ON B. PHILIP OF AQUILA
OF THE ORDER OF THE REGULAR OBSERVANCE OF S. FRANCIS,
AT SULMONA IN ITALY.
A.D. MCCCCLVI
PrefacePhilip of Aquila, of the Order of the Observants of S. Francis, at Sulmona in Italy (B.)
D. P.
[1] Sulmo or Sulmona, the famous and most ancient city of the old Peligni, whose Episcopal title joined with that of Valva endures even today, although it boasts much of the birth of P. Ovidius Naso, celebrated by his verses, yet sets greater store by having had alive, Body and cult near Sulmona. and by possessing dead, B. Philip, called from his fatherland Aquilanus; in the suburban convent of the Friars Minor Observant named after S. Nicholas, which is the eighth of the Province of S. Bernardine according to Gonzaga, founded around the year of the Lord MCCCCXLIII. There Philip was Guardian, when on this IV of May he died in the year MCCCCLVI. There a chapel under his name is frequented by the inhabitants, who carry their sick thither, and not rarely carry them out whole. There is the mausoleum of the Blessed, famous for miracles, in the chapel proper to the Mezzara family; which now, while a new church is being built, being dissolved, the chest of the sacred pledge is kept guarded meanwhile in the sacristy, until, the fabric being completed, it be placed more narrowly: but if we shall have understood this to have been done sooner than this month comes to light, it can be indicated in the Appendix of this volume. Now I say that which indicates a public and by no means common cult, namely the chest itself, which contains all the bones of the whole body, furnished with transparent crystals, offering them to be beheld by the people, as often as it is brought forth from the other wooden one enclosing it.
[2] His Life was written by Bernardine of Aquila, himself also illustrious for famous Holiness, Life written by B. Bernardine, of which this is the epitome, whose Funeral, in the Latin; and Admonitions of the spiritual life, in the Italian tongue, are extant, published at Venice in the year MDLXXII; his other works, written in both idioms, and as yet unpublished, are kept in the Convent of S. Angelo, between the towns Fossa and Ocra of the Abruzzi, as Wadding testifies in his book on writers, reckoning among them in the first place a Brief Latin History of the Monasteries and men of the province of S. Bernardine, to which B. Philip belonged; and among the Italian tracts, the Lives of S. Bernardine of Siena himself and of this B. Philip. I would have preferred to receive this latter transcribed thence in Italian and to render it entire in Latin, than to give an epitome from the Annals of Wadding; but to my zeal in seeking and wishing for it, also miracles, some of which are given from a Ms. of the place: there did not respond the diligence of those whom it most concerned to cooperate to the best of their power: but having used much solicitation I have hitherto obtained nothing else than, from an old Ms. booklet containing very many miracles of B. Philip, a certain few, taken down by a Notary at the command of the Bishop of Valva and Sulmona, in the very year in which the Blessed died: which, turned into Latin, we give after the epitome of the life: the rest we continue to wish for and to expect, as also the Italian Life of the aforesaid praised B. Bernardine himself, most diligently written, or at least its Latin epitome published by Antonio Amicio his kinsman, to be given on XXIX November, on which day Arturus a Monasterio, in the Franciscan Martyrology, says he is venerated in the said Convent of S. Angelo.
[3] One thing here I add from Wadding, that the aforesaid praised Bernardine died in the year MDIII in the convent of S. Julian near Aquila, but all things entire from the originals are wished for. but wrote his Admonitions in the year MCCCCXCI: whence it is understood that the author wrote those things about B. Philip which partly he himself could have seen, partly heard from those who had seen them; and so that the writings both on the Life and on the miracles scarcely exceed the two hundredth year. Which if now they be read and understood with difficulty, let the Brothers of those Convents consider, I beg, how much more difficult it will be to read and understand them after the lapse of many centuries; if indeed they so long escape the destruction which threatens them from this very thing, that what is understood with difficulty is for the most part neglected and most easily perishes. Let them therefore take pains, that, whatever the difficulty being overcome, monuments of this kind may be able to be preserved perpetually in this our collection.
