Gerard the Solitary

ON BL. GERARD THE SOLITARY, OF THE THIRD ORDER OF S. FRANCIS

AT VILLA-MAGNA NEAR FLORENCE.

A.D. MCCXLII.

Gerard, Solitary of the Third Order of S. Francis, at Villa-magna near Florence (Bl.)

BY D. P.

Villa-grandis was once called, what now Villa-magna, a village 5000 paces

distant from Florence, whose

parish church to St. Domnino sacred, very near

to itself adjoined has another little chapel, in which now rests

the body of B. Gerard, there born and there having died. And

he indeed for the whole year is venerated as Blessed; Cult on the second feria of Pentecost. yet most celebrated

and proper feast to him is held annually on the II feria of Pentecost;

when at his veneration from everywhere flowing together

the number reaches generally to ten thousand men.

Thus through letters sent to me signified the Most Illustrious

and Most Erudite Magliabechius, who himself in year

MDCLXXVIII on day 1 March to the place betook himself, that more certain

and more explored things he might report; and by singular favor of the Plebanus

was admitted to the inspection of the sacred body; which once

indeed in individual years on the said feast only once,

now however much more rarely is shown to the people. I saw and inspected, says

Magliabechius, integrity of the incorrupt body. attentively and slowly, that

once-most-holy soul's domicile, with desiccated

flesh still whole; from which no part was missing, which

indeed had been at his death, in decrepit age an old man.

Hairs adhered to the head, teeth to the gums, but rare both.

The left jaw wholly incorrupt, more integrity

showed than the right: skin laid over the bones

solid; and indeed from the knees up and down, on each side

to five fingers, wonderfully callused and hardened:

which callus is believed to have contracted,

from the knees visiting some churches sufficiently remote;

most whole feet and hands required no joint

or nail. He is preserved however under

the altar of his oratory inside a wooden gilded chest

most honorably, and this is enclosed in a larger

stone one, which the Blessed himself there brought, with his hands

had fitted to the form of an altar. But before

the said gilded chest was made, he had lain inside

another chest equally wooden, but of less elegance, which

to me under his Parochial altar showed the Plebanus.

[2] In this same little chapel is seen his image, painted

with four little stories taken from his life: Images in the church. of which

one shows how after his death, the body taken out

from the poor little hut, was exposed upon

a truncated oak, with arranged around guards for

restraining the indiscriminately pious people. In the second is expressed

the Saint, a certain horseman in crossing a river

admonishing of danger. The third the same represents

fixed in prayer, before a certain chapel, and behind

him a very great crowd kneeling. The fourth finally

a mule loaded with breads, which I believe to the poor

by the Saint distributed. Similarly in a certain tabernacle

of Gothic work is seen sculpted a stone effigy

of the Blessed, with a staff in the right, the left holding a rope,

which is presumed to be a cord, the wearing of the Tertiaries of S.

Francis. On the individual Sundays of Lent

are conducted Processions, in memory of those,

which from the knees the Blessed was wont to do, and that in

this manner. Those go out from the parochial S.

Domninus's church, Pious Processions through Lent by his example instituted. and proceed to the Rectorate of S. Romulus,

a thousand paces distant from the said church

of S. Domninus; thence proceed to Mons-Acutus,

distant by an equal space, where is the oratory of the Nerli:

then proceed to another church of Villa-magna,

which is called of S. Mary at Ringhialla, and is distant by

a great mile, through a difficult way to be measured: then

bend to Incontrum, where is a certain little dependency of Villa-magna,

and Hermits dwell, at two miles'

interval from Ringhialla, through a most difficult way: and

at last to the parochial church return. Are made

however those Processions, even in cloudy, even in rainy

weather: but if a too headlong shower prevent

so great a space distant places to all visit,

at least always some are visited.

