same Collect, uses
in the Office & Mass of the Saint the Roman Church. In
the edition of Macerata of year MDCXLVII, then three. the same is placed
but with premised two of the Holy Spirit & Deipara, with
congruent to itself Versicle & Responsory of the Holy
Spirit alone, Send forth thy Spirit &c. & also another Antiphon
, which equally by S. Bonaventure to have been composed,
to suppose seems the Macerata printer, others moreover
more expressly that very thing assert. It is such:
O offspring of Spain, fear of the infidels,
New light of Italy, noble deposit
Of the City of Padua:
Bring, Antony, of grace of Christ patronage;
Lest to the fallen of pardon time, brief entrusted,
Flow away vain.
[136] The Paduans, with those not fully content, not only
added to the Versicle ordinary of the Holy Spirit,
&c; but also of the Saint, in this manner: ℣. Preacher
distinguished, In Belgium is used another Collect. pray for us, Antony most blessed,
℞ That through thy intercession we may receive joys
of life: with which when in the edition of Padua of year MDCLXXXVII,
responds Prayer the same which above; wondrous
is, how in Belgium, where ten years before
his Epitome published John vander Borcht, omitted
the ordinary, is placed this other, May intercede for us,
we beseech, Lord, thy holy Confessor Antony,
whom with virtues, miracles' signs, &
prodigies thou hast adorned, & still to adorn ceasest not.
Through D. N. J. C. And is subjoined also a new
Versicle, in the manner of Absolution, ℣ By prayers
& merits of B. Antony, ℞ May hear us
the Lord.
[137] The same Author the very miraculous (as he calls)
Responsory through each days of the Novena, With counterfeit money makers captured & condemned innocent, divides,
& illustrates, & to points each produces
miracles certain, its truth proving:
of which some already related are, others here merit
to be collected. Such is, what for day third, at the word
Calamity, thus is narrated as at Naples done. A man
certain married, & together with counterfeit money
makers by chance seized, & to death adjudged
was. Consternated by such news
his wife, for her husband's innocence to be demonstrated to be formed
immediately procures a petition: but not
was who it to offer wished, because expressly had forbidden
the Viceroy, lest anyone for liberating any of those
to speak dared. So by men deserted the woman,
to holy fled Antony, & on his altar suppliant
her petition imposes, asking that it himself
he would to the Viceroy deliver. The next day, which for executing
the sentence destined was, returns to the church the woman,
& finds on the altar the petition by the Viceroy signed:
which seen immediately ran to her husband, now produced
to death; & with exhibited grace to him made
free thence the same led away. through petition by the very Saint delivered to the Viceroy, With others to punishment
affected, approach the Viceroy supreme of public Justice
ministers; & him interrogate, why, against faith
to himself given, one him to be dismissed free he had wished.
To whom he says, to have come to him a Franciscan Friar,
& so openly & evidently the man's innocence
had proved, that his absolution to deny
him not he could. Recollected then, how severely
he had prohibited, lest anyone before completed justice
to himself to enter be permitted; approaches his praetorian
cohort's Captain, & who to enter the Friar permitted
had been, interrogates. He of the Viceroy's indignation
fearing, diligently from soldiers, who station
had had, the matter inquires: but all swear,
no Friar that day to himself seen. Interrogated
also by the Viceroy's order the Guardian of Minors, individually
examines all his, nor is found anyone
addressed to the Viceroy. With which heard wondering,
by chance eyes turned to the effigy of the Saint,
& exclaims; Behold him who to me suppliant petition
delivered, under the end is absolved. & grace & subscription
extorted. Known then from the woman was, how
the matter had happened: which through all the divulged city,
place to the Saint obtained among Patrons;
& so much from collected soon alms of silver was,
as much as for a statue of human magnitude to be cast
work would be: & this in year MDCXLVII, in
September month, brought into public treasury was.
[138] At the word, Demon, thus is read. In the kingdom
Neapolitan a villicus there was, A faithful villicus unjustly vexed, of committed to him estate
curator vigorous, & of contracted rent payer faithful;
but to whom the master of the land never wished to give
& dead the witnesses of the payment by the villicus rendered,
are present the heirs & demand a new one. Not knowing
where himself to turn he, fled to of the afflicted help
Antony, & with visited his altar was departing sad;
when himself companion the Saint himself joined,
& him consoling led to the summit of the fire-vomiting
Vesuvius, from whose flames called up souls
damned of his master & of witnesses; which & compelled
to subscribe their names to a most full receipt: which
written & duly signed, those again to hell to
which damned they were returned; the villicus indeed with exhibited
receipt, the obligation of repeated payment himself excused.
The matter with all circumstances narrates Cressonerius
fol. 47, through S. Antony from damned master receives the receipt: & is held signed by hand of three
in Theology Doctors of the Order of Minors in year
MDCXXXVI, at Naples then studying; & to the same
with permission of the Elector of Cologne to be printed thus
subscribing, Fr. Otto Bonavilla, Provincial
of Prov. Colon. Ord. Min. Conv. S. Francis M. P.
Fr. Honorius vander Ekren. Professed of Prov. Colon.
Ord. Min. Conv. M. P. Fr. Otto Heyden, Professed
of Prov. Colon. Ord. Min. S. Franc. M. P. …
Similar is what follows.
[139] At Eboli in the Neapolitan kingdom, a Merchant certain
& also money-lender John Marone, of his
business curator faithful & by fear of God distinguished
had, similar receipt the same extorts to whom from time to time some thousands of ducats
he was trusting, from him repeatedly demanding & receiving
of done business reckoning; asked moreover the same
into his books to refer, never could be induced
that to the demander he would give of office fulfilled receipt written.
He moreover, whether through negligence, or rather
through malice, was writing indeed whatever to the procurator
his he trusted, not likewise what in return he was receiving.