LIFE
From the Italian of B. Bernardine, almost a contemporary, contracted into Latin by Wadding in volume VI of the Annals
Philip of Aquila, of the Order of the Observants of S. Francis, at Sulmona in Italy (B.)
FROM WADDING.
[1] Philip of Aquila, his father Amicus Focianus, his mother Bucia, born of modest stock at Cassina, a town of the Aquilan territory, From boyhood addicted to a sterner virtue in the sixth year of his age bereft of both parents, was taken up by his uncle James. From that tender age displaying the highest honesty and gravity of morals, endowed by nature itself with a certain placid cheerfulness, he then already began to accustom himself to fastings and pious institutes of life. For a whole year he prayed at length each day over the tomb of his parents; and being asked what he did there, he answered that he was repaying the benefits of his parents by what means he could. He anticipated sins by penitence: for he chastised before he committed. Rising from bed, after tasting a brief sleep on straw or the bare ground, he gave the remaining part of the night to prayers. he becomes a Cleric, then a Minorite. The softness of a shirt and all the delights of the body he banished far off; and instead of a hair-shirt, which he did not have, he filled his inner garments with the pricking and pointed seeds of the Teutlomalache, commonly Spinach, which kind of penitence also he retained after taking up the Franciscan institute. Having received the clerical habit, he gave attention to grammar, intending to pursue the remaining studies which he judged suited to the Priestly dignity. But being made of more advanced age, having experienced the dangers of the world, and abhorring perishing delights, he chose a safer norm of life, under the formula prescribed by S. Francis.
[2] He exulted as a giant to run that way of God's commandments, observing not only the precepts and things necessary to salvation, and excelling in virtues, as one little or weak in spirit; but the works of surpassing excellence of virtue and the Evangelical counsels, as one mighty in virtue and robust in faith, with cheerful countenance and glad mind. From wine, for the most part; from flesh, always he abstained; tormenting his body with fastings, scourgings, and wondrous modes. To the nods of his Superiors he promptly obeyed; and their reprehensions, the more eagerly the more severe he received them. Most tenderly he had compassion on the miseries and frailty of others, toward himself altogether merciless. Representing the dove's simplicity in gait and words, in works and counsels he used the serpent's prudence. Nothing weighty did he undertake without counsel, and silently within himself he ruminated the benefits which were divinely infused. All things which he beheld or did supplied matter for contemplating higher things. In the concert of the choir, the most sweet harmony of the heavenly court; in the prayer of the brethren, the communion of Saints, and the pious intercession for us; about to go to bed, the image of death and the narrow burial; in the little worms coming forth from the body and grievously biting, and devoted to prayer. the horrible germs of the grave; in religious mendicity, the voluntary poverty of Christ; in fire, ice, darkness, stench, the torments of hell forthwith, as present, he contemplated. A fair estimator of time, he permitted none to slip by without fruit.
[3] Assiduous in prayer, daily after Compline with most accurate examination he discussed the several actions of that day; and if he severely judged that he had failed even in the least, he drives off the demon disturbing him. he corrected himself with a severer punishment. While once at that hour intent on these things he saw Satan, in the terrifying spectre of a monstrous she-goat, extinguish the lamp shining before the deposited divine Body. Then he intrepidly: These arts of yours, futile jester, will avail you nothing: for neither will you disturb me from prayer, nor will you overspread the sacred altars with darkness. Having forthwith brought a light from the kitchen, he kindled the lamp, and hung the lamp with a higher draught. These things being repeated a second and third time, and the goat being turned into a stinking he-goat, the man of God indignant said: Go to perdition: in the name of God I command you, that you no more disturb me from prayer. Confounded the enemy departed, nor dared he thereafter to bring annoyance.