[3] The ancient Acts have been lost. Thus Magliabechius, partly seen by himself, partly heard from the

Plebanus: which as certain to us renders Gerard's cult,

so troublesome renders the lack of ancient monuments about him,

lost as is presumed about the year MCCCLX,

when the Sienese, with an incursion against the Florentines made, the church of S. Gerard

despoiled and destroyed. This defect

in some way will be supplied by the Life, which the praised Magliabechius

after long inquiry with the Lords Gamburri at Florence

found, just as it near the end of the preceding century (after year

certainly MDL) composed the Presbyter Bartholomew

John della Quercia, formerly of the said place's Curate, for which is given another more recent Life.

received from witnesses worthy of trust and through the tradition

of those places, as testifies n. 14 he who with more recent hand

transcribed the exemplar found with the Gamburri. Of this

before to us a copy was made, we had prepared for press a life of most

recent composition another, now to be of use for Notes,

which through the same Magliabechius had sent Rev. P. Fr.

Anthony de Terrinca, of the Tuscan Province alumnus; he sent

however in Latin, with cited also at the end authors, both his own

Franciscan Order and others; namely, the ancient Legend

of the Minors of Florence in Append. The praise of him in various writers:

vol. 1: Mark of Lisbon Chronicle part 2 book

1, chapter 11: Luke Wadding vol. 2 of the Annals at

year 1277 num. 12: Algezira in the Tree epilogic

of the whole Order: Palazius book 6 Chronicle of the Province of Castile

chapter 25: de Sylla chapter 1 of the Third Rule:

Franciscan Martyrology of Arthur on XIII May: Silvanus

Razzius part 1 of the Lives of Saints of Tuscany fol.

335: Bosius part 1 book 9 of the History of the Knights of S John

of Jerusalem. Bzovius vol. 13 Annal. Eccles. at

year 1241 num. 15; and certain reports, by

the very Rev. D. Bartholomew Magnani, current

Plebanus of S. Domninus of Villa magna, exhibited: from whom

the same we also received later about miracles or

benefits, attributed to B. Gerard's intercession, some notice.

[4] He is said to have died in year 1242 From these authors James Bosius published his work

in year MDXCIII, of those notices about B. Gerard's life and veneration

he brings forth the authors alleging, the Commendator

Fr. Peter Guadagni Florentine, who from the order

of Hugo the Cardinal, his great Master, betook himself to the place

all things exactly to know; and Fr. Julius Zanchini, of the same

Order and country a Knight, who much more exactly

did this: but reports the death of that Blessed at year MCC

XLII, which also marking the author of the Life here to be given, as

a more common opinion praises; even though he confesses certitude

of that matter no one has. Luke Wadding, in years

more than thirty after Bosius, in year MCCLXXII

on Feria II of Pentecost, Wadding notes year 1277. III ides of May to have died Gerard

establishes: which Arthur follows and we for now hold,

at least as to the day, until some more certain reasoning occurs of its

defining. I said as to the day, although these very well agree,

the years and feria numbers; yet the tradition of the place opposes,

from which Presbyter Bartholomew asserts him to have predicted

his death on Friday; and therefore Terrinca suspects,

that Wadding and others, who Feria II of Pentecost wrote,

on this only foundation did this, that on such day he is venerated

annually; but that this annual cult had its origin perhaps

not because on such day he died, but because on such day

he was brought into the church, completed within a year from his death

of him: I add either because on such day after the ruin of the church by

the Sienese made, in the restored chapel and consecrated began

the body to be shown for public veneration to the people, which

before does not seem to have been done. Certainly about year MCCLXXVII

to be assigned to that death before Wadding no one seems to have thought:

for when the Life was being written there were about him only two

opinions, one for year MCCXLII, the other for MCCLIV.

The opinion also about the same Blessed's birth, to about year

MCLXXIV referable, as is noted at the beginning of the Life, opposes

death beyond a hundred years to be deferred, since of so excessive

old age there appears no trace in images or tradition.