Meanwhile died also he himself, not unlike
himself sons leaving heirs. These while books of paternal
reckonings scrutinize, & repeatedly noted
in them sums, which the father to that curator his had trusted,
not likewise what for them he had returned, him into law
call. Whom when to refute the faithful he, but unhappy
minister could not, to the money-lender, from flames of Etna summoned. for defect of receipt or notice
any in those books appearing, is cast into prison
as theft's guilty. There he S. Antony invokes;
& into deep & grave sleep plunged appeared
Fr. Minor: who him, with loosed manacles & fetters,
to follow outside prison orders; & led to
the shore & placed in a boat, across the sea as if
transported leads into the flame-vomiting mountain, where
mouth of hell to be seemed, by black & foul
monster guarded. To this the Saint commands, to present
to himself the soul of John Marone of Eboli: who after
written to his procurator which he owed receipt,
again to hell precipitated disappeared: & the curator
in the same boat through the sea is taken, with saying the Saint;
Take courage, & certain be, that whoever in
his necessity me shall invoke, quickly help will experience.
[140] This who had received to hide was asked, So he at his home free himself finding, outside
chains & prison, with quittance in hand;
it in the morning shows to heirs of money-lender:
but because the day given posterior was to creditor's death,
faith could not find before, than all to them,
what either in body or in spirit he had seen, he had exposed.
Understanding moreover unhappy of his father
state, absolved him; but asked, with secret
silence to suppress the seen. is forced to reveal the grace, Did not please God a pact
such, by which the Saint's glory was hidden.
Sends therefore to the man lethal & torturing disease;
with which to extremes brought, & many revolving
in mind, to suspect began, that to be the penalty of hidden
benefit Antonian. Approaches therefore the P. Guardian
of Minors of Eboli, & to him & companion
his narrates all: & this done sudden to health
restored, rises from bed; & the matter through many's
notice divulged, many money-lenders to penance
led. So Francis Statfelt, author of the Lily
Antonian.
[141] Is cured gangrene. At the article, THE SICK RISE HEALTHY, from
Rusconius fol. 39 & 40 this example in place second
is produced. The Marquis of Mirola, General of army
Papal, by Innocent PP. XI sent in subsidy
of Venetians against Turks, in the siege of Sebenico,
with shot fired ball received in leg,
which to him whole bone shattered: & although nothing
of those omitted was, what could from medical art
to curing wound be applied; rotted yet
the leg, & gangrene contracted deadly. This in
discrimine, ordered an image of the Saint to hurt leg
to be placed, & so prays: To thee I flee, O Saint
Thaumaturge, although most unworthy sinner: I know
that thou canst & wilt help. Hardly so spoken he had,
when more easy to be immediately to himself felt, & leg most quickly
to be consolidated, which through days altogether seventy
to move he had not been able. He rises therefore from bed, to stupor
of all, & benefit of Antony gratefully
acknowledged, obtained in year MDCXLIV.
[142] Finally from day eighth, on which are expended
the words, May cease & necessity, is proposed for
confidence's motive following case of year MDCXLIX. A poor man, At Rome
want, that himself with wife & family to sustain
could no longer; on this account that whole year vacant
he had been compelled from work, with no one for whom it he might do
found. Was necessary therefore him subsidies of alms
to beg from consanguineous & known; they indeed
not so liberal were, as required his
extreme necessity. Hence now despairing about himself & his,
on day XV February, which then Feria II of Carnival
was, walking around mountain, which
Monte-Caballi at Rome they name, conspicuous
himself, of a noble man's servant seeking species, offers
asks of appearing from his face pain. Then
after some to each other colloquies; Willingly, said he,
into my service thee I would take, except to Genoa
hence to me to set out is. & himself even to demon to be about to serve professing, To whom Andreas
very imprudently, Even to demon, said he, I would serve
willingly, only to me food & clothing, &
to my little family nourishment he should provide. What more? Is agreed
on stipend, is gone to a tavern under the sign of Rose
near the Macellum, dinner sumptuously; departs
thence under condition, that journey on the following day they would begin,
mutually themselves finding one outside the City milestone,
at the place called Flumicinus, where ship ready
they would have.
[143] In the morning to the way gives himself Andreas, the promises
to fulfill; while him imprudent he follows, but to him coming to Monte-testaceum
meets demon another, or perhaps the same under
going to accompany. So to demon's service addicted, dismissed
now nearly Christ, of salvation was endangered
eternal, unless Antony to him had come to aid, to whom himself he had been accustomed
daily to commend. Indeed to those going out
from the city meets a young Franciscan, with
staff in hand, & clothes girded, as journey
making: who to them approaching, the other with threatening
these words addresses: Ho thou, bloody beast!
whence to thee such audacity, that this wretched soul
thou shouldst presume with thee to hell to drag. To which
with horrible wailing thrice doubled the demon; from S. Antony is freed.
Ah! ah! Antony, always me thou persecutest: & disappearing
so heavy a blow to the wretched inflicted; that
to ground he prostrated. But to himself returning consoled
the Saint; Hence, said he, Andreas, all in God confidence
place, of whom infinitely greater than demon's
power is: nor doubt, but that he to thee
in necessity however great will be present. Under
these things disappeared the Saint, & to Andreas congruent means
administered God, for little family to be sustained;
wherefore grateful himself to show wishing, the matter
whole on a tablet to be painted ordered, & it in the church of Minors
hung, with witness Rusconius pag. 72.
[144] With similar to the aforesaid Book end, & with
similar of the miraculous Responsory illustration, at Bruges came forth
another Flemish Book, in year MDCLXXXVII,
to S. Antony's devotees as new-year's gift of following year offered, From another similar book of year 1687 are held the following.
under the title of Common Refuge, in whatever
necessity, into three divided parts; of which I,
the Life & virtues; II, glory of miracles;
III, manner contains the Saint of being worshipped, especially
through his votive Novena. The Author to hide
his name out of modesty wished, content if
the Book, by two of his Order Theologians approved,
with permission of Fr. Alphonsus Coen, of Recollect Minors
in Flanders Vicar Provincial, into light to go
was permitted; which done with permission of P. Maes, Canon
of the Cathedral Church of Bruges, in print of Peter
van Pee. From such book's part second similarly
I take elsewhere not related. There is alleged Rusconinus a certain,
to me hitherto & to those whom I asked Minors
unknown: is alleged also more frequently Treasure of Boverius;
but neither this required to find I could: I would have preferred
otherwise from the very fount to give each.
