ON B. ÆMILIANA OR HUMILIANA, WIDOW OF THE THIRD ORDER OF S. FRANCIS.
AT FLORENCE IN ETRURIA.
IN THE YEAR MCCXLVI.
PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY.
On the Life once written in Latin in a threefold manner, the miracles, the cult approved in the Summary of the Process. Likewise on the most recent Italian Life.
Æmiliana or Humiliana, widow of Florence of the third Order of S. Francis (B.)
BY D. P.
[1] There flourished at Florence from the ancient and noble family of the Cerchi, that is, of the Circuli, B. Æmiliana, more usually called Humiliana, the name perhaps thus corrupted from industry, on account of her signal modesty. She was born about the year MCCXIX or the following, given in marriage about MCCXXXVI, The Life written by Vitus of Cortona, but her husband being dead made a widow about MCCXLI: who at length illustrated with miracles migrated to the heavenly glory on the day XIX of May in the year MCCXLVI. Her deeds soon after her death were written by Vitus of Cortona, whom S. Francis himself admitted to the Order of the Minors, and destined Provincial Minister into Thrace. Of this Lucas Wadding in the first volume of the Annals of the Minors at the year 1211 number 10 writes these things: Another too the holy Father Francis, under that humble domicile built at Cortona, gathered a man of the city of Cortona, named Vitus: in whom the true appearance of religion, and the highest zeal of the divine honor and of saving souls, begot a great opinion with the holy Master. After Benedict of Arezzo he was sent as Minister to the province of Romania in the parts of the Greeks. He returned afterward into Italy; and illustrious by the merits of the labors of the faith propagated to many, migrated to the Lord. These things Wadding, who in the book on the Writers of the Order of the Minors asserts, Miracles added by Hippolytus of Florence, that he scarcely went to the year MCCL. This writing of Vitus Hippolytus of Florence supplemented, also a Priest of the Order of the Minors, and especially the miracles, wrought through the intercession of B. Humiliana in the triennium next after her death, more than forty: which all at Florence, in the monastery of the holy Cross of the Order of the Minors, are extant in a most ancient parchment, deposited in the library, shelf XXVI on the right, where we ourselves in the year MDCLXII transcribed them, and here give them hitherto unedited. There too we found an illustrious Compendium, worthy to be added to the aforesaid, under the name of Æmiliana.
[2] How great a reverence soon from her death she began to be held in by the Florentines, on account of the apparitions and miracles, making her beatitude indubitable, from their already remembered collection we learn. For her body verisimilarly buried in the common manner, the ancient and public veneration as of a Saint. in the third month from her death, namely on the day of S. Donatus VII of August, was translated, as at number 38 it is indicated, from the first tomb, which had been under the staircase, by which the Brother about to preach went to preach, according to number 41; to another more honored and verisimilarly more elevated place in the church; namely by the authority of the Archbishop Ardinghus, of whom in the Life number 54 it is said, that by his public preachings he greatly commended her. Her Feast too is named more than once simply, The Translation, and a Vigil to be fasted on bread and water is promised, and everywhere both writers call her a Saint and Blessed, from the common sense of the whole Florentine people. Then in the year of Christ MCCXCIV (as John Villani says in the Florentine Chronicle book 8 chapter 7) on the day of the holy Cross in the month of May was founded the great and new church of the Friars Minor of the holy Cross, many Bishops, Prelates, Clerics, and Religious being present at the consecration of the first stone, with the Potestate, Captain, and Prior, and all the Florentine People, of either sex with the greatest solemnity and gladness. But the foundations began to be laid from the right side, where the lateral chapels are: for there was the old church, which remained for the use of the Friars, until the new chapels should be built. Afterward, says Arthur, in the Annotations to the Martyrology, in the year MCCCXIV her Translation was made in the month of November on the day of S. Vitalis, that is the IV day of the month: yet not into the Sacristy, as he says, but under an altar in one of the chapels (the new ones I think) and there she remained until the year MDLVII, when the Relics of the sacred body taken thence were placed in a movable shrine: which first perhaps was kept in the sacristy, but afterward in the Chapel of the Calderini at least in this century, whence it is taken in the public solemnities especially on May XIX, and is exposed in the middle of the church upon an altar together with the Head, Arms, and Feet, long since separated from the body. And the Head indeed about the end of the XIV century had been placed in a silver shrine; the Arms and Feet, it is uncertain when, in reliquaries adorned with gold; as is said in the Process of the year MDCXXV, a copy of which the most Illustrious Andreas Cavalcantius of pious memory made for us, whence too we shall give below certain excerpts, for confirming the ancient cult of her, as of a Saint, from time immemorial.
[3] The old pictures bear witness, of which one here placed, in the domestic chapel of the Cerchi, exceeding the age of CCCL years, is preserved; and according to the copy of this, the images, delineated by Philippus
Baldinucci, a sculpted image is at Rome with the license of the Superiors: which because it has expressed in the diadem the title of Saint, seemed worthy to be here proposed. The author of the prototype was once believed to have been John de Cimabue, a celebrated painter, who born in the year MCCXL died MCCC: afterward it began to be doubted whether it was his, or of his far more excellent disciple Giotto Bondone, who in the year MCCLXXVI having entered this light, departed from it in the year MCCCXXXVI. Many of his works are extant at Florence, and by the command of James Cardinal Cajetan, in the atrium of the Basilica of S. Peter at Rome he made by mosaic work a ship wonderfully elaborated in the figure of the Church, today too among the admirable works to be seen, the place more than once changed. Either could have seen and known Humiliana: Giotto however the latest judgments of the skilled have assigned this effigy: but of whichever it was, if it perfectly expresses the likeness of her living, it must be taken from a more ancient one, and made before either was born.
[4] We found with the most Illustrious Senator Carolus Strozzius among other collections thus annotated: The Feast and name in the Martyrologies. The Feast of B. Humiliana is celebrated yearly in the church of the holy Cross in the middle of the month of May, on account of the legacy made by the Lord John Richard de Cerchis in the year MCCCXCIV. In the manuscript Martyrology of the Medicean library, and in a similar one preserved with the said Strozzius, these things on this XIX of May are read. Likewise on the same day the passing of the Blessed Æmiliana de Circulis, who is buried in the place of the Friars Minor of Florence, in the year of the Lord one thousand two hundred and forty-six, coruscating with virtues and miracles. These things there, which are also held in the Martyrology printed at Florence in the year MCCCCXCVI by Franciscus Bonaccursius. But Cionaccius notes concerning these Martyrologies, that although Paulus Mini in his discourse on the Florentine nobility asserts, that the city of Florence can claim for itself more than a hundred Saints, and very many Blessed, as sprung from itself; yet none are there named, except S. Zenobius, S. Andreas, S. Podius Bishops of Florence, S. Bernard Bishop of Parma, S. John Gualberti Abbot, S. Crescentius S. Eugenius Deacons, S. Philip of the Order of the Servites, S. Miniatus Martyr, S. Crescus with his companions who suffered at Mugello, and with these B. Humiliana, no other. After these Martyrologies written or printed, Raphael Volaterranus, a man known by his written books, asked by the Observant Friars of the convent of S. Salvator outside the gate of S. Miniatus, contracted into one the writings of Fr. Vitus and Hippolytus, Another Life written by Raphael Volaterranus, and rendered it in a better and more elegant style. To whom Hilarion Sacchettus the Vicar general gave thanks by letters subjoined, given on the Nones of June in the year MDXX: and he adds that he would offer the said Life to Leo X, the Supreme Pontiff a Florentine by nation and most loving of the same Volaterranus, perhaps hoping that he would be induced to ascribe Humiliana by solemn rite to the Catalogue of the Saints: but this hope the death of Leo cut off, following after a year and a half. This Life Silvanus Razzius made Italian, and inserted into his twofold work on holy women and holy women of Tuscany, and from this into our Teuto-Belgic language the same was translated by Jacobus Raps. Lucas Wadding praises this writing at the year 1246 number 24, and others after him. The said Life, from the original almost consumed, copied by his hand, the aforepraised Cavalcantius showed us: and since we had not transcribed it, the same received at Florence from the Senator Alexander Cerchi was sent in the year MDCLXXIV by the most Illustrious Lord Octavius Falconerius, Abbot of S. Jerome, then the Pontifical Internuncio in Belgium lately at Rome deceased. This too we give, lest anything be lacking for illustrating the glory of B. Humiliana and gratifying the Florentines.
[5] But I cannot here omit, that from the lately received three Volumes of Epistles of the most Illustrious Vincentius Armannus of Gubbio, an Italian epitome in the Epistles of Armannus, I should signify in Volume 3 page 385, that the aforesaid Lord Alexander, is also called Secretary of the Grand Duchess Victoria della Rovere, by the heading of the epistle given to him; and that in the same epistle is contained a most elegant epitome of all the chief acts and miracles of this Saint, so that at the end of the epistle that most learned blind man vehemently grieves, that it was not known to him before, than he had seriously wished B. Humiliana to be able to lack the use of the eyes, lest the appearances of vanities, by chance offering themselves by their gliding in, should distract his mind from pious cogitations; believing that by that example his own calamity would have been lighter to him when younger, when he made the loss of his eyes in England, that even so he might be compelled, civil cares dismissed, to give himself wholly to the more useful and holier study of virtues and letters. and the Life most recently published by the author Cionaccius. Here I had finished when from the most Illustrious and most Reverend Lord Visconti, the Apostolic Nuncio to the Princes of the Rhine, there is sent to me a new History of S. Humiliana, composed by Franciscus Cionaccius a Florentine Presbyter, the material being suggested by the aforesaid Lord Senator Alexander. From this I shall note some things to the aforecited monuments, more I shall collect in an Appendix, in the beginning of which I shall treat somewhat more fully of that work.
LIFE
By the author Vitus of Cortona a contemporary, of the Order of the Minors.
From the original Manuscript preserved in the convent of S. Cross of the same Order at Florence.
Æmiliana or Humiliana, widow of Florence of the third Order of S. Francis (B.)
BHL Number: 4041
BY F. VITUS A CONTEMPORARY FROM THE MANUSCRIPT.
PROLOGUE.
[1] These are the witnesses of the life of B. Humiliana, Brother a Michael, by nation a Florentine; Brother b Vigor, by nation of Cortona, both Friars Minor; Brother c Bonamicus of the same Order, by nation a Florentine; 34 witnesses are cited. Lady Ravenna, kinswoman of B. Humiliana, very religious and honest, and much famous in the aforesaid city; Lady Gisla, the guardian of B. Humiliana in her infirmity, of holy life and conversation; Sister Gisla of Mucello, very religious and honest and of holy conversation; Sister Benevenuta, companion of the aforesaid, of honest life and conversation; Lady Luciana, wife of Rainerius, of the people of S. Proculus of the city of Florence; Diana, of the people of S. Margaret of the same city, of holy life and conversation; Lady Sobilia d, a Recluse in the Rock above the monastery of Camaldoli, of the aforesaid city, of holy conversation and honest life; Lady Dialta, of the people of S. Lawrence, of the aforesaid city, wife of Ugalottus, of good life and conversation; Lady Bene, wife of Riccus, of the people of S. Maria Alberici of the aforesaid city; Lady Altobene, wife of Bonajuncta, of the people of S. Cecilia of the aforesaid city, of honest life and conversation; Lady Jacoba, wife of Bene, of the people of S. Martin aforesaid; Lady Bonitia, wife of Bonaccursus, of the aforesaid people of S. Martin; Lady Diana, wife of Mainettus the Judge, of the people of S. Peter of good counsel, of the aforesaid city; Lady Scotta, wife of Bernardinus the dyer, of the people of S. Pancratius of the aforesaid city; Lady Bella, wife of Tedaldus, of the people of S. Cecilia of the same city; Lady Compiuta, wife of the late Ubertinus, of the people of S. Peter the greater of the aforesaid city; Lady Tabbaria, wife of Torsellus, of the people of S. Martin aforesaid; and their daughter, named Geminiana, wife of Consius, of the same people; Two sisters of B. Humiliana, namely Lady Mingarda and Lady Rigale; three kinswomen of B. Humiliana, namely Lady Cecilia, and Lady Guittonessa, and Lady Gasdia; Lady Ermellina, stepmother of the aforesaid S. Humiliana; three handmaids of the aforesaid Saint, namely Piecilia, Melliore, and Gisla; Lady Ricevula, of the people of S. Martin aforesaid of the same city, wife of the late Gerardus; Lady Daria, wife of Lord Bencivenni, of the people of S. Maria in campis of the aforesaid city; and Lady Scotta, her kinswoman, wife of Racus, of the same people.
ANNOTATA.
CHAPTER I.
Marriage, widowhood. Affection toward the poor, and ecclesiastical things.
[2] A certain Lady named Humiliana, daughter of Oliverius Cirki, a citizen of Florence, when she was a sixteen years old, was given in marriage by her parents: and as if full of God, Married she spurns the adornment of face and garments: one month being passed after her coming to her husband, she began to spurn the pomps of the world and adornments, so that she did not adorn her face; and the cultivation of garments, which for the reverence of her husband she wore, were to her not for joy, but only for a cross; a certain b Lady her kinswoman exhorting her to this, because she too feared God, and in those things which are of God daily was conversant. And because it is long to write all things of her life and deeds, like a gatherer of flowers placed in a meadow, a few of many to the honor of God and our profit and the edification of the hearers we shall collect. In the first year therefore of her conversion she caused Masses to be celebrated daily for sins, devoted to alms, and how great alms in that very year she distributed in clothing the naked, in refreshing the weak, in visiting the sick, compassionating the wretched, in works of piety, we could not say. O who could say, how often she herself blessed secretly withdrew the fragments of the set bread from her husband's table and hid them, afterward to be distributed to the poor! For also the copious multitude of the aforesaid fragments being collected into one, filling her bosom wounded with pious compassion, she carried together with her aforesaid kinswoman to the poor and needy. And who shall enumerate, what in the five years she did, in which she remained with her husband, the works of piety, in which she was continually conversant; and how with her own hands she labored, that she might be able to fulfill to her vow what she desired, namely that she might more fully succor the poor? For the copious substance of her husband's house did not suffice for her fervor in disbursing alms. Let us be silent, because it would be long to say, how many naked she clothed, and the cloths which even to the linens of the bed she disbursed to the poor: which also she often cut, retaining a part for herself, and giving a part to the poor: and also the cloth handed to her for the same, a part being taken away for a poor person, she sewed into shorter linens: the silken double garment, which she had, she sold and gave to the poor.