[5] if 13 May feria 6 he died, rather should be placed in year 1245, Would that we knew, from what source Wadding received this

day III Ides of May: for composing this with day

Friday, we could opine the Saint to have died in year

MCCXLIV, which anciently the Etruscans, accustomed to precede

the Kalends of January by nine months, would have counted as XLV,

which easily by the error of writers into XLII could be turned. Thus

the Saint would have attained the year of age about the seventieth, and the eremitic

life he could have begun after the first

return from the Holy Land about the year of his life fortieth, and the chronotaxis of his life will be more convenient.

and would be verified what about him already in the fiftieth

year being the Chronicles of the Minors have, with Wadding as witness;

to have received the habit of the third Order at Assisi from S. Francis himself,

who lived until year MCCXXVI. But if he received it

Gerard, not from the holy Patriarch himself, but from the Minister

of the Assisi convent, as the author of the Life prefers, and to me

is more probable; Gerard would still have been in the Holy Land, for

a second time nine years after the first he having returned there, about year

MCCXXVIII when concerning Frederick II Emperor, now openly

against the Church rebelling, he predicted calamities to the same on that account

to come, just as in the Life the same is said n. 7, and the beginnings

of his eremitic Life nine years before the habit was taken begun

can be deferred after the year of life fiftieth.

[6] Paul Minus the Florentine, in Bosius, in his discourse

on Florentine Nobility, Whether among the Hospitallers he received the habit of Brother Servant? names Gerard Mucatti,

and says he was a Brother Servant of the most noble

Order of Knights of S. John of Jerusalem: which

so admits Bosius, that he confesses it not established when

or how he received the habit of Brother Servant.

But of error he convicts Silvanus Razzius, asserting

that as a young man he was led to Rhodes by Frederick Folco,

Admiral of the Order; and from him or some of his kindred,

inscribed in the same Order, received the said

habit; since this Order before year MCCC

IX did not obtain the said Island: yet Bosius supposes it certain,

that even after taking the Tertiary Franciscan

habit, he wore the insignia of the prior Order, namely

a white Cross, sewn on his most rough garb, since thus he is painted

even today. But the author of the Life, although into the Order received

he confesses, lest from common opinion he depart, asserts however

that its insignia or habit, only at death, was fitted to him:

so much that from the fact that his Lords, with whom he grew up

and with whom into the Holy-land twice he set out, this Order

professed, it seems rather to be presumed than proved,

that to the number of Brothers Servants was inscribed Gerard.

Therefore, with the title less certain omitted, only we shall use

the name of Franciscan Tertiary, so however that in nothing

we wish to prejudice the most noble Order, claiming for itself no little right

over him.

[7] About those whom in the sacred militia Gerard followed,

Terrinca from Razzius and Bosius these things took: By the worthy

and noble man Frederick de Folchis, whether he followed the Folchi to the sacred militia? of S. John of Jerusalem Knight and of the same most illustrious Militia

of the Sea Prefect, who eighteen times (witness Christopher

Landinus in the proem of the Commentaries on

Dante) over enemies of the Catholic faith carried back triumph,

or by some of his brother or nephew (three

indeed germane brothers and eight nephews, witness the same

Landinus, with the Cross of the same sacred Militia distinguished

he had) to Florence into the proper houses of the Folchi was

led. Razzius these things only doubtfully asserts, from this

that Lord Zenobius Cassi Doctor of Laws Florentine, to whom a wife

had fallen daughter of Simon Folchus, in whom the Folchi family

ended, had shown to him an exemplar of a certain memorial, written

in year MCCCXXXIX, whence was established, that the said family their possessions

in Villa magna had had. Bosius, as we said above,

denies that by them to Rhodes Gerard could have been led, dying

much before namely than the Hospitallers there set foot.

But by the same right seem to be removed from Gerard

led into the Holy-land Frederick Folchus and his brothers

and nephews; since indeed Frederick himself was Admiral

of the Order. The Order does not seem to have had ships and naval Magistrates long before the end of the XIII century, since indeed Bosius

through that whole and the preceding century found no naval battles

much less indications of victories. It could however before

Frederick the Admiral, that family already from the beginning of the said

century have had in that Order Knights, whom Gerard

served; whence the same family always to him devoted existed,

perhaps and his church, as says the same Terrinca,

in great part built and endowed, just as seem to indicate

the insignia, on the altar and church, and a certain

annual portion, which to the Priory of S. James in Campo Corbolini

pays this church. But also these things must be understood

of the church, as it is after its destruction restored:

and so they seem to be founded only on this, that the family of the Folchi

was at Villa-magna at the time of that restoration more powerful than the rest.