[4] The divine Office with the highest attention, his body erect, frequent in hearing masses, leaning neither on wall nor on seat nor on any support, he performed. The arcane sacrifice of the Mass he offered daily, and whatever Sacred rites were done in the temple, he diligently heard; saying that no time was more usefully spent than in reading or partaking of Masses. A most vigilant guardian of chastity, the least dishonest thoughts, which are wont to creep in, he diligently eliminated; prudently saying that if a tree first put forth no roots, it would send forth neither foliage nor fruit. Blessed, he said, is he who shall hold his little ones, and dash them against the rock: the Spouse of our soul, both jealous and delicate, and solicitously guarding chastity, suffers no injury to honesty. If he heard anyone uttering less honest words; he most sharply reprehended, with no distinction of sex or quality regarded: yet he said it in such a manner that he incurred no one's indignation; and with such fruit, that whomsoever he had corrected he truly rendered weary of the crime and contrite of heart. The company of women he most diligently fled, and for fifteen years he beheld none in the face: and at length he obtained this grace from God, that he was no more moved at the sight of women than at that of wood.
[5] Of one temptation the Lord left him the exercise, namely the annoyance of sleep: which that he might drive away, for a whole three-year period, with much scourging he severely punished his own body. he wrestles with sleep Sometimes with hands bound and a rope thrown to a beam lest he fall to the ground; sometimes with hands and feet bound to the bedstead, often with his body coiled, his hands and feet bound and joined together, like a lamb or kid tied back; or for the most part sitting, never lying, he tasted a very brief sleep: but the more diligently he repelled this temptation, the more vehemently he was afflicted with troublesome dreams and dishonest visions. and by nocturnal illusions. Once miserably shaken, what he should do? he asked John of Capistrano. It must be patiently borne and manfully acted, he answered, and all this affliction had been permitted for the increase of merit. Idleness, the seed-bed of evils, he fled with the highest zeal: and if any time remained over from prayer, he devoted it to religious exercises. he writes sacred books, Observing that the humble huts and poor little dwellings of his institute lacked choral books, Psalter, Antiphonary, and others of the like, he resolved to learn this manner of writing, though difficult; and having wondrously attained it, he filled the whole province with these books. Many oratories, in the woods or gardens of the monasteries, he either built or repaired; well knowing that although places do not sanctify a man, yet they greatly help toward working well according to their opportunity; and builds oratories, and contemplative men separated from the crowd pray more conveniently than if they be distracted by the intercourse of others. A lover of the strictest poverty, he admitted nothing superfluous in food or clothing, nothing precious in utensils or church ornaments, saying that poor Brothers ought to glory in poor attire.
[6] The Superiors, beholding the solid and pregnant virtue of the man, set him over the instructing of novices: into whom he instilled with interest the best discipline, which he had received from Fr. Savinus a de Campellis, a most holy man of the Province of S. Francis, he is set over novices, with usury. That was his chief study, to call them away from earthly things by the contemplation of heavenly ones, and to join them to God by mental prayer:
nor did he so eagerly aim to wear down the body with labors, as to cultivate the mind with spiritual documents, and to mortify the internal passions. He taught that the life of Christ was to be emulated by pious exercitations, but before all mysteries the Passion was to be meditated; which he distributed in fifteen points or partitions in the best order. He himself so vehemently impressed it on his inmost heart, that as often as he heard it related, he was tortured with the highest grief: and on each Friday of the Parasceve, those explaining the same in a mournful rite, with much scourging, with the strictest fasting, with tears, with impatient wailing, he filled up those things which were wanting of the Passion of Christ in his own body…
[7] Although he would rather be subject than preside, constrained by the precept of his superiors he had at some time to undergo the governance of others. Yet he so governed, that he rather seemed to serve; and set over others, was equal to all, following the counsel of him who said: and likewise others whom he governs with great discretion. They have set you a ruler, be not lifted up, be among them as one of them: have care of them, and so trust, and all your care being discharged recline: that you may rejoice on their account, and as an ornament of grace receive a crown, and obtain the dignity of contribution. Eccl. 31, 1 By such placid and prudent governance he followed such an opinion, that all desired to deliver themselves to his discipline, nor was there any in that province who did not wish to dwell with him. There was none who spoke an evil word of him, nor who transmitted complaints to the greater Prelates. The imperfect he composed to the Rule, the perfect he stimulated to better things. In rebuking vehement, in admonishing gentle, in commanding he ulcerated no one's mind, well considering that an indiscreet Prelate makes a disobedient subject. Justice and mercy he so tempered together, that faults did not remain unpunished, nor the offender exasperated: for justice without mercy is severity; and mercy without justice furnishes an incentive to offending. He bore it ill if he saw anyone idle: and to each he assigned his own ministry.