[145] To one pierced is obtained time of penance, And first at the word Death, I find, that
In year MDCXXXIX, with brawling at Loreto two,
of whom one for whole seven years confessed had not been,
he by unhappy stroke pierced to ground fell. Sister
his, to the Saint most devoted, & for soul
of brother alone solicitous, fell before his altar,
praying that lest the wretched she should allow eternal to perish. Matter
wondrous! He who by judgment of all for hours two had lain
dead, Confessor seeks; & with that obtained
received the Church's Sacraments, & dies.
In year MDCL John Baptista Bertholdi, hired
to land near a ditch certain to be moved, a digger, with earth slipping buried, is raised.
with great of slipping earth mass is buried, under
it sepulchered, so that hardly to be drawn out he could from
companions of work, with great of two hours labor. Meanwhile
came the Parish-priest, & knowing the deceased
wont to carry around S. Antony's icon, it
from his sack drew out, to those present showed, asked
for the deceased that they should pray, & him with image
signed, & the Responsorium often mentioned recited:
soon moreover signs of life to give Berthold, to open eyes
& to rise up, no in part offended or
hurt. So Boverius pag. 91.
[146] A Turkish matron from cancer healed, At the second word Error, from the same Boverius
pag. 98, thus is read. A Placentine girl of years
fourteen, Hortensia Galbatina, with great
her misfortune, but greater of another good, came into
power of Turks; & to a Bashaw certain sold,
to his wife is delivered for service daily.
To this while attends diligently, notices her
mistress hers daily to invoke a Saint certain;
about whom asking the same who he was, heard to herself
to be named & praised Antony. Happened moreover to matron
this breasts by cancer to be seized, & the evil into
face upward to creep. Then recollected of miracles,
which from time to time from servant Christian she had heard;
Antony invokes, & promises also herself to be future
Christian if by his help she be healed. This done, to Christ is converted. immediately
& sweetly she falls asleep; & awakened, in a moment
healed herself she finds. Nor faith failed. With manly
mind conceived the woman, stealthily herself with chambermaid
into a ship throws, crosses into Spain, with sworn off
Mohammed baptism receives, & perhaps
while these I write still among the living she is, says either the collector,
or Boverius whom he alleges. Finally to things
LOST coming, these to others adds memorable
very.
[147] Charles 2 King of England, In year MDCLV Charles II King of England, at Cologne
Agrippina staying, a thief suffered,
who took away gold & silver which he had not
much, far from paternal kingdom exiling. This he
understood a Noble from his retinue sends to
the Convent of Minors, that with Religious's prayers
he might commend the case. The next day through church passing
venerable old man P. Wernerus Burich, sees
in it a man unknown, stealthily taken recovers. indicating a certain
Confessional. Goes there the Father, & finds
had been. Brings it to the Guardian of Convent, R.
P. Thomas Martini: this to King through two Religious
safe sends back all. The King indeed, confirmed
in his toward the Saint confidence, the matter whole authentically
attested & written by his autograph & seal
confirms; which instrument in the Convent is preserved
as relates Boverius pag. 151.
[148] To Carmelites to Rome going lost viaticum In year MDCLVI R. P. Coelestinus a S. Simon,
of reformed Carmelites through Belgium
both Gallic & Flemish Provincial, with
predecessor his to Rome was going to General Chapter
& companion third who their little packs & viaticum
was keeping. He from these lost pistols nine. The next
moreover day all three Mass say of S. Antony,
nothing one knowing about the other. Are sought everywhere
pistols lost, nor are found. With them despaired
give themselves to way, & passed of eight or nine
hours' space, turn aside to an inn; where
while fire is built, they see among straw shining
of pistols one: then rising from table, wondrously is restored.
hear not without stupor others seven to themselves before feet
to fall, before many who were present standing by.
In evening moreover while to bed they confer, appeared
ninth coin which was lacking. Wherefore soon when to Rome
they arrived, together all approached to the church
of Ara-coeli, where each again in thanksgiving
action sacrificed at his altar, as to see is
in Boverius pag. 152.
[149] From a Swiss Captain taken money, Infinite I would be, if all in this kind written,
much less done I wished to collect; one yet
I cannot omit, what in year MDCLXXIV at Dunkirk
in Flanders happened, just as to me
related then there present, now however here at Bruges
dwelling Fathers. Of Helvetians, French
stipends earning Captain, not far from
our was lodging the Convent: who to bed himself
conferring, under his pillow hid a purse, containing
about seventy pistols. Awakened,
taken purse he found, & did not know whom of theft to suspect
author; came at counsel of domestics
to ours, while Mass of the Saint is said, Mass asks of S. Antony. While it
is said, & Offertory makes the Priest, is rung
strongly at the door bell. Comes there hastily
Porter, & a soldier one finds fearing &
trembling, who offered to him a purse with money
full, standing behind his back somewhat farther
the other. Refuses the purse to receive the porter:
the soldier therefore into the middle parlor it casts, protesting,
that it not he had stolen, & flees.
Was found moreover it to be the purse which the Captain
was seeking, is brought back to the Minors. & to him, still speaking with the Guardian,
is returned. Who hardly of himself possessed for admiration
& joy, afterwards returned, distinguished alms
bringing, whence painted was the effigy of the Saint,
with various around miracles, among which the newest
that also is represented. Was then of Convent
of Dunkirk Guardian Fr. Raymundus Ghysen,
who afterwards of Province of S. Joseph Definitor, the aforesaid
little book sent, to which with his hand the year above noted
he had ascribed, with some there not sufficiently clearly
expressed circumstances, which then present to me
orally confirmed in year MDCXC.
§. XIII. Newest graces, through the Saint obtained, from Italian Mss.
FROM ITALIAN MS.
[150] Of this newest collection's Author, who in num.
124 himself names, The Caesarean Minister in year 1661 Fr. Ludovicus Micoli
of Gemona, begins from a Letter to him directed,
by Most Illustrious D. John Peter Joseph Ceschi
de Sancta Cruce, Commissary for his Caesarean
Majesty at the borders of Italy, in this tenor:
Orders me Paternity yours Most Reverend, that
I write a relation of graces, made to me by
the glorious Thaumaturge: which indeed I confess to me
to be impossible, on this account that, since unto
this hour always under his singular patronage
I have lived, in waters perishing, infinite (so to speak) benefits
daily through him I have obtained & obtain;
three yet more memorable briefly to thee I shall expose.
