ON B. GERLAND THE KNIGHT
OF JERUSALEM, A TEMPLAR OR HOSPITALLER? AT CALTAGIRONE IN THE SYRACUSAN DIOCESE OF SICILY.
13TH CENTURY
PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY.
About the place and acts of the Translation, and the ancient and present-day cult of the sacred Body.
Gerland, Knight of the Order of S. John of Jerusalem at Caltagirone in Sicily (B.)
D. P.
Sicily counts altogether nine Calatas,
all placed on hills;
of which which one was named by Cicero, declaiming
against Verres, and by Pliny
and Antoninus Galata, Calata of Hiero a most ancient city, is not
easy to determine; but easy against
Fazello to decide, that they, whatever the reason of the name,
were not by the Saracens so called, granted that some of them
perhaps he fortified. Among them in appearance and amplitude
more noble is that one which Caltagirone the common people
call, for distinction from the others, whose
names are formed by adding the names of Belota,
Biani, Busamari, Amari, Nixetta, Sibetta,
Simi and Votoris. That one which I said, of the Syracusan
diocese is, midway between Syracuse and
Agrigentum on the road, the work probably of King Hiero;
the Syracusan either the First, who flourished in the year of Rome
founded 276; glories in the body of B. Gerland, or the Second, who in the year
of the same City 529 died, both for the friendship of the Romans
celebrated, the latter also for the study of good arts,
while the former rather exalted himself with military glory.
But the city itself, which among the eight Royal cities of the Syracusan diocese holds the third place, not so much by that its
antiquity, and other splendid things many boasts itself,
as that in the most ancient of S. James and at the same time
one of the four Parochial churches, it possesses the body
of B. Gerland of Germany or (as others call him)
John of Poland, Knight of Jerusalem—
perhaps by proper name John, by surname
Gerland called, and by homeland indeed a Pole, but
by appellation more generic attributed to Germany.
His Head in a silver case is enclosed,
says Rochus Pirrus, and of the Finding from the revelation
of S. Constantine on June 18, of the Translation
on the 19th day of the same is made a celebrated memory.
[2] Of his death, not only the day, but the year and century
are unknown; nor is it sufficiently established whether to the Templars
or to the Hospitallers of the Knights of Jerusalem
he is to be ascribed; whether he is to be ascribed to the Templars or Hospitallers is doubted much less by what
virtues especially he shone. Our Octavius Cajetanus,
in tome 2 on the Lives of the Sicilian Saints,
with the Acts of the Finding and of the Miracles following it,
from the Caltagirone archive produced, among the Animadversions
thus reasons: It has been doubted by me,
whether B. Gerland was a Templar knight,
or a Hospitaller. This is certain, that the church of S.
Mary (in which he lay buried) and the fields between Caltagirone
and Piazza, of the Order of the Templars
existed; whence to the church, field and river
the name from the Temple, "Tenebio," today
corruptly called. The Templars being extinguished, about the year
1310, their goods the Roman Pontiff Clement
V, to the Knights of S. John the Hospitallers
of Jerusalem gave. But in what year
did B. Gerland depart from life? If before the year
1310 (until which the Templars held the place
in which the body was found) certainly a Templar
he was; [the first opinion is favored by the place which was theirs 17 years before the finding of the body,] in which age the church of S. Mary and the field
by the Templars was possessed. But if after the year
1350 he died, a Hospitaller
he was. Although most think, that a Templar
he was, because it is not probable, that Gerland
departed from life within that space
of years, which intervene from the suppression of the Templars
to his Finding: inasmuch as in so
short an interval of time there would have survived among
the Caltagironians the memory of the Blessed man, and of his
life and sepulchre; nor within years
17 would it utterly have become obsolete. The revelation however
of the body of B. Gerland, by D. Constantine made,
as of a thing unknown seems to have been, which from
many years in the memory of men was not. But
these things by no means prevail much: for the revelation
aforesaid, is not of an unknown man and
sepulchre, but of an unknown innocence of the man.
For the man was known, in whatever place he
was buried; but to the Caltagironians hidden were
the man's merits, and the sanctity of his life,
which God, D. Constantine disclosing, openly
made known willed. There favors the Hospitallers of Jerusalem
an ancient among the Caltagironians of B.
Gerland tablet, in which he is depicted, with a white
Cross at the breast, in the manner of the Knights of D. John.
[3] But these are not older than the year 1580. But this is not very ancient, inasmuch as the very one
which to be looked at and considered the page turned
sets forth, found among the Images of the Saints and Blessed
of the sacred Order of S. John of Jerusalem, re-struck
by Francis Truglio, with compendia of Lives from
the Histories part 1 and 2 of James Bosio. For the Cross's
expressed form, such as today is in use, as
Bosio himself acknowledges, pointed with eight points,
much differs from the ancient use, of forming the Cross
wont with obtuse angles, as is to be seen in the twin
effigy, ancient and new, of B. Ubaldesca of Pisa,
at the day May 28. Light therefore is this also
an argument, especially since from Bosio it is established to us,
that when questioned about it in the year 1616
the Elders of the city answered only, that that
tablet they had seen in the church of S. James placed for
thirty-five years, that is about 1580.
The knot however proposed by Cajetanus in some way
to me seems to solve the same Bosio, And Bosio says he flourished in the year 1244, when he judges that B.
Gerland died indeed before the finding
of the body eighty-four years, and so about
1244, 66 years before the extinction of the Templars;
entirely he would solve it if equally he taught
either the place of the Temple to have passed from the Templars to the Hospitallers
more quickly by purchase or exchange,
or of the burial in another's ground given to the Blessed himself
does, a stronger presumption always for the Templars will stand,
whose place it was; and I will suspect those to whom
afterward the body was revealed, which for the Templars much avails. to have kept silent in the Acts
to be described the true title of his Profession, although to themselves
not unknown; because it, on account of the then evil fame of the Templars,
was an abomination among the common people.
[4] As to what pertains to the cult, the same Cajetanus continues in the Animadversions
and says, that on the feast of the Translation
day a Mass formerly of the Common
of a Confessor not Pontiff was chanted;
the Relics of his head through the sacred church of D. James,
in which the body is kept, were led;
in the same church is the image of B. Gerland, A more solemn cult from of old
with miracles painted around. Moreover to B. Gerland
public honors longer by the Caltagironians
were paid; but to them put an interdict about the year nearly
1590 John Horoscus, Bishop of Syracuse:
who when Caltagirone, which in the Syracusan diocese is, he visited, the feast
of the Blessed man's day to be celebrated forbade, until
the miracles legitimately proved, and by the authority of the Church
sworn were demonstrated. about 1590 it is abrogated, Namely except
those only were found by decree of the Bailiff,
Judges, and Sworn Fathers of the City of Caltagirone.
For which cause, as just now
I related, John Bishop of Syracuse the feast
of B. Gerland's day to be performed forbade. About to permit
probably, because he seemed to have been introduced without the authority of a Bishop; if to see it had befallen him the Instrument,
which to the archive of the Church of Agrigentum
searching Cajetanus afterward into his hand came,
by which of two Bishops Thomas of Syracuse
and Philip of Agrigentum by the authority taken
sworn witnesses are of two miracles.
[5] After these words thus Cajetanus proceeds.
A copy of that Instrument with me I have,
and it was requested in the year of the Lord's Incarnation
1331, on the 22nd day of the month of October, of the 15th
Indiction. Furthermore the miracles, in the town of Leocata
of the Agrigentan Diocese excerpted by this instrument, but other things the Acts of the year 1331 prove.
are those which happened to James
of Naso, and to the son of Marcantius of Laurentius.
And it is credible, that Thomas, Bishop of Syracuse,
who the miracles of B. Gerland sworn
to be taken in another's Diocese took care, much more
in his own the same to be done commanded; but perhaps
the Acts are lost, and therefore to John Horoscus
the Bishop's notice did not come, through which
would have ceased the defect of Episcopal authority by him
required. Furthermore to the Caltagironian Acts subscribed
also were read these verses, according to the custom of that age
woven in Leonine style, and some of the living
notice presenting.
O how Gerland marvelous is to be reckoned,
For at his tomb the weeping, with infirm mind atoning,
Who pious from his tender years a merciful one while he was,
All of their diseases healed returned.
Now he was found, fragrant though retained in the earth,
He is by the Lord's gift bestowed on Caltagirone.
[6] I asked that to me the very book of the Caltagironian Acts
be transcribed: which while I awaited,
it pleased from the above-praised Bosio to prepare for the press a historical Synopsis
of those Notices, Which while they are awaited, which he indeed
from the year 1602 to collect began in
order to a repeated edition of his Jerusalem History,
but not before the year 1621
published. From this edition first Bosio himself
took the images and lives of the Saints, and
as his other works all probably also at Rome
he caused to be struck not long after: which then
the very plates Francis Truglio having got at Palermo
in Sicily to be re-struck gave, and inscribed
them to Fr. Charles Aldobrandini, Commander and of the sacred
Order itself there Treasurer, in the year 1632
ending. In Italian written that History was, the Synopsis from Bosio is prefixed. nor
yet into Latin rendered, that I at least know.
The office therefore of interpreter here I will perform: apt is
for this Eclogue great light to bring forth either
to the Original Acts which I await, or at least
to the compendium of the same found in Cajetanus:
who Bosio or Truglio could not use, inasmuch as
departed from life in the year 1620 on the 8th day of March; worthy
whose effigy at Rome by the command of superiors sculpted
may be looked at, with an inscription by which by birth, learning,
and holy manners conspicuous he is proclaimed;
as is read in the Library of our Society.
HISTORICAL SYNOPSIS
From the Italian of Bosio in Truglio.
Gerland, Knight of the Order of S. John of Jerusalem at Caltagirone in Sicily (B.)
FROM THE ITALIAN OF J. BOSIO.
[1] About 1242 About the year of salvation acquired one thousand
two hundred and forty-second,
flourished in great opinion of Sanctity,
in the island of Sicily, a noble Knight of the Most Illustrious
Order of S. John of Jerusalem, Fr.