[8] He flourished also with signs and the virtue of prophecy. In the convent of Teramo b he signed with the Cross a young girl oppressed by a demon, the Guardian commanding it, he shines also with miracles and prophecy. and at once freed her from the evil spirit. Made Guardian of the Sulmonian monastery, the road which led to the city c he caused to be widened with no small labor. Being asked by a Brother working with him, why with so great sweat of the Brothers and some expenses he was caring to have the path widened; To our few Brothers, said he, that footpath abundantly suffices: but near is the time when a huge multitude of peoples is about to pass through here. That he had truly foretold appeared, when after his death, commended by frequent miracles, the greatest concourse of pious folk was made to the sepulcher. Burning with a great ardor of seeing God, for twenty years he begged God that it might please Him to lead forth his sighing soul from the prison-house of the body. Most often he repeated that of the Apostle, I desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ: and he added that he greatly envied those who had gone before to Christ. Phil. 1, 23
[9] At length being heard he began to be sick, then to be afflicted with various diseases, and after various diseases and to be vehemently tortured with worsening pains: in which only that voice of his was heard, The Lord is my strength, the Lord is my refuge and my deliverer. At last with languid spirit when he perceived death near, Confession premised, most devoutly the most holy body of Christ, his knees bent outside the bed, a rope hung at his neck, he received: and having received from S. Francis pardon of his transgressions, he happily migrated to the Lord in the year MCCCCLVI, he dies 4 May 1456 on the IV day of May, in the aforesaid Convent of Sulmona, which he was governing. His body, while he lived tending to blackness, and his face dusky, became so white, and his lips reddening as a rose, and all his members so tractable and soft, that all wondered and desired to touch and venerate them. To the honor of the holy man was added the glory of miracles; which in great number the Notary's hand collected for the Bishop of Sulmona d, and very many others the Brothers wrote.
[10] His life was written by Marian e of Florence, Mark f of Lisbon, Peter g Rodulphus; and more diffusely than all by his fellow-countryman B. Bernardine of Aquila, The writer of the Life B. Bernardine, which is circulated in manuscript, from which I have culled the chief things. In the little work which he composed on the monasteries of the Province of S. Bernardine, he subjoins these things about this holy man. In the place of S. Nicholas near Sulmona, the body of B. Philip of Aquila rests, who was the greatest zealot of poverty, the greatest friend of chastity and obedience, devout in prayer, he praises him also elsewhere, singular in discretion, eminent in humility, pure in simplicity, cautious in prudence as a serpent, always intent against the snares of the devil, and (that I may comprehend many things in few) a singular son of our Blessed S. Francis. To all he was a mirror of holiness, yet with all his strength he strove to hide his holiness: but (according to the Lord, who says, Luke 11, 33 No one lights a lamp and puts it under a bushel, but upon a candlestick, that it may shine to all who are in the house) the more he strove to hide it, as also did B. John of Capistrano. the more his holiness was diffused round about. Finally after his death God willed to show many miracles, as is plain at Sulmona: of which man I now say no more other things, because I have described his life at large… B. John of Capistrano, having heard of his death, vehemently grieved, and said: Alas for me! that my sojourn is so prolonged, that after this holy man I must sigh amid these troubles h. Happy city of Sulmona, which has merited to possess so great a treasure.