[3] While she was in the power of her husband, c she distributed all her headbands, retaining nothing for herself except one of linen and a part of another of silk cut off: she even cuts and distributes her garments, which after the manner of B. Martin dividing, the greater part she gave to a certain poor Lady, retaining the least for herself, with which she might cover the linen headband. A new scarlet tunic, bought for her by her husband, she narrowed at the sides, and from
the part of the feet she cut off the greatest part: from which composing sleeves, she sold them, and gave the price for the foods of the poor wretched. The old woolen cloths of her husband and her own she filched: which selling, she disbursed the price to the poor. Other linen cloths, old and new, which she could, she secretly took, and sent to a certain confidante of her secrets, that she should give them according to her vow to the poor and needy, placed in diverse parts. On a certain day the headband which she wore on her head dividing, a part retaining for herself, a part she gave to a certain leper, whom she found in the way grievously tortured with pain of the head. The whole linen cloth, which she found in the chamber of her husband, and her own if she had any, she distributed wholly to the poor: and whatever else she could have, in a good manner she disbursed to the poor. The things of her husband's chamber and her own failing, from the labor of her hands and of others which she could have she fabricated for herself linen cloth, and bought the fabricated, and also bought woolen: which cutting into garments of the poor she distributed, to each one as she knew each one to need. At a certain time too the down of her own bed being withdrawn she composed a little bed, together with her kinswoman, which they delivered to the sick of the poor enclosed Ladies of Ripoli.
[4] From the work of her hands she gave paraments to the altars, and the altars themselves she adorned with clean linens. she gives effort to the adornment of the altars, She did not find a chalice newly fabricated, or an ecclesiastical book made, or any ecclesiastical things pertaining to the altar and other divine works, in which she did not stretch forth a hand of piety. O how great was her reverence about the divine things, and about the alms pertaining to the same! On a certain day flour being asked of her for making hosts, for the reverence of the Body of Christ, she gave the flour of one measure of a starium, deflowered from eight staria. Delicate foods to the holy men and sisters, more delicate to the weaker, and stronger to the stronger, according to the human manner, with her own hands she made. Moreover the residue too of the pottages, which were made in the house, which was often much, she collected again into one and prepared again that it might be more willingly and avidly taken, and reserved it to be disbursed to the sounder poor. Many good foods she withdrew secretly from her own mouth and laid up, that she might distribute them to the poor. But for herself she was content with mean food, she withdraws foods to be given to the poor: which receiving she paid praises to the Most High for so great a benefit. But from the various businesses of the house and the frequency of the family and the running about of men and women, the aforesaid foods being unable to be prepared by day, she prepared them in the nocturnal silence. Alas! what shall the wanton in their couches say, when this so tender one, solicitous about her own salvation, thus laboring often led a great part of the night sleepless? And the light arisen, her kinswoman being taken, who in these things was her partner and conscious of her secrets, not as the pompous and seekers of honor and the vanity of the world, but as handmaids of God, not fearing to bear the reproach of Jesus Christ, they went about through the city the places of the poor, the sick and the sound, distributing the aforesaid foods: yet the cooked unctuous foods were carried by the handmaids, that, themselves being absent, the sent foods might satisfy the needy poor.
[5] They visited also the places of the Saints, as is the custom of Florence, namely of the Ladies of Monticelli, and of the Poor of g S. Gallus, and others where Indulgences are constituted for sins, she visits the places of the Saints, that they might be partakers and consorts of all good things; the threats of the men being spurned and the injuries inflicted by the same, which were inflicted from the contracted delay which arose from the long visitation. O how great was her fervor, and how great a compassion about the wretched had invaded her heart! For the holy fervor overcame every injury, and every torpor, and terror, and the delights of the flesh. O with how many injuries lacerated and reproached with words, by the great and small of the house! She was even sometimes beaten on account of the works of piety, which she humbly expended on the needy, and forgetting all things about the aforesaid she remained familiar and tractable. But them being sick, as a pious mother piously compassionating, solicitous about their necessaries, she tolerates injuries, by ministering she assisted, prepared in all things as she could to succor. With special compassion she was moved about the sick, knowing how much they need, because she often was grievously sick: and she intended on account of that Evangelical saying, What you have done to one of these my least you have done to me, to do to the Creator the service expended on the creature. Matt. 25:40. She frequented Confession, and not unless well confessed did she receive the sacrament of the Body of Christ: she frequented the church of Christ, and willingly heard the divine things. Of great humility and patience from her very cradle she was so, that she bore all inconveniences without murmur, but also patiently: because she bore the fear of God in her breast. Never, as other girls under age are wont to be, was she wanton; but under age and in age she was a form of honesty, and a lover of peace, loving all, and never knew childish things: for she was old not in age, but in morals and honesty.
[6] In her infirmities, which she suffered, she was of so great patience, that there was not any voice of lamentation ever heard from her mouth. she is patient in diseases, For often in her husband's house she so grievously suffered pain of the stomach and womb, that she seemed not only to be tortured, but also to be in labor. Always into the praises of God, not into lamentation, she faithfully burst forth, blessing and praising God. If ever her little boys fell sick, she was not much solicitous, and at the death of her children and husband: nor was she troubled at their death, but said: O how blessed they would be, if so immaculate they should depart, thus bearing virginity with them. I would rather that they die, if it is the will of God, and go to glory, than that they live; lest it should happen to them sometime to offend God, and lose a part of that highest charity and eternal inheritance. It is said also that to her husband near death, she wished to give her dower for the love of God, if he should truly repent, and according to the precept of the Priest of God should restore the usuries which he held. After the death of her husband in his house, because she was freer, showing her liberality more liberally, she often kept the poor at her table and more insisted on prayers. foreknowing the beatitude prepared for her, In that very house of her husband by many visions and revelations God consoled her, pre-showing to her the glory, which she was shortly to obtain, For she saw herself gloriously adorned with white garments among the troops of boys, who were in white garments, which designates in the present the cleanness of life and in the future to be surrounded by the troops of Angels.
[7] Some time being elapsed in the house of her dead husband she returned into the house of her father, she cannot be brought to second nuptials: and constituted under his power, for second nuptials to be celebrated by long threats and vexations from her father, brothers, and other kinsmen wearied, and with reproaches so far provoked, that she would have succumbed, had she not founded her own house upon the firm rock of Christ. When they threatened her because she did not receive a husband, she was moved to laughter, and at those reproaching her she sneered. On a certain day by her aunt she was led for the sake of her parents, that she might gently persuade her about a husband; and when she alleged her youth, because she was then only twenty-two years old, and spoke of the fragility of women, she heard from her: My aunt, know for certain, that I have a most worthy husband, whom I will never weep, nor by his damnation be widowed forever: but such things being omitted, strengthened by God, before another husband she chooses death: if it please you, as a good Christian, send something of yours, for the love of God, to the enclosed Sisters, because today I have gone about the city, that for them I might find alms. And although she persisted in the firm purpose of chastity, yet not confiding in herself, to our Lady with frequent supplications she recurred. On a certain day desiring over these things to know the will of the Lord she ran into that tower, where God clarified her; and before the image of our Lady, which she then had expressed on a certain paper, she betook herself to prayer, asking God, that He would show her over these things His will more fully. In that prayer so great grace was suffused over her, that she seemed as if drunk; and she received so great constancy of heart of not marrying, and was so certified of the will of the true Spouse, that she was rather prepared to deliver her body to the flame than to a husband: and from then at the first words, which she heard about receiving a husband, she confidently answered, saying: Why do you lacerate me daily about a husband? Bring to me him to whom you desire to deliver me, and on the other side cause a furnace to be kindled for me, that placed between both I may choose what I shall wish. At whose words the kinsmen were vehemently confounded, and no longer dared to infest her about such things. From that day they appointed for her and her handmaid for the table four staria of wheat, and other things moderately.
[8] Her father too, attending that in the purpose of continence she remained immovable, she cedes to her father in the matter of her dower, certain unknown outsiders being gathered on a certain day, namely the Judge of the Community and certain others ordained for this, his daughter Humiliana being called and led to him, said: Daughter Humiliana, I have to plead with those of the house of your dead husband, that you may receive the dower which I gave for you. For the cause of this matter it is fitting that you deliver to me your right by a public instrument. Which the humble Humiliana not noticing, said: Father it is not necessary for this to be done: yet let your will be done, provided that I do not swear, because I would not swear by any reason. She did not say this because she believed an oath to be illicit, but for temporal things she did not wish to swear. Then by the instrument the dower was extorted from her by the father: which she afterward recognizing, said: I did not perceive that my father wished fraudulently to act toward me: behold he has deprived me of the dower which he had given me, and she tolerates herself deceived by him: blessed be God: and not reclaiming, but patiently bearing, a lover of poverty she said: As I see there is no faith in the land, because the father detracts from the daughter, and the daughter from the father and denies the truth. Let my father therefore have me in his house henceforth, not as a daughter, but as a servant and handmaid. For a lover of the divine law she desired in all things to follow Christ, and to possess nothing of her own in this world. The word of Christ she bore in her breast, where it is said, Unless one renounce all things, which he possesses he cannot be my disciple; and, Luke 14:33, Matt. 5:40. If anyone shall ask of you a tunic, give him also the cloak. Of the injury of the dower inflicted on her for the name of Christ she cared little or nothing: but she desired to attain the summit of perfection, and as much as is possible to human fragility,
to be more loftily exalted in the love of God; therefore by the way of counsel she walked intrepid, and did not in any way decline to the left or to the right.
[9] And from then she had not, whence to extend her hands liberally to the poor, as before: for this reason she tempered her hand to alms not a little, yet she did not relinquish her former manner in all things, she visits and consoles the poor, but as she could in the visitation of the poor she was solicitous and attentive. For often, as the companions of her journey assert, six loaves at once and at the same time she carried in her bosom to the needy, and she visited the holy places as before: not fearing the threats inflicted, or certainly any sufferings of the body whatsoever. She did not fear even the depravity and asperity of the weather, not the heat, not the rain, even through heat and rain, but with all solicitude and alacrity of Spirit she visited the holy places aforesaid most attentively. Often her companion complaining of the heat, she said: The courteous God will send us the wind as godfather, who will mercifully temper for us the heat of the heat. Wonderful thing, because immediately there was present the pleasing breeze which she had foretold, which to her vow mitigated the heat for her and her companion. O God! with how great solicitude she sought Thee in the poor Thy members, who with her companion so swiftly walked seeking Thee through the way, that the multitude of other strong ones could not equal her with their most swift steps: nor did she seem to be wearied in such things, nay more often even till the ninth hour on account of the distance of the places she contracted a fasting delay, because she would not return home, unless the visitation completed. And since the alms of her hand did not satisfy her fervor, she visited the noble and discreet Ladies fearing God of the Florentine city, and for them she asks alms. asking of them humbly alms for the enclosed poor Sisters for the love of the Lord Jesus Christ: which with much devotion receiving, she put again into a certain clean little wallet, specially made for this, carrying them diligently to the aforesaid poor. With special compassion wounded for the bashful poor, bearing a solicitous care about sustaining them, she supplied to them as she could the necessaries: for a certain Lady, placed in great penury (to whom unless it had been succored, for her sustentation she would perhaps have placed her body in a brothel) while she lived with the hand of mercy she sustained: and not only this one, but also many others, when she could, she succored while she lived.
ANNOTATA.
CHAPTER II.
The habit of the third Order assumed: Ecstasies granted, temptations overcome.
[10] All the first year therefore of her return into her father's house, daily without intermission she heard the divine things, and gave effort to works of piety. In the morning the divine things being heard she returned into her cell, She prays the greatest part of the day and night. and on the day on which she did not fast she was in continual prayer. But when she fasted, until the ninth hour she persisted in prayers: and the food being taken she labored a little in the works of mercy of the poor, and returned to prayer continually, that no hour of idle time should perish. Evening being made she kept vigil in prayer a great part of the night, and a little sleep being taken, she rose all torpor being spurned, and the whole residue of the night she expended in the devotions of prayer. This manner of keeping vigil much late she held until the time, in which God augmented in her a greater grace: afterward she held another way, that evening being made she rested a little, and the whole night after rest in prayers she kept vigil. But in the second year from such long visitations she withdrew her foot, and beyond what can be believed she flew up more loftily: and for this reason because so poor a care of the poor did not suffice for her, she burst into this vow, saying: Lord Thou knowest, that while I could, I ministered to Thee more largely: but now deprived of faculties, my soul and body wholly I deliver to Thee. From then more ardently inflamed with divine love, she fervently desired to attain the solitary life, desiring to fulfill her conceived desire, and most affectionately to deliver herself to God as she had promised, that long thirsting she might be able to taste the fountain of life to her vow.
[11] She wished to enter into the monastery of S. Mary of Monticelli of the enclosed poor Ladies, a but God, who had decreed another thing concerning her, did not permit. For God did not wish the kindled lamp longer to lie hidden under a bushel, In the 2nd year of her widowhood seeking the solitary life in vain. and therefore He placed her upon the candlestick in the loftiness of life and example, that it might shine to all who are in the house, that is in the Church militant. For she herself was a chosen vessel for the Lord, upon which was to be placed the structure of the heavenly Jerusalem, the holy city of the supernal citizens. While the divine wisdom building for herself a house, in which she hewed seven columns, sent her handmaids, that is various Founders of Orders, that they should call to the citadel, that is the loftiness of life in the way of grace; and to the walls of the city, that is to the glory of the eternal rewards; she sent also this wonderful Foundress of a new life and holy conversation. Others by the leading of the Holy Spirit, hastening to one kingdom of life in newness of life, with various morals and habit of honesty each distinguished their own Orders: she the honest habit of the third Order being retained, flying to the same kingdom, and holding the form of other Religions, about those things by which one is more nearly brought to God, that is the love of God, with all her strength labored. What of the monastic life was lacking to her, who lived in such continual silences and observances? As a Tertiary she lives most holily in her father's house: What less than the holy Hermits did she have, who in the midst of the city found solitude for herself, and changed the bridal chamber into a prison? What less than the holy Sisters of S. Damian did she sustain of asperity, who in foods and drinks so soberly lived? Refreshed with a little sleep, the whole night in prayers she expended; and with how great grace she was then perfused, those can say who saw, according as they could perceive. O with how many tears were perfused those cheeks and blessed breast, since not tears but rivulets seemed to be, which from her eyes emanated. In what manner could she more fully hold the life of the Friars Minor, who kept the Gospel of Christ so perfectly? For all things being sold which she could have, all things she distributed to the poor, and body and soul faithfully consigned to the Lord. Others the world and the paternal mansions being left, fleeing to solitude, served the Lord; she leading solitude into her father's house, by serving nobly conquered the world, and vice in the midst of the worldly.