John of Poland, or (as others write)
Gerland of Germany. Who thither, in Sicily flourishing B. Gerland as
by probable reasoning is gathered, from the Order's Master
and the Jerusalem Convent, to inspect
and govern the possessions of the Order
there situated; or perhaps of his own accord thither having gone
in the company of Frederick II the Emperor then
King of the island, was wont for the most part to dwell
in the city of Caltagirone: where serving God
with sincere affection, under the obedience of Superiors,
with examples of wondrous sanctity, as a true
soldier of Christ he shone. and there holily dead, For protecting widows,
defending orphans, raising up the oppressed,
consoling the afflicted, helping the needy,
under the exterior habit of a splendid Knight he wore
next to his body a rough hair-shirt; and his very
own body he macerated with most severe disciplines,
rigid abstinence, long and frequent
fasting, and assiduous and fervent prayer. In
this manner a life plainly Angelic leading
upon the earth, he impressed on those citizens' minds
of his human pilgrimage the end most fortunate
he obtained.
[2] His soul carried into the heavens, to the rewards of his Christian
virtues to receive;
his body, shone with miracles. with the inmost feeling of those peoples
and tears, especially of the poor and
needy, was buried around the city
itself: where through a long series of years it pleased the Most High
to render testimony to his sanctity, by healing
infirmities many of those coming
faithfully to his sepulchre. But through the calamities
public of war and pestilence, and of other
human miseries, and revolutions of government
in the aforesaid Island, of all which
not the least part the city of Caltagirone
sustained, The Body given to oblivion, is revealed, into oblivion went the venerable place of the burial; until after eighty-
four years from the aforesaid death, it pleased God,
for the common solace of that people, who to this
Saint most devout always had been, his body
to draw forth into light. For a certain Saint
Constantine, appearing to James of Calatasimi,
dwelling at Caltagirone, to him
revealed that the body of that most holy Knight
lay buried in the church of S. Mary, from the Temple
surnamed, outside the said city,
which church now destroyed lies; showing
him precisely the place itself of the burial.
[3] This when he had revealed to certain of his friends,
together all they went to the said S.
Mary's church: and sweetly fragrant is dug up in the year 1327. and digging the ground in that
place which James indicated, indeed they found
rested, whence soon a most sweet fragrance
arose, through the whole church diffused. That thing happened
on June 18, in the year 1327. There ran
to such a famed report of such a finding all the
city's people; and by mandate
of the Sworn-men by decree of the Council and Magistrate,
with the utmost reverence and honor translated
the new treasure was to the glorious church
of S. James, the Patron and Protector of that place.
And here it pleased God to the honor of his name
and praise by the intercession of that Saint
the old miracles to renew; for as many sick,
contracted and feeble as thither approached,
in a very wondrous manner were cured; those especially,
who with living faith their hurt body's parts or
ill-affected anointed with wine, Once it was translated into the city the miracles increase. in which the washed
Relics had been. So many miracles
those were, that the Magistrate and Sworn-men of Caltagirone, lest oblivion also should creep upon them,
took care for a juridical examination to be instituted.
Hence of witnesses above ninety-five heard
and examined the depositions, which consigned are found
in a codex, which with public faith
is kept in the cabinet or chest of the Privileges
of the city.
[4] An authentic transcript of that Manuscript,
subscribed by the hand of Master Notary
Francis Fide, and sealed with the seal of the Community, A transcript of the Process formed about these things
was sent to the Most Serene Grand Master
Fr. Aloysius de Wignacourt: who exceedingly
desiring to be preserved the memories of the Knights
his religious, of special fortitude,
virtue and sanctity famed by praise, when
was to be re-struck the first part of the Histories of this
sacred Religion, recently by me amplified
and augmented; transmitted to the Author not only took care to obtain and to me
to be transmitted the aforesaid transcript: but also,
lest it could in any way be doubted whether
the Saint aforesaid, everywhere named B. Gerland
of Germany truly was a Knight of that
Religion; he committed to Fr. Don Joseph de
Inga, a Knight of Caltagirone, that informations
juridical there about that matter duly to be confected
he should ask. He did obediently what he was commanded,
and through a memorial of the Court of the sworn-men offered
supplicated to be done what the Master asked.
[5] And so by mandate of the Worshipful D. James
de Claromonte, one of the abovesaid Sworn-men,
on the 21st day of July in the year 1616 there were in the Court
abovesaid in form and Juridically examined nine
witnesses, of the elder, more noble, and in the year 1616 other witnesses heard, and chief
Caltagironians; who all concordantly
and conformably deposed and made amplest
credence, that for thirty-five years back
in the parochial church of the glorious S. James the Apostle and Patron of the city
was held depicted the image of B. Gerland
of Germany, about an image painted 34 years before, in the habit of a Hospitaller. by the greater part of the witnesses called
Gerland of Poland, Knight of the sacred
Religion of Jerusalem, now of Malta,
at whose image's neck and over the mantle
was painted the sign of a white Cross,
of the same form and figure, in which today it
bear the Knights of the aforesaid Religion: and that
in the same image is seen the Saint with a sword
girt: and that from that time in
the said church and at the altar of his image with
much devotion was wont yearly the feast to be celebrated
before a most frequent people in the month of June
in memory of the finding of his sacred
Relics. and votive offerings hung to it. Affirming moreover that around
the aforesaid image were hung many
miracles painted, as done through the Saint;
unanimously the same depose each of the aforesaid
to be true and to them certain, as witnesses of
sight.
[6] The first who communicated to me the notice
of this Saint Gerland of Poland or of Germany,
insisting that of him mention I should make
in this my history, His outline sent to the Author. was the Commander
Fr. Jucundus Accarigius of Siena, Secretary
of the Chamber of accounts and common treasury of the same
sacred Religion, a Knight of great
merits, prudence and fortitude; who
when he was Treasurer of the Religion at Leocata in Sicily,
having received from the natives a summary report
of the sanctity and of the miracles of B. Gerland;
by zeal as was fitting great led, for the honorable
mention of him in the Histories of his Order
to be procured; such as in fact from me he obtained
in the recent edition of the first part of them
with new study amplified and illustrated; where
also his effigy to be expressed I took care,
altogether such as above you see; and
that there might be had about him all that certitude which
history requires, he insisted with the Master
of the Order, that by his authority interposed
might be done as much as above I said was done.
[7] Afterward by the Knight Fr. Alexander
Benci, then Commander at Caltagirone, but now
of the S. Sepulchre at Florence in his homeland,
was sent to me an authentic instrument, There had also in the year 1331 been taken certain miracles,
confected at Leocata in the year 1331 whence
it appears that by express mandate through letters
patent of Fr. Philip Bishop of Agrigentum
to Rusticus Antelmi, Priest and
Chaplain of S. Mary of Monte Leocata;
and at the instance of Peter Bishop of Syracuse,
were verified some miracles of B. Fr.
Gerland of Germany or Poland through the examination
and depositions of several witnesses: and from
the same instrument it is proved that already
from about three hundred years before this Fr. Gerland
of Germany or Poland had been named
Blessed. and witnesses heard in the year 1619. Finally the same Commander
of the S. Sepulchre Fr. Alexander Benci sent me
an authentic attestation of five witnesses
qualified, who before the Court of the Sworn-men
examined on the 24th day of October 1619 with
an oath affirmed, again by them seen
in the church of S. James the Parochial the painted image
of B. Gerland, girt with a sword and in
his cloak bearing a Cross, with eight points notable,
such as today in use to the Order is. And the same
noble Caltagironian men assert,
that the festivity of B. Gerland himself was wont to be kept
with such great concourse of people, that it was one
of the chief in the whole year among them solemnities.
ANNOTATIONS OF D. P.
b Would that
the beginning of the possession, given to the Templar Knights at
Caltagirone, were explained! For each Order at Jerusalem began about the year 1120, and each by holy men at its beginning shone: nor do I know why to the 13th century Gerland should be deferred with no argument adduced.
the appearance of guardianship a tyranny occupied Manfred the Bastard: who at length
being extinguished, Sicily to the Franks passed, in the year 1265; who in the year 1282
being destroyed, the Aragonese the kingdom obtained, but these too being ill in concord,
until the year 1336, very many calamities suffered the Sicilians, publicly and
privately, among which it would be no wonder for the memory of B. Gerland to have become obsolete, or even utterly perished, although a century perhaps not entirely elapsed.
g Whence,
in a matter so uncertain, so certain a determination of time? Above he had said,
about the year 1244 the saint flourished, not died. As to Frederick II pertains, he into Syria crossed over, and Jerusalem recovered; if however to have recovered
it can
be said, which soon unguarded he dismissed in the year 1228. The same of the Templars
deserving. Their histories, drawn to the year 1232, narrate only, that from the Pope
he asked his affairs, in Syria going to ruin, to the Hospitallers to be commended,
as though trusting them more: although Rochus Pirrus says of him tom. 1 pag. 18
that he occupied these as well as the Templars' goods in Sicily. The same finally after
his return in the nearer Sicily, that is the Neapolitan kingdom, for
the most part acted; a grievous neighbor to the Church and Pontiff. He could however
with his fleet have returned to the West Gerland, if a Hospitaller,
not a Templar he was.
now knows Sicily: unless perhaps the Emperor whom Bosio does not seem here
to understand: but someone to the Sicilians commonly known: Cajetanus
his doubt here covered with silence.
Thus
then perhaps some, at least Sicilians, numbered the years of Christ; others
four years more numbering; so that it must be noted by these, as
soon will be demonstrated, the year 1331: and thus the miracles which Cajetanus
found at Agrigentum noted on October 22, happened within the fourth from
the finding month.
These things thus deduced I was about to give from Octavius Cajetanus the Finding and miracles of B. Gerland if
the originals of the Caltagironians were not obtained; when these I received through
our P. Conrad Janning in the month of July last from Rome sent, with
his letter the authors of the benefit thus praising.
If many, to our Fathers, inhabiting the College of Caltagirone, were
equal in promoting the glory of the Saints of their homeland; somewhat more truthful
would be this our work (insofar as indeed its truthfulness depends
on the informations, which are submitted to us) and less costly
to the authors. I wrote not long ago to the Reverend Father Rector of the College
aforesaid, then to me not even by name known,
Francis Falseca, asking, that the Acts of the Finding and miracles of B.
Gerland, which with style changed and interpolated in the second tome of the Sicilian
Saints to be read gave P. Octavius Cajetanus; he for us to be described
would take care word for word from the original, which made in the year 1327, carefully
is kept in the archive of the city of Caltagirone. Nor were more things needed,
than that the Father Rector should commit the care of that matter to the Reverend P. Francis Aprilis, in
the same college of sacred Theology Professor, and of the sacred inquisition for
the censure of books. He indeed without delay the Most Illustrious Senate of the city
convened: asked the favor to be made him of extracting from the archive the said
Acts, and of describing them: and obtained both; and performed it
accurately, even more than I had asked. For besides his own testimony
affirming, the copy with the original to agree; he took care to be added also
the public testimony of the same thing with the seal of the city most gratefully
of Caltagirone: and the Reverend Father Rector for the expenses, in the aforesaid made,
preferred to await compensation from the Blessed one, for whom chiefly they were made;
than from us those to be refunded to himself. I send to Your Reverence with these the very Acts, now
nearly ready for the press, with some observations added, partly suggested by P.
Aprilis, partly others.
MIRACLES OF S. GERLAND
Consigned by Public authority in the first half-year after the Finding
From the original Manuscript of the City.
Gerland, Knight of the Order of S. John of Jerusalem at Caltagirone in Sicily (B.)
BHL Number: 3450
FROM THE MANUSCRIPT.
CHAPTER I.
Miracles wrought through the month of June.
[1] The miracles, which the pious and merciful Lord
our Jesus Christ for his
mercy's sake to the persons written below to do and
to work deigned, B. Gerland having been found through revelation, by the spirit and merits of Blessed
Gerland of Germany; whose relics through
S. Constantius to James of Caltagirone, inhabitant
of this land of Caltagirone, were revealed,
and in the sepulchre of the Church of S. Mary of
the Temple by the said James were found
on the 18th of the present month of June of this 14th,
indiction, 1327, which in the church of S.
James of Caltagirone were afterward
honorably placed, demonstrated and proved
in the presence of the Bailiff, the sworn judges
and very many public and other
persons of the aforesaid land, in the same Church
being present: many miracles are done at his invocation. and of all these sufficiently fully
it is established, and the subscribed series declares.
[2] Lofredus of Aydono, inhabitant of the land
aforesaid of Caltagirone under oath said,
that he himself suffered in the shin a certain infirmity,
which is called the gout, to which by the physicians
month of June to the aforesaid Church of S. James
went, There are cured on June 21 an unmedicable paralysis, where the aforesaid Body was placed:
and washing himself the shin with the wine,
with which the said Body had been washed, immediately
he was to his former health restored: of which things
fully it was established.
[3] Perloysia, daughter of Burgius of Ardizono, inhabitant
of the land of Caltagirone, under the same oath
said that she herself suffered paralysis,
now it is seven years, and from it so contracted,
and oppressed she was, that with her feet to walk
she could not, and another of 7 years, nay scarcely was she carried by the hands
of others and through all the joints of her body
with knots of pain was held bound. Carried
to the Body aforesaid, having devotion
in the saint aforesaid, which from the first she had had,
she received health: and of this it was established through
her own oath and that of her parents.
[4] Jacobina, Wife of William of Luchiano of
Caltagirone, under the same oath said,
that Perrotius, her son a year old, suffering
weakness in his arm, on account of which with the said
arm he could do nothing, a useless arm, nor even the arm
itself move; carried by the same
mother of his to the Body aforesaid, strength
in the arm aforesaid resumed his former, and so
from it whole he was made: and of this
it was established through the oath of a legitimate number.
[5] Bonagratia, Wife of Raynaldus of Murro,
under the same oath said, that she
suffering in her right shin the gout from which with grave
pain she languished, a paralysis of the shin, and having recourse to
the aforesaid Body, of the aforesaid suffering was
freed: of which things it is established.
[6] Bella, Wife of Severinus of Severino, under
oath said, that she having rheum
in the right arm, another arm, washing herself the arm itself
with the wine aforesaid, of that infirmity was
freed: of which things fully it was established.
[7] James Gallicius and Alexandra, spouses,
inhabitants of the land of Caltagirone, under
the same oath said, that they having
the gout in diverse parts of her body,
from which an assiduous pain her body youthful,
delicate, and tender afflicted; bringing
her to the Body aforesaid, and washing
her with the said wine, immediately that
their daughter from the aforesaid infirmity was freed:
of which things fully it was established.
[8] Clara, wife of the late Constantius Scaranus,
and Bonagratia of Nicholas Grasso, of Caltagirone, the rheum of two women,
under the same oath said,
that they suffering an immoderate infirmity,
which is called rheum, by whose suffering they were so held,
that their molars to them seemed to be torn out;
and taking of the wine, with which the said Body
had been washed, they were restored to their former health:
of which things fully it was established.
[9] Manella a woman, under the same oath
said, that she having a son of one month,
excessive pain in diverse parts of his body
suffering, a boy variously tormented, a vow she vowed for that son
of hers to the said Saint; and offering to exhibit in honor
of the Saint aforesaid as much weight
of wax, as the body of the said boy weighed;
on the 21st of the said month of June the said boy from
the aforesaid pain was freed: of which things
sufficiently fully it was established.
[10] Princissa, wife of Troxellus of Portis, of
Caltagirone under oath said, that she
suffering rheum in the right arm and having
the edge of the eyes or the pupil, darkness suffering, the rheum of one,
on the 21st of the said month of June having recourse
to the Body aforesaid, and washing herself the arm
aforesaid with the said wine, from the aforesaid
rheum was freed, of her eyes also
being well, and vanishing forthwith the darkness
aforesaid, of which things fully it was established.
[11] Bartholomew of Gruttabassa, under the same
oath said that he having rheum
in the shin running down as far as the sole of the feet, and of another on June 22,
for a long time firmly could not walk:
and on the 22nd of the said month of June to the said Relics
with devotion betaking himself, and to the same
Saint pouring out pious prayers in the lord, of
the aforesaid infirmity was freed: of which things
fully it was established.
[12] Muscata, a woman wife of Ventorinus of
Bonagratia, the paralytic arm of one inhabitant of the land of Heraclea and
the same Ventorinus her husband, under oath
said, that they having a certain son,
who is named Marchisius, of the age of ten years
or thereabouts who from eight years back suffered
in the left arm a certain infirmity,
on account of which he could not close his fist,
nor that hand raise, except as far
as the left jaw; and it being disclosed to them about the finding
of the said holy Body, they betook themselves to
the said Body, with them their said son piously and
devoutly leading: and prostrating themselves before the said
Saint's sepulchre, they began from him with tears
to beseech suffrage: and from a certain member of the said
Relics the aforesaid arm of the said boy being touched,
the boy himself of his body received the wished health
making use of that Hand as one whole: of which things
fully it was established.
[13] Realis a woman, wife of Nicholas Capodicasa
of Heraclea, and of another under the same oath said,
that she having her son of the age of five
years, who from two years back
suffered in the right arm a certain infirmity,
on account of which he could not close his fist,
nor that hand raise, except as far
as the right Jaw; it being disclosed to her about
the finding of the Body, with devotion she betook
herself to the said holy Body, her said son leading
to the said Relics: and from a certain member
of the said Body the aforesaid arm of the said boy being touched,
the boy himself of the infirmity aforesaid forthwith recovered;
of which things fully it was established.
[14] Alamanna of Novello, Wife of Verardus
of Presbyterus, and of a third; inhabitant of the land of Heraclea,
under the same oath said, that she
having a certain son of the age of six years
(now it is four years) an infirmity in the right arm
and in the side of the right shin suffering,
on account of which with the said arm and shin nothing
could he do, but with grave pain,
nay with graver punishment squalid, emaciated,
and as though lifeless he stood; it being disclosed to her about
the finding of the said Body, she led her son
to the holy Body aforesaid, and from a certain member
of the said Body, the aforesaid arm and
side of the shin of the said boy being touched, the boy himself, which from the first
he had had, health received: of which things fully
it is established.
[15] James Gambinus under the same oath
said, on June 25 a boy deprived of the use of his members, that John his son, from the time
of his nativity until the 25th day of the said
month of June, was in his members so feeble
and weak that walk he could not;
but in the manner of a serpent he crept and by panting
and suffering grievously was held. And when
he heard the Miracles of the said Saint, he carried his said son
to the said Body; and the said son being washed with
the wine aforesaid and the boy himself kissing the Relics
of the said Saint, the boy himself leaping up stood and
walked, all the crowd looking on, with astonishment attentive,
and the Lord praising: of which things
fully it was established.
[16] Andreas of Cara Mercerra of Caltagirone,
suffering a certain infirmity in
the right hand (now it is twelve years) on account of
which with the said hand he could do nothing, a twisted hand,
nay it twisted he held; betaking himself
with devotion to the aforesaid Relics, that which in
that hand (now it is ten years) the health
he had lost, immediately he received: and of these things
fully it was established.
[17] James Lombardellus, inhabitant of the Hamlet
of Odogrillus, under the same oath said, that
he from the knees downward was so bent
that he could not walk, powerless to go, but in bed for
afterward as though was made whole. And from the Monday
the 24th day of the month of June the said infirmity coming upon him,
walk he could not, and in bed
lay; and having devotion to the said Saint,
he was carried from the aforesaid Hamlet of Odogrillus
on horseback upon a certain animal, to the Relics
aforesaid, from the desire of his mind by a vow proposing to approach.
And as he descended from the said animal near
the said Church, where is the Body aforesaid, that which he had lost
he recovered, his health; for with many seeing
he walked; and of this it was established through the oath of
very many witnesses.
[18] Joanna, wife of Francis Scapillatus, inhabitant
of the Hamlet of S. Basil of Caltagirone, under the same
oath said, on June 29 a paralysis of the whole body that she with a dire paralysis
of sickness was held, so that now for
she functioned, on every part as good as dead,
scarcely with a thin breath she palpitated: to whom when no one
any solace could give; on the second-to-last
of the said Month of June upon a certain animal to
the Body aforesaid with affection of heart for the foot's
office that to the Relics of the said Saint she be carried
she approached: to which when she had come and had touched,
from the touch of the aforesaid Relics there began
little by little each of her members to be vivified, until
with steps firmed, the people witnessing, she rose, and
walked; and so in those members which from the first
she had lost, health she received.
[19] Antony of Nazara, inhabitant of the land
of Piazza, under oath said, that he having
his son, Severinus by name, who,
(now it is half a year and more) was so
by gouty pain contracted and shaken, gout, that
he could not walk, unless to a staff for support
he clung with both hands bent;
he carried therefore upon a certain animal
his said son to the said Body, and taking the said
boy of the wine aforesaid and the aforesaid Relics kissing,
whole was made, and without any support
by many was seen with his own feet to walk:
and that he had the aforesaid infirmity,
it was established through many witnesses.
[21] Perronus of Cantelmo, inhabitant of Lentini,
under oath said; that he Perronus, hearing lost,
after he rose from sleep (now it is nine days)
the faculty of hearing lost. And when first
he himself had heard of the Miracles of the said Saint,
on the second-to-last of the said Month of June he betook himself to the said
Body; and kissing the Relics of it, and taking
of the wine aforesaid himself recovered his hearing:
of which things fully it was established.
[22] Flos, wife of Roger of Martorano, inhabitant
of the land of Piazza, and Bartolinus her son,
under the same oath said, a bent boy, that the said Bartolinus
from the feast of Easter of the Lord's Resurrection
last past, was so much in the knees
bent, that from one place he could not
move himself; and on the second-to-last of the month of June
the aforesaid Bartolinus was carried to the said Body; and
kissing the Relics of the said Saint, health he received:
and that such an infirmity he suffered
it was established through witnesses of a legitimate number, and of the said
recovery of health, also sufficiently fully it was established.
[23] John of Scannavino of Caltagirone,
under oath said, a twisted hand, that he having
his right hand feeble and twisted from
the time of his childhood, from which nothing to do
could he, nor with it anything carry; betaking
himself to the said Body, and from the hand the Relics
of the said Saint being touched, and washing himself the hand with the wine
aforesaid immediately whole he was made: of which things
fully it was established.
[24] Inglisia, wife of Andreas Chlamidarius of
Caltagirone, under oath said, a hernia, that
she had her son a little one, who had burst
in one of his genitals, in which grievously
he suffered. And carried with devotion to
the Relics of the said Saint, and washed with the wine aforesaid whole
he was made, of which things fully it is established.
[25] Francia, daughter of Nicholas Brunus, inhabitant
of the land of Bizini, suffering an infirmity in the left hip,
a hemiplegic, running down as far as the foot, from which
she could not walk, now it is two years,
and more; carried upon a certain animal to the said
Body: and taking of the wine aforesaid leaping up
she stood, and walked: and of the aforesaid infirmity
and liberation fully it was established.
[26] Placentia a woman, wife of Philip of Renda,
under oath said, feeble in the whole body, that now it is
two years, that she was in body feeble, so
that she could not proceed unless with another's hand
helped by support. And carried to the aforesaid Body
having taken of the wine aforesaid and the Relics of the said Body kissed,
entirely health she received:
of which things fully it was established.
[27] Bonacurtius of Bucagrasa, who in the members
of his body was contracted and shaken, contracted,
from a long time back; and carried to the said Saint,
drinking of the wine aforesaid and the aforesaid Relics
kissing, whole and unharmed was made:
of which things fully it was established.
[28] A certain son of Marcus of Hyppolitus of
Caltagirone, blind, from a certain infirmity coming upon him
the light lost. Carried to the Body
aforesaid he was washed in the eyes with the wine aforesaid and from
those eyes, the Relics of the said Saint being touched, sight
received and saw; and of these things fully it was established.
[29] Receputa a woman, wife of Vivianus of
Venice, an injured shin, inhabitant of the land of Piazza, under oath
said, that when certain oxen were dragging
in which dwells the said Receputa, by chance it happened
by the force of the said oxen dragging the said wood,
that it was dragged crookedly. And while the said Vivianus
being in the street, and road aforesaid wished to avoid
the peril, which to him could come from
the dragging of the wood aforesaid, before that peril
he fled, it happened his shin in the middle of a certain
gate and the said wood so strongly to be pressed
and hurt, that in that shin a very great swelling
came, and the said Vivianus in that shin
these things through physicians several in that shin
to the aforesaid Vivianus no remedy could be applied;
the aforesaid Receputa for the said husband of hers vowed
to the Saint aforesaid that the same Saint would deign
by the power of the Lord her said husband from the aforesaid
suffering to free, and she herself would betake herself
to the Body of the Saint aforesaid. And the vow aforesaid made before
the said Receputa rendered the said vow, the said
Vivianus was freed altogether of that shin
itself, vanishing the suffering aforesaid.
[30] Joannuccius, formerly servant of Lord Bonalbergus
of Scornavacca, inhabitant of the land of Heraclea,
under the same oath said, hunchbacked from a fall, that he
(now it is a year) by chance fell; on account of which
fall in the back hunchbacked was made, and by the suffering
of the said hump and the violence of the flesh oppressed
from the same hump the place of his beard on the left side
into the left place of the breast he was compelled
to hold pressed down to the breast itself; as it were a fixed
head, on account of this not being able to raise it. And
his having heard the name of the said Saint, to the Body
of him with devotion he betook himself, and drank
of the wine aforesaid and the aforesaid Relics of the said
Saint touched. Not on account of this from the said hump,
and suffering was he freed. But when he was returning
to his homeland as though sad, and to the bridge of Heraclea
came near; him very many Heraclians,
who were coming to the said Relics, met,
saying: That one went to the Saint,
and was not freed. But he said,
I such hope in the Saint have, that before
I come to the walls of Heraclea, whole
I shall be. And when he had said this, not even a journey of three paces
the said Joannuccius taking, in a wondrous manner
received of his back entire health; forthwith
vanishing the hunchbackedness aforesaid and the neck,
and head straightly he holds and high; and the said
Joannuccius with cheerfulness returned to the Relics
of the said Saint; and whole was seen by many
inhabitants of the said land of Heraclea, who had
at first seen him thus sick. And he was seen
also whole by many officials of the said land,
on account of which all the crowd, all the people, and the assembly,
in the Lord rejoiced; and pouring out
with all devotion of heart and mouth, of thanks
abundant acts, they returned to their homeland: and of these things all sufficiently fully it was established.
[31] Francia, daughter of Nicholas of Bibino, having
on account of which as far as the left foot with a dire
and hard pain greatly she was pressed, on June 30 the infirm side is healed. and
straight she could not proceed, from two years
back: and having recourse to the Relics of the said Saint
sipping of the wine, with which the said Relics had been washed,
and them with devotion touching in the place of pain
of the same, on the last of June of the 14th Indiction,
of the suffering aforesaid was freed: just
as of the foregoing legitimately it was established.
[32] A man cured falls back into the same evil having returned to his sins. Basil Fundatarius inhabitant of the land of Caltagirone,
now it is two months, that he was
so grievously made infirm, that from his bed to rise
he could not without the aid of persons,
who should lead him to the Church
aforesaid. Who helped, by support was led, and kissing
the Relics themselves and drinking of the wine aforesaid
of his body the strength received, with his own feet
walking. But when he returned to his concubine's
wedlock, whom at first he held, his own
wife forsaking; in a wondrous manner
he was with his former infirmity weighed down: which
by no means was done without now also a divine Mystery,
because a greater in this is shown miracle
with the infirmity aforesaid returning to him on account of
the concubine's wedlock with whom further to sin
he presumed; of which it was established sufficiently fully.
[33] Cosmanus of Agrigentum, inhabitant of Lyhodia,
from five years back in the shin and
joint of the foot an infirmity incurred, A lame man is healed, on account of
which he had lost the nerve of the foot, and the bone, which
is called the chamber of the foot, on account of which he could not
without crutches walk. And in betaking
himself to the monument aforesaid before to
it he came, straightly without crutches leaping up
he stood, and walked: and the crowd all looking on
he proceeded, on account of which to the eyes of several
persons astonishment diminished: and coming to
the aforesaid Church the crutches there in sign of the miracle
he left: of which fully it was established.
[34] William of Master John the Carpenter,
inhabitant of the land of Heraclea, dim-sighted, suffering
last past, which as it were the edge of
his eye blunted; going devoutly to the tomb
aforesaid of his sight immediately, which
he had lost the health received: and of the foregoing
indeed it was established.
[35] another lame man, Raynaldus of Palagonia, and Margaret
spouses under oath said, that
Chiccus their son a fall incurred; on account
of which lame in the left foot he had remained and
could not walk: and carried to the monument
aforesaid, and the Relics of the said Saint, whole
was made: of which legitimately it was established.
[36] and a third, Jacobina of lord Thomasius of Arlotto,
suffering an infirmity in the left hip,
on account of which she could not go straight, and to
the aforesaid Relics approaching, was to her former health
brought back: of which it was established.
[37] having a swelling in the throat, John of Amore, under the religion of
the Sacrament rendered by him, said, that his daughter
is suffering in the throat a sickness, which
the physicians Scrofula call: who carried to
the aforesaid Relics, and them touching, and drinking of
the wine aforesaid from that infirmity by the power of the Lord
and the merits of the Saint aforesaid whole was made,
altogether vanishing the infirmity aforesaid:
of which it was established.
[38] seized in nearly all her members, Francia, wife of William of Taverna,
who suffered weakness in the body, on account of
which she could not walk unless of some
propped by the support: and her head and hand
trembled, and altogether of the hands' help and
operation she lacked; who carried to the aforesaid Relics,
and them touching, and sipping of the wine
aforesaid, the wished health recovered: of
which it was established.
[39] Antonellus, son of Robert of Torcisius
inhabitant of Ragusa, at the time of his birth in
the genitals burst, suffering a hernia from boyhood, on account of which he felt a wondrous
pain: but carried to the aforesaid Relics,
and them touching, and sipping of the wine aforesaid whole
thereupon was made: which is proved,
and was established through a rescript of the venerable
Bishop of Syracuse.
[40] likewise another, Henry, son of Matthew of Presbyter
Angelo, for a long time the same suffered
infirmity, so that his genitals seemed
full of rottenness: carried to the aforesaid
Relics he was to his former health brought back: of which
it was established.
[41] Gemma, wife of James of Carbonara,
inhabitant of Ragusa, hands and feet twisted, suffered from one year
back, weakness in the body, on account of which
her hands and feet she had twisted and bent;
and she so as though shaken and broken
[was] throughout the whole, that with her feet she could not
go, unless with a staff supporting herself on the ground, and
the help lacking; carried to the Relics
of the said Saint, the health which she had lost she received:
which several seeing, as though in ecstasy
placed, with wondrous astonishment filled, marveled vehemently
at that which befell her. And of this
fully it was established.
[42] Margaret, wife of John of Pisa, under
oath said, and of a paralytic that now it is nine months,
that a certain gout in hand, shin and
foot left invaded on account of which so attenuated
she remained, and was prostrated, as if of those
members the defect altogether she suffered.
But betaking herself to the Relics of the said Saint, and them
with devotion touching, and drinking of the wine
aforesaid from the aforesaid sickness whole she escaped:
and thereupon fully it was established.
[43] John of Alexandria of Palea, of
Lombardy, putrid ulcers. under oath said, that he
in the right shin suffered a disease, on account of which
that shin was marvelously full of ulcers
putrid and with corruption swollen, and full of pains;
from which the greatest quantity of corruption daily
flowed, which a stench not small
gave, those standing by not being able to bear it.
And betaking himself to the said monument, and
the Relics of the Saint aforesaid the health he recovered
wished, as it was established.
ANNOTATIONS OF C. I.
witnesses being brought it was proved from valid conjectures and fame, that B.
Gerland was a Knight of Jerusalem. For if there had existed the aforesaid
notes from the year 1327, never would it have been called in doubt by Cajetanus, whether or not B. Gerland was a Templar, or a Hospitaller. The same, interpolating the exordium of these Acts, easily three hundred years after the finding of the Body of B. Gerland, does not hesitate to believe the fame, which then was, that there had been commended to him by his Master the church of S. Mary, situated between Caltagirone and Piazza, where he was found.
only the church, but also the field and river neighboring from the same
are named; where also at num. 102 below in part it is established, where the river the Temple is called. Because namely all things of the Templars were, until the year 1310 in which they were extinguished.
c From
this 14th Indiction, which notes the year of the common era 1331, having the letter
Dominical F, according to which also the day 24 of June at num. 17, and 19
of August at num. 80, fall on the second Feria; and finally at num. 99 the day 20
of July on the Sabbath; it will follow perhaps to someone to seem that the Sicilians in that 14th century in numbering the years
of Christ four years fewer were wont to write; and so here and
below at num. 97 and 100 is numbered the year 1327. For it is difficult
to conceive, that the Notary erred in the number of the then current year. But not less
difficult is it to persuade, from that about the miracles of Gerland writing,
that the Sicilians in the 14th century in the Epoch of the years of Christ by four years fell short from
the common use; especially since I find in Rochus Pirrus in the Church
of Palermo, the year 1322 with Indiction V, and the year 1343 with Indiction XI joined
according to the common use. Likewise in the Church of Syracuse, under which is
Caltagirone, pag. 168 of tome 2 is joined the year 1326 in April with Indiction IX, and
the year 1336, September 4 with indiction 5 which then by the common use had begun.
I find however also on the same pag. 168 joined the year 1320 in February
with Indiction VI, and the year 1322 in October with Indiction VIII: which indeed differ from the common use according to this for, the year 1320 in February would have Indiction III; but the year 1322 in October Indiction VI, already
from September begun) yet they do not differ by four years, as is plain.
More things can be sought in the same Pirrus, who is frequent in noting
Indictions; but not everywhere safely to be followed, this knot let the Sicilians rather themselves
solve.
e That
is the day after the finding, the 19th of the same month of June; on which also it was venerated formerly
by a Mass, of the common of a Confessor not Pontiff sung, above
we have said from Cajetanus.
f The series
namely of the Miracles, which immediately to work and to multiply the Lord at
the invocation of his Saint, until then unknown to the world, deigned. For all,
which here by sworn Witnesses are deposed, beginning from the day 21
of June within two and a half months were performed.
p It is omitted by Cajetanus.
q "Ruga" French "rue," a street: and so above "ancha" French "anche" the hip, and many other things below. See the Glossary of Du Cange.
r Cajetanus "Bonallerti."
s In Latin "gibbus" (hump): frequent among Italian writers.
t Also this Cajetanus omitted.
u Cajetanus "Crittus."
Ragusa a town distant from Caltagirone 28 thousand paces to the south.
To the following we shall note nothing, because the barbarisms
occasionally from the vernacular tongue occurring sufficiently elsewhere
in this work are explained; for example "Croceae" little forks
under the armpit. "Coxia" the thigh; "citrolus," the citron
fruit. "Forgia" a smithy; "Barile," a little cask;
"bracale" a truss for containing a hernia;
"Vola" of the foot the sole; the palm of the hand,
"Vola." No more was it worth the trouble the proper names of men
and women from the use of the common people truncated
to the original integrity to restore, such as are "Ciccus"
Franciscus; "Fimia" Euphemia, "Bartolus," Bartholomew;
"Perna," Petrina or Petronilla etc.
CHAPTER II.
The miracles of the month of July until the 20th day.
[44] John of Rosana, serving in the land of Piazza,
and Rosa, On July 9 a bleariness is healed spouses, under the religion of the sacrament
said, that Margaret their
daughter, suffered a bleariness in the eyes, on account of which
those eyes shut she was compelled to hold, and from them
tears daily flowed. And carried to the monument
of the Saint aforesaid on the 14th day of the month of July,
whole was made, every from her eyes spot
vanishing throughout: of which infirmity
it was established through the oath of the witnesses subscribed,
namely Joanna wife of Bartolduxius,
Diamante of Cosentino, and Isolda daughter of Palermus
Cosentino.
[45] Allegrantia of John of Amore of Piazza,
under oath said, that she had a certain
daughter, Perna by name, a limping, who was born
lame, and over the hip a swelling had: whom
she carried to the Relics of the Saint, and them touching and
drinking of the wine aforesaid on July 9 of the 14th indiction,
from desire the wished in the Lord health received,
and leaping up she stood and walked: of which
infirmity to us it was established through the oath
of John of Ferla, John of Platea and Constantia
of Stilo.
[46] the hernia of one boy Diamante of Bartholomew of Notho, inhabitant
of the land of Piazza, under oath said,
that now it is six years, that her son a grave
suffering in the genitals suffered: who
carried to the monument aforesaid on the ninth day of the month
of July whole was made; as it was established.
[47] James of Peregrina, inhabitant of Piazza,
under the same oath said, and of another, that he had
burst, a great in them sustaining suffering.
And carried to the monument aforesaid
on the ninth of the said month, whole was made; as
it was established through the oath of Pisana Literia, and
Rosina the mother of that boy.
[48] Cortisia of Ugolino, inhabitant of Heraclea,
said, that she had her daughter,
Violanta by name, a maimed arm, who from four years back
suffered an infirmity in the right arm,
from which nothing could be hoped: who led to
the monument aforesaid and the Relics of the said Saint, whole
was made and unharmed on the ninth day of the month;
as to us it was established about the infirmity aforesaid through the oath of
the witnesses written below, namely
Millarisia wife of Francis Cordarius, Flamen
of Cordario, Manuccius of Ugolino, and Roger
of Campisio.
[49] Donadeus of James of Messina, inhabitant
of the land of Mineo, under oath said, that
he in the left shin from fifteen years back, on July 10 a shin greatly swollen is cured,
was grievously, nay more grievously made infirm, so
that the shin itself swelled wholly and so
was thick, as one cask in roundness:
and to the monument aforesaid betaking himself,
the shin itself with the sand of the said sepulchre covering,
in a wondrous manner, by the wondrous and praiseworthy
power of the Lord on the 10th day of the said month
of the said infirmity freed and to his former health
restored: on account of which many were filled
with astonishment and as though in ecstasy placed. And of
the infirmity aforesaid it was established through the oath
of Diamante of Cortisio, Agrippina of Cortisio:
and of the liberation aforesaid sufficiently fully it was established.
[50] a weak arm, James of Naro, inhabitant of Leocata,
having arms so weak, that he could not
raise them, except as far as his mouth;
with devotion betaking himself to the monument aforesaid
and the Relics of the said Saint; his former which in those
arms strength he had lost, by the power of the Lord and
the merits of the said Saint received, on the tenth of the said month;
and of the liberation aforesaid to us it was established to
the full. And of that infirmity it was established through
the oath of the persons subscribed, namely
Genta wife of the said James, Alemanna
wife of Matthew of Naro, and Sister Rhetorica
of Lalicata.
[51] Isabella of Sportella, inhabitant of Paternò,
under oath said, a lame leg that now it is
ten years, that she suffered a certain infirmity
in the left hip and in the left knee,
on account of which the shin itself left was than the other
shin smaller, by a third of one palm, and lame she went
with only the toe of the foot, and carried to
the Relics aforesaid whole was made, on the tenth
of the said month, and with all seeing straight she proceeded;
on account of which astonishment seized all, and
they magnified the Lord. And of the aforesaid infirmity
it was established through the oath of Constantia
of Salia Dirioti, and Philip of Giracio,
James of Petroticero, Petrucius of Modica,
and Joanna of Philip of Allegro inhabitant
of Paternò.
[52] On July 11 the gait is restored to a lame man. Nicholas of Serafino, inhabitant of Modica,
under oath said, that he suffering
in the right foot, on account of which walk he could not,
and by medical care from it several
bones had been extracted; carried to the Saint
aforesaid's Relics, and them kissing, whole was made,
on the eleventh day of the month aforesaid, in that
manner soundly walking, as when whole he had been.
And of the aforesaid infirmity it was established through
the oath of Gentilis his mother, Paul of
Catania, Robert of Bussemi, Melodia wife
of him, and Ventura of Gargano: and of the liberation
aforesaid it was established to the full; and found
was this miracle both through the truthful
confession of the said Nicholas and the witnesses above-written,
and through the report of the Priest John
of Melle, sent into the said land of Modica
to inquire into the Miracles of the said Saint, which
also was approved and confirmed through
the Reverend Father and Lord by the grace of God
the Bishop of Syracuse.
[53] Cortina, a woman of Master William of
Dilecta of Heraclea, under the religion of
the sacrament rendered by her said, On July 12 a hump of 20 years is removed; that from twenty years
back, she had a hump in the back: and with
devotion betaking herself to the monument aforesaid,
there for ten days a delay making,
and beseeching from God and the Saint aforesaid for herself of health
was made, all vanishing the hunchbackedness
aforesaid on the twelfth of the said month. And it was established of the infirmity
aforesaid through the oath of the witnesses written below,
namely the Priest Henry of
Bursa, the Priest William of John, Bona
Rosa her mother, and John of Thomasius Gallicius:
and of the liberation aforesaid sufficiently to the full
it was established.
[54] Matilda of Philip of Provincialis of Lentini,
suffering weakness in the hips, and in
the joints of her body an immoderate suffering, arthritis is cured;
on account of whose pressures from the feast of Easter of the Resurrection
of Jesus Christ first prescribed upon
her feet she could not be governed; carried to the Saint
aforesaid's tomb, was restored to her body's
wished health, on the twelfth of the said month. And of
the infirmity fully it was established through the sacrament
of Raynerius of Notary Raynaldus, Altruda
of Lentini. And of the liberation aforesaid
sufficiently to the full it was established.
[55] Ventura of Messina, inhabitant of Caltanissetta,
suffering in the shins a certain gout from
three months back, on account of which in those shins
of swelling much loomed, a paralysis of the legs, and from them
rottenness went out, and she was so bent most grievously
that walk she could not; relying in mind,
she was carried to the said monument, and of the said members
received the wished health on the twelfth of the said
month. And it was established of the infirmity aforesaid through
the oath of Tibaldus Ruttus and Humana of Roger
of Irenolfus, inhabitants of the said land: and
of the aforesaid liberation sufficiently plainly it was established.
[56] Thomasia, wife of the late Matthew of
Milicia of Lentini, under oath said,
that she had a son Roger by name, On July 16 a hernia is healed,
who from the time of his nativity back, suffered
in the genitals a rupture; and she carried him
to the aforesaid Relics; and them being touched, received in
the said testicles health, on the sixteenth of the said month;
as it was established thereupon through the oath of the said
Thomasia, of Lady Pisana of Lombardo,
of Lady Fimia Baronista Milofli and of Lady
Infilisia of Modica.
[57] Gerland, of John Rabbo, inhabitant
of the land of Modica, under oath said, that
he (now it is nine years) a most grievous in
the shin suffered infirmity: a shin greatly swollen, on the 13th; on account of which that
shin was made swollen in the manner of a flagon, and
with ulcers full; and with excessive and continual pain
was afflicted, sobs most frequent and sighs
emitted, and could not without a staff's support
govern himself; and his feeble body
by the force of the said staff, and not without great of his person
torment dragged. Carried to the monument
aforesaid, and his shins' swelling
removed, which in them he had lost the health, was
by the said Saint's merits obtained on the thirteenth of the said
month; of which things it was established through the truthful
confession of the said Gerland, and through the assertion
of the Priest John of Melle, of Master
Baldoyn the Maltese, and Roger Villarius, father-in-law
of the said Gerland; and through the oath also
of brother Peter of Esztergom, servitor of S.
Peter of Butera, of Melodia of Modica; of Adam
of Lucca, Paulinus Mazonus, Gualterius Constantinus,
and Peter of Noto inhabitants of Modica.
[58] Gualterius of Costarella, inhabitant of Catania
under oath said, that for ten years
and more, and from that time back, on the 16th an arm ill-affected, until
now, a grave and dire in the arm sickness
he had; from which to help himself he could not;
and betaking himself to the aforesaid Relics, of the said arm
was to his former health restored on the sixteenth
of the said month, as it was established.
[59] Perronus of Mineo, inhabitant of the same
land, under the same oath asserted, that
from his childhood's time was on account of infirmity
in the knees bent: the knees contracted, and betaking himself to the aforesaid
Saint's Relics, and them with devotion touching,
was to the said knees' straightness restored,
from which straight he walks. And of the aforesaid infirmity
it was established through the oath of the subscribed
witnesses, namely Ventura of Tegera, Ventura
mother of the said Perronus, and Frederick of Sabaria.
And that he is whole and straight goes, it was established
sufficiently fully.
[60] Gentilis a woman, wife of Henry of Cordario,
inhabitant of Bizini, under oath asserted,
that over the thigh a rupture she suffered from
five years back; on account of which grievously she groaned, a ruptured thigh,
and with intolerable was afflicted punishment and
pain. And betaking herself to the said sepulchre, from
that suffering was wholly the aforesaid Saint's merits
freed, on the sixteenth of the said month; as it was established
of the infirmity and liberation aforesaid sufficiently
to the full.
[61] Benedict of Pizutus the cobbler, inhabitant
of Palermo, under oath said, that he from
four years back, an abscess, suffered over the kidneys
under the shoulder-blade; to which when no by many physicians
could be applied cure of health nay of it the very physicians
despaired: the fame of the said Saint through diverse
parts of Sicily growing, he betook himself to the Relics
aforesaid and received through them the wished to the kidneys
health, on the sixteenth of the said month: of
which also it was established through the Sacrament of Jacobina
his wife.
[62] Gualterius of Munda, inhabitant of Scicli,
under oath said, that Antonellus his son
(now it is two years) suffered of the interior parts
ruptures; the intestines ruptured, and he led on the same day by
the same father of his to the foresaid Relics,
was thereupon freed; and nonetheless of the aforesaid
infirmity it was established through the oath of Raynaldus
Pisanus, kinsman of the said Gualterius.
[63] Gualterius the son of la Testa of Mineo,
under oath said, a boy's hernia on the 16th, that Joannuccius his son
from one year back, suffered a sickness
in the genitals: and he carried his said son
to the aforesaid Relics; and freed
was thereupon, and restored to his first health,
on the sixteenth of the said month: of which things it was established sufficiently
fully.
[64] Andreas of Lazarus, inhabitant of Bizini,
under the same oath said, that from five
years back, and a man's on July 17, he burst in the left side, from
which certain of his body's inner parts to his
privy parts flowed down, and grievously he sustained suffering:
on the seventeenth of the said month of July of the 14th Indiction
to the said Saint's Relics devoutly betaking himself,
was freed of the infirmity aforesaid and
restored to his former health; as it was established sufficiently
fully.
[65] Leonard of Catania, inhabitant of Caltagirone,
from four years back, a limping. suffered
an infirmity in the shin and knee left, from which
lame he went; going to the said Relics and them
kissing, whole was made, and restored to
his former health, on the seventeenth of the said month,
as it was established to the full.
[66] Richard of Claromonte, under oath
said, On July 18 a hernia is cured, that Nicholas his son
from his mother's womb in the genitals burst:
and he carried him to the aforesaid Relics;
and Nicholas himself the same kissing Relics,
from him that infirmity departed on the eighteenth
of the said month: of which infirmity it was established
through the oath of Ventorinus of Claromonte,
who on account of that infirmity to the same Nicholas
on the thigh, and testicles a truss imposed; and
through the oath of Fimia of Brota his mother;
and of the liberation aforesaid it was established to the full.
[67] The said Richard and Fimia, spouses,
under oath said, a rupture in the thigh, that Elizabeth
their daughter, from two years back, suffered
aforesaid and to them a kiss given with
devotion of mind to the Relics, that rupture from the same
daughter of theirs wholly departed.
[68] Ventorinus of Avinanti of Claromonte, under
the same oath said, a broken foot. that Bartuccius
his son of the age of four years and a half
and more; when he was a little one in the cradle,
him on a certain day in the arms of his sister
it happened to be carried, and on account of a fall to the ground to fall,
and broke for himself the right foot: which
foot afterward twisted he held on the ground
and otherwise could not proceed; in which indeed
according to nature in itself was reparable.
And by him was carried on the eighteenth of the said
month to the above-said Relics, and was restored to
his former health, straightly going. Of the aforesaid
case and infirmity it was established through the oath
of Francis of Bisanto, Manfred of
Bisconti, and Pasqualis of Petrosusco inhabitant
of Claromonte and of the aforesaid liberation it is established
to the full.
[69] On the 17th a hernia, Joanna a woman, wife of Paulinus of Samito,
inhabitant of the land of Ragusa, under the same oath
said, that she having her son,
Joannuccius by name, who (now it is
three years and more) in the genitals burst: and leading
him with devotion to the Relics of the said
Saint, that son of hers was thereupon freed,
on the seventeenth of the said month. And of the aforesaid
infirmity it was established through the oath of Jacobina
of Pascali, and the said husband of hers inhabitant of the said land
of Ragusa: and of the aforesaid liberation sufficiently clearly
it was established.
[70] Scorchalupus of Scorchalupo, inhabitant
of the land of Heraclea, under oath said, that
Isolda his daughter, infirm eyes. incurred a certain infirmity
in the eyes, on account of which those eyes to open
she could not, nor from them anything see; and
he carried her to the monument aforesaid on the day
tenth of the said month; and those eyes she opened, and
from them she sees like any whole person, utterly from
her eyes every infirmity falling away. And of
the aforesaid infirmity it was established through the oath of the witnesses written below,
namely Nicholas of
Mannus the Priest, Nicholas of Fonte the Notary,
Matthew of Pagano: and of the health aforesaid
clearly it appeared to all.
[71] On July 18 there are healed a contracted arm and leg, On the eighteenth of the same, in the hour of cockcrow,
Joanna of Gatto, inhabitant of Catania,
under the same oath said, that so a curvature
she suffered in the right arm,
that the sign of the Cross to make she could not; and
the same she suffered in the shins, so that her knees themselves
she could not bend; being in the church aforesaid
of S. James, freed she was of the infirmity
aforesaid. And while certain ones standing by there
requested certain clerics, that in praise
and honor of God almighty the bells they should ring,
and to this the said clerics showed themselves lukewarm
and remiss, on account of the late hour of the night;
in a wondrous manner, nay a wondrous and supernatural
miracle, and worthy of admiration,
and to be praised with proclamation by the merits of the said
Saint came forth. For at that hour of itself one
of the little bells, fixed in the clock or wheel,
on high in the same church existing (which
cannot be rung, unless the wheel aforesaid turns; the bells of themselves marvelously ring
and one ringing, on account of the motion of the wheel aforesaid,
all the others must be rung, in which
wheel was wound a rope; which, when the said
little bells are rung, is drawn and lifted)
of itself sounded and the sound twice made, the rest
of the little bells by no means ringing at those
hours. Of which things to us it was established through the oath
of the Priest Francis of Helena, Simon
of Pandolfo, Nicholas of Amico, William of
Anselmo, Matthew of Vulpe of Naro, Rosa
wife of Constantius of Milazzo, James of Nicotra
inhabitants of Catania, and Bonagratia of
Flaccavento, and Fimia of Alemanno inhabitants
of Syracuse.
[72] After that hour, a certain lamp lit
that same night, through which was made light
before the majesty of the blessed Virgin and of blessed Gerland
in the Chapel of Lord Gentilis of Partu, and a lamp is miraculously lit.
in the same church existing was extinguished, and
while a certain boy who is called Bartuccius,
who together with certain others was passing the night in the Chapel
aforesaid said; O Blessed Gerland light
for us the lamp; because we cannot it
light. Miraculously by the power and virtue of the Saint
aforesaid, the said lamp was lit; with several
seeing, and these by oath confirming.
[73] On the eighteenth of the said month, Lord Peter
Lancea, A continual fever is cured, a Knight, present in the Church of S. James
of Caltagirone, under oath said
that he had his daughter, Joanna
by name, who suffered a continual fever;
and his having heard the name of the said Saint, and
vowing to the same Saint for the said daughter of his, while
the fever aforesaid lasted; the vow uttered freed was she
altogether of the fever aforesaid.
[74] Francia of Alemanno, inhabitant of Syracuse,
under oath said, and a contracted arm. that she having
daughter of Henry the Pisan, who suffered from
two years back, a curvature in the arm
and hand; from which she could not anything do,
nor the said hand open. And vowing
to the same Saint for her, that our Lord
Jesus Christ by the merits of the said Saint her from the aforesaid
infirmity would free, she led her to the aforesaid
Saint's Relics, and of the aforesaid infirmity on the said
day eighteenth of the said month was freed.
CHAPTER III.
The remaining miracles through July and August.
[75] On the twentieth of July, of the 14th Indiction, Vannes
the Pisan, inhabitant of Syracuse, under
oath said, On July 20 a hernia is healed, that Ciccus his son from
six years below, in the genitals burst, and
he leading his son to the monument
of the Saint aforesaid of the infirmity aforesaid whole
was made; of which infirmity it was established also
through the oath of the witnesses written within, namely
Fimia wife of the same Pisan, Cetura
of grace, and Richard and Pedicita inhabitants
of Syracuse. And of the liberation aforesaid
it was established sufficiently fully.
[76] On the same day, Perri Manconicus, inhabitant
of the City of Catania, hemiplegia, under oath said,
that now it is two months and more, that
he suffered rheum in the left hip, which
descended through the marrow as far as the foot,
upon which foot to govern himself he could not and
when he wished to go, it was necessary for him with a staff
to govern himself, going yesterday to the said Relics after
the hour of midday; whole was made, and restored
to his former health; of the infirmity aforesaid
it was established through the oath of Isabella Lalonga
inhabitant of the said City.
[77] Francia of Corione, inhabitant of the land
of Lentini, under the same oath said, that
now it is four years, long-lasting ulcers, that she suffered in the buttocks
certain ulcers or sores, which neither through
time, nor through physicians could be cured;
and betaking herself with devotion to the Relics
of the said Saint and the same touching Relics from the aforesaid
infirmity was freed.
[78] a trembling hand, John of Palatiolo, under oath
said, that from his infantile age back, in the hand
right he trembled, nothing from it being able to do;
and betaking himself to the Saint's Relics from that
hand the tremor vanished.
[79] Bartuccius of Pandolfino; under the same
oath said, that when he on a certain
day betook himself to a certain shop of Gofredus
of lord Antelmus, the hips and feet injured from a fall. situated in the Parish
of Saint Julian, in which dwells Roger of
Costa; and when he sat upon a certain anvil,
which was fixed in a certain wood or block,
in the same shop existing; by chance it happened
that the said anvil fell, and the said Bartuccius
likewise fell with a striking of his body;
on account of which a certain little fork, which holds the head
of the pole of a certain smithy, existing in the same
shop; struck that Bartuccius so
grievously, that violently were opened the hips
of the said Bartuccius: on account of which fall, now
it is a year and more, he could not walk with his feet,
nay sometimes through his house
bent as far as the knees and with a staff he walked,
the rest of the time in bed he lay, and through
many physicians to him could no cure of health be applied:
with devotion on horseback he betook himself to
the Relics of the said Saint kissing them, and touched
from these in the place of that suffering, health as he wished,
he merited to obtain.
[80] On August 19 the faculty of walking is recovered; Leucius of Aquila of Messina, under oath
said, that he, now it is ten
years, suffering a certain infirmity in both
hips, on account of which in no way could he
go straight, except with crutches or staves; having
devotion to the said Saint; and coming to the said
church, where are laid up the Relics of the said Saint,
having heard the miracles which on account of his merits
flashed forth, placing himself before the image of the said
Saint, immediately was restored to his former health,
walking straight without the abovesaid staves, on the day
Monday, the nineteenth of August of the 14th Indiction
current.
[81] and on July 1 the faculty of speaking. Master Ugolinus of Buttillerio, inhabitant
of Lihodia and Joanno a woman, spouses, under
oath said, that on the nineteenth of the month
of June last past of the same Indiction
the same Master Ugolinus suffered a certain
infirmity and nothing to speak could: and
while he vowed a vow in his heart of coming to
the Relics of the said Saint, after the vow aforesaid on the first
day of the month of July departing from the said land
of Lihodia, for the sake of coming to the Relics themselves,
crossing the water of Vallone, which is below the said
land of Lihodia, immediately the faculty of speech
he received. And proved are the foregoing through
the witnesses written below, bound under oath,
namely Notary Roger Scolaremet, Notary
Agicardus of Messina, inhabitants
of the land aforesaid.
[82] A girl ruptured in the thigh is cured, Sollitia a girl of three years, daughter of Pisana
of John of Taurino, inhabitant of Claromonte,
having a rupture in the thigh, carried to
the Relics of the said Saint whole was made: and of the foregoing
it is established through the oath of the persons written below,
namely the said Pisana mother of the said girl,
and Rosina wife of Francis of Taurino.
[83] Raynaldus of Palagonia, and Margaret
of Judice-Joanne, spouses of Heraclea, lame in foot,
under oath said; that Cissus their
son fell into a precipice, on account of which so suffered
he in the left hip, that lame he went,
and going to the tomb of the said Saint Gerland,
immediately was restored to his former health;
and proved are the foregoing through the oath of the persons written below,
namely Cortissa,
daughter of James Scorza, and of Ventura of John of
Cosentia inhabitants of the said land of Heraclea.
[94] from an injured thigh; Jacobina of Lord Tomasius, inhabitant
of the said land of Heraclea, under oath
said, that now long she suffered an infirmity in
the hip, on account of which she could not straight walk;
and approaching the Relics of the said Saint, and them
kissing was made whole and straight goes. And
proved are the foregoing through the witnesses written below,
namely Margerita of ventre, Millarisia
wife of Francis of Cardaso, Realis of
Ragusa, and Isolda of Chirasto.
[85] Clara, a woman of Munnizi, inhabitant
of Catania, under oath said, that Jannuccius
her son, who is of the age of years
thirteen a little more or less, having a swelling in the throat, having an infirmity
of scrofula in the throat from six years
below, so that always from the sores, which on account
of them were made, putrid blood and pure blood
flowed; coming to the Relics of the said Saint,
and remaining there for ten days and more,
on the aforetitled day by the merits of the said Saint from that infirmity
was made whole, and the sores themselves likewise
healed were made just as appears through
the inspection of the eyes. And proved are the foregoing
through the persons written below confirming by oath,
namely Berlingerius the Mason,
Alexandra of Corrigerio, Allegrantia of
Trimoya, and the Priest Francis of Helena.
[86] a contracted arm, Mercatanti of Laurentius inhabitant of Leocata,
under oath said, that Philip
his son who is of ten years and
more (now it is nine years) suffered weakness
in the right arm, so that he could not
raise the right hand, except as far
as the mouth: and coming to the Relics of the said Saint,
strength in the arm aforesaid received, and was restored
to his former health. And this was also proved
through the Oath of Nicholas of Puranti
of the said land of Leocata.
[87] Martin the Smith, inhabitant of Randazzo,
under oath said, and a putrid ulcer, that now it is a year
one and more, that he had his right shin
so with sores and ulcers full,
that putrid blood and as it were putrid water
continually they poured out, and that shin
much swelled; and coming with devotion
to the monument and Relics of the said
Saint, was restored to the wished health. And proved
are the foregoing through the oath of the persons written below,
namely Bernard of
Schillacio inhabitant of Catania; Philip of
Mannis inhabitant of S. Peter of Patti; and Jacobinus
of Marregio inhabitant of Bizini.
[88] James of Marregio, inhabitant of Bizini,
under oath said, a hernia from boyhood, that from the time
of his childhood in the genitals he burst: and coming
to the Relics, and tomb of the said Saint, a delay
making there for ten days devotion
preceding, and by the merits of the said Saint made
whole. And of all these things it was established through the inspection
of the eyes; and the aforesaid infirmity was seen
by some of those who were appointed to
know and see the Miracles of the said Saint.
[89] Brother Orlandus of Palermo, inhabitant
of Ciminna, a hemiplegia. under oath said, that
now it is a year one and more, that he suffered
in the arm and right side as far as the feet
right part he could not anything do nor
even straight proceed, and his having heard the name
and fame of the said Saint, from the aforesaid land
of Ciminna, toward it and the land of Caltagirone
little by little for nearly a month one and more,
with the suffering of body looming over him, with
devotion proceeding to the monument and
Relics of the said Saint; them kissing, and
sipping of the wine, with which had been washed the Relics,
was restored to his former health.
[90] There is healed one suffering from the kidneys: Manuel the Freedman of Bartholomew of Germany,
inhabitant of Syracuse, under oath
said, that now it is four months and
more, that he an infirmity in the kidneys suffered;
so that himself sustain he could not upon
his feet, and on account of that infirmity in bed he lay:
and hearing such Miracles, and vowing
to come to the Relics of the said Saint, the vow
itself uttered, began thereupon to recover,
and on the Monday last past recovered
wholly, so that to the Relics aforesaid
with his own feet personally yesterday evening he
betook himself. And of the aforesaid infirmity it was established
through the oath of the persons written below,
namely James of Heraclea the Cleric,
Pisana of Ragusa, Bartholomew the Tarentine,
Ciccus of Morsu, inhabitants of Syracuse.
And how he is whole it was established through the inspection
of the eyes by mandate of the Lord of Syracuse
the Bishop to see and testify
about the Miracles of the said saint.
[91] Cosca the Greek, of Lord James of Primifostio
of Ragusa, dragging his body along the ground, under the same oath
said, that he (now it is four months)
suffered rheum, from which he was contracted
and shaken, so that to his feet to cling he could not,
nay when himself to move he wished, himself
to drag it was necessary along the ground with both
hands, and with what help he could.
And carried upon a certain animal from the aforesaid
land of Ragusa to the Relics of the said Saint, placed
in the church of Saint James; his sins confessed,
and in that manner along the ground betaking himself
toward the altar, in which are the aforesaid Relics,
and touched from them and sipping of the wine, with which
had been washed the Relics aforesaid, today restored
was he to his former health, and by many was seen
whole: and of the foregoing all legitimately it was established.
[92] Raynaldus, son of Gilia a woman of Caltagirone,
was so bent, that when
to walk he wished, bent in the whole body not otherwise could he walk
except with hands placed upon his knees;
and betaking himself carried as he could to
the Relics of the said Saint, was restored thereupon
to his former health, and of himself walked; as it was established.
[93] Allegrantia of Piazza, under oath
said, that from five years back, and in the fingers; so she suffered
in the left hand, that the fingers of that
hand curved in the palm she held; and betaking
herself to the said Relics and sipping of the wine aforesaid
and the aforesaid Relics being touched by her of the aforesaid
hand whole was made, straight holding the fingers
of that hand; as it was established.
[94] On the twenty-first of July of the 14th Indiction,
Ventura of Priest John, lame from her mother's womb; inhabitant of the Hamlet
of Misitellus, under oath said, that she
was lame from her mother's womb until the aforetitled
day: and betaking herself on the same aforesaid
day to the Relics of the said Saint; placed in the aforesaid
church of S. James, them kissing, immediately made
was whole, and consolidated were her bases
and leaping up she stood and walked straight, and many
were filled with astonishment, and in ecstasy placed,
at that which befell her. And proved are
the foregoing through the oath of the persons written below her neighbors,
with the astonishment of many; namely Gilia of Gistilisio,
Sibillia of Magister, Joanne Perna of the Hamlet,
Francia of Jacobus Stucha, and Joanna
[95] Gratia, daughter of Sybillia of Pezodipani, inhabitant
of Aci, likewise another similarly lame, under the same oath said,
that from her nativity until now she had her right foot
curved and twisted, so that
she could not proceed except with the heel of that
foot; and coming to the aforesaid Relics and them
kissing, whole was made and straight proceeds.
And proved are these things through the oath of the persons written below,
namely Margaret
of Benignato, Nicholas of Tauromenium, Alexander
of Henry of Magno, Pesideria of
William Curonario, and Simon of Rachoppo.
[96] On the twenty-second of the same, Florina of
Venuto of Bandino, a hernia-sufferer, inhabitant of Heraclea, under
oath said, that she had her son
natural, son of Fultus Manchinus,
Ciccus by name, who from seven years back,
in the genitals burst; and hearing the miracles
of the said Saint, first approached the tomb of the said Saint,
and afterward departing thence and coming to
the said Relics on the journey immediately the said boy
whole was made; and so whole was seen. And
of the infirmity aforesaid it was established through the oath
of Margaret of Pagano Barbarius.
[97] On the same day Isabella of Agrigentum, inhabitant
of the Hamlet of Fuminis-frigidi, under oath
said, that (now it is six years) and from then
throughout until the twentieth day of the said month, having suffered a flux for six years,
continually a flux she suffered; from which manifoldly
and so she was vexed so much, that
from the consequent weakness she suffered a defect
in the edge of the eyes; and from the excessive evacuation
according to what she herself opined or from some
other cause emerging from the said flux, in
her belly also a swelling appeared, and apertures
six were opened, from which, and each
of them flowed continually putrid blood:
of which sores four in an artificial way
to their former health being brought back, at one time from six wounds, the remaining
two putrid blood also poured out.
On the said twenty-first day of the month, devotion preceding
to the said Saint, on horseback toward
the monument of the Saint aforesaid going and coming
at the time of night to that monument
from a great and long-lasting languor, in
which the aids of physicians to her all had failed,
immediately was restored to her former health and
from the flux and sores aforesaid was freed
from which before receiving health by herself to walk
she could not; and now by herself
by the merits of the Saint aforesaid from all weariness
freed, not as sick in body but as perfectly
whole by herself walks, and goes hither
and thither, in a moment she is cured. and with straight feet to walk by many was seen.
And of the aforesaid infirmity it was established through
the oath of the persons written below, namely
of Floris delisia a woman, wife of Nicholas of
Primalancea; of Joanna of Mineo, Margaret
of Stephen, Perna of Gimburuto,
inhabitants of the said Hamlet of Fuminis-frigidi.
[97] On the twenty-third of July of the 14th Indiction
1327 Alemanna, wife of Anselm of Rahone, Possessed by a demon
inhabitant of Holy Spirit of Caltanissetta,
who (now it is a year one and more)
by an unclean spirit was vexed and possessed,
who day and night her to howl, to groan,
and to rage compelled; her having heard through
Rosata her daughter the name of the said Saint, and for
the same mother of hers to the said Saint vowing, that the same
mother of hers from the possession of the demon he would free;
and the vow aforesaid uttered in the same place,
before Alemanna was moved from that place, a vow made she is marvelously freed.
to come to the monument and Relics
of the said Saint from the vexation aforesaid was freed.
Which was seen by the power of the Lord and the said Saint's
merits to be shown by a sign: for at the hour
the said Alemanna was freed; a great whirlwind and
from it the houses and trees of the said place to suffer ruin
and uprooting not small. And afterward
she came to the Relics of the said Saint, and them with great
devotion kissing was freed. And
these things testify Rosata her daughter, Rosa of laudato,
Agnesia of Fachello, Joanna wife of Simon
of Petra-persia and Joanna of Nigro.
[98] The use of a withered arm and of the feet is restored. On the same day James of Libigini of
Agrigentum, under oath said, that he
having an infirmity in the right arm, from
which arm nothing to do he could, and that
arm as though withered he had, and he suffered
in his shins and feet; so much that straight
to walk he could not; approaching with devotion
to the said Saint, and the Relics of him kissing,
freed was he and brought back to his former health.
Of which things it was established through the oath of Isabella
of Castro Joannae.
[99] On the twenty-seventh of the same Baronissa of
Ligodia, wife of Roger Gatucius, said, A demoniac woman is freed. that
on the Sabbath last past the twentieth of the month,
betaking herself to her vineyard, her a spirit
unclean invaded, and throughout the whole day
she was by the malignant spirit possessed, on account of which
with pains and torments very many she was tortured
in body: and her husband aforesaid for her
vowing to the Saint aforesaid from the said vexation
was she wholly freed. And it was established through the oath
of the persons written below, namely
John of Agello, Alexandra of Palazzolo
that she signs had shown that she was vexed
by a demon.
[100] On the last of August, of the 14th Indiction 1327
at the hour of cockcrow, On August 31 many passing the night at the Relics of the Blessed, a wondrous power
and in a wondrous manner and worthy of admiration,
and to be extolled with proclamation, burst forth by the merits
of the said Saint. For at that hour in the said Church of S.
James very many persons, before the monument
of blessed Gerland, in the same Church passing the night,
who (had suffered various and diverse
infirmities, and with devotion preceding to the said Saint,
and a vow uttered by them, that the aforesaid Saint
them of the aforesaid sicknesses would free;
to the same Church and Relics had betaken themselves)
with their own hearing perceived before
the monument itself, a sound and song, they hear a wondrous song and
as it were an organ, sweet as if by Angels
played, full of melody, delightful
and harmonious in their ears to sound;
the sound itself and song through three times and more
by a noise repeated, which the aforesaid persons
hearing about the proper object of it,
and of the song, by no means deceived, were
filled with astonishment much; thrice repeated. and in such things
marveling, they rejoiced in the Lord, the Lord
himself magnifying and praising.
Of which things it was established through the oath of Nicolina
wife of John of Naro, inhabitant of Ragusa;
and of the same John of Naro; of Peter
Simon of Chanchio, inhabitant of Saint Peter
of Patti; of Leonard of Nicosia, Bartolinus
of Martorano inhabitant of Piazza, and
Matthew of Nicosia, who all the foregoing
all heard.
[101] On the Fourth day of September of the 15th Indiction,
Anna, On September 4 a boy is freed from a foul hernia. wife of Basil Trimayenus, inhabitant
of the Castle of Plano-Milatii, under oath said,
that he had his son Peter
by name, who from the beginning of his nativity in the genitals
burst and his testicles excessively appeared,
and in winter time so swelled,
and were inflated below that as though next to the knees
they seemed. And on the night aforesaid she carried her
said son to the Saint aforesaid and freed
was he from the infirmity and suffering aforesaid, and
wholly was seen whole by many: as it was established
through the oath of the persons written below,
namely Benedicta, daughter of Constantius Pecorarius;
and of John of Roger Stragimus inhabitants
of the same Castle.
[102] Through the Priest John of Melle
sent into the land of Modica for the inquiry of miracles
of the aforesaid Saint Gerland, Inquiry made at Modica into the miracles, found
was the miracle written below, through the memorialized
Saint done in the said land of Modica in a certain
woman of the said land, who is called Fimia
of Richard Balleri. Namely that
the aforesaid Fimia confessed, formerly to have suffered
was as it were an abscess in the manner of one citron:
so that she could not in any way her neck
incline downward, and day and night for this
cause she suffered the greatest pain: where an abscess in the throat is cured. and immediately
that she was at the land aforesaid of Caltagirone,
for the sake of a remedy and health to be obtained
by the merits of the said Saint, devotion preceding she approached the
sepulchre of the said Saint; and before there she
came, and was at the river, which is called
the Temple, she touched her throat, and it unharmed
and whole found. Of this thing witnesses
are, Francia of Brancaccio, Beatrix of Maniachi
and Jacoba of Maniachi.
[103] The present transcript is transcribed
from the original, which in the bronze chest of the privileges
of the Most Gracious City of Caltagirone is kept.
And a collation having been made by us the undersigned, it agrees
with the same original in faith of which thing
with our own hand we have subscribed.
I Francis Aprile, Rector of sacred
Theology in this University of the Caltagironian College
of the Society of Jesus, and censor of books of the Holy Inquisition
by special commission of the Most Illustrious Senate
was present, when the said original was extracted (in the presence
of some of the Senators and other Nobles)
from the said chest: and then a collation having been made
with the present transcript; I attest,
that in nothing does it differ from the same original.
I Gaetano Butera, by special commission
abovesaid transcribed the present transcript
and collated it with the original.
The Senate of the Most Gracious city of Caltagirone to all
etc. We testify that the foregoing transcript
and copy was extracted from
the original, existing in the chest of the privileges of the city,
and that the same is by the proper hand of Gaetano Butera
the scribe, by our commission and also
the subscription likewise of the Very Reverend Father Francis Aprile
Lector and Censor of books of the Holy Inquisition
is the proper hand of the very same Very Reverend Father
de Aprile in testimony of which we have caused these presents
to be made by me Notary-Proctor and with our
usual Seal which we use fortified at the foot. Given
at Caltagirone on the thirtieth and last
day of June of the seventh Indiction 1690.
Antony James of Gallenti Notary-Proctor.
in place of the ✠ great Seal