When in year MDCLXI I was going to Innsbruck,
summoned by Most Serene Archduke, on account of business
certain of my office; & through the Estense dominion
I was going toward Bolzano, & the river Adige
banks overflowing the neighboring all way with waters had covered;
was riding I on the sixth day of June through those
more & more swelling, until at the milestone
one from the Burg of Egna, I saw something of grass; & I thought
higher there land to be. I said therefore to servants,
let me (who than they more expedite I was, no
after me baggage having as they) explore the bottom,
& to it the horse I drove. But when that which
seemed grass only the margin of a most deep certain
ditch covered, headlong into it the horse fell; with recited responsory he is saved:
I indeed, feeling water more to grow, descended
from him; I was hoping namely that it not would transcend
shoulders. But bottom there none finding,
attempted twice in vain to return into the horse;
until with waters garment filling heavy, him above
myself I dragged. Then despairing for the third attempt to ascend
myself into the horse to be able; to servants, from afar me
beholding wrestling with death, I called,
that they recite the Responsorium of S. Antony. To him
when I also myself had commended, neck
of horse I embrace, & by him into safety I am drawn. Returned
therefore at Innsbruck, nothing before I had than to savior
mine at Padua myself to present, & in testimony
of benefit received to hang with thanksgiving
action anathema due.
[151] In year MDCLXVII the only whom I had
son four-year-old & most often infirm, his little son sick recovers in year 1767, thither at a time
was brought, that no more gave
sign of life: whom when to the Saint with usual confidence
I had commended, & healthy I saw; I ordered that for year
one he should carry habit of my Patron, & the little one
as he was to Padua I led to render to benefactor
thanks. In year then MDCLXXXII, with accustomed
to me of side or kidneys pains more bitterly tortured,
when to extreme me brought I believed, & I myself from stone 1682.
at midnight roused family whole I ordered on knees
to recite Litanies Marian with Responsorium
Antonian, & I vowed personally to visit the Saint's
tomb, & House of Virgin of Loreto.
And when, on feet always to Padua walking, to
it I had come plain, whence the church of the Divine to perceive
I could; I bent knees, & Responsorium recited.
Soon moreover to feel I began motion of descending
stone, which & on following night I excreted in that
chamber, which above Paternity yours bedchamber
commodated to me had been. So I testify, from burg
of Val Sugana VIII October, MDCLXXXVIII.
[152] As in year 1668, This Letter follows another, given at Mentoscaensis
de Agesco II August MDCLXXXI in these words.
Although for declaring the Saint of Padua
glory, it is not work of testimonies to be multiplied;
yet, that to my obligation toward Reverence
yours, so much to Saint this devoted, I make
satisfaction; I wish to relate a prodigy which about most holy
his image happened in chapel of this palace;
just as had happened in year MDCLXVIII,
as most certainly I learned from relation of Most Excellent
Peter Grimani, then here publicly recited. In year
now past, for feast of the same Saint most splendidly
adorned was the church or chapel this, & green
lily placed in hand of sacred image, which
with swelling laid aside retained green leaves unto the Vigil
of the feast of this year; so much that silken they seemed,
not in little granules even those yellow, which hang in
middle, thence having fallen out. This therefore year, with greater
even than before zeal adorned the chapel was; [so 1680 & 81 green in hand of statue a lily, flowers protrudes from dry stem.]
my maid another lily into hand of Saint inserted, exposed
to air & rays solar, through window
from time to time entering; on days moreover summer protruded
two flowers beautiful & green, of which one
full now obtained magnitude, the other still
gradually grows, although trunk dry seems;
which thing most illustrious Lord Podestà &
Captain of Capodistria with great relish observed:
so that to be believed it can, that that image
of Saint openly will promise many from God graces
through Saint to be granted. And this is sincere relation
of what happened, as I testify, of Reverence
yours most humble & most obliged servant,
Charles Giotti.
[153] Is illuminated a blind woman: In year MDCLXXIII, Anna Florini of Genoa,
of all nearly eyes' light through three years deprived,
so much nothing profiting remedies, that even
for two weeks utterly blind she had been; vowed,
that if sight former she should recover, to Padua she would go
to thanks to be rendered; as she did, what
she had asked having obtained. At Venice, in May month of year
MDCLXXXVI, are healed, by bull struck; while bullfights watches Matthew Regini,
raging & from chains loosed beast on him rushed,
to ground threw, & of shoulders one with horn
pierced. Lethal wound was believed: but with vow made
he recovered within few days, & with that himself gratefully
paid.
[154] In year same MDCLXXXVI, at Barbon in
Paduano, pierced with shot, while Francis Vernarus of Lusia, with
on him two badly disposed was attacked
with two shots, of which one lethal stroke bore;
but with vow of to be visited tomb sacred pronounced,
former quickly recovered health. In month moreover
September, & with butts struck: at Pedestrina, on John Rossada,
I know not what of work his in garden doing, soldiers
two enemies his rushed, with shots armed; & him
with struck of shots butts so struck, that
dead rather was believed than alive: but because
with heart & mouth had invoked Saint, from two which
he had received deadly strokes, within days not many
he recovered, a mute receives speech: & thanks at Saint's tomb paid.
[155] In the district of S. John of diocese of Bologna, for
months ten of speech deprived Dominicus Comutinus,
it with made vow recovers quickly; & grace
received in the very year prenoted narrated to P. Mag.
Felix Scarella Sacristan, before Fr. Peter Rochi
Subsacrista, & Andrea Friani native of place. Same
year in August month, a boy from high, John Baptista Bissoni
eight-year-old boy, moved by curiosity of seeing persons
some below passing, from podium well high
looking down, on head headlong fell: but in falling
to the Saint himself commending, unhurt rose,
& came to tomb, thanks due to relate: interrogated
moreover by P. Felix Caprio, said, to have appeared
to him the Saint in habit of Religion, & falling
with right hand seized.
[156] Ludovicus Crivius, from Carnia in Germany
going, from vehicle fell into most rapid
river; by whose waves while long is carried away, invoked
the Saint, a man in river fallen are saved: & was freed on day VII August
in year above-said: & vow at Padua as he had promised
paid. In same month & year, to John Maria Pero
of Gransona, of firing shot tube burst,
& forehead his so struck, that half-dead he was collapsed.