[12] How much more loftily did she fly in mind than others? who indeed lifting herself above herself, by a wonderful contemplation joined to God, she is often rapt into ecstasy: so often was rapt from the senses into the sweetness of God, which tasting she sweetly slept in the Lord, not by a corporeal sleep indeed, but by an ecstatic one: of which Christ says in the Canticles concerning His spouse; I adjure you, daughters of Sion, by the roes and the harts of the fields, that you stir not up nor make to awake my beloved till she please. Cant. 3:5. On which word Gregory says: Harts and roes are declared in the law to be clean animals. What therefore by harts and roes do we take but faith and hope and charity: which while we keep clean for ourselves, by the same we ascend the high mountains of contemplation. But the holy soul the spouse of Christ desires to rest from all the perturbations of the world; and in the bosom of the Spouse, the earthly cupidities being lulled, longs to sleep in holy leisure: so that even necessary colloquies sometimes she loathes, and by the sole conversation of the Spouse the more quietly the more serenely she grows cheerful. But this one sleeping the carnal, who are in the Church, sometimes importunely awaken, and desire her to be implicated in the businesses of the world: because they esteem her life useless, while they consider her abstaining from their cares. These such ones sufficiently congruously are named not sons, but daughters: because while they nourish effeminate morals, the virile dignity being lost, such as inwardly they are held outwardly by a feminine name they are designated. These are prohibited under the weight of an adjuration to stir up the beloved, namely lest the mind, which girds itself to be at leisure for God, and longs to cling to spiritual studies alone, they should disquiet with importunate solicitations, and with the darkness of earthly cares cloud over the eye of the heart. And yet not every care of a neighbor is interdicted to her, but when she ought to be stirred up is left to her will: because surely to every perfect soul it is to be discerned, when she should give effort to heavenly contemplation, and when she should serve the utilities of neighbors. These things Gregory. In that ecstatic grade Humiliana tasted the very hidden manna, of which in the Apocalypse it is said, that no one knows except he who receives it; and for this reason no one will be able fully to treat of her grace, unless he have tasted what that gracious one tasted. Apoc. 2:17.
[13] What of the preaching, by which she preached more by work than by word, she preaches by example: and dead in body does not cease to preach, and forever will preach? If she did not leave the house of her father and the widow's garments, it did not stand by her: since all things which are under heaven with a liberal mind she deserted. But God did not permit it: for He wished by her example to draw the idle of the age, who either by curiosity or pusillanimity detained, or even unable to find a religion according to their heart, in which they could be received, lay in the lowest of vices: that no one from the least to the greatest should have a way of excuse, that he could not serve God according to his possibility in his own house and in secular habit, and now there should not be one who hides himself from the heat of His charity.
What more? A little cell, nay a prison placed in her father's tower, that very prison into an oratory, as far as is possible, she changed: content with it she studied solicitously, what better she might do. Who instructed with monitions of salvation by God and by the Friars Minor, and especially by Brother Michael, who was her doctor in the way of devotion, all cares being left and an end almost imposed on the care of Martha, was busy with Rachel to run to the closer embraces of the Creator. But God wishing to lay open her fervor, did not so quickly give Himself to her, whom with much desire she awaited; nay He pre-showed a certain hardness, that in devotion she could not have tears. after dryness she obtains the gift of tears: Which she not bearing to endure, applied lime to her own eyes: so that she believed she would be deprived of the light of her eyes. This she did, that the pious God moved with pity, might bestow on her the tears of piety: and well conscious of herself she feared, lest this was done by the fault of the eyes. And because sometimes she wept the death of her own, she vowed to God that she would never produce tears, except for the memory of her sins, or for the grace of God or the passion of the Lord. After a few days God infused into her so great a grace of tears, that they seemed not as tears, but rivulets of rivers.
[14] At a certain time, in the nocturnal silence, while she silently with herself said the Lord's prayer, as devoutly as she could, and of the words of that prayer diligently and subtly meditated; the light of the lamp of her cell was suddenly extinguished, which she always kept burning the whole night before the image of the most high Mother of God: which displeased her enough, but for the cause of humility she would not for this awaken her sleeping handmaid. by night she is illumined by the splendor of an appearing dove, Yet she desired to have light, but how she could have it she did not see, unless over this God should dispense. And while this was being done with her, suddenly there was present a certain most white dove, bearing in its mouth a new red rose of admirable beauty and splendor, flying through the cell, and resting upon a certain panel of the little cell: at whose splendor the cell, as if it were day, was illustrated with splendors. Which beholding she wished to take it, as if placed out of herself, not attending what it was (for she had disposed, as she said, to send it to a certain little nephew of hers, whom she had) and putting her hand near it, the dove leaped a little upon that same pole, that it seemed to flee the hand of the one taking it. Which when she more attentively pursued, she drove it from the pole: turned into the sun: and it through the cell began to flit near the panel of the Blessed Virgin. And the faithful Humiliana approaching the panel, that she might reach the dove; that same dove turned into a certain very bright sun before the panel, and uniting itself to that very image, together with the light disappeared. And she praising blessed God, who deigned to work such things with her: and returning to her former meditation of the Lord's prayer, over it that whole night she meditated; and so one Pater noster only she said that whole night, in which she tasted much sweetness of God.
[15] Likewise on a certain other night, when the lamp of her cell was extinguished, and she had no other light, and would not awaken the handmaid for the said cause touched on above; she asked of the Lord humbly, or by a lamp kindled by an Angel, that He would provide her with light. Regarding whose vow the most benign God, ministered light through an Angel wonderfully. For there appeared a certain youthful hand near the lamp, bearing a very bright fire, with which it kindled the extinguished lamp. Likewise on a certain other night, when she had no oil in the lamp, nor in the cell; she took a certain lamp, and filled it with water, putting the wick on top as is becoming. Which prepared, she said: Most holy and most omnipotent Love, it is as easy for Thee to change water into the liquid of oil, as it is easy for Thee to produce oil from hard wood. or by water for oil burning. And immediately she kindled it: and wonderful since that water, sweetly and without crackling nourishing the fire as oil, afforded light until consumption.
[16] But the rival of our salvation perceiving her copious grace, the enemy of the human race, the malign liar-in-wait of all good, blazed vehemently into anger, she spurns the dæmon wishing to interrupt her silence, and not after much time began to weary her with many temptations and tribulations, that by fear she should cease from devotion. Who can enumerate, how often he appeared to her visibly, and struck her, as it was permitted him by the divine power? of all which for the present let us say some things. In the holy year of her incarceration, in the Lenten time, in which she insisted on continual silence and prayers, the dæmon stood by her, bringing the bodies of dead men, saying: Speak to your kinsmen, whom you behold placed before you. But she keeping silence, reckoned the illusions of the devil as nothing. But the devil those images being taken away from the midst, after a little prepared other illusions: and brought certain forms, in the person of her two daughters, whom she had living in her husband's house; and showing them on a bed newly dead, said: Will you not address your daughters, the objection of various persons, whom you see newly dead before you? Which she silently passing by, did not care for. But the very sagacious devil understanding her desire, pre-showed the figure of our Lady and the boy Jesus with shining face and garments, saying: Why do you not speak to your Lady and her son standing by you, who have come to you, thus visibly and wonderfully to visit you? And after a little, because she vilified this illusion, he brought to her the image of Lady Ravenna, saying: Speak to your beloved kinswoman, who has so faithfully visited you. Which spurned, because she knew the illusions of dæmons, by the leading of the Holy Spirit, the devil disappeared with his figments, striking her grievously in the loins, so that from that stroke her teeth were collided together so strongly, that from that collision for the pain of her teeth almost for fifteen days she could not chew food in a good manner.
[17] Likewise on a certain other day there appeared to her visibly the liar, and of corpses; bringing the bodies of the dead as if newly slain, of men and women, divided limb by limb and lacerated cruelly, and bloodied with blood, saying: Vah! you who seek to converse with the Sisters of the monasteries of Monticelli and Ripoli (on account of whom, enormously altercating about their paramours, all these so cruel things, which you behold, are placed before you) who with safety could to a noble and prudent man be salubriously and laudably married. Which keeping silence contemning, she reckoned for nothing what she saw: but the impatient devil because he was contemned, which she narrating to a certain Friar, striking her strongly in the shoulder-blades, with a clamor disappeared, saying: I commend you to all the dæmons of the infernal regions. On a certain day when a certain Friar Minor had visited her with a certain companion of his a Priest, Lent being transacted, in which she with silence had been at leisure for prayer and devotion; and had asked her familiarly, because he was familiar and a friend of hers; What she had done or in what manner she had been in that Lent toward God, and if she had prayed for him (for the Friar had frequently recommended himself to her prayers) on account of the great instance of the one entreating with difficulty she answered: I have been well, blessed be God. And for you I frequently prayed, but also the devil often beset me with much anguish and tribulation.
[18] And of several relating one she said: Yesterday at the time of prayer and silence there stood by me the enemy of the human race, she confesses herself to have suffered similar things more recently: and abruptly bursting into these words said: I am a certain Abbot in exile, expelled from a certain monastery, coming to you that in something I may deserve to be consoled. To whom when I answered nothing, the dæmon making a little delay, said: Rise and meet your Brother Michael, opening the doors to him coming; for he comes, behold he is present. Whose illusions vilifying, with closed eyes and unbroken silence, I intended on my own businesses. But he not able to bear it, as if impatient, added: Open your eyes, and see your Lady coming to you, and with her own hands bearing her own son: whom you have desired with so great desire. To whom when I had said; Whosoever shall sin mortally, and of the sin shall not do penance, condemned eternally shall be punished; with great velocity he departed. To whom when the Friar said, Have you also prayed for me? she answered: I have prayed, Brother, and will pray, provided that you be solicitous of your salvation as you are bound to be, because God loves you: for to me too praying for you God showed you visibly adorned with a white garment, for which it seems to me, that God loves you, and that you stand in purity of body.
[19] On a certain night when she prayed with closed eyes, and again she experiences the like, there stood by her a certain dæmon, showing her the images of the dead and of Priests and of the Cross of Christ, saying: You know, how grateful to God is the visitation of the funeral of the dead: open therefore your eyes, and see at least the bodies of the dead placed before you. To whom when she did not acquiesce, the contemned devil disappeared. The second night from that night, on which the Prior of the holy Apostle of the city of Florence was slain, the devil placed before her in her cell, representing to her the lifeless body of that Prior, as it was all bloodied with blood, nor yet does she recede from prayer: and saying: Look and see the lamentable piety and horrendous cruelty, so great a man, namely the Prior of the holy Apostle, thus enormously slaughtered, lying dead before you, with whom you ought much to compassionate. Which hearing she did not attend, nor cared, nor even from prayer in any way declined: whose patience and fortitude the deluding devil perceiving, confounded with his illusions disappeared and deluded. At another time, before the Guelphs withdrew from Florence, not even by the objection of a fire, when on occasion of a certain discord of the parties in several places there was a battle, and fire burned the city in some parts of the land, and machines placed in the towers strongly cast stones; the devil came to her saying: Rise Humiliana, that you may see what is being done: behold the whole city is destroyed and consumed by fire, and the fire has approached your house. To whom when she seemed to wish to assent, and to bend her body a little to see, she said: Brother body, if you wish to behold such things, go and see, but the soul with you, impudent one, you shall not bring. Which heard the devil immediately departed confounded.
[20] Often he strongly bound her throat, so that she feared to be suffocated; and as we believe he would have suffocated her often, if it had been given him from above: She conquers other temptations by the sign of the Cross, and because in this he could not fulfill his will, he girt her arms throughout and
and her legs; so that she seemed clad in lead, and could not rise from her place nor be moved. If ever she had so great virtue as to sign herself, she expelled him by the sign of the Cross, otherwise it was fitting that the divine power should command him. On a certain morning when she rose to pray, so grievously she was struck by the devil in the loins and shoulder-blades, that it seemed to her she was divided into four parts: but the sign of the Cross being made, the pain receded from her immediately. Leviathan perceiving, the seducer of the human race the enemy, that on account of such his fictions she did not yield, so as to cease from prayer; he had recourse to his own proper form, namely the serpentine, which women especially are wont to abhor; and that very form of great corporeity being assumed suddenly appeared to her, with terrible eyes beholding her; that at least for a little breaking her constancy, he might impede the grace of devotion. Whom she beholding is shaken with so great terror, that neither in prayer nor outside prayer in that little cell could she be secure: or by the name of Jesus being said. but some days being transacted not able to bear the loss of prayer, she addresses the serpent placed near her, saying: I adjure you, horrible serpent, by the name of my Lord Jesus Christ, that if you are corporeal you quickly depart, no more to return; but if my incorporeal enemy, you disappear before me, that I may freely be at leisure for my God, and infest me no more. At whose word the serpent was reduced little by little into smoke, but exhaled so great a stench that in the cell she could not rest. Whom reproaching she said: Iniquitous and envious serpent, after you fell from heaven, such things you machinate on earth, that you may impugn the faithful: behold the stench of your merchandise and all the uncleanness, which proceed from you full of all filth. From my Lord all good odor proceeds and all cleanness, who is above all blessed. This said all the stench receded, and so great a fragrance of sweet odor inundated, that it seemed to be in the walls of paradise.
[21] Some days being transacted, behold Satan, bringing with him a certain great serpent, not spiritual, as he himself was, nor feigned or imagined, but corporeal, truly terrible and horrendous, Having for some while suffered a serpent joined to her, which troubled her with too much terror: for it was always present at her prayers, and when she rested it held its tail at the feet of the saint, and its head at her jaw; which terrified her strongly, so that she could not pray securely nor sleep: nay when she went to rest, she always wrapped cloths around her feet, and with a certain girdle girt around them, lest the serpent should enter from the feet and touch in any way her naked body. And although she was confident in God, yet not for that did she expose herself to so great a danger, so as to tempt God, but from him as much as she could she took precaution. She did not attempt to put a hand on it, and to another she would not reveal it; because knowing it given to her for instruction, she would not lay open to anyone the temptations of the devil, which daily she sustained. This for several days patiently suffered, she prevails in the same name. not bearing the loss of prayer, against the serpent a little moved, she said to it remaining near her: I command you serpent, that in the name of Jesus my beloved you be wholly wrapped up forthwith without delay here near my hands. At whose word the serpent, its head submitted, wrapped its tail and body to its head immediately, as had been commanded it. Under whose body B. Humiliana submitting both hands, raised it from the earth, praising and blessing the Lord saying: Blessed be that love, which created you most powerful: and carrying it to a certain window of the tower, commanded it, saying: Go your way, and be no more with me, because to me you are useless and without fruit. And this said the serpent quickly departed.
