CONCERNING B. ANGELINA THE VIRGIN,
OF THE ORDER OF S. CLARE AT SPOLETO IN UMBRIA.
YEAR 1450.
HISTORICAL COMPILATION
From Jacobillus, the sepulchre, and the paintings.
Angelina, Virgin, of the Order of S. Clare, at Spoleto in Umbria (B.)
BY THE AUTHOR D. P.
In the time of Pope Gregory IX, outside the walls of the city of Spoleto, on the Hill commonly called Florito, In the monastery of the Ladies of the Palace, there was erected in the year 1229 a monastery of Poor Clares, called S. Mary among the Angels; which Wadding mentions several times in his Annals, on occasion of the Pontifical letters by which it was strengthened and equipped. Thither had been brought Nuns from the principal monastery of S. Damian near Assisi, and from the old Palace which had been on that hill, they were commonly called transferred to the city, the Ladies of the Palace: and under that appellation they persevere to this day, although already from the year 1320 transferred into the city to the church of S. Gregory the Less, built within the ruins of a certain Roman Amphitheater; and dedicated to S. Gregory the Martyr of Spoleto, who suffered there, of whose body there it is to be treated on the 14th of December. In this monastery, now made urban, but (which you may wonder at) nowhere mentioned in Gonzaga and Wadding, about the year 1440 sister Francisca was acting as Abbess, when there entered Angelina, of whom here, her niece, and born at Spoleto.
[2] Angelina lived for ten years, That she lived there about ten years writes Ludovicus Jacobillus, in his work "On the Saints and Blessed of Umbria," tome 1, on this day; the Franciscan authors, even Arturus a Monasterio, being silent concerning her. Their silence would indeed have moved me to pass over her in silence, had I not myself, in the year 1660, on the 20th of December, been at Spoleto, and contemplated her marble sepulchre in the aforesaid church; and seen that it has the form of an altar, upon which formerly the sacrifice of the Mass was wont to be offered; but under the arch, drawn over it, after death held a Saint, her effigy painted on the wall, with various miracles around, which can serve as a history to the unlearned for the proof of the ancient cult. This, having been interrupted thus far on account of the decrees of Urban VIII, so that the sacrifice is no longer offered there, you may rightly ascribe to excessive religiosity; since those decrees abolish nothing of those things whose use had obtained from time immemorial, that is, for a hundred years back; which concerning the veneration of B. Angelina could not without difficulty have been proved by the Friars, had they had a fitting knowledge of the things done, to supply the unskillfulness of the good Sisters, and to maintain their old custom.
[3] Yet all other things remained intact, and the popular cult perseveres, the cult persevering somewhat even now. sufficient for us to insert into this work B. Angelina, on whose monument I myself read this title inscribed on one side: "The Virgin of the Order of the divine Francis, Angelina of Spoleto, adorned with countless miracles, has in this temple the tomb of her body, in the empyreal heaven the seat of her soul. She lived 25 years, she died in the year of Grace 1450, on the 29th day of June." On the other side these words were noted: "The pious Sisters wished this work to be made, in the year of salvation 1508": from which time it might rightly be presumed that Masses were said there: for to what else would the stone closing the tomb, and having the form and consecration of an altar, have looked? It is clear therefore that the case was excepted in the Bull, of the time immemorial, which the same Pontiff defined to be reckoned that of a hundred years; and a place could be given to the grace of restitution in full, if it were fittingly requested.
[4] He who was Chaplain and Confessor to the Nuns there, exhibited to us a certain Italian writing under the title of a Life, Her Encomium in Italian Ms. has nothing historical, and kindly offered his help toward procuring a description: and he performed no less than he had promised. But re-reading the copy now, I find nothing but an encomiastic discourse, applicable to any holy Nun, zealous to promote her vows and regular observance in herself and others. But the whole matter is concluded with these words: "It is indeed true, that no writing is found explaining fully the life and works of this handmaid of God; yet what they were is sufficiently understood from the altar dedicated in her name, it ends with a description of the chapel, and from the paintings there delineated, which are wont to be as a scripture to the simple, commemorative of past things."
[5] of the altar and the painting For the altar is seen composed after the manner of a chapel, in the midst of which the Blessed one herself is painted, of comely appearance indeed, but simple; and breathing purity, simplicity, and virginity, and breathing devotion upon the beholders. In the middle of the picture she herself stands, surrounded by a numerous multitude of the sick, the blind, lepers, the withered, asking and receiving help. On the right is seen an Angel, bringing the espousal ring to the holy Virgin; and beneath him is one possessed, freed from the demon; and finally there is painted, how (this happened on the 15th day after death) blood gushed from the nostrils of the deceased, as if she were alive. On the left one may see a youth maimed and healed; and how, a woman approaching the bier of her exposed in the temple, representing certain miracles the Saint, turning away, drew back her hand from the kiss; which that woman, unworthy through a certain sin, was impudently wishing to bestow: and below this, another woman, whose hands being seized, also a wound stuck in her throat. Besides, all around are seen various votive testimonies of diverse graces, hung there by those who, running together from everywhere, brought their offerings. The same things are read in Jacobillus, nor anything more.
June V: 30 June