Surgeons with opened cranium lethal wound to be
judged: wherefore with great courage invoked Saint;
& by his intercession healed, likewise lethally in forehead wounded: to tomb
came, with thanksgiving action vow paying.
Again in same month & year D. Ursula Tessani;
home going out about third hour of night to
S. Bernardinus, in a certain vehicle; while to
return herself disposes, struck was by stroke of shot in
one of hips: but help of Saint invoking, & by shot struck.
quickly recovered, & anathema promised brought.
[157] In September month appeared at Padua Fr.
Peter Loda, Hermit of Cremona, A blind man receives sight: who when for three
months sight had lacked, nor from applied remedies
anything of help had received; to make pilgrimage
himself to Padua vowing, obtained what he asked within
few days; & this gratefully testified. In same
year, when Adige for days sixteen more vehemently had swelled,
& by its continuous increase rupture
was threatening to embankments, with which in Polesine is contained
lest plain that all it inundate, of town
Lendenara Lords, Senators of place, when to
other celestial remedies in vain had returned, supplicated
Father Guardian of Minors of S. Francis Conventuals,
P. Mag. Paul Cattaneo, would deign
to expose most holy Sacrament, with
miraculous statue of Thaumaturge of Padua, just as
he did on third day of Pentecost feast (then
day VIII June) with running of all of place inhabitants,
in so perilous occasion fervently
to Saint themselves commending. And behold water, inundation is stopped: which
at beginning of action that still was growing, to decrease
began before it was finished; & so very night
more than to four feet subsided, & following
day to former state whole returned. Next
then advent, when aforesaid Guardian preached,
with sermon last refreshed to Senate
memory of graces from Saint received, exhorting
that him, with made senate-consult, Protector
they elect: just as they did on XI January
current MDCLXXXIX, with Lords Councillors &
Regulators vow pronouncing, by which themselves
were binding, every year together all to be present
at Mass, which to be sung they would cause on first feria III of every
January at altar of glorious Saint.
[158] In year MDCLXXXVIII in August month,
D. Joseph Diononis, is healed erysipelas, of Tesana in Forum Julium
tract dwelling, presented himself to P. Mag. Joseph Pasquetti of Padua, Minister Provincial & Commissary
of this beloved Province of S. Antony of Minors
Conventuals, & to me Fr. Ludovicus Micoli of
Gemona, Secretary of same Province in visitation
of Convent of S. Mary of Sabionera, &
deposed; that, with ulcer certain or erysipelas
he was laboring in arm right, with two about elbow
wounds open, so that it from neck suspended
he was carrying, & not to mouth even to bring
he could, great in it torture he bore. But when
in year MDCLXXXVII, about Vigil of Birth of Lord,
he required Sacristan of aforesaid church, that
at Mass for himself impeded he would serve, & he
willingly had done what he was asking; he himself present
under Elevation fervently asked help
of Saint: Mass moreover finished home returned, wife
asked, that arm as she was wont she would treat.
She indeed it inspecting, said nothing of evil to appear,
To whom Joseph: If nothing appears, it so
leave; because Antony has helped me. And a little
after returned to church already mentioned, & made in
thanksgiving action Mass to be said at altar of Saint.
[159] In year MDCXC Veronica, wife of Felix Gatti,
moreover whether outside she did not know; & so to church
of S. Francis sacred herself conferred, & with found there
Religious certain alms offered, for which
Mass at altar of glorious S. Antony he would say, by which
pearls lost she could recover. He her admonished,
that with made first Confession, at said altar Communion
sacred she should take. When therefore patronage
of Saint fervently she had invoked; & home returned,
use from cupboard to produce she wished, sought
unions under it she found, asserting, that the very
tablecloth before curiously she had turned & re-turned often:
& to Padua came, to give thanks for benefit
so singular.
[160] In same in July month, similar line in pyx
enclosed had lost Bartola Sarisina Talia-petra, & another Matron. while
it to be pawned was bringing to Monte-sanctum,
nor to find could whatever applied diligence.
She commended therefore cause her to a certain Religious
of S. Francis; & with him persuading vow made
of to be continued accustomed on Tuesdays supplication.
While moreover home she was returning, sad & weeping
her loss, heard her a Noble certain,
& promptly replied; Secure in soul be, Lady:
I thy pearls bought; but immediately such
of soul disquiet I felt, that day one a thousand
years seemed, until I knew whose they were; & joyful
to woman all restored.
[161] There still in October month, of Dominica
Carestia, there ruins are subducted mother with daughters, together with mother & sister work certain
doing in chamber of house her, near tower
which old is called, curiosity occurred her
tower itself to consider, since on account of antiquity long
was threatening ruin. Hardly she had opened window,
when with great fear consternated to cry began, S.
Antony, help us, mother & sister beseeching
that as soon as possible from chamber they flee: hardly moreover
to ten paces thence she had proceeded, when falling tower
chamber whole with itself dragged; & they from such
present discrimine freed, thanks to their Patron
gave.
[162] In November month with most vehement fevers
there was laboring nine-year-old boy, lethal fever is driven off, only-begotten son
D. Antony Alaiz; about whose life despairing
physicians, ran afflicted father to church
of S. Francis, & several Masses to be celebrated made at altar
of holy of Padua; & nine-day himself to observe
promising, asked Superior of Convent,
that with brought to sick Relic of Saint he would deign
to him to bless. Ceased moreover immediately fever, & within
few days so strong was boy, that to be brought he could
to thanks to be given, & that in habit votive ash-colored.
[163] is saved one fallen into well, In same place, in month & year D. Peter Antony
Garufarini, while ball with companions exercised,
& it striking back, backwards fell into not at all
provided & deep well; & Saint
invoking stood above water nothing hurt. In month
moreover December John Baptista Caniti, descending
from ship which from Padua had returned, headlong fell
into Brenta, then very swollen: & river, but of Antony
help imploring, to be lifted himself manifestly felt,
& to be borne to bank; into which he escaped, with admiration
of all bystanders & his own; & anathema
brought to altar of Saint.