ANNOTATA.
CHAPTER III.
Various aided by her prayers. Her humility, penance, and devotion.
[22] It is not to be wondered at, reverend Humiliana, if by word you expelled dæmons, and the worst beasts grew tame at your word, and obeyed you, By her prayers temptations are driven out, who by the sweetness of prayer often inclined the Lord of all even to sinners, living frequently conferred many benefits on many. When at a certain time Gisla of Mucello, a very religious and honest woman, was grievously vexed with intolerable noises and furies of certain ones dwelling not far from them in a house, so that she could not be at leisure for prayer and rest, she proposed to leave the house, unless from the aforesaid tribulations she were briefly freed. Whence it happened that B. Humiliana to her house, as she often did, for the sake of visitation came: to whom the aforesaid Gisla when she had complained with pious lamentation, she compassionated her with pious mind: and, wonderful thing! immediately God regarded her compassion, and from that hour they utterly ceased. Likewise at another time, when the aforesaid Gisla was grievously tempted with a diabolical temptation, so that altogether alone she desired to exist in the deserts: since solitude is perilous for women, she recommended herself to B. Humiliana: who condoling the tribulation, and herself praying for her to the Lord, she was at once freed. Likewise a certain Friar, pressed grievously by a certain grave temptation, recommended himself to her prayers: for whom she solicitously prayed that very night, in which she was grievously afflicted by the devil. But the Friar immediately that very day was much relieved from that tribulation, and after a little time lost that tribulation altogether.
[23] Sister Sobilia, a Recluse in a the Rock, grievously broke her arm, of which by a certain unskilled one she was ill cured. she heals an arm ill cured. Whence it happened that the whole hand was mortified, and the nails turned into blackness, and the arm began most evidently to wither: for the cause of which thing she could not stretch her hand to her own mouth, nor with it could she work anything. The Saint visiting her after Easter, and seeing her arm and hand wearied with much pain, compassionated her much: and approaching she signed her hand and arm, but the sister contradicting, because she willingly suffered for the love of God: and she said, I pray God that He may lessen the infirmity and pain of your hand and arm. At whose word the hand and arm began to resume their strength, so that with that hand and arm without the aid of another in the evening at supper she ministered food to her own mouth.
[24] Brother Bonacursus of Todi of the Order of the Minors, very well known and familiar to her, desiring to taste something of God, frequently recommended himself to her, for others she obtains the grace of devotion: asking that through her he might obtain from God some gift of devotion. To whom on a certain day as if heard she said: Brother most dear, I believe, that my God will console you shortly with that, which from me you have often asked. Wonderfully, as she said, after a few days, when the aforesaid Friar was alone in the church, so great grace was infused upon him, that the divine sweetness being abundantly tasted, so drunk he was made, full of the wine of divinity, that being made out of himself he could not receive the fullness of grace with a narrow bosom, and his corporeal senses for the greatest part he seemed to have lost. This too happened to him she praying he being present in a certain place near the city. Likewise Brother Michael praying on a certain day she being present, and not having devotion, as moved inwardly said to her: My daughter, pray for me, because I am all dry. To whom obeying the daughter of obedience, her eyes lifted to heaven prayed to the Lord. To whom immediately so great grace was infused, that it most evidently appeared that, he could not receive the fullness of the infused grace: and then that Blessed one in such things was rapt. Lady Bene, a partaker of divine consolation, praying on a certain occasion B. Humiliana being present, before the panel of that Saint, when she prayed that by the merits of His handmaid she might receive something of consolation from the Lord, tasted so great a sweetness of grace as she never remembered herself to have tasted. To many others too living she acquired this grace, whom to enumerate would be long.
[25] Many too by her words she humbly converted to this grace. For she said to one: I wish that you transcend three grades: namely that first you bewail your sins and the time lost; to others she gives pious admonitions: secondly that you deplore ingratitude, because you have not known the grace of God, and deplore the passion of Christ the Lord; thirdly that you think of the Divinity and rejoice, as God shall minister to you. Others she exhorted to peace, others to patience: to others she proposed the life of the Saints, and admonished to that which before her eyes without intermission she bore: but others to the solitary life she admonished, saying, Reckon your house the solitude of a grove, and your family the woodland beasts, and among them you will be as in a grove, by keeping silence and insisting on continual prayers. The humble Humiliana counseled, an example of humility, that whoever wished to ascend to the heights, should place in humility the foundation. For by Brother Michael instantly asked, for what cause God had drawn her to so great grace, compelled by prayers she answered, saying: I am certain, that not by my merits, but by His mercy alone the merciful God, and the grace of humility, in which according to my fragility and according to what He Himself deigned to give, has enriched me with so great a good. And to a certain other Lady she said: That the studious assiduity of alms had conferred much on her. Truly she spoke an imitator of the mirror of all humility, namely of the glorious Virgin, for she strove with all study to imitate her through the paths of humility.
[26] For she was humble in every work of hers, beyond what can be believed, and in all the members of her body
she had a humble aspect, she excels in humility, because she never lifted her eyes by looking: she went along the way as a poor little woman, vile and despised, and as much as she could humiliating herself she desired to be vilified by all. Her steps were humble and devout steps: she walked more humbly than all. In the utterance of words she was so seasoned with humility, that rightly in all things that word of the Spouse of the Canticles seemed to be fulfilled in her; A distilling honeycomb are your lips, honey and milk under your tongue. Cant. 4:11 And it is very wonderful, that after she began to know God, from her mouth was not brought forth, except a word of great humility. And although she thus burned inwardly with divine love, she did not dare to bring forth a discourse of God, except that sometimes unwilling, words of the divine fire two and at most three she humbly emitted. In all her works she did not satisfy herself, but always called herself wretched: and although she was thus full of God, and so continually solicitous of her salvation, enriched with many gifts, she ascribed nothing to herself ever; but said, that she was worthy of all the punishments of the infernal regions. and in meekness: Truly she was meek and humble of heart. Of wonderful patience and meekness she was, because reproached with so many injuries, she was in no way troubled, nor showed a sign of trouble: a daughter of peace, lest she offend the guest of peace, in all peace she sustained whatever inconveniences. It would be long to commend her for her virtues, because she was full of all virtues. Let us pass to other things.
[27] Happy Humiliana, the sedulous imitator of all perfection, with how great zeal by compassionating you follow Jesus your beloved, she frequently fasts, who wished to feel those things which He Himself in His immaculate body for our salvation felt. For our God fasted forty days continuous, that He might restore us harmless from the eating of the forbidden tree, and in us temper the vice of gluttony: you most dear, not for things committed weaken your body by frequent fasts, but for the love of justice (because it is just that the creature should compassionate piously and faithfully its Creator) and that, as Daniel, you may be made a worthier little vessel of the Holy Spirit. For several Lents besides the wonted custom of the Church, as is that of the Apostles before the coming of the Holy Spirit, and another before the Assumption of the B. Virgin, and several others, and on the more solemn festivities, which to enumerate is long, you venerably fasted. O who could say, with how great reverence you celebrated the feasts of the Saints, which you anticipated with such long fasts? even before the feasts of the Saints: leading their nights sleepless, by insisting on prayers and lofty contemplations; recalling how great grace God had done to His Saints, and the love which He had toward them: with whom she rejoiced and congratulated, a companion and friend of the Saints. The beloved loved her fellow-citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem, with whom she was to reign eternally, whom she called together to her aid, that through them she might be filled with a more abundant grace. On the free days besides Lent, four days in the week she fasted, namely the second, fourth, sixth feria, and the Sabbath, unless corporeal infirmity impeded her: and often in the time of her fasting and on very many other occasions a pottage, or something else which she might eat with bread, she did not have: yet she would have had it, as we believe, if she had complained: but a daughter of peace she patiently sustained all injuries.
[28] She began much to fast on bread and water, and to make great abstinence: but Brother Michael her Confessor did not permit her to hold that way. accustomed in the taking of food to be rapt out of herself, And in that very hour of refreshing her body she was so given to continual prayer and devout contemplation, that she could not eat. But the solicitous handmaid, named Piecilia, as she was instructed, prepared foods before her, that when she should return to herself, she might refresh nature. Who when she returned into herself, seeing the foods placed before her, exclaimed: O God, desired love, when will you free me from the body of this death, and from these corporeal foods, that at your table I may feast on the foods of the Blessed to my vow. And when she began to taste the food, by long waiting now cold, two or three morsels being taken she left it, the abundance of devotion inundating: and again she resumed of the food, and immediately left it, as before; and so she took the food in such a conflict. And sometimes in such things she was rapt into God, and so sometimes until evening she did not take food. And sometimes she could not be refreshed that day; and sometimes abstaining a whole three days, and many days in this manner not eating she passed, and sometimes for three days remained without corporeal food, refreshed with the food of divine consolation. And because the spirit being tasted all flesh grows insipid, as Gregory says, she had come to so great a nausea of corporeal foods, that she did not receive more than four customary loaves the whole week.
[29] On a certain Thursday in the morning, in good time meditating most studiously on the works of creation, a certain day being transacted, and on the prevarication of the first man, and on the judgments and mercies of God, and on the Incarnation and death of the Son of God, and on the resurrection and also the ascension and sitting at the right hand of the Father, she was rapt into the sweetness of God, and until the setting of the sun after the vespers of the Sabbath day she did not return to the common senses, nor ate nor drank those three days and nights continuous, nor felt: and as she said, when she returned to herself, she believed it to be Thursday, since she asserted, whether in the body or out of the body she had been, she knew not. In the evening, her body sustained with a little food, she rested. And when she had slept somewhat, having come to the hour, at which to prayer she was wont to rise; there stood by her a certain boy clad in white, all glowing, bearing a light in his hands, saying: Rise, Humiliana, on account of those things which you know. a loaf being brought by an Angel, For he was rousing her, that in prayer she should keep vigil, and it is believed that he was her Angel. And when she had risen at the voice and at the touch of the boy, the boy being beheld, as he was admirable, that boy with the light disappeared. She therefore being at leisure for prayers until the third hour of the coming Lord's day, in that leisure felt much sweetness of Christ: and at the third hour, when she persevered in prayer, there was present a certain boy, that is the aforesaid Angel, as is believed, bearing half a loaf, and said: Rise and eat, when it shall seem expedient to you. And when she had risen, she found half a loaf very white and odoriferous, of which it could not be doubted but that it was fabricated by Angelic hands: she lives the whole week. which beholding she doubted lest it had been brought by the handmaid. But the door of the cell being circumspected within firmly barred, she believed it to be what it was: and taking the bread with giving of thanks she ate; and of that half loaf she lived all that week, of which bread too she gave to several. And in that same week many weaknesses of her body, which on occasion of abstinence she sustained, were consolidated. Much more too than usual that week she tasted the sweetness of God: and all other foods, which were brought to her that week, which she ought to eat, she disbursed to the poor. Of that bread Lady Rigalis her sister had, and Lady Luciana her aunt, and Brother Vigor of Cortona of the Order of the Minors: to whom when she gave it she said to them, Receive this bread of the Angels, which our God sent to a certain handmaid of His.
[30] She kept continual silence the whole Lent, of S. Martin b and the Major, and others new which she herself assumed in devotion to the great solemnities, To strict silence, and three days in the week, so that she spoke to no one unless an inevitable cause should happen to occur. But she suffered a grave pain of the stomach, so that she vomited live blood largely, and daily spat this… c and in comparison of that she still seemed to grieve little. O strong athlete, who so most powerfully expugned the delights of the body! O with how great diligence you followed the Creator, who was scourged all the day, and His chastisement in the mornings: for whose love your delicate body so most cruelly with assiduous scourgings you wore away! she joins much maceration of the body: For Humiliana had a certain discipline composed of thongs and sinews, with which she frequently and sharply scourged herself naked; moreover with prickly brooms she often beat herself: and often before she desisted from the scourge, she would easily have walked the way of one mile. And although weakened with fasts, worn with scourges, she did not recur to soft straw, that she might be at least for an hour propitious to herself; but with a hard hair-shirt of cords, interwoven with goat's and horse's hair, she macerated her tender flesh: which she would have worn a longer time, but Brother Michael commanding she laid it aside. With which somehow upon a sack of straw, which she had for a bed, resting a little, as she could with a little sleep she refreshed her body, that the whole night more freely she might keep vigil, by no means about to return to the little bed.
[31] On a certain night Lady Compiuta saw her, with closed eyes and mouth and hands extended in the manner of a Cross standing on her feet, she clings to the passion of Christ. so strongly weeping, that not tears but a rain seemed to be that irrigation of tears. Before that highest grace of ecstasy, which she perfectly had, was fully completed; in the nocturnal silence, the handmaid sleeping and those of the house, with strong clamors and hard lamentations she deplored the passion of her beloved Jesus, her hair loosed. But sometimes the handmaid was awakened, and beheld her lying half-alive on the pavement; but she did not dare to touch her, because she knew the will of her Lady, who hid the grace given to her as much as she could. For she pressed down her heart into the wound of the side of Christ, which continually she bore in her heart. Certainly she had made for herself of all the injuries of Christ as it were a certain little bundle of myrrh, which she had sweetly fixed for herself in her heart, so that truly she might say; A bundle of myrrh is my beloved to me, he shall abide between my breasts: and that to the letter was thus fulfilled, so that the heart seemed not to be able to be contained in the body. Cant. 1:12 Luke 6:38 There was fulfilled in her too that Evangelical saying, Good measure and pressed down and shaken together and overflowing they shall give into your bosom: because through the abundance of spirit she was even corporeally filled, so far that it was a wonder, if her corporeal bowels were not often broken. For as Brother Bernard of Piacenza asserted, with Brother Michael he saw on a certain day, that she was affected with so great an affection of divine love, that her own girdle very strong with a little aid of her hands she broke swiftly, which no one scarcely or never except miraculously would have broken.