LIFE

By Bartholomew a Quercu Parish priest of the place.

from MS. Italian preserved at Florence.

Gerard, Solitary of the Third Order of S. Francis, at Villa-magna near Florence (Bl.)

BY BART. PAR. FROM A MS.

[1] Born in the country. Born is this glorious Saint about the year

MCLXXIV, although in time many vary,

some earlier, some later referring him. He was born

however near Florence at an interval of five

miles in a mountainous place, in a village which is called Villa-grandis,

which name today is rendered Villa-magna,

of a rustic father and mother. He was twelve, when,

on occasion of pestilence raging deprived of his parents,

he remained an orphan; and his Lords, ^a forced

to seek new tenants for their estates, the boy led to

Florence, and inserted into their family: where

piously and Christianly educated he grew up. It happened then

to one of his Lords, and by his Lord led to Florence that he had necessity for the cause of sacred war

into Syria to set out against the infidels: but he is believed

to have been from the family of the Folchi, who at that time

had many possessions in Villa-magna, and

himself was a Hierosolymitan Knight. He there with him

to lead Gerard wished, on account of his good disposition,

of which he had given experiment in the family, beloved by him.

Having landed however in the Holy-land they were tossed by various

events: and captured by the infidels, after huge

afflictions tolerated, they were redeemed.

[2] After these things dies the patron of Gerard: wherefore having visited

the most holy tomb of the Lord and other places

holy, afterwards with one of them sails to Syria once, he returned to Etruria: and having greeted at Florence the rest

of his Lords, into his small hut at Villa-magna

he withdrew. He had not yet there spent two years,

when by another Lord from the same family

recalled, and again to the parts of the infidels, however much

he resisted, was led. For the generous

Knight, and most desirous to engage battle with the Saracens,

was not ignorant of the dangers to which himself

he was going to expose; and on this account desired to have as companion Gerard,

whose prayers to God he believed most acceptable

to be, and again with another, and to himself useful would be he hoped. Nor for long was deferred

his experience, on which that pious credulity rested, of the truth.

For while into Syria they were sailing with twenty

soldiers, of whom leader and captain was the Lord

himself; they encountered a certain pirate ship of the infidels, with more

than a hundred armed men equipped. Frightened were the soldiers with their Captain,

and would gladly have taken flight,

if there had been hope of escaping the danger: but encouraged

by the Saint they were, and in some way to battle

forced with promised victory. With ships joined therefore battle is entered,

for which by prayers he obtains victory with Gerard with bent knees making prayer, and in a brief time is obtained glorious victory, with Christians

only two missing, but slain fifty

of the infidels, the rest captured. From this such

veneration to his Lord was Gerard, that he undertook nothing

nor decided, however small, except from his counsel:

nor only this one so esteemed him, but also other soldiers many

with greatest him followed honor.

[3] For seven solid years, in this second time, in those

parts had been the Blessed; when yielding to his modesty,

and seventh after year having returned not bearing that he be everywhere held as endowed

with notable virtue, the faculty of returning to his country

from his Lord he asked, and barely obtained from him,

to whom most troublesome was to be despoiled of so holy a companion;

obtained however, promising that constantly he would for

him pray. Then he boarded a ship with several companions:

which by a grave thrown tempest, he takes the habit of Tertiary. and now and now

about to be submerged, was freed by the prayers of B. Gerard: who

having landed in Tuscany ^b, before he sought his country again,

set out to Assisi, where from the Minister

of the convent of S. Francis he obtained the habit ^c of the third Order:

and wore it as long as he lived to the knees

shortened, of rough cloth of ash color, with a shorter little cloak:

and so to his place returned, which a

Grottis, that is from Crypts, the name was: nor further to another place

he migrated.