[164] In year MDCXCI in March month, at Padua happened,
that Stella, wife of Mag. Marchiori of Padua, Likewise a certain under ruins; upon
roof of house her had gone for business certain
domestic; & when she wished to descend, subsided
floor, & her in ruins involved into
lowest brought, commending herself to S. Antony,
by whose benefit even safe remained, & vows her
to him paid. In June month, by furies diabolical agitated
jealous woman of Caesena, wife of Blasius Brigi, decided
husband sleeping throat to cut, another with throat cut, & what
she had decided in actual matter was executing; when he, both with pain
as with flowing force of blood awakened,
among those straits Saint as he could invoked,
whose then feast was being kept: & although lethal
altogether wound were judged surgeons, coalesced within
few days; & to Padua came vow his to offer
at ark. There Polyxena Beretini, & sick to death, in grave
which two years had lasted infirmity given up by
physicians, physician from heaven S. Antony required,
with vow of Novena to be done herself binding; & from it
soon began to have better, & gradually healed approached
to tomb, due to give thanks.
[165] & a Religious Minor Of same year in February month, of Paduan
Convent Religious certain graduate with slow fever
was held: which when, growing daily evil, imperceptibly
crept, lethargy at length to sick most dangerous
brought; nor with strengths utterly destitute anything
of remedy could be applied, whence & life
his physicians despaired held. Wrestled yet
with death the sick was space of two months;
with soul always firmed in hope of help to be perceived
from Saint, whom continually invoked, together with
Deipara & B. Francis, advocates his. At length
XV February, from slow consumption. which day is to holy Antony's Tongue
dedicated, asked, that two devout Religious with companion
his would communicate before Sacred ark, by that
end that holy Thaumaturge before God might intercede
for his revalescence: which prodigiously followed
. And the very same physician, professed
that on aforesaid feast he found of artery pulse
altogether resuscitated. From this gradually to himself
returns sick, & about Easter exempted from peril,
decided that by skilled painter's hand matter done would be expressed.
He moreover expressed sick from death
struck, but who by hand of Saint was put to flight; at feet
moreover was read this epigraph: With pale death
long sick striking, by celestial… of B. Mary
Virgin, & holy Father Francis & S. Antony
Protector's patronage supported, unharmed at last
escaped. F. J. P. P. Minor. Conventual
of Convent of S. Ant. Pat. Grace in year MDCXCI.
Such anathema for several days exposed stood
before ark: thence transferred was into chapel to the same
contiguous, eternal of granted grace monument.
[166] MDCXCI in August month, Maria Angela
Margarita Bivei of Padua, infernal tortures to bear
herself believed from stone, because no to them she found
remedy, A woman from stone, when therefore section had decided
to try, in vigil of feast of Antony from heart herself
commended to Saint, & ordinary certain
medicament applied: which soon stone
at once & torture expelled, as she gratefully
testified, it with her anathema to tomb
hung.
[167] In year following in August month, at Padua
appeared from Delos, another from demon, of Paduan diocese NN. Her
from years many demon was agitating & direly bruised
vexing: but placed at venerable ark, & herself
through hour half space to Saint commending:
fell half-dead. Thence to senses returned, summoned
husband, & to him said herself desired grace
to have obtained. He when with hair loosened her saw
standing, asked how this had happened;
she moreover replying this herself to be ignorant, more diligently
looking the man, noticed all of same
extremities cut off, intact to which were tied
little cord: following moreover day with received Confession
& Communion Sacraments, home cheerful
returned.
[168] & a soldier from ball at himself struck, Same year there appeared Antony
Barison of Padua, who in East fighting Most Serene
Republic against common enemy;
& in battle certain struck by shot, invoked Saint;
found moreover his shot, which carried
from belt hanging, bruised indeed by struck
ball, himself indeed everywhere intact:
wherefore his that shot for anathema to
ark hung.
[169] In same year MDCXCII, to solemnity
of feast, A certain Count from lethal disease, from Mantua to Padua came D. Count Bulgarini
with wife, to fulfill vow for health
to him restored from grave & dangerous infirmity,
whence given up by physicians & to extremes brought
he had been. But when at the same time both had vowed for years
some to wear ash-colored garments, gradually better
to have began sick; & vow to fulfill, before
sacred ark himself presented.
[170] In following year MDCXCIV in April month,
Fortunatus Sigismundus, a boy from perilous fall, five-year-old son of D.
Peter Francis Ceschi de S. Cross in burg of Val Sugana
with mother her existing upon a certain
of house little bridge, high feet about forty,
from there headlong & with bare head fell into
subject courtyard, with stones strewn. At noted
sudden case consternated mother, exclaimed;
S. Antony help thee, S. Antony help thee.
Was lying on ground little one with spread hands & turned
face, wherefore by parents & domestics was believed
extinct; & as such by maids' hands brought
into chamber was, & on bed placed. When
moreover him of clothes they had stripped, was detected
accurately from head to feet, when except modest
in head contusion, nothing in whole body
appeared of evil any indication, was permitted
to rest: after one hour to himself returned, & following
day from bed rising healthy, from home was
gone out & led to Padua; where father his matter
whole as done was with hand own wrote, & I
from original at tomb hung the same received.
[171] In year same similarly from Macerata to Padua
came couple two in habit ash-colored, A Macerata certain from lethal fever, for
that man from burning fever to extremes brought,
with wife Novena for him doing, on third Tuesday
day, better to have began; & thence with great steps
he advanced to full health, which to beneficent
Saint received to attribute, with hung to
tomb anathema, they testified.
[172] In year MDCXCIV in May month to Andrew
Pulzato of Noala, a rustic by ruin buried, field cultivating around wall
certain, by this falling buried lay for hours
two; Saint yet with vow invoking,
safe thence was extracted. Son also his
Angelus, of years ten, by horse trampled, & his son by horse trampled,
not only body whole but also head, quickly recovered
when was to Saint commended. By similar of house
his burning ruin at Ferrara in April month oppressed
Joseph Massari, with invoked Saint safe
escaped, & vow paid.
[173] Augustinian Friar from apoplexy, In June month at Milan Religious Augustinian
graduate & to Saint devoted, by light was
apoplexy touched: after time moreover some
relapsed so, that physicians, with attempted in vain remedies,
said about of soul salvation to be thought only
for him. When therefore Saint had invoked, & his
help soon to have lighter much had begun; to health
at length former restored, took care vow
his at sepulcher to be hung in September month.