[32] She kept vigil continually the whole night the whole Sabbath day to the honor of the highest Empress Mary, that she might also more diligently be at leisure for her son. sweetly recalling the most sweet infancy of our Redeemer, and the sedulous care of His Genetrix: and she tasted in the night that Bread of life
mentally, accustomed to communicate on the Sabbaths, of which they who taste hunger. On the morning of the Sabbath, about to taste that most holy Bread really and sacramentally (for she took every morning of the Sabbath day the sacrament of the Body of Christ) she rose that very day very early like a busy bee silently: and lest those of the house should observe it, because she did not wish to be burdensome to anyone, she changed her name for herself, and asked her companions, that not by her proper name, but by that imposed on her by herself e she should be called. This name too she used, as often as she was called by her companions early wishing to rouse her to indulgences or to visiting the poor, or also to hearing the divine matins. And going along the way about to receive the sacrament of the Body of Christ, she asked her companion that she should in no way speak to her, saying: God is everywhere, and everywhere can be had, and to each one He willingly gives Himself, provided He find a vessel prepared: whence if you wish to satisfy me, do not impede me with words; because often going along the way, and existing among creatures, and hearing preachings and divine things, I find my Lord as fully, as in my cell by insisting on prayers and devotions. And for the reverence of the Creator, who is to be received, one must be silent: because if anyone naked dragging his own body through the earth, about to receive so great a Sacrament should approach, he could not exhibit to it worthy reverence.
[33] From the aforesaid it is patent how she was always in continual devotion: because by eating, by going along the way, and returned home she gives devout thanks. by resting with her companions, by hearing the divine things and the words of preaching, she enjoyed the large sweetness of God, so that often wonderfully ecstatically she was rapt into God. For she did not dare to sit on a high place, but sat on the ground, holding the head of the table, upon which she ought to sit, leaning, or bent it into her lap, that she might rather seem to sleep. Wherefore when she visited the church, about to receive the sacrament of the Body of Christ, she dispatched herself as quickly as she could, and returned home, every occasion being postponed hastily; where she was most exercised in the grace given to her and the contemplation of the humanity, sitting at the right hand of God the Father: not passing over but surpassing, the super-excellent Divinity (as is given to mortals) she studiously contemplated, exercising most all her affection in the unity of the Trinity and the Trinity of unity with joyful jubilations, whence she sweetly drew ineffable gifts.
ANNOTATA.
CHAPTER IV.
Various ecstasies. The vow of suffering for love of Jesus. Various things indicated by the spirit of prophecy. A daughter resuscitated.
[34] Besides those things which above are done concerning ecstasy, scarcely or never was there a day, on which she did not have a rapture of this kind; and sometimes for two days, sometimes a whole day with a night, sometimes the greatest part of the day, Rapt in ecstasy she persists for days: sometimes the greatest part of the night in ecstasy she rested in this manner, as God offered. Lady Dialta heard from her, that for two days and a continuous night in ecstasy she rested, and her teeth by her carnal brothers were unbarred with a knife, because they believed that that had happened to her from infirmity, whom she for such a deed often derided. Lady Jacoba, and Lady Gisla, and Lady Compiuta said, that they saw her from the middle of the third hour until after the ninth resting in ecstasy. Lady Scotta said, that from the dinner hour until evening she stood rapt on the day of S. Margaret. Brother Michael and Lady Altabene being present B. Humiliana was rapt, and in that grace she was insensible the greatest part of the day; and Brother Michael wondering at so great grace and exclaiming, as was his manner, she felt nothing of all. In a certain infirmity of the stomach, which she suffered one year before she died, in that very grave torture meditating of God she was rapt, even in sickness heard to sing, and immediately those who were present saw her peacefully resting, and sometimes in a certain jubilation sweetly singing they heard, so subtly and silently, that it could not be heard, unless an ear were applied near her mouth: a voice indeed of jubilation they heard, but it could not be discerned what she brought forth in song. But when she returned to her senses, she was tortured from too much pain, like a serpent: and the tortures, those present seeing could scarcely tolerate. Sometimes going along the way she began to be affected from the memory of the passion of Christ, and little by little the affection of devotion growing she burst into most bitter lamentations, so far that there was not so iron a breast, which would not be softened, and not burst into tears and lament.
[35] You, circumspect of the veiled face of Christ, with the band of love veiled the eyes of heart and body, that you might behold no one except keeping severely the eyes and ears, Christ, after the manner of those blessed Apostles, of whom it is written in Matthew XVII Lifting their eyes they saw no one, except only Jesus: and there was fulfilled in her that word of S. Agnes; He has placed a sign on my face, that I admit no lover except Him. If it should happen to her on any occasion or cause to see any mortal, she was greatly saddened: and wishing to be made blind, she asked the Lord that He would deprive her of the light of her eyes. She was in the house with half-closed eyes, and in the way with eyes fixed on the ground she walked, not attending to the right or the left. On a certain day passing along the way from the madness of a certain leaping horse, it happened to her to lift her eyes, lest she should be trodden under by the horse, and to see suddenly one sitting on the horse: then touched inwardly with grief of heart, into troubled words she burst saying: she desires to be blind and deaf, O if I were blind, Lord, that I might no more see such things. Again on a certain day while going along the way she heard from someone, why did you not take a sweet husband, with whom joyfully you could enjoy and rejoice in the delights of this world; she answered: Would that I were blind and deaf, that thereafter I might not hear such things: for she unworthily bore to hear scurrilous things of this kind and base words of the worldly. If ever it happened her to be among some, she said: Let no one speak here except of God, otherwise I will withdraw immediately: and if it happened her not to be heard, complaining strongly she said: Alas! what have you done? and why so unbecomingly and rudely with useless words have you expelled so great a Lord? For He was truly in the midst of us: and forthwith she withdrew. But because the sense of hearing has no natural obstacle, it often happens to hear what displeases, which we cannot meet except by flight: therefore she lest she should hear the rumors and vanities of the age, strongly stopped her ears with cotton.
[36] The amiable lover of the Spouse faithfully loved all true lovers of Him, she greatly loves those loving Jesus: and him more, whom she knew to fervor with greater charity. Wherefore a certain holy man of the order of Camaldoli, named Simon, b whom she had never seen, but because she had understood him to burn with divine love, she loved not a little: out of reverence for whom wishing to know some trace of his sanctity, she began affectionately to insist on prayer, that the benign God by the grace of His benignity would show her something of his sanctity. Whose vows God hearing, showed her the aforesaid man, adorned with a very glowing face, accompanied by two glowing and becoming Angels on the left and right: of whose ready vision she was filled with great joy: and thence filled with divine grace she was rapt, and tasted the sweetness of her beloved Jesus abundantly, so far that for three continuous days being at leisure in that sweetness, corporeal food she by no means tasted. You most dear, diligently looking on the author of faith our Redeemer Jesus, whom with your whole heart you loved, that you might faithfully follow Him, the mandate at His supper your companions being called together with much reverence you performed. She desired too with much desire to be martyred for Christ, saying: she desires martyrdom for Him: O if some Potestate c were at Florence, who for the name of Christ would grievously torture me with many injuries and torments, and at last having grievously scourged me through the whole city, would punish me by beheading! She said also, Would that for the name of Christ some tyrant would cause me to be burned in a very great fire! Often when she was prohibited, lest with so great zeal she should desire to die, she answered saying: Of this matter I cannot hear you: and if all the Saints who are in heaven and on earth should say this to me, I could not hear them of this. But because she did not find torturers, who would slay her for the name of Christ; she desired at least to be grievously sick, that for the love of God she might deserve to suffer, and the pains of Christ in the pain of her body she might feel.
[37] She desired too to be enclosed in her tower, saying: Would that my father would so enclose me in that tower for the name of Christ, that there should remain in it neither door nor window. Therefore she said, at least to be enclosed in a tower, that her father and not another should enclose her; because the father sometimes threatened her to wall up the door of the tower, because she did not according to his will live in matrimony, and strove much to send her out of the aforesaid tower, wishing that she should dwell in the new palace near S. Ambrose, then newly built, but now destroyed: and because Galganus her cousin wished to dwell in that tower, in
the cell of B. Humiliana, with his wife, wherefore also together with the father he strove much that she should depart thence. But she herself blessed would not leave it, on account of the grace which the Holy Spirit had given her in it: on account of which infestation each was grievously struck by God, Galganus to the death of the body; of the soul perhaps not, because by the prayers of S. Humiliana he deserved to receive the sacrament of penance: but the father would have been more grievously struck, had not the Saint met God with prayers. or to dwell in solitude. She desired to be in steep mountains and in deserts and solitudes, in inaccessible places: where she should have only herbs for food, and of God according to her vow might freely think, and into praises and pious cries might burst for the love of her most beloved Jesus Christ. She said herself incarcerated, because she could not belch forth what she had within; and she often called the cell hell, although for the love of Christ she willingly remained in it, on account of the many and various temptations of the devil and the bitter tribulations and cruel and frequent scourgings, which in it the devil himself inflicted on her.
[38] God filled her with the spirit of prophecy, that she truly narrated many things to come, of which we shall say a few. By the spirit of prophecy she knows things done secretly Fervent much about those things which are of God, a certain panel of the blessed Virgin, which she had in her cell, she daintily desired to honor: which not having furnished, before a certain Lady joined to her by familiarity she said: If the blessed Virgin shall give me whence I may honor her panel, with diligent reverence I will adorn it. A little after there came a certain one bringing certain little ornaments of crystal and amber, gave them to that aforesaid familiar one, that she should bring them to S. Humiliana on his part: which when the aforesaid had brought and showed her, she made glad said: I know whence you have these, and him who gave them, and why he gave them to you. And she added congratulating with her: Do thereafter something if you can, which I if I shall wish will not tell you. On a certain day to a certain most dear reverend religious woman for the sake of visitation she came, and among those things which she spoke to her; this first she said: Most dear, know for certain, that the hairs, which were brought to you, are truly of the blessed Virgin, and the other things, as it was told you. Which hearing the aforesaid religious wondered saying: Who indicated to you this, which you say I have? When no one has known, who gave me this, except God. To this she was silent, not wishing to indicate, because by no mortal was it indicated to her, since by the spirit of prophecy it had been manifestly revealed to her. The religious had doubted before of the hairs and relics aforesaid, that they were not of the blessed Virgin, as a certain secret offerer of them had indicated.
[39] She foretold of the death of Lady Rubea, when she was sick. and foretells things to come, For on a certain day for the sake of visitation she came to her, and a sufficient delay being contracted, when she withdrew from her, she said to her: Sister most dear, when you shall be before God will you pray for me? Behold now corporeally withdrawing from you, I shall not see you in this body any more. And when a certain Sister, who was present, said: Alas my Lady, what do you say? nay you shall see her again, she answered, I am certain that what I assert is true, because I shall never see her again in this mortal body. And so it happened as she foretold, because after a little time she died, and she did not see her any more. She foresaw the death of the husband of Lady Ravenna her kinswoman. On a certain day before the death of the aforesaid man she sent her handmaid Piecilia to her, saying; Fortify yourselves with much patience, since shortly you are to suffer certain inconveniences, which will grieve you not a little. A few days being transacted the husband of the aforesaid died. She foresaw too God revealing it, that her father was to be grievously struck, because he, by offending his daughter, had grievously offended God. To whom she blessed, preventing that tribulation, by her devout prayers tempered it: so that he suffered only a distortion of the mouth, and the other intolerable tribulation was remitted. For God would not by her prayers take away from him all the tribulation: because He wished him to know, that he who touches His servants, touches the pupil of His eye. She foresaw the death of Galganus her cousin, as we have touched above.
[40] She foresaw of a certain Lady, likewise that some would fall from their purpose: whom Brother Michael much loving, desired to snatch from the vanity of the age, wishing that she should dedicate her virginity to the Most High, serving Him in that purity of body: whom he often commended rejoicing with her, that he might kindle her to divine love and solidate her in the good purpose. For whom when the Saint had diligently prayed, because he loved her; she answered Brother Michael through Lady Gisla saying: Tell Brother Michael, that you should not praise the flower before the fruit, for I too praying for her, did not perceive that she wishes to serve God in purity of body: which also was done, because a little after she was given to a husband. On a certain day understanding, that Lady Tabernaria, solicitous about her son Ubertinus, who had gone out of the order of the Friars Minor, asked that he should be received, she said: He will return to the Order and be received, but he will go out again afterward, in it no long delay being contracted. Which was done: because when he had completed the year of probation, he withdrew from the order free, his profession not made: after some months he was received again making profession to the Order as he ought; and a little delay being contracted he withdrew of his own accord, now obligated to the Order. She said too that a time will be, in which for much fear the word of God will not be preached.
[41] A certain religious person of perfect life, persisting nine continuous days in devotion, by bread and wine brought by an Angel she is wonderfully refreshed: did not take corporeal food: to whom in the morning at the dawn of day there stood by an Angel of the Lord, bearing half a loaf and exhibiting it to her said: Receive this bread, of which you may refresh your body: which she with devotion received: which did not lie hidden from holy Humiliana. For a fitting delay being constituted, she came to that very handmaid of God, saying: Give me, most dear, of your bread secretly given to you, which you keep with you. To whom wondering she said: Who, most dear, has so openly directed to you my deeds? And seeing that she could not deny her that bread, she brought her of it one morsel. Which with giving of thanks receiving, she carried it with her, laying it up in a most clean place reverently. Not many days being transacted persisting in prayer for four continuous days she did not eat. At the evening hour suffering much hunger, nor having other food, the aforesaid morsel only and nothing else she took. Which when she took, suddenly a certain white and comely boy stood by before her, bearing a phial full of water: which when he had given to her, and she receiving with praises drank it; she found that that water was the best wine and delightful in odor, and sweet to drink. By that supper she was so refreshed, that for four continuous days after without food she remained fasting.
[42] God adorned her body too with two chief gifts, presenting a trace of a glorified body, she is lifted into the air praying, namely of agility and of odor: because several times praying she was lifted into the air. On the day of S. Felicitas of the Kalends of August, when she had visited Sister Sobilia in the Rock, and had withdrawn into a part of her cell that she might pray, while she prayed Sister Sobilia herself saw her lifted into the air. On a certain day, Brother Michael visiting her, the Saint said: Brother Michael, I praying was lifted into the air and held, and afterward let go to return to the earth. Which word, no attention being given Brother Michael did not understand. But when he noticed, that she had been speaking, and did not know what she had said, he said: Tell now too what you have said. Which heard she grew silent, and did not indicate it to him by any reason. and emits from herself a sweet odor, Her body too presented a great odor full of a certain inexhaustible sweetness. Lady Bene, on a certain day when she visited her, approaching her, felt a great sweetness of odor proceeding from her body, Lady. Cecilia, kinswoman of B. Humiliana, on a certain day in the lower house in her chamber felt so great a sweetness of odor, as she never in her life remembered herself to have felt, which odor proceeded from S. Humiliana's chamber.