ANNOTATIONS
MIRACLES
From an old Notarial Italian Ms.
Philip of Aquila, of the Order of the Observants of S. Francis, at Sulmona in Italy (B.)
FROM THE NOTARIAL MS.
These are the miracles of B. Philip of Aquila, of the Order of the Friars Minor of the Observance, examined by the Bishop of Valva or Sulmona.
[1] Masius Dominici of Juliano, Deprived of motion of almost the whole body, of the province of the Abruzzi, appearing and standing before the Lord Bishop of Valva or Sulmona, to declare the grace which he received through a vow made to B. Philip of Aquila of the Order of the FF. Minor of the Observance, in the very year in which he died as Guardian in the place of S. Nicholas at Sulmona, said that for a long time he suffered a certain infirmity, whence arose grave pains, very troublesome to his body, yet not always equally, but sometimes more and more intense. From the beginning of May the aforesaid Masius was so afflicted in his shins, hands, and other members, only the head and belly excepted, that being able to move scarcely any part of his body, he was compelled to recline in bed, nor without another's help could he raise himself from it ever so little: he suffered moreover vehement contractions in his hands, nor could he stir himself in the bed itself unless helped by his wife or some other assisting; nor was even this done without great difficulty.
[2] Being so constituted, he sought aid several times from physicians and medicines: but in vain: wherefore he turned himself to invoke other Saints, whom the towns near his fatherland venerate. But afterward on the day b of Pentecost, in the said month of May, understanding that at the body of B. Philip God was working many miraculous graces and deliverances from various infirmities, a vow being made he suddenly recovers. Bartholomew Ricciardi of Juliano relating them, suddenly with the greatest devotion and faith he made a vow to the said B. Philip, saying that if by his merits and prayers interceding he were freed from his infirmity, he would go to visit his body; and thence returning to his c castle, would have his effigy painted, to be placed in the church of S. Mary of the same castle. This vow being made the aforesaid Masius continually attempted to rise, and publicly and manifestly confirming that he had been freed from the disease by the grace received, walked through the castle: but on the following Monday, moving most freely, he came on foot to the said holy body of B. Philip with the undersigned companions. And the said Masius himself was seen, by means of the vow and the grace received, to come and return freely. And all these things the said Masius himself said: these moreover are the witnesses who accompanied him: Bartholomew Ricciardi, Catalda of Andrew, and Nina of Colas: who all and each by their oath confirmed all the premises, as
were stated by the aforesaid Masius.
[3] On the XXV day of the month of May, Indiction IV, there appeared before the Lord Bishop, likewise grievously tortured in the left leg, Tutius Simonis of Juliano of the province of the Abruzzi, confessing and saying that he had been infirm and suffered grave pains in his left leg and in the nerves about the knee on one side and the other: so that for six years he could not use the said leg for walking. But hearing that the body of B. Philip, dead in the church of S. Nicholas near Sulmona, was working many miracles by the power of God, inflamed with devotion with hope of recovering health, he vowed to betake himself to visit it. Soon indeed the divine mercy was present, he received the grace desired, all pain departed from the leg, and as he had promised so continuing his devotion he came from the aforesaid Castle of Juliano to Sulmona to the said blessed body, more on foot than on horseback; using a horse however from time to time to indulge rest to his body: for the Castle of Juliano is distant about thirty miles from Sulmona. All these things the said Tutius narrated before the Lord Bishop of Sulmona, and the same things about her father before the same Lord Bishop under oath affirmed Antonia the daughter of the same Tutius, to be true as above narrated, in the presence of D. Antonio de Avezzano Vicar General of the aforesaid Bishop, as also of Antonio de Pacano, dwelling at Sulmona, James John of Rainerius of Aquila, Francis of Master Peter de Horiano, and Honufrius Manelli of Sulmona.
