ON B. MARINA THE VIRGIN,
OF THE ORDER OF CANONS REGULAR OF S. AUGUSTINE,
FOUNDRESS OF THE MONASTERY OF S. MATTHEW AT SPOLETO IN UMBRIA.
A.D. 1300
HISTORICAL COLLECTION.
From Ludovico Jacobilli's On the Saints of Umbria, and from Manuscript monuments.
Marina, foundress of the monastery of S. Martin, of the Order of S. Augustine at Spoleto in Italy (B.)
AUTHOR. D. P.
Blessed Marina, formerly surnamed
Vallarina, daughter of Silvester
Petrocianus the Spoletan, from
her earliest age betook herself to the monastery
of S. Mary surnamed "a Stella,"
From the monastery of S. Mary "a Stella" which in the year
1254 had founded Bartholomew Bishop
of Spoleto, under the Order of the Hermits of S. Augustine;
and "a Stella" (of the Star) he had wished it to be surnamed,
which in a well of the place he had seen most resplendent.
To the Nuns of his Convent imposed
was the care of educating exposed and bastard infants,
in a contiguous and for this end erected
orphanage; to which a chapel adhered,
and beside it the aforesaid well, square,
and converted into a common sepulchre of the innocents,
baptism received having died.
[2] In that monastery when for some years had lived
the Blessed one, to others for an example of all virtue
and observance; having crossed over to found the new monastery of S. Matthew, desirous of a more austere and more perfect
life, together with other Nuns
six, she betook herself to the hospital of S. Matthew
in the same city, which was of the Tertiaries
of S. Francis; and there she founded a monastery under
the title of the same S. Matthew, and of the same Eremitical
Order of S. Augustine, about the year
1265. But when to Spoleto had come
the Canons Regular of the Lateran, of the same S.
Augustine the Rule professing, having received a dwelling
near the church of S. Syrus; the Nuns of both
monasteries "a Stella" and S. Matthew said
to be ruled they undertook, She there takes the Canonical habit in the year 1302. and by the help of these
they obtained the Abbey of S. Julian in Monte-Luco,
and the church of S. Ansanus within the city.
But they, desiring of those, under whose
discipline they lived, also the Order and Habit
to hold under the same Constitutions; the Rochet,
or if you prefer the linen Surplice
to call it they assumed in the year 1302; except six,
who retaining the old habit, betook
themselves in the year 1306 to the hospice of the Hermits
of Monte-Luco, dedicated to S. Angelo within
the city; and a beginning gave to the new of S. Angelo
convent, under the Eremitical observance.
[3] B. Marina lived furthermore in that which she had erected
S. Matthew's monastery, and having died about 1300, years about
thirty, a most exact observer of the new profession,
and intent on prayers, fastings and
penances; whence to the whole city famed made,
most holily she died about the year 1300, on the day
June 18. But there saw the Nuns
who stood by the dying one, a most splendid sun
ray descending upon the body of the one expiring;
and through her merits God worked many
miracles: on account of which the said Nuns the body
of her to be buried took care in a place from
others separated, in 1471 she is translated with the body incorrupt: in a marble tomb honorably
laid; which in the year 1471 uncovered
and found was entire and incorrupt,
and with new miracles began to shine. Thus far
Ludovico Jacobilli, in tome 1 pag. 645
of the year 1647; the Manuscripts of Severus
Minervius, John Baptist Bracceschi, and
Seraphinus of Seraphinis being alleged in the margin. Before which what worthy
I judged the process and Instrument
of the Translation made in the year 1548; and letters having been given
to Spoleto I obtained from the original authentically
transcribed in the year 1691, through our
there P. Ventura of Baldinellis, that which follows.
[4] John of Orlandis of Piscia, Doctor of Both Laws,
of the Most Reverend in Christ Father and Lord
our, which the Vicar General of the Bishop of Spoleto, Fabius Vigilis, by the grace of God and of the Apostolic See
Bishop of Spoleto, in spiritual and
temporal things Vicar general; to You venerable
and beloved to us in Christ Abbess
and Nuns of the Venerable monastery of S.
Matthew of Spoleto, of the Order of S. Augustine,
of the Lateran Congregation, greeting in the Lord
everlasting and the consolation of the Holy Spirit.
[5] Marvelous is God, who by the omnipotence of his power
infinite miracles daily has worked
in the world, on account of the noted sanctity of Marina, many also in several of his Saints
day by day to work does not disdain. Among whom
most recently the same omnipotent God in B. Marina,
formerly a Nun of your venerable monastery,
by the holiness of her life, the working of miracles,
to shine forth did not disdain. For
when Marina aforesaid, from her entering age,
in S. Mary's "a Stella" first, and then
in S. Matthew's, by the same with some other
Nuns from the foundations erected monastery,
in this Spoletan city, service to God
worthy rendered, and a life by religion and
holiness conspicuous lived; in her death
by miracles openly shone forth; and from the year one thousand
four hundred seventy-first
until this day for Blessed held and reputed
was, and the miraculous integrity, just as today she is held and reputed;
and her body until this day entire
and incorrupt to have been conserved,
is public and notorious; and by the Spoletan people
in the greatest is held veneration; and although
hitherto her body, from the day of her death
until this day, on account of her holiness,
in a place apart from the burial of the other Nuns
was deposited; and the aforesaid deposit,
on account of its antiquity to restore there is need;
nor that You without our special license wish to do;
therefore to Us you have caused to be supplicated,
that in the foregoing about an opportune remedy to consult
we would deign.