[43] On a certain day, a little after the third hour, there came to her a certain little daughter of hers, named Rigalis, she resuscitates a daughter suddenly dead. knocking at the door, that the mother should open to her. At whose knocking the mother rising, and coming to the door, opened, and the daughter being introduced immediately closed the door: and suddenly the stupefied girl fell as if dead, and after a little turned into pallor. Which beholding the mother frightened from the sudden anxiety of the daughter, began to cherish her, although grieving, as is the manner of a mother, waiting until the ninth hour, that the anxious spirit might return, and the girl might somehow rise. And when she did not rise nor convalesce in anything, she touched her, if perchance she might find in her some sign of life; and when she had touched her more studiously, she was found cold throughout. Who recurring to the throat, where the pulse is wont to be found in a half-dead body; when she did not find there the pulse, esteeming her dead, she was greatly astonished at the sudden death of the daughter, and the scandal of her own which she feared. And recurring to the image of our Lady, she prostrated herself before it, and asking with tears said: Most benign Love, have mercy on me, that you take away from me now this tribulation and scandal, which from this will be inflicted on me by my kinsmen, and restore this my daughter to me. The prayer completed she rose and signed her daughter. And the sign being made, there came forth a certain admirable and comely boy from the panel, going to the place where the girl lay, and signed her: who immediately the sign of the Cross being made rose sound, and the boy disappeared immediately.
ANNOTATA.
Cionaccius, to have been there where now is the small Hospital of S. Philip Neri, called the Pious House of Refuge.
CHAPTER V.
Other favors divinely bestowed on her, her last sickness and happy death.
[44] She thirsted with the greatest affection of heart to behold with corporeal eyes the boy Jesus, four or three years of age; Desiring to see Jesus a boy, such indeed as He was in the time of His infancy, when by the very glorious Queen of Virgins He was wont to be most studiously led. Often of this she asked, though timidly, because she reckoned herself unworthy of so great a benefit. But because, as Bernard says, love knows no order; so great was the ardor of love of seeing God that it overcame fear and unworthiness: and therefore she did not fear constantly to ask what she desired. But the benign God, who does the will of those fearing Him, and hears their prayer; on one day concerning her infirmity and her wonderful and glorious vision wonderfully heard her. For on a certain day for the sake of visitation compassionating, she came to a certain boy grievously sick: whom when she perceived to be cruelly tortured with the infirmity of pain, she said: O most dear son, are you mindful of your Creator, she visits a sick boy, recalling how great a passion for you He sustained? To whom the boy, Go in peace, he said, good Lady, for of the pain which I suffer and of the infirmity I am rather mindful, than of God. And she added: Do you wish to give me this your infirmity? And the boy said: Would that I were free, and you had it all. And she said: Let my God do this to me, that if this infirmity is for you to the salvation of eternal life, let it be left to you, that you may deserve to be crowned through it: otherwise let Him give it all to me. The boy answered: I do not wish you to have it all, but a part; take to yourself the pain of the side and flank, which I suffer: and bring it with you from now, that I may feel it no more. To whom answering Humiliana, Be it, she said, to me as you have said: and after a little she withdrew home.
[45] Wonderful thing! because immediately the pain of the side so receded from the boy, and taking his pains upon herself, as if it had been taken away by hands: and the Saint so grievously began to be tortured by that pain, that for the bitterness of the pain, a place of rest even for a point of time she in no way found. Which not able to bear, she strove to compose for herself wood for a fire, that from the heat of the fire the pain might in something be mitigated. And when the fire being made she wished to warm herself, wearied with too much pain she could not sustain herself: but rather fell into the fire stretched out, and from the fire she could not rise, before the fire itself was utterly extinguished. For of wonderful patience and humility she was, therefore she would not impose on anyone of the house the burden of any service for so sudden a pain, nor in anything relieve the pain. But the wonderful God so kept her in the fire untouched, that the fire felt no heat, of which afterward she complained, saying: I fear lest my God has forsaken me, because He has not suffered me to feel the burning of the fire. she is preserved unharmed from the fire, Morning being made and the pain mitigated, to the aforesaid boy she returned hastily, and addressing him said: Do you wish to give me another infirmity, which you suffer? And the boy answered: I wish, take from me this infirmity, carrying it with you, as you took from me the pain of the side, that I may feel it no more, as when you withdrew from me I never felt the pain of the flank and side. And she benign said: Be it according to your word. And when she had withdrawn, the boy was healed from all infirmity immediately; and on her blessed self that infirmity was so impressed, that no one who had seen her would have doubted it to be the infirmity of the aforesaid boy. That infirmity was commonly called a Papici, but by another word the Flying fire, in another manner is named the Salt drop.
[46] By this infirmity and the pain of the side afflicted she lay grievously in the little bed, and afterward she obtains her vow, from which she could not rise in a good manner. But her custom was never to lie in the little bed, if she could otherwise: so far of her salvation she was solicitous and attentive. So while she lay in her little bed, and her cell, which was in the tower, firmly barred (for she always fastened within the door of the cell, lest anything coming should impede her insisting on prayers) there was present a boy of four years or under, very beautiful of face, all becoming, comely and of charming aspect, playing cheerfully in that little cell before her. Whom seeing she rejoiced much, believing him truly to be a messenger of the highest King: and addressing him, she said: O most sweet love! O most dear boy! do you know how to do anything else besides play? And that boy, as he was of placid countenance, answered her: What else do you wish me to do? and B. Humiliana humbly said: I wish that you speak something good of God. And the boy said: Do you think it good or becoming, that one should speak of himself? And these things said the boy Jesus disappeared, leaving her sound, the aforesaid infirmity utterly receding. Blessed the eyes which saw whom you saw, happy Humiliana! To other saints and elect of God is sent some Angel, that they may be comforted in the Lord: to you is sent Jesus, the blessed fruit of the Virgin Mother, the only-begotten of the highest Father, the little Jesus appearing before her playing whom to see longer with all your bowels you longed. We have heard from several, that that boy our Lord Jesus appeared to her often, both in her cell and in the church of S. Martin: but because we have not found, that she said to anyone, that she herself had seen Him, except to Sister Sobilia of the Rock, to whom as is prenoted above she fully told, because after Brother Michael she was conscious of her secrets; therefore more of the boy Jesus, lest we give doubtful things for certain, we shall not reduce into writing. And let no one stumble saying, that perhaps He appeared to her sleeping; because if he thinks this, he is frustrated: because never to her sleeping but utterly waking, and cruelly as has been said suffering He appeared: and she saw Him with the eyes of the body only, as we see one another. We have heard and found this to be true, because she said to several, that a certain Lady with much diligence desired to see the Son of God in boyish age, whom she saw according to her vow. She did not speak of herself, but said that there was a certain one: for she was an enclosed garden, and many and great things which she had she did not open except the grace of the Holy Spirit compelling her. We have heard it said too that she kissed His feet: and we believe, that she had many and more things of Jesus than are said, and that she kept silent greater things than those which she said.
[47] On a certain day she found in a certain way lying a girl, very small, but with the vice of leprosy enormously and grievously wounded, a leper being seen she gives thanks for her health, sitting to ask alms: whom when the lover of the Trinity had seen she exclaimed, with great affection saying: O Most High, that you have not deprived me of hands and feet, like this one, that for the love of your name I might bear such torments, but content with the divine will immediately she added: Blessed be you above all things, Jesus, my sweet love, who according to your good pleasure have enriched me with many and great goods, and as it pleased you, have given me sound members to the praise of your name. And thence she began to exclaim with most ardent affection to the highest and undivided Trinity, which with many praises she sounded. Whence it happened, and is illustrated by a certain appearance of the H. Trinity. that on a certain night a little after the light being extinguished while she prayed, there appeared in her cell three spheres shining above the brightness of the sun, which illustrated the whole cell far more than that material sun, which we see with corporeal eyes. Which when she had seen, she exclaimed with all the affection of her heart, saying: Come Jesus, most sweet love, behold the night you have wonderfully changed for me into day. And leaping from the place where she prayed she ran to the spheres, and grasping them as she could, because they were incorporeal, she said: O most sweet and most desirable love, let each creature bless you. And they then forthwith were turned into one sphere: which when she with all diligence pressed to her breast, amid the embraces she beheld it disappear: and she praising blessed God, complaining that she was corporeal and carnal, because spiritual things she could not retain.
[48] On a certain day, in the Lenten time, in which she abstained from wine, thirsting she asked her handmaid Piecilia, Thirsting she finds water changed into wine: that she should bring her something of fresh water. Who going quickly, brought a little vessel of water, as was commanded her, to drink. Who when she had tasted the water made wine, troubled a little, said: It would have been easier for you, most dear, to bring me water, than wine, and water is cheaper than wine, and more of water is found than of wine. Why then have you carried me wine for water? Therefore she was a little troubled, because she could endure nothing against the purpose of her holy conscience: and because she had tasted wine, she seemed to herself to have offended not a little. At whose words the handmaid moved, because she was not accustomed to hear from her, except humble and peaceful words, and such things were said without fault, since she had faithfully fulfilled the command of her Lady, said: My Lady, God knows, that I brought you pure water, as you commanded. But the Saint said: Be it that you brought me water, in the little jug there was wine, or it was wet with wine, because altogether wine is this which I have tasted. And the handmaid taking the bronze bucket, said: This vessel has no odor of wine, nor certainly is there wine in it. Now it will appear if I bring you pure water: and running to the well, she drew water. Of which not confiding the Saint, ran to the window, that she might see if the handmaid had gone to the well faithfully to draw water. And seeing her draw water, she waited, that she might see if she brought her the water purely and faithfully, until she approached the door of her cell. And then withdrawing from the door, and awaiting her in the cell, she received the bucket from her hands, inundating with most clear water. Which when she had applied
immediately to her mouth, believing herself to taste water, she found and tasted the best wine, immediately made from water. At whose taste she was astonished at the miracle, and as she recalled, because she esteemed herself unworthy of so great a benefit, and because a second time God did this to her, and because the handmaid then and before had truly brought her pure water, nonetheless she affectionately gave thanks to God, who deigned to show her so great things. And taking a certain jug, the bucket full of wine being inclined, she put all that wine into the jug; and stopping the jug with a clean linen cloth, she laid it up, saying: Let no one touch this jug, nor taste this such water. We believe that of that wine she drank a part, and gave a part to the sick of the city.
[49] On a certain day when for drinking from another certain handmaid she instantly asked water, the handmaid moved with a certain little jug full of water, which she brought her, wounded in the forehead, her hand being lifted struck her on the forehead grievously, infixing a grave wound, from which no little blood flowed. Which patiently bearing, although grievously she suffered, the wound she revealed to no one, except to a certain conscious one of her secret a Religious, reverend by the sanctity of her life and illustrious by honesty, fearing lest it should come to the ears of her own, and the wound to the scandal of the common people should redound upon the handmaid. But the wound had generated putrid blood, because it was ill cured, and grievously augmented pain upon pain. Who on a certain day going to the church, somehow about to hear the divine things; impressed on her own wound the sign of the Cross. Which done she felt a certain hand, which in a similar manner impressed for her the sign of the Cross: at whose touch suddenly the wound was opened, and the putrid blood, by the touch of an invisible hand she is healed. which she had within, it largely emitted out. But also that aforesaid hand anointed the wound with a certain odoriferous and sweet ointment: from which forthwith it was consolidated, no scar being left: and from then the pain of the wound she felt no more.
[50] At another certain time, in the nocturnal silence by the scourgings of a fever macerated, burning with the heat of the fever, in a fever thirsting, she is visited from heaven, parched with grave thirst, she strongly exhaled: and calling her handmaid, that she should give her a sip of water to drink, she answered her not, because she was oppressed with heavy sleep. But she with frequent sounds and vexations beating, that she might be awakened, yet she slept so heavily, that she could not rouse her. But she not able to rise weighed down with infirmity, and the thirst too much prevailing, said: My Lord, most beloved love, who can do all things, you know my defect and my infirmity, and the anxiety which I suffer in this hour: you can well succor me, if it please your goodness. These things said behold there appeared in her cell a certain girl, with a glowing face very comely, associated with white-clad boys, in her hand bearing a certain phial of water: who approaching the one suffering sat near her head, and the phial being inclined to one side gave her little by little and at intervals to drink: she is refreshed and healed: and a little interval being made she poured water on her hand, with which she anointed her eyes and face. And this being done often, the thirst being extinguished, and the weakness of the sick one removed, and refreshed with strength and health, she wished to speak to the girl; desiring to know who she was, who had bestowed on her so great humanity and such benefits. But the girl putting her finger to her own mouth, nodded that she should keep silence. To whom that Blessed one obeying patiently kept silence, and dared not interrogate her, lest she should be deprived of the grace of so great a visitation. But the girl, a little delay being contracted, with her company disappeared. Cheered by these so great benefits, she did not extol herself, but humbled herself in all things far more than usual: and often said, when the desired grace was not present: I am before my Lord as a widow, and like an orphan and a fatherless child.
[51] On a certain night, when she rose from sleep that she might pray, opening her eyes she saw the whole cell shining with an unusual splendor, and looking toward the panel, in which was the image of our Lady she saw a certain copious flame of fire on the cloth, with which the panel was covered, ascending even to the lintel of the cell: and astonished much, fearing lest the panel should be burned, she ran to the panel; and the cloth being seized and pressed she rubbed it with her hands, lest it should hurt the panel, believing utterly that this fire was that material one of ours. by night she is illumined by fire and heavenly light, And when she perceived the cloth to be unharmed, and the fire not to be felt by her hands, because it neither heated nor burned; she understood what it was: and when she had understood the miracle, she was abashed at the ignorance of her opinion and the pious deception of the sign: and the fire vanished a little delay being contracted. But she returned at once to the little bed, lest the handmaid should observe what it was, praising and blessing God, who deigned so often to visit her with such pleasant signs. It is to be believed that this fire showed the fire of the Holy Spirit, with which Christ, by the merits of His glorious Mother, whom she much served, had especially inflamed her. For it is a fire not burning, but shining; not consuming, but illuminating; filling the hearts of the disciples, especially compared to the fire of the bush, once seen by Moses. Often her cell was seen by night by Gisla her handmaid, to shine as with the light of the sun. For also on a certain night her handmaid Gisla, when she was roused by her sweet sighs and affectionate utterances, saying, Jesus, my most beloved love; saw her cell so irradiated with splendors, that it seemed as midday. Many things of her were seen which we have not written: and she herself had and revealed many more and greater of these to God to Brother Michael, which we could not have, Brother Michael covering them with silence. Often we heard the aforesaid Friar bring forth this word: O if it were permitted me to lay open, what and how great things God does for Humiliana! And he proceeded no further in such things, but kept silence.