[4] The occupation of this holy Hermit other was almost not

than continuous prayer in deserted and pious places:

sometimes also he visited the sick, he assists the sick, and to them as he could

assisted. Sometimes he transferred himself to the heads

of public ways, about to ask from passers-by alms,

which then on the poor he might disburse: nor

was it difficult notable even sums to collect, since

each held it of great happiness for himself, to asking

Gerard to be able to give something: but he himself nothing of these

kept for himself for his proper uses, but entirely for

the love of God disbursed. If sometimes it happened that he

did not fulfill the customary measure of prayers, on account

of the visitation of the sick or other from cause, the defect

night supplied, through those harsh paths

walking; or he ascended onto a height (where now

is his church and body) since there under an ancient tabernacle

was a certain image of the most blessed Virgin,

and there often he was seen to spend the night. he spends nights in prayer, He was wont besides

to visit the church of S. Lawrence at Vicchio, two

miles distant, toward Florence: sometimes

he approached a place which is called… ad Incontrum ^d: he avoided

however as much as he could, lest in prayer

he be caught: therefore he penetrated himself, if it was day,

into the dense parts of forests and hidden parts of valleys, in which

themselves yet often he was seen by peasants with bent knees

to stand.

[5] For daily food bread and small herbs sufficed

him, sometimes also moderate vegetables he used: he fasts much,

he fasted however thrice a week, and through the whole greater

Lent, observing besides other fasts which

are in use of the Conventuals. Hater of much-speaking he avoided

feasts and public assemblies, accustomed to say, that

the tongue kills the soul. Asked once that a certain

his kinsman dying he visit,

who across the Arno dwelt in a place, of Mons-Albanus

until the sick man should die, continuous for him prayers

to God pouring forth, and all those things doing which could

from Christian charity be hoped. But when the corpse,

which was still at home, was to be buried; a boy fallen from on high with bruised head he heals. a boy of years

five from a certain platform of the house fell

upon a heap of rocks, and most vehemently injured

his head suffered, all with copious blood drenched. The Saint pitying

the doubled calamity of one family,

took up the boy, wiped away the blood, bound around

his head, placed him on a little bed, and his face with a sudarium

with which for proper use he was girded covered. The hour

was then twenty-fourth: in the morning however about

the tenth hour the boy rose safe and healthy, as if no evil

he had suffered, with greatest admiration of those standing around:

whose applause for so notable a miracle not bearing,

he had soon to depart from the place.

[6] a stone box he transports by miracle. It happened once, that in the company of his Curate

with other peasants he went to expedite a certain business;

but when he returned, a beautiful

box made of gray stone he beheld, with God inspiring,

it for his love he asked and obtained. Then

a kinsman of his he asked, that it

with oxen he transport to his small place. He had

only a pair of small and untamed bullocks:

and to move so great a burden three pair of oxen would seem barely sufficient,

and many men there would be need, since they were distant from the place by three

miles, and ditches and rocks and other obstacles had to be crossed

not without danger to be overcome: so judged

all, that an impossible thing was being asked, and to their own each

withdrew. The following day alone there returned

the Saint, and his kinsman on account of the love of God

he asked, that his bullocks he yoke: which done

alone they two began to draw that box, and

with greatest ease brought it to the place where

now it is, with the peasants stupefied at the sight of so evident

a miracle. ^f

[7] With the gift of prophecy also adorned the Saint various

future things foretold; and especially to his Lord

prior, setting out to the Saracen war, foretold,

that he would never return to Tuscany; foretelling future things by the spirit of prophecy.

and likewise very many evils would come to the Emperor of that time

^g, because he was waging war against the Church

and her Pontiff: which all things certain proved

the outcome. But in his country a certain widow, named

Bartholomaea, who had an estate toward

the Arno, he forewarned that for her safety she should keep watch; that

in the same week she would incur danger lest without

Confession she die: indeed and the Curate of the place he asked,

that watchful with her he should remain and confessing

her hear. But he little discreet Pastor, having seen the woman,

to the words of the Saint did not give faith; but to his

home returned, thinking so slight an indisposition

could not bring on her death so sudden. Scarcely

however had he reached the threshold of his house, when to him is brought

news of the unforeseen of that woman's death: and so

was verified the prediction of the Saint, that without Confession

she would die.