[4] On the XXVII day of the said month of May there appeared before the Lord Bishop of Sulmona Peter de Gallutio dwelling at Miniano in the province of d the Terra di Lavoro, confessing and saying and another in the foot that he had been infirm and suffered grave pains in his left foot, so that for a whole month he could not walk to the space of one mile nor labor. But hearing that the dead body of B. Philip stood in the church of S. Nicholas of Sulmona, and that God was working many miracles through it, kindled with devotion he made a vow of visiting it with hope of obtaining health. And the vow being suddenly made, by the mercy of God, he was master of the desired grace and began to walk, and continuing his devotion he came on foot from the said place of Miniano e as far as Sulmona to the said holy body. And Nicholas of Anthony of the said land, examined and adjured, by solemn oath asserted the aforesaid to be true: and the same likewise, examined and adjured, affirmed Joanna of Honofrius de Petra Mondaza, the godmother of the same Peter.
[5] On the same day and hour there appeared before the Lord Bishop of Sulmona Nicholas of Anthony of the said land of Miniano, and said that he had been infirm, and a third in the right leg, and had suffered grave pains in his right leg, so that with difficulty and great labor he walked for a small space: and that he had labored with this infirmity from his very childhood. But hearing that almighty God was working many miracles, by the mediation of the prayers and merits of B. Philip in the place of S. Nicholas of Sulmona, he prayed and vowed that if God should free him too from his infirmity, without delay he would betake himself to Sulmona, and personally visit the body of B. Philip and his sepulcher. And the vow being thus made, suddenly he felt himself free, and came personally with bare feet to the said place and blessed body. Wherefore the aforesaid Peter under his oath also asserted the matter to be so, and the same the aforesaid Joanna of Honofrius confirmed, in the presence of D. Presbyter Peter de Avezzano Doctor Vicar general of the Lord Bishop, D. Antonio Victorici Canon, and Innocent de Corbis Presbyter, and John of Sulmona, and Paul-Anthony of Colas, and Andrew Ciotti of the Theatine city.
[6] On the XXIX day of the month of May MCCCCLVI f before the Lord Bishop of Sulmona D. Mary wife of D. Marinus de Caramento, and swollen in the whole body, of the third Order of S. Francis of the province of the Abruzzi, under oath interrogated about her infirmity and the grace obtained, said that suffering an inflation of hands and knees for one year, by the counsel of certain physicians she applied certain remedies; by which the evil was carried into a great tumor, the whole body generally inflated, so that she lost both the faculty of speaking and of seeing, nor for fifteen days could she take any nutritive food. And so her life was everywhere held in desperate case, and was bewailed by her sons and household as one already dead. In this state there came to her two Brothers of the Observance, of whom one was called Fr. Oliver, the other Fr. Jerome: who animating the infirm woman suggested to her that she should commend herself to B. Philip of the Observance of S. Francis, and now laid down for death. dead in their place of S. Nicholas of Sulmona, that he might obtain for her grace unto eternal life: adding, We will not depart hence until you have said the Ave Maria. And she who before could not speak, by their prayers and the mediation of God's grace, recited the Ave Maria. Which seen, as many as were present and the infirm woman herself made a vow of visiting the said blessed body of B. Philip. Then she asked for food, and being suddenly healed she came to visit the said blessed body, by the grace obtained free from all infirmity. Lawrence the son of the said D. Mary under oath confirmed all the same things, in the presence at all of Paschal Corcii de Staffa, Master Nicholas Petruccii a mason, Simeon of Marian, Master Anthony Angeluccii of Sulmona.
The other informations of miracles being omitted for the sake of brevity, the present copy has been extracted from a certain parchment book written in an ancient hand, in which are noted the Life and informations of the miracles of the said B. Philip of Aquila, existing in the library of the Venerable Convent of S. Nicholas of the city of Sulmona: and a collation having been made &c. In faith whereof I the Notary Bernardine Sebastian &c.