[174] brothers 2 from demon, In June month aforesaid, in town Lugo youths
two brothers, Francis Xaverius & Antony
Capuzzi, often by malign spirits invaded, &
through exorcisms for time only freed;
at length in church of S. Francis by uncle his,
there Religious, commended to Saint were, &
by him from vow to Padua led to sacred
ark; to which on evening of day XXVII both placed,
entirely cleansed were, with ceasing to one
furious by which was tortured movements, to other returning
free of foot impeded use.
[175] several from danger of shipwreck about to be made, While in June month of year same, from East
happily sails was making, Venice toward, firm
ship, with travelers full; in gulf of Lodrina seized
it dire tempest, & with broken anchor
rope of safe return hope had lost all. But
vowing pilgrim from their number one with common
expenses going to go to Padua, & for each
going to bring royal one, from imminent shipwreck
were preserved. Hardly indeed vow they had pronounced,
when calmed tempest was, & to port landing
no first care came, than to dispatch votive
pilgrim, who of matter whole eye-witness
with their offering to ark came.
[176] In similar peril poor certain from
Mestre to Venice were coming, in boat uncovered, or with overturned boat to be drowned.
with one sole ferryman. When moreover they had approached
to S. Secondo, place very perilous,
& the sailor had applied all his effort in vain,
was overturned by waves the boat. With one yet excepted,
who perished; the rest, who to Saint themselves had commended,
with seized of boat margin, to the same
adhered; until the rower it had erected;
then safe to port landed: whence together
all to Padua came, & what to them had happened
confessed to Father spiritual their.
§. XIV. Miracles from Spanish of Damianus Cornegius, edited in year 1684: & of one Lutheran wondrous conversion.
[177] James Cabarella, Count of Collalto, Consul
of Padua, when was of Antonian sacristy Treasurer,
& was necessary for office his presence
his to exhibit of Relics ark of Saint, A ring at Saint's ark lost for
solace of pilgrims certain, to be opened;
from wife, then recently from birth relieved, two received
rings, to sacred Relics to be applied. This when
to do he was preparing, slipped from hands of them one was,
& it with adamants precious set: which although
in all & of Guardian sight had fallen, at home is found,
sought yet on pavement, to be found nowhere
could. Let us say therefore, said Guardian,
Responsorium of Saint; for since falling we have seen,
without doubt hides in some corner concealed.
Returned thence home Count, half mile distant,
& found wife, in soul sick, on this account that
window of bed her contiguous: wherefore entering
to her husband querulous received, as negligent.
But he when affirmed altogether himself ring to have brought
to ark, & there it with hands his slipped; agreed
at length between them, both certified, benefit
of Saint to have been, that home he just then
was.
[178] No less wondrous is, what to me narrated
now Guardian of Convent of S. Mary of
Alcalá. Namely, that when he was studying Theology,
& on a certain night after Matins he wished to mend
tunic his; & in the very work for another certain
cause to rise he was compelled, not enough to needle his
attentive fell out it; & was hour inconvenient, namely
between third & fourth, with invoked Saint. for to seek another
needle from fellow-students. In vain therefore through way which
he had gone & returned he had searched, to Saint it commended
by reciting Responsorium. To cell
his about to enter, & hand applying to lock, while
key turns, felt to himself something within right to move:
what spider thinking, to shake off he was trying. But
with applied closer little candle which carried, needle
his he saw from thread hanging: & praised benignity
of Saint, even of such small caring.
[179] Francisca Conti of Bologna, tortures
was suffering most grave from demons, an energumen freed, to whose tyranny
was permitted: among whom mind so was alienated,
that intervals certain lucid having, she believed
of exorcisms to be applied. Under these things with great
faith invoking S. Antony, him to herself in clear
splendor standing she had on night certain; & she heard
him admonishing, that in Deipara virgin placing
confidence, by her herself to be freed she should believe. And
I, said he, instead of her have come, health to thee about to confer.
This said with seized by hair he compelled
face to turn to image of Deipara, with the Saint Deipara imploring. son with arms
embracing, which at bolster of bed stood; & asked
that to her this devotee health he would restore. Immediately
moreover to vomit she began of unclean animals
abundance great: of which freed, free herself
also from demons felt; & with great cries
husband elsewhere reclining & family rousing, her healing
& whatever had happened with words explained,
& further truth of vision with constant health
proved.
[180] For 20 years sterile, from vow she conceives: In year MDCXVII a matron of Bologna,
with sterile through years twenty marriage used, & therefore
to husband hateful, no less by unhappiness her than
by husband's adulteries was afflicted; with continuous prayers,
alms, fasts of Saint help she was imploring.
While moreover at a time her unfortunate condition
she was exposing to Religious certain Franciscan;
counsel received, she should institute herself together with husband
Novena to Saint, & altogether herself should believe of vow
compos to be future. Not hardly offered condition
accepted husband; & wife soon to have conceived
rejoicing, was confirmed in undertaken of life better
purpose. & with brought forth shapeless mass, But when of giving birth time had come,
came forth into light shapeless & putrid mass,
which the man into furies & worst about wife's modesty
suspicions impelled: nor dared women, who
at giving birth had stood, unhappy fetus to mother to show.
She indeed soon as from birth's pains relieved
herself somehow felt, refusing & many things
excusing she compelled to show to herself whatever
it was: nor indeed believe I can, she was saying, she receives from altar living & beautiful infant. that
Saint my to me has mocked. Brought, & with tears
recognized, with cleaner cloths to be wrapped ordered,
& to be placed upon altar Antonian. Done this to husband
present, and a future witness of the miracle, or at least one who would take care that no fraud be committed against him. But while all alike were devoutly intent upon prayer, there seemed to be a stirring of the sad bundle beneath its cloths, and a wailing was heard to issue forth. The swaddling-bands were unbound, and there appeared a most beautiful infant; and being carried home with the joy of the father to its mother, it dispelled from the man all the mists of his suspicions.