[8] Now the fame of his sanctity around was being borne,

and from ten miles ran to Gerard

peoples, he heals one touched by witchcraft, needing help. Among these was a certain Dominicus

from Ponte Seva, whose daughter Mary by witchcraft

infected, more than for the second year was held

in bed, lacking all faculty of moving the limbs,

so that not even an arm could she lift: and

most grievous in her whole body she suffered pains. At last

despairing of all hope the father went to the Saint, asking

for the deliverance of his daughter; and after many

repulsions begged him, that he be permitted to take his staff,

with which he was wont his weary limbs to support.

But when he had brought it home, and over

the bed of his suffering daughter had placed it, he predicts the punishment of a blasphemer, she after great

vomiting immediately rose entirely healthy. To a certain muleteer,

with two beasts of burden carrying wood to Florence,

he predicted that in the Arno he would perish, unless

he abstained from blaspheming: and no less was it done.

For when on a certain day in the morning he was about to cross the said river, the rope was loosened from a hook, by which the little boat

was held, and following the impetus of the water, was submerged

it with the muleteer, but the beasts of burden saved escaped

to the bank.

[9] A woman called aside once to private things,

who from making Confession was returning, a sacrilegious confessor he knows and corrects, he warned

she had to return to the church, that she might make a complete confession.

The woman obeyed the words of the Saint:

and to the Confessor returning also that sin

declared which for ten years she had hidden through shame,

and which by diabolic illusion prevailing was forced

to be silent, as often as to the feet of the Confessor she approached.

In a certain his infirmity by two friends Florentine

visited, one of them he asked, that he should beware for himself

most carefully, for he was about to be in danger lest by enemies

he be attacked. He averts a danger foretold to his friend. He prayed therefore the other that himself to God

he should commend, and with his prayers' efficacy assist:

then with good hope and full of promises to the city he returned.

Scarcely had ten days passed, when he in the night

time seized by enemies, the holy Gerard

began to invoke. Nor that in vain: for he felt

as if by his arm to be shaken off the blows; and although wounded

he was, within a few yet days from his wounds he was healed.

[10] He was, as I said, the Saint of solitude and silence

most loving: he impresses signs of hands on a rock: therefore with words as he could fewest

he used toward those by whom help was sought,

and so consoled dismissed: but neither by

all seeking him was he found, since

very often into valleys and hidden and remote places he withdrew

and to the shaded parts of forests: and there in prayers

and meditations long-lasting he was insistent, mostly

on his knees, which from this assiduity greatest calluses

had contracted. Are seen even today his hands'

signs, impressed on a rock which he had grasped, when intent on prayer

the Tartarean enemy backward dragging,

was striving to hurl him from on high ^h: for the rock yielded

to his fingers, like soft wax, and so from that danger he was

freed. A certain Peter Bembus also, dwelling in a house

near the Saint himself, affirmed for certain,

that on a certain morning having gone out for wood, from the place in

which Gerard was praying, he saw rising a flame

or great splendor. a heavenly flame illuminating him as he prayed But since not yet

was clear day, terrified Peter somewhat

stopped, then little by little approached the place:

which when he reached, immediately the flame disappeared, and was found

the Saint kneeling and copiously weeping

and vehemently lamenting. Then helped him Peter

so that he should rise, and to his home led, continuing

his tears and groans, of which the cause he said was

his and others' sins of crime.

[11] So great meanwhile was the celebrity of his name in those parts,

that no day passed, without someone

coming to him for the cause of help, not without great trouble of his,

who took it ill that by that reason he was distracted from his

prayers, yet no one without consolation was wont

to dismiss. Many at variance among themselves he reconciled,

many lawsuits composed, many quarrels settled, in January he finds cherries, from which

otherwise would have followed slaughters of many men.

Once being sick in the month of January, four cherries

he desired, and a certain his sister widow he ordered them

to go pluck, indicating the place and the very branch from which

they were to be gathered. She did not however wish to go herself, but a small daughter ⁱ

of hers twelve-year-old she sent, who found them;

and brought to the Saint a beautiful branch, fresh, and with leaves

adorned its own, as if it had been the middle of May,

with great admiration of those standing by and from the tenderness

of devotion and the magnitude of the miracle into tears

bursting forth ^k. At another time from the visitation of a certain sick man

returning, with a certain Luke del Pesca, he met

a fox carrying off a hen already killed: a hen from a fox restored to life he makes. he ordered

however the Saint, that he should bring it back to where he had taken it; and

the beast obeyed, but he his journey continued.

At other times visited by a certain Father Benedictine,

who his Confessor was, when he was infirm (for thrice

he was sick to death, but about two prior

infirmities he had foretold, that he would recover from them, but about

this third he had affirmed, the day of death foretold that it would be the last) with the said

Father saying, he should be of good mind, for quickly he would be healed;

he responded, not so it would be, but on the next

Friday ^l the end of his life would be set.

[12] He took therefore the last Sacraments as he could

most devoutly, piously dies, and asking from those standing around pardon for his

errors, was heard with the Most Blessed Virgin and

his holy Patrons to converse; and so with countenance

smiling, on the very Friday he had foretold, his soul

to the Lord God he rendered. With him dead spread around

was the fame of the matter within not two complete days:

and so great was the concourse of peoples, that by order

of the Florentine Dominate had to be applied a military guard.

But when the body was placed on a wooden

ark; this was placed upon a truncated oak, and ^m a fence

was made around it: and so great alms were brought there,

so many votive offerings, that before

a month passed, was begun to be built a church

over ⁿ a height, where today the holy body rests;

and to which while he lived he had ordered to be drawn the ^o

stone box, from alms collected is built the church of which above mention has been made. There was deposited

however that sacred pledge, with running

to it with greatest devotion innumerable people,

under the crypt of the new fabric. This was done before

the year ended, and began the people of neighboring churches

to come processionally to honor the new

Saint and invoke. Some wish it was

the year MCCXLII, others the year MCCLIV note:

the first is the more common opinion, but the truth

itself is not known.

[13] which around 1360 was destroyed soon was restored Further when about the year MCCCLX, four years

less or more, from the Sienese County there was

against the Florentines a military excursion, and a passage

was made through the church of the Saint, was this much defaced

and destroyed; and taken from the place much furniture,

and similar to a miracle can be considered, that the very

holy Relics were not burned, with God perhaps

hiding them from the eyes of those barbarians, who

even sacred things did not spare. With them however completely

departed little by little to be restored and repaired began

the said chapel, not however with that beauty with which

it had been before. Afterwards in year MDLI by theft was taken

the veil or sudarium, in year 1551 the Saint's sudarium is taken away. with which inside the casket was covered

the holy body: from tradition however was believed,

it to be that with which Gerard was wont, from a journey

some wearied, to wipe away sweat: and therefore on occasion

of the sick often was sought, and home was carried

by the faithful: to whom by it as medium our Lord God

very many miraculous cures granted, especially

against fevers. The author of the sacrilege, who this treasure

into his region took away, is not certainly

known: but the suspicion of many marked a certain

Casentine Priest, of whom it is reported, that

his neck he broke. But in place of that, which

was taken away, another similar was placed.

[14] As for the habit of the Knights of Rhodes,

is believed the Saint in his life never to have worn

its customary insignia, although by his Patrons interceding

he had been received into the Order: but the very

habit was first after death placed on him. Doubt

moreover none is, that this holy Hermit

worked many miracles: Life is described. but all into oblivion came

through frequent military incursions and pestilence

raging. But this history composed and found

Presbyter Bartholomew John della Quercia,

formerly of the said place's Curate, received from many

witnesses worthy of trust and through the tradition

of that region. But when was being built the chapel or little church

for the Saint, were by devout persons there

deposited, one tray, one bowl, and one cup,

and certain other things, which had been to Gerard living in

daily use, in total five parts. The sudarium

however the said after the death of the Saint so many

miracles did, that by tradition is held, that

commonly was wont to be said, there was need of the sudarium of the holy

Hermit, especially against fevers. [p]

ANNOTATIONS.

APPENDIX

From the Italian letter of Bartholomew Magnani,

now Parish priest of S. Domnino at

Villa-magna.

Gerard, Solitary of the Third Order of S. Francis, at Villa-magna near Florence (Bl.)

[15] In year MDCXXXI, with pestilence raging through Italy,

at the very beginning of the contagious evil,

exposed on a most ornate platform, the body is exposed in time of pestilence: in the middle of

the church, was the holy body, in Franciscan habit:

to which to be venerated and help to be sought, for whole three days,

in which it so stood, was an innumerable concourse

of people from all places around: and that many

were healed from disease, are made credible by the very many

vows, soon hung up through the church. Through years then

continuous three, in which the plague raged fiercely, in the neighboring

towns no one was breathed upon by contagion;

but neither did anyone die, except two old men, whom heavy

age rather than any other evil longer

did not allow to live.

[16] There was in his certain country house D. Francis Nasi,

most raging: from which is preserved his family commended to him. this however manifested itself in a certain servant

of his, who had contracted it at Florence: not

however to anyone else passed, although with his domestics

other and externals whoever, with

his master himself, suspecting nothing of evil, he had associated

familiarly; although also by another youth touched

was the very pestilent tumor under one of the armpits; thinking

it came from the violent inflation of a certain horn

while the said youth was teaching him to play it: only however

the servant, as the same youth afterwards told me,

to Ancisa his native place returned, there within two days

died. But that no one was infected, attributed

D. Francis to the vow, which he had vowed to B.

Gerard, himself and his family in such present danger

commending to him: wherefore also in thanksgiving

he took care that there be instituted by those peoples a solemn procession:

and he himself donated to the oratory, in which the holy

body is preserved, a cope and a chasuble of red Ormesino,

which today still remain, and an indication

of the benefit they offer, with woven on themselves letters EX VOTO.

[17] A certain by surname de Radichis from Ponte Seva,

for twenty-five years from the middle part of himself from the belt

down paralytic; a paralytic is given walking, so that scarcely a little

himself he could move with the support of crutches under armpits;

vowing a vow to B. Gerard recovered, and afterwards

most freely walking, in thanksgiving

his crutches in the oratory offered: where even now they are seen

hung. In the same place the Prefect of the public guard

(they call him Bargello) from a grave disease despaired

of by doctors, is healed a despairing sick man, asked that to him be brought the veil of the said Blessed

which there is preserved: at whose presence soon to have

better he began, and within a few days from all

recovered: in thanksgiving however he ordered to be made

a silver casket, in which the said veil now is preserved.

The matter happened twenty-two years ago,

and that Prefect (as much as I remember) was called Caesar

Acciari.

[18] Of singular happiness moreover the whole around territory

reckons, hail noxious is averted. that the Blessed has such grace with

God, that by it as medium it remains secure and free

from hail, although in more remote places hence

great damages it often makes. But if these sometime

begin to fall and threaten harm, as soon as

the bells are sounded with invocation of B. Gerard,

immediately you may see scattered the clouds with damaging frost

heavy, and to elsewhere driven away: of which matter most certain trust

offers frequent experiment. The multitude of vows,

here brought in testimony of received

graces, that these also were many proves: but

since they are not consigned to writing, therefore them to set forth

I omit.

[19] But years are about eight, that I

Bartholomew Magnani, the body is transferred to a new chest. Presbyter and at present

Parish priest of this place, took care that there be made a new

chest, and into it from the old transferred the body

of B. Gerard, with no one except my Chaplain assisting,

he by the feet, I by the shoulders it raising,

just as if recently dead it had been. And then with

permission of D. Bardus the General Vicar, with running to the spectacle

innumerable people, it on the altar

exposed remained, somewhat less beautiful than

it had been seen at the first exposition, since the multitude

of torches, and the air by such a crowd of men breathing

reciprocated, it with a certain soot then infected:

and from that time has fallen also a good part

of the hairs, which sufficiently dense until then to the head had adhered.