[52] B. Humiliana humbly asked of the Lord to die on a Sabbath, out of reverence for our Lady, and that no one of the house of her father should be present at her death: desiring to die on a Sabbath, which she obtained, because she migrated to the Lord on that very day, and no one of the aforesaid was present at her death. On the day of the Lord's Resurrection in that very grave infirmity, in which she migrated from this world, suffering grievously in that very morning she began to meditate of God: and immediately she was in an excess of mind, and rapt rested from that very morning until the Vespers of that day: and as we believe, far more she would have rested, except that her carnal brothers disquieted her and infested her, grievously agitating and clamoring, believing her to labor in passing, nor could they so in any way rouse her. Which was patent: because when she returned, she complained of the molestation inflicted on her, and sick on the very day of Easter suffers an ecstasy, saying: O God, that I am not in the desert, that I might freely be at leisure for you, and not be disquieted by mortals, who compel me too quickly to be separated from sweet embraces. The following Monday she was tortured with a strong torture of the stomach all the day, and when she was asked, why she was tortured that day more than the past, she answered: Yesterday God nourished me with milk, today the body receives its due returns. From the aforesaid it is patent, in how lofty an ecstasy she rested, that she felt not the pain of the stomach and the strong clamors and the many agitations of her body, and from place to place the various and frequent changes of herself.
[53] When she was near death, Brother Michael and Brother Bonamicus visiting her, and asking how she was, she foretells various things, and whether she believed she would be freed from her infirmity, she answered: I firmly know that from this infirmity I shall in no way be freed. And when Brother Michael asked her, and insisted with many supplications, that she should return to him after death, she said: Why do you molest me with such supplications? for a little time you will live after me: in which I see you will suffer many tribulations. And Brother Bonamicus addressed her saying: And of me what do you say? Will you return to me, if you now withdraw, or not? To whom she did not answer about the return, although after her death she returned to him, but about certain other things, saying: You will not come now, but you will yet remain in the life of the body: in which time you will provide for yourself, Brother. She foretold too of holy memory Brother Michael of Florence, a venerable and devout man and beloved to God and men, that he would quickly withdraw from the place of the holy Cross, and afterward elsewhere die: which also was done.
[54] B. Humiliana asked those who guarded her in passing, that they should buy for her c a tunic: in which her feet might be diligently wrapped, she bids her feet to be wrapped in a tunic after death: lest naked they should be in any way touched by mortals. The mother of honesty in a trace of honesty even dead could not endure it. For she foresaw the devotion and faith of the people, which it was to have toward her, lacerating the cloths of the garment of her funeral for the sake of devotion. She asked of her hope, said that she was so certain of her salvation, that she would not give consent to all men and Angels preaching the contrary. O mirror of sanctity, form of all humility, example of chastity, way of honesty, path of devotion, rule of obedience, solace of poverty, shield of patience! What virtue or what grace was not fully in you? for what act of all virtues was lacking to your sanctity? If we seem to have commended you in anything, most dear, let no one wonder, because the Pontiff of the city of Florence, of good memory, an example of life and sanctity, the Lord Ardingus, dead she is praised by Bishop Ardingus. by his public preachings commended you very greatly. But B. Humiliana remained in the house of her parents a virgin in purity and honesty sixteen years: in the sixteenth year she was given to a husband: by whom after a five-year period widowed she clung perfectly to the footsteps of Jesus Christ, serving God in the house of her father in the tower, where she prepared for herself a little cell, in which she might freely serve God, for about five years insisting on devotions.
[55] The treatise of her life being ended, let us foretaste something of her death. But in the last year of her life in the month of January she began grievously to fall sick, but for meekness and patience she hid the infirmity as much as she could. In March fixed to her bed, But in the month of March in the Lenten time, the infirmity grievously growing strong, she was so far weighed down, that she lay continually, because she could not rise, the health of her whole body being destitute. From then she was always weighed down from day to day, so that almost wholly one side she lost, in which she had no power of helping herself. In the beginning of the infirmity she began to cough, and thereupon the pain of the stomach and kidneys, and also of the whole body more grievously
grew strong, which strongly tortured her. Her body was much attenuated, and stripped of flesh, and her belly became as a drum: and she emitted blood through the nostrils, and through the mouth itself largely vomited it. In whatever manner even to the second feria of the Lord's Resurrection she took food: from then she ate no more, because she could not pass food. from the 2nd feria of Easter she ate nothing: From the second feria of Easter for forty-two continuous days she did not eat, except that for eighteen days they gave her only the water of chickens to drink: from then on those remaining days they gave her only clear water. For the bitterness of pain she was grievously anxious, so that even from compassion the bowels of those beholding the one grieving were tortured. In all her anxieties from her mouth a voice of lamentation or murmur did not proceed, but in all things giving thanks to God with her own embraces she girt, her arms placed in the manner of a cross her breast, saying: Blessed be you, my love. We believe that she embraced the form of Christ impressed on her memory, amid pains continually fixed to God, which continually in imagination she deplored. For she said, when she felt the pains and twistings most grievously inundating, Behold my God comes to visit me, whom I ought most dearly to embrace. And in these tortures often she seemed to breathe out her soul: and although she was tortured with so great anxieties, nonetheless, as above is said, she meditated of God, and meditating was rapt, and rested in Him. But when she was disquieted and beaten longer by her kinsmen, that she should return to herself, not knowing whether she lived, or had breathed out her soul, returned to herself she said: For the love of the Most High, do not inflict on me so great a molestation, because of much and great consolation you deprive me, tearing me from the embraces of our Creator.
[56] The hour of her death approaching there was present the devil, visibly appearing to her, who solicitously awaited the near issue of the soul from the body. Whom when she perceived to stand before her, she rebukes the dæmon before the appearing Mother of God, she began strongly to rebuke, and reproached him saying: What do you here, savage beast, wicked enemy? What here, bloody beast, do you await? Recede from me enemy: go hence, because in me you have utterly nothing. But behold present is my Lady, who will suddenly present me to her most beloved Son with glory. And not only with words but with hands she threatened, repelling him and saying: Quickly recede, wretch, because my Lady is with me, who you and your subtle machinations immediately will grind and break. and after a sharp wrestling, And for all these things the devil did not recede: but incessantly grievously infested her, that the Lord would not have mercy on her, adding. Which word grievously bearing, indignant she said: Wretch, if all the Angels should say this with you, they would not be believed, much less you. And calling to her the companion, who guarded her, she said: How long a time and how much have I wept, and the devil has dared to inflict on me such temptations: I firmly know that my Lord will have mercy on me. And the companion quickly ran to the panel of our Lady, where there was a certain hair of that same most worthy Mother of God, and offered blessed candles, which she kindled holding in the manner of a Cross, and the panel, in which was the image of our Lady and the Crucified, she placed upon her breast. And with the candles she illuminated her, and with incense perfumed, and sprinkled blessed water upon her head.
[57] at length she drives him away, While these things were being done she turned to the dæmon and commanded him, saying: Recede from me wicked one immediately, and henceforth dare not to infest me in anything. At which saying the devil convicted departed confounded, and she in all tranquility rested: and opening her eyes and seeing that panel placed upon her breast, she placed it more honorably in a certain silken cloth of her mantle, and dies on May 19, 1246. and upon her breast better placed it. She resting that whole night of the Sabbath, and the cold of the extremities growing strong through the whole body, on the morning of the Sabbath without sobs and struggle she rendered her soul to heaven, at that hour at which she was wont to receive the Lord's Body: namely at dawn, eight days before Pentecost on the XIV of the Kalends of May, on the day of S. Potentiana, in the year from the incarnation MCCXLVI. B. Humiliana lived therefore XXVII years; whose body with much joy and honor was brought to the church of the holy Cross in the place of the Friars Minor of Florence, and buried in that very church rests, to the praise and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns through the infinite ages of ages. Amen. We believe her immediately separated from the flesh without any other purgation, to have gone to the Lord, as the present writings manifest.
ANNOTATA.
CHAPTER VI.
Various apparitions made after her death.
[58] After her death, on the vigil of S. Mary Magdalen a (so to speak) a certain Lady of honest conversation praying, She appears glowing in face, saw B. Mary Magdalen and B. Humiliana together glowing in face: in which vision meditating in God much grace was infused upon her, and she tasted the ineffable sweetness of God: which she said she had by the merits of S. Humiliana. Another certain religious of holy conversation, studying in the paths of contemplation, was troubled, because her mind being obscured with certain dark mists, to God she could not direct her mind as she was wont. Who when she was anxious in such things and dozed, and consoles one tempted. with eyes half-closed she saw B. Humiliana, now having entered the way of all flesh, coming to her and saying. Rest in the Trinity, most dear, only: and this said she disappeared, and that religious with cheerfulness of spirit, the troubling of mind being put to flight and freed rose. Freeing many others from troublings of this kind she restored them to the pristine and greater grace, of whom it would be too long to speak: therefore of her and of the miracles which by the grace of her supplication God deigned to work, I silently dismiss it, see only b column 28 and what below is placed.
[59] A certain Lady while she discoursed with certain of her companions of the deeds of B. Humiliana, on the very Lord's day after her death, suddenly began to think of Christ. And then heaven was opened to her, and she saw the Son of God and the Blessed Virgin at His right hand clad in white, and B. Humiliana at their feet, seen by one at the feet of Christ and the Mother of God, with bent knee praying before them, likewise clad in white. And this revelation was so impressed on the imaginative power, that from her memory it did not recede until the feast c of B. Francis. After her death she visited Sister Sobilia, appearing to her near her bed in the cell of the aforesaid Sister, and holding her hands near her breast, as was her manner, in the manner of a Cross, with bent knees called the watching Sister, saying: Lady Sobilia. She asked her of many things, among which whether she had suffered punishment after death, and of Brother Michael. to another she indicates her glory: Who indeed answered many things, which Sister Sobilia did not narrate to us: but those which she narrated to us, and heard from her, are these. Namely that in purgatory she had nothing to do, and that ineffable were the delights of her consolation which she had continually, which could not be thought by mortals: and that Brother Michael was near, yet not at Florence, to migrate from this age to the glory of God. These and other things said with splendor she disappeared: for she was of admirable beauty and splendor.
[60] A certain religious person, of holy life and honest conversation, intimate and faithful of the Saint, likewise crowned with a double diadem, and conscious of her secrets; wishing to know of the glorious state of the same aforesaid Saint, devoted herself much to the zeal of prayer, that this the Most High would deign to reveal to her. And while she prayed, suddenly there appeared to her B. Humiliana, clad in white, and crowned with a double diadem. Her garment was white, purple about the hands and arms, and at the shoulders and neck with various and wonderful work fringed. But the fringes were of red purple wonderfully overwoven with gold, and she had a golden fringe about the breasts ampler than the rest. But the diadems differed between themselves: since one was of a triple color, shining seven times above the sun, it was indeed of a white red and green color, in its summit clasped with three excellent sapphires, flourishing and coruscating ineffably, adorned elsewhere throughout with shining emerald gems. The other diadem too was of white color, totally shining, fabricated with most beautiful gems. She had long and yellow hair, and they seemed not hairs, but rather the best gold of damask weave threaded. with a most resplendent face, Her face was Angelic, very becoming, shining above the rays of solar light. She had most clear eyes, whose brightness surpassed the splendor of the stars. From her mouth proceeded a certain odoriferous smell, whose odor filled the whole place with sweetness. She had also certain pipes in her mouth, which were most like a honeycomb: through which she resounded most sweet melodies: for there was heard from her mouth a double voice (namely, There is nothing else except the love of Christ, and, In the odor of your ointments we run) whose sweetness could not be expressed in a good manner. with a sweet voice. The virgin crown in itself had various voices, bringing forth various things: for they said, Come spouse of Christ, receive the crown which the Lord has prepared for you: another said, Come my elect, come my dove, come my beautiful one, come you shall be crowned. But the other crown, on account of the reward of chastity, had various voices, which with one voice brought forth one thing, Blessed and praised be my God and my Lord. All which beholding, she wondered not a little the aforesaid religious person, on account of the pomps of glory, with which she saw the Saint adorned, saying: Humiliana, what is this which I see? For you are crowned as with a virginal aureole. Who answering said: This my Lord did to me on account of the grief of virginity lost for the cause of matrimony, and expounds the mysteries of each, which continually in my heart I bore. And when
she was asked of the other crown, which she bore; she answered; This was given to me on account of the faith of chastity, which inviolate I kept for my Lord. Asked what so becoming a face and brightness of eyes meant for her, she said: This is the purity of conscience, which I had. She asked her of her garment and her fringes, adorned with purple and gold, and she said: The whiteness of the garment is humility, and good works done in charity; but the purple of the fringes, which is red, designates the martyrdom, which in mind I bore, and the affection of desire of seeing the B. Virgin in the form of her beauty which I had: and after a little she disappeared.
[61] On a certain occasion B. Humiliana appeared to Gisla of Mucello, on account of penance she had no purgatory. a very religious one, sleeping, with much cheerfulness and brightness of look, saying: Let it not weary you to do penance: since I, because I fully did penance, twelve days before foreknew my death, and through purgatory I passed as innocent children do. A certain woman of Florence, named Cecilia, on the day next following the Sabbath of the passing of S. Humiliana, standing in prayer, and not sleeping nor fully waking, saw heaven opened, and B. Humiliana with one Angel associated in the air, and through that opening our Saviour in the image of the Cross lifted up, with a certain most beautiful creature descend. These four indeed joined together in the air, entered the hall of heaven with jubilation in the year of the Lord MCCXLVI. The glory shown to others, After the death of B. Humiliana by chance for eight days, a certain Friar Minor asked the Lord, that He would demonstrate to him something of the glory of the aforesaid Saint; and he not sleeping, but waking saw before the altar many most beautiful seats, and some were there more beautiful than the rest, and below those seats were the souls of the Saints, and in the midst sat B. Humiliana upon one of them; and many of them were empty.
[62] In the year of the Lord MCCXLVI, these things of the life and death of B. Humiliana, as with our eyes we saw and with our ears we heard, The fidelity of the Writer. and as the witnesses above-written saw and heard from her, although childishly, yet faithfully and truly we have written, leaving them to be corrected by wiser and more prudent than us, and more faithfully amended. Yet let the amender and corrector see what he adds or diminishes, and most of all lest he change or vary what the above-written testimonies said, lest he give doubtful things for certain by a sentence transmuted. d
ANNOTATA.
APPENDIX
On the apparitions after death.
Æmiliana or Humiliana, widow of Florence of the third Order of S. Francis (B.)
BHL Number: 4042
BY HIPPOLYTUS A CONTEMPORARY.
[63] A certain Friar Minor, by name Bonamicus, of the city of Florence, rose at midnight, for the cause of ringing for Matins, and found all the lamps except one extinguished. But he came with a candle, which he kindled at the lighted lamp: She appears in the temple of S. Cross, in the year 1247, and the Friar looking with the lighted candle before the Cross, saw B. Humiliana (who had long been dead, and in that same church buried) with bent knees praying, of becoming gravity, with countenance moderately cast down looking at the ground, only clad with a cloak of black color, as in the world a widow was wont to have, with her head veiled with a white veil, of which veil a part touched the ground, the other part touched not so much her arms being inserted. But when he did not see her; he did not dare to speak to her, but going to the clock, that he might see the matutinal hour, again returned with the candle to her, and the kindled candle approached the countenance of the aforesaid Saint, nor did she make any motion and he more fully recognized her. Again the Friar turning aside through the church, again a third time came to her, and more approached the countenance of the aforesaid Saint: and suddenly fear rushed upon him, and fleeing into the sacristy he sighed much. At whose sighs another Friar coming up, inquired of the cause of the sighs: to whom Brother Bonamicus told the whole series of the vision. But he himself and several other Friars went, that they might see the aforesaid form, and by no means found it in the year of the Lord MCCXLVII. The aforesaid Brother Bonamicus, a Florentine by nation, confessed in the word of truth, all the above-written of the vision of B. Humiliana, to be true, in the presence of many Priest Friars of the same Order, whose names are these b. Brother…of the city of Florence Priest and preacher. Brother Ugolinus of the same city, Brother Michael of the County of Florence, Brother Philip of…and several others. In the presence of these Brother Bonamicus affirmed, that as God is in heaven, so all the aforesaid are true, and this was done in the place of the aforesaid Friars of the aforesaid city of Florence in the year of the Lord MCCXLIX.
[64] A certain woman by name Bonavicina, of good life and holy conversation, a Veronese by nation, while she made a stay in the city of Florence, on a certain day saw this vision of B. Humiliana and Brother Michael, whose life among the Clergy and the people was laudable, and he himself had educated B. Humiliana in Christ. This is the vision which she said she had seen in such a manner. It seemed to her to be in a certain desert, in which was a tree of great height and beauty: under which tree she saw the aforesaid Friar clad as if to say Mass, and before him an altar, upon which was…and behind that Friar she saw B. Humiliana, clad in white woolen garments, and veiled with a white veil: and behind her she saw three Ladies, likewise clothed with white woolen garments and veiled with white veils. And the Mass being completed there appeared upon the altar four stars very resplendent, of which one taking the aforesaid Friar fixed in the forehead of B. Humiliana, again with other Ladies in the year 1248, and the other three fixed in the right shoulder of the other Ladies: and after the aforesaid Friar followed B. Humiliana, and three others after her: and the aforesaid woman was awakened, giving thanks to God and her Saint. And this vision was on the vigil of B. Mary of September, in the year of the Lord MCCXLVIII.
[65] A certain Lady of the city of Florence, named Fresca, with her husband and her sons in great opulence for some time lived, and of their souls caring nothing: but the Lord, who chastises c the nations when He wishes and how He wishes, made them come to so great want, that they had almost nothing to eat. appearing to a needy matron she frees her from the danger of adultery. But the husband on account of want withdrew from the city: but the wife with the sons remained at home sad, and what the woman should do she utterly knew not. But she persevering in this misery and sadness, proposed to let herself die of hunger, or at least to deliver her body to serve uncleanness and iniquity unto iniquity. But what happened? The necessity of that woman came to the ears of a certain godfather of hers, and he proposes firmly in his heart to succor her in all necessities, with this intention, that with her he might be mingled in adultery, when he wished. But she by no means consented, but for some days persevered in the greatest conflict. But on a certain night B. Humiliana appeared to her, and it seemed to her that she sat upon her bed. So great light was there, that it seemed midday: and it seemed to her, that she was fixed in mud up to the loins, and B. Humiliana took her by the right arm, and called her by name, and said to her; Fear not, but act constantly: such a woman will come to you, and will free you from this mud, and will also succor you in your necessities (And she well knew that woman) and B. Humiliana added, that she should go with that one to her sepulcher at the holy Cross under the staircase. Both those women coming to the tomb of the aforesaid Saint gave thanks to God and to B. Humiliana His handmaid: and that woman succored her in many necessities, and comforted her so, that all the tribulation receded of mind and body. Moreover after the third day B. Humiliana called the aforesaid woman, saying to her: Today there will come to you a messenger, who will tell you, that you should go to the Court of the Judge. Do not believe him nor go thither: but go to the church of the holy Cross, and speak to Brother Hippolytus and Lady Argenta, and they will console you. On that day there came to her a certain messenger from the Court of the Potestate, saying to her: Your godfather sent, that you should come to the Court. But she recalling the word of B. Humiliana answered: I will not come: I have nothing there to do. That godfather, of whom it is said above, wished by force to drag her to the secular Court, for this reason that she did not consent to his malice. Who came to the church of the holy Cross, as B. Humiliana had told her, giving thanks to God and her Saint, because many times she freed her from many dangers, in the year of the Lord MCCXLVI. The aforesaid Lady Fresca swore all the aforesaid to be true, in the presence of Brother Hippolytus and Brother Daniel of the city of Florence, in the month of January in the place of the holy Cross, in the year of the Lord MCCXLVIII.
[66] When a certain Florentine Lady, named Galitia, very devoted to God, was grievously saddened about the departure of Brother Michael of the order of the Friars Minor from the Florentine Convent; to another she indicates the death of Brother Michael, the sadness being lulled she saw in a vision B. Humiliana, with most beautiful and glorious array, of great stature, with veiled head, of formed and becoming face, weeping and saying to her: Know that our Father, namely Brother Michael, from the convent of Florence is shortly d to withdraw, which also afterward was so done: and kissing the aforesaid Lady she disappeared in the year of the Lord MCCXLVI.
[67] A certain woman, named Gemma, wife of Franciscus of the people of S. Maria above the Arno, of the city of Florence, testified that she had lost the half of her body from the shoulder even to the feet, she heals a paralytic, who on account of the infirmity which she suffered vowed herself to B. Humiliana: who appeared to her in sleep, and touched her three times in that part which she had lost: and immediately she was freed, and that miracle was patent and public in the year of the Lord MCCXLVIII.
The husband of the aforesaid woman, named Franciscus, confessed his wife to suffer in body as is above-written, and how she emitted the greatest clamors, and in what manner she lamented; and how she made a vow to B. Humiliana, and was freed: and this by oath he confirmed in the presence of Brother Hippolytus often above named, and of Lady Argenta and Benvenuta, in the year of the Lord MCCXLIX.
[68] A certain woman, named Bertha, of the people of S. Maria the greater, of the city of Florence, likewise an arthritic, wife of Ristorius Pegelottus, suffered gout in the left shoulder: to whom in a vision B. Humiliana appeared, persuading her that she should visit her tomb, which also she did, and was excellently freed in the year of the Lord MCCXLVI. The aforesaid Restorius confessed, the aforesaid infirmity of his wife, and to have sustained thence many sufferings: and also he heard from her in what manner B. Humiliana appeared to her, and how she convalesced by her merits, and all the aforesaid he swore to be true in the presence of Brother Hippolytus a Priest of the order of the Minors, and of Lady Argenta in the place of the Minors, in the year of the Lord MCCXLIX.
[69] A certain woman, by name Lotteringa, wife of Berlinghierus, of the people of S. Peter Gatholinus of Florence, suffering the greatest pain in the throat, to another she restores speech, for seven weeks could not speak. She had made many expenses on physicians, nor could be freed. At length B. Humiliana appearing to her, and saying to her, that she should visit her tomb; a vow being made of a waxen image, coming to the tomb of S. Humiliana, her speech being restored to her, she was utterly freed: and that miracle was public in the year of the Lord MCCXLVI. Witnesses Lady Berta of the People of S. George of the aforesaid city wife of Janus and Lady Argenta a very religious one of the same city of Florence. The aforesaid Lady Berta, wife of Janus of the people aforesaid of S. George, inquired of the sister of the aforesaid Lady Lotteringa by name Contessa, wife of Bucca, the miracle in order; and faith being given through all, as is above-written, she swore them to be true in the presence of Brother Hippolytus a Priest of the Order of the Minors and of the aforesaid Lady Argenta, in the month of January in the place of the Friars Minor of the aforesaid city of Florence in the year of the Lord MCCXLIX.
[70] A certain woman, named Gardia, of the city of Florence, of good conversation, placed herself in prayer on a certain night: and afterward refreshed with sleep, when she had awakened, to another she reveals the glory prepared for her companion: so great light appeared in the house, as is wont to be at the hour of midday, when the sun shines in its virtue. And in that very light there appeared to that woman B. Humiliana, clad in white garments, and veiled with a white veil, with a face white beyond human manner. That aforesaid woman asked who she was. She answered, I am S. Humiliana, and said to her: Go to Lady Bella, and tell her, her bed to be prepared in heaven. But she answering, My Lady what shall be done of me? S. Humiliana answered, and you provide for yourself. But she went, and that Lady was thence very greatly consoled. In the year of the Lord MCCXLVIII the aforesaid Gardia swore all the aforesaid of the aforesaid vision to be true, in the presence of Brother Hippolytus a Priest, of the Order of the Friars Minor of the same city of Florence, and of two religious women, namely Lady Argenta and Lady Amata in the year MCCXLVIII.
[71] After the death of B. Humiliana, by chance for eight days, a certain Friar Minor asked God, that He would show him something of the glory of the aforesaid Saint: she is seen in a more eminent chair: and when he was in prayer, there appeared before the altar most beautiful chairs, on this side and that disposed, and some were there more beautiful, and below those chairs were the souls of the Saints round about: and in the midst sat B. Humiliana upon one of them, and all the others were empty, in the year of the Lord MCCXLVI: and this vision not in sleep, but with open eyes appeared.
[72] A certain woman, a Pratese by nation, by name Illuminata, she is declared Blessed. of holy conversation and honest life, sleeping heard one saying to her, This is the spirit of B. Humiliana, by whom the Florentine city will be illuminated in the year of the Lord MCCXLVIII the aforesaid Illuminata swore all the above-written of the aforesaid vision to be true, in the presence of Brother Hippolytus a Priest of the Order of the Minors, and of Brother Angelus a Priest of Poggibonsi of the same Order, in the month of April in the year of the Lord MCCXLIX.
ANNOTATA.
MIRACLES
wrought within the triennium from her death.
By the author Hippolytus of Florence of the Order of the Minors.
Æmiliana or Humiliana, widow of Florence of the third Order of S. Francis (B.)
BHL Number: 4043
BY HIPPOLYTUS A CONTEMPORARY.
[1] To the honor of God, and of the B. Virgin Mary, and of B. Humiliana, and of all the Saints male and female of God, and to the confirmation of the faith of the devout present, These written after accurate examination in the year 1249. and to excite the devotion of the faithful to come, and also to the confusion of those, who against the holy one of God with rabid mouth bark, and with a dog's tooth lacerate the spirit of God, that they may be converted and return, lest they perish, as blaspheming the spirit of God; I Brother Hippolytus, a Florentine by nation, of the order of the Friars Minor, led by the Spirit of God, knowing for certain of the life, conversation, morals, honesty, discretion, and wisdom of the above-remembered B. Humiliana, by which in the present age in the Florentine city she shone forth; and secular pomps being spurned as dung, being at leisure daily for prayer and contemplation, above human manner and beyond what can be believed, she led a solitary and Angelic life; understanding too from several, and what was publicly said, that God through her in life and in death did many and great miracles: whence wishing to know the truth, an examination being made with a diligent mind, I found them to be true, as in the present quire they are contained. Therefore wholly them through all and in order, for having a perpetual memory of the matter, with my own hand faithfully and in good faith here I have written, believing myself to be aided by her prayers, in the year MCCXLIX, the Lord Pope Innocent IV existing.
[2] These are the miracles, which God wrought through B. Humiliana, The merits of B. Humiliana being implored by a daughter the mother is healed: besides those which are above placed in the Legend and the Apparitions after death. Lady Beatrix, of the People of S. Miniato on the mount, of Florence, once wife of Rinuccinus son of Alemannus, serving God in widowhood, had a daughter, named Fresca of holy conversation; whose aforesaid mother was grievously sick. But Blessed Humiliana, while she still lived, visited them: whom when the aforesaid girl had seen, she esteemed her to be a Saint. And when the aforesaid B. Humiliana withdrew, the aforesaid girl, namely Fresca, prayed to the Lord and the blessed Virgin Mary, that if B. Humiliana were so holy, as she believed, she would free her mother. But the prayer being completed, the mother began to convalesce: and the heart of the little girl wavered, and the mother more grievously fell sick. Again kindled with the love of God she prayed, and her mother rested in sleep: and when she had awakened, by the merits of B. Humiliana so she found herself sound, as if she had had no infirmity: and to her daughter asking how she was, she answered herself to be most excellently healed, in the year MCCXLVI. The aforesaid Lady Beatrix swore all the aforesaid in the presence, of Brother Hippolytus a Priest of the order of the Friars Minor a Florentine by nation, and of Brother Juncta a Priest of the same Order of the aforesaid city. And this was done in the month of January, in the place of the Friars Minor of the same City, in the year MCCXLVIII. The aforesaid girl named Fresca, very religious and honest, said in the word of truth, the Saint still living. all the above-written of the miracle of her mother to be true, in the presence of Brother Hippolytus aforesaid her mother being present, and this was done in the month of May, in her own house in the year MCCXLIX. The same Lady Beatrix of good memory, on the night next after the liberation from the aforesaid infirmity, saw in sleep, that she was led to death. But there appeared to her B. Humiliana while she still lived, and said to her, Fear not Lady Beatrix, because I will help you: and gave her her hand, aiding and freeing her from death: and immediately she awoke, giving thanks to God and to B. Humiliana, in the year of the Lord MCCXLVI.
[3] A certain Lady, named Gisla, very religious and honest; and the sister of B. Humiliana, by name Rigalis, said, that B. Humiliana, Attestation of abstinence from all food. