CONCERNING BLESSED DANIEL, AT VENICE, AMONG THE CAMALDOLESE.
IN THE YEAR 1411.
CommentaryDaniel the Merchant, at Venice, on the Island of Murano, among the Camaldolese monks (Blessed)
[1] We conclude the Acts of the Saints of March with the eulogy of Blessed Daniel, whose sacred body he testifies to have venerated in person at Venice in the year of Christ 1650: so writes Gaspar Bucelinus in his Benedictine Menology, and he adds the following about him: "At Venice, in the monastery of St. Matthew at Murano, Blessed Daniel the Lay Brother. Eulogy from Bucelinus. He was a German, from the town of Ungrischgraz by birth, who, having practiced commerce at Venice for some time, was wonderfully attached to the aforesaid monastery, and at last asked and obtained to be received there. He bequeathed all his goods to the monastery, consecrating his whole self to Christ. Certain thieves, frustrated in their vain hope of money, suddenly attacked and strangled him in his cell by night, in the year of Christ 1411. When long after, the Venetian patrician Paul Donato was to be buried in his tomb, Daniel's body was found incorrupt and most fragrant with a heavenly scent of roses, which to this day is frequented by a great concourse and gazed upon with admiration." So writes Bucelinus, citing the records of the monastery itself and the Camaldolese history of Augustine Fortunius of Florence, Acts from the Camaldolese History. who in book 3, chapter 3, adduces much more pertaining to his veneration, and himself beheld and venerated the said incorrupt body in person. But he writes that he was not admitted among the Lay Brothers, but that permission was given him, as a Commisso, to dwell in the said monastery of St. Matthew at Murano. Here, then, after having narrated the restoration of the church, done in the year 1383, he adds the following about Blessed Daniel.
[2] "At that time Daniel, a German, born at Ungrispack, was practicing commerce at Venice. He frequently delighted in crossing by boat to the monastery of St. Matthew at Murano
and taking lodging there, A German practices commerce at Venice: and had as it were taken up the patronage of the most sacred House and the Brothers. Seized indeed more and more each day by the beauty of the house of God (since he had always been an outstanding worshipper of God, compassionate toward the poor, and benevolent to pious places), he easily obtained from the Prior and monks permission to dwell in the monastery as a Commisso. Then, having drawn up his last testament on the last day of March in the year 1392, he dwells in the monastery of St. Matthew: and having bequeathed five hundred gold pieces to the monastery, he brought his belongings there and set up a chamber for himself in the lower part of the cloister. But when he had returned one day (as is reported) from his business, certain robbers supposed that he had carried much money with him to St. Matthew's: thinking they could enrich themselves, they secretly entered his chamber in the nighttime, killed by robbers, seized Daniel, broke his throat with a noose, and departed laden with plunder. When in the morning Daniel's death was discovered, the Brothers of St. Matthew, having first performed the honors of the funeral rites, he is buried in the cloister of the Chapter. laid the lifeless body in a stone sepulchre in the face of the Chapter cloister, not without tears, in the year 1411."
[3] "It happened, however, long afterward, when Paul Donato, a most noble Venetian patrician, had died, The body found incorrupt and sweetly fragrant, that the sepulchre was opened so that Paul's corpse might be buried there. And behold, Daniel's body was found within, intact, like a blooming rose, sweetly fragrant, and in no part of itself corrupted. When this was regarded as a miracle both by the congregation and by all of Venice (for a very great throng of people was present at the spectacle, and afterward an ever larger multitude flocked together for many days), to make known the sanctity of Daniel's life and how he had received, as it were, a martyrdom at the hands of robbers, at an altar erected to him he is illustrious for miracles, the venerable body was carried to the church with great honor: and an altar was erected to Blessed Daniel, where the sacred body, radiant with miracles, was venerated with great devotion by the people until the most recent enlargement of the church. But then, when the altar was destroyed, the venerable body is now preserved in a wooden chest, enclosed in a wooden chest. and we too have both seen it thus incorrupt and piously venerated it, giving thanks to God who is wonderful in his Saints, and we have no doubt that a treasure so precious is possessed there as a great gift by our Camaldolese."
Thus far Augustine Fortunius.
Appendix to March III