[181] A girl to be prostituted by her mother A certain woman of Naples, noble but poor, had a most beautiful daughter, whose chastity she preferred to set up for sale rather than to endure a poverty unbecoming to her station. When she had laid this counsel of hers before her daughter, and the girl, full of modesty, abhorred it; after a long struggle on both sides, on a certain evening the chaste maiden came to the Convent of S. Lawrence, and with profuse tears besought help from her holy Patron. Nor in vain. She receives a note from the Saint, For the image of the Saint, stretching out its arm, held out a little note to her, bidding her carry it to a rich merchant whom it named, inscribed with these words: "To the woman bringing this note, let there be given as a dowry as much weight of good silver as it shall weigh. Farewell. Friar Antony." The girl, delaying not at all, went where she had been bidden, and handed over the note, telling by whom and whence it came. He, gazing upon her beautiful face and confused in mind, began to think that she was some prostitute who was using such a trick to catch money; and he answered her: "Either he who is to marry you with so small a dowry is some lecher, or he loves you greatly and from the heart: four hundred crowns for a dowry. for my part, in honor of S. Antony, I am altogether willing to do what you ask of me in his name." And taking the note, he placed it on one side of the balance, and on the other a few silver coins; but they so failed to raise the little paper that it was necessary to add up to four hundred crowns. Then indeed there came back to the merchant's mind a vow concerning a silver lamp to be provided at that price; and understanding that the carrying out of it was being commuted for him into an alms of equal value, he made over the whole sum to the girl; who, using it well, obtained a suitable match for herself, and at the same time relieved her mother's poverty.
[182] At Palermo, in the principal Convent of a certain Religious Order, a lay Brother, blinded by a lust for gain, a censer carried off by theft had stealthily removed from the sacristy a silver censer, to be valued more for its workmanship than for the weight of its metal. But the sacristan, having perceived the loss, did everything to recover it together with the Brother; for he suspected him so much the less, the more bitterly that man execrated the thief with sharper curses. And indeed he feigned an extraordinary zeal for the sacred object, so much so that he urged the Father Sacristan to go with him to the first church of the Seraphic Order in that place, sacred to S. Francis, intending there to have a Mass sung in honor of S. Antony. The Sacristan did not refuse, having much hope of recovering the loss reposed not only in S. Antony of God, but also in the firm fidelity of that good Brother, as he believed. And behold, while the one was intent on feigned prayers, and the other upon true ones as devoutly as could be; it is made manifest during the sacred rite, the hypocrite, having by chance drawn out a handkerchief to wipe his nose, drew out also the little chains of the censer: which the Sacristan soon recognizing, caught the thief; and as he had deserved, he presented him, arrested, to the Prelate; lest indeed the benefit of the Saint should be wrapped in ungrateful silence; yet with this moderation, that he prayed for a milder punishment for the thief.
[183] These things having been gleaned from the Spanish (for most of what Damianus relates, we have in the foregoing from another source), I return to the Italian Collection which I ended there, where the Collector had ceased to write with his own hand. For there was then, in another hand, namely that of the very man to whom the matter had happened, yet in the same quire, recorded the following admirable case, written in the year 1694, as follows. In the year 1684, Henry Hintz, by birth a Mecklenburger, by sect a Lutheran, from Saxony, was staying at Bensheim in the house of a certain Catholic In the year 1684 a Lutheran Saxon, for his business, and had a room assigned to him, where there stood, set out upon the table, an image of S. Antony of Padua, printed on a half-sheet of paper, within a small border. This, by I know not what chance, stood with the head turned to the feet, nor had Henry noticed it; when on a certain day there entered there some of his Catholic friends; one of whom, noticing the image standing inverted, restored it to its right position, saying to Henry that it was no light sin thus to dishonor the Saints of God. Henry excused himself truthfully, that this had been done by no fault of his own, but by a chance unknown and accidental to him. Nevertheless the other persisted in rebuking him the more importunately, and in saying inverting the Saint's image contemptuously, that he marveled that God should endure such contempt of His so beloved servant. Then Henry, somewhat angered, spoke these very words: "Do you then perhaps wish that what can never happen, that it should turn itself round?" To whom his friend said: "Do not mock; for God, who through this Saint as His instrument has done so many marvels, could also do this."
[184] he finds it restored of itself: Henry laughed at all this, and seizing the image again, although all warned him not to do it, turned it upon its head, affirming with an oath that if it should turn itself round there, he would altogether profess himself a Catholic: and having said this, he made all go out of the room, and shut it himself, taking the key with him. After some time, having returned to the same place for his business, and thinking nothing more of the aforesaid, he unlocked the room, and saw the image upright upon the table, set on its feet. Then indeed, confused and astonished, he departed thence, nor for shame did he say a single word to anyone about the matter; but in the evening, going to bed as late as he could, he did not dare even to look at, much less to touch, that image, for fear. At length, however, this fear having been little by little dispelled, after some days he came nearer; and his courage being resumed, he even dared to touch it, and in order to remove it from his sight, gave it to a certain girl, a daughter of the family; then indeed he also departed from the aforesaid house and town, and gave himself into the service of the Hollanders, and returning with them from Smyrna through Italy, at last came into his own country.
[185] Here again he rested for some time, and again went off into Italy to see Rome and other more illustrious places; afterward becoming a Catholic in Italy in the year 1692, and at last at Florence he approached Cosimo III, Duke of Tuscany; by whom, being presented with a military standard, he remained in garrison at Porto Ferraio. And when the most illustrious Lord Paul Pecci of Siena, Bishop of Massa, visited that fortress several times among the other places of his care, Henry began to deal more familiarly with him; and God touching his heart inwardly, he resolved, having abjured Luther, to embrace the Catholic religion, as he did on the blank day of May in the year 1692: and the next morning, nay, even a Religious, having made to the Most Illustrious himself the confession of his sins, he received from his hands holy Communion and Confirmation, in the principal church of that place. Then, having received a testimony of what had been done, signed by the hand of the Bishop himself, and having been discharged from military service, he betook himself to Siena; and there, among the Friars Minor Conventual, took the Franciscan habit, on the 4th day of June in the year 1694, with the name of Friar Antony Paul. This event stands written concerning the image of the Saint, from the account which Henry himself gave to the Bishop in the Confession made to him, accusing himself of that sin; which the Bishop asked Henry that it might be permitted to reveal, and he himself most willingly assented, to the glory of God and of His Saint. And in faith and as a sign of the truth, he attests the miracle in the year 1694. the aforesaid Henry, now a Religious as above, wrote this account with his own hand. And it was signed, in the same hand in which he had written the aforesaid, "Friar Antony Paul Hintz, as above, with my own hand."
June II: 14 June