[6] We therefore, both your and the whole people
of Spoleto's devotion to consult, permits her to be translated into a more decent place in 1648 and that in
his Saints God most good and great's omnipotence
to be recognized to shine forth, to provide willing;
to You and to each of you, the sepulchre or deposit
of B. Marina, just as otherwise was made, to destroy
and a new in another decent place,
with that veneration which is fitting and hitherto
usual and customary, to build license and faculty
by the tenor of these presents we grant and
bestow; those doing the contrary notwithstanding
whatsoever. In faith of which
and testimony of all the foregoing, these presents
through the undersigned Notary of our Curia
and Chancellor to be written, with the great Episcopal
seal of Spoleto, which in these similar things
we use, by appension to be fortified we caused. Given
and done at Spoleto, in the Episcopal Palace
of our usual residence, under the year of the Incarnation
of our Lord Jesus Christ 1548, in the Indiction
sixth, but on the 19th day of the month of May; in the presence
there of discreet men Lords, D. Bernardinus
Leoncillus of Spoleto, and Peter Macoschellus
called, had, and asked,
in the Pontificate of our Holy Lord Paul by divine providence
Pope III in the fourteenth year.
John of Piscia Vicar General by his own hand.
Marianus Leoncillus Notary of the Episcopal Curia by mandate.
I Cassius Cupuccinus, Chancellor of the Episcopal Curia
of Spoleto, because the abovesaid copy
with its own proper original, with the Nuns
of S. Matthew of Spoleto existing, and through
another hand to me however faithful I extracted,
and a collation having been made it agrees, in faith of the foregoing
etc. Faith finally to it makes, Opicius,
by divine mercy of the title of S. Martin in
the Mountains Cardinal Pallavicinus, Bishop
of Spoleto … July 17, 1691; just as
testifies the undersigned John Maria of Nobilibus,
Episcopal Notary by mandate.
[7] Another Instrument of the translation actually made
hitherto could not be found, a silver chest is made for her in the year 1659. laid up
perhaps under the sacred body itself when
in the year 1659 Vallarinus Petruccianus a noble
Spoletan, this blessed one of his family about to honor,
ordered to be fabricated a silver case, which
within the same marble sepulchre placed should contain
the aforesaid body, just as in the subjoined
image is to be seen. The same testifies the above-praised
Jacobilli except that by a typographical error is read printed
the year 1639 for 1659, just as above written
was the year 1502 for 1302.
THE BODY OF B. MARINA FOUNDRESS OF THE MONASTERY OF S. MATTHEW OF SPOLETO.
[8] I was, in the year 1660 with Master Henschen
going toward Rome, on the 20th day of December, by our
Spoletan College's then Rector led to
that pious spectacle, and in which we ourselves saw the Blessed one in the year 1660: and I saw the aforesaid venerable
Body in its case placed, on the temple's
right side as one enters, near the altar,
within the wall with marble work elegant
clothed just as then I related in my pocket-notes: about whose
cult afterward a more distinct notice seeking (for
neither to memory to trust anything would I dare, after
an interval of forty years) from the aforesaid Bandinello
thus I received: No solemn veneration of Marina
is held by the peoples, no through the whole year's
space her festivity is kept, nor Mass
is made, but without a solemn cult of Mass and Office, nor Office is recited, not even
by the Nuns themselves of S. Matthew. Only
around her sepulchre very many votive offerings
hang; and the body incorrupt, as a notable
Relic, to all having a journey this way
is shown.
[9] Because nevertheless the aforesaid all things abundantly prove
the case, by the Urbanian Bull excepted into the prerogative
of cult from immemorial, that is exceeding the notice of a hundred years
; there could that more solemn
cult, which through Mass and Office is paid, the hope of obtaining which now remains slight.
from Rome be hoped; were it not that there stood in the way the recent Decree
of the sacred Congregation, in that which for B. Juliana
Falconieri emanated, providing, that hereafter
may not avail such proofs of Blessedness, anciently
believed and received and by Bishops and the local
Ordinaries approved, except in the same kind
of cult; as I already said treating of S. Peter the Pisan,
only thus far carried, nor without new
Processes easily further to be carried. But why
is omitted the exception and approbation of the miraculous
graces, which to the Body of B. Marina are believed to be referred?
These certainly ought not to be neglected, but in writings
authentic legitimately to be consigned, and to the Ordinaries'
examination to be subjected: because such diligence both
more copious benefits would elicit from God, and a way
would pave to a solemn Canonization sometime to be obtained
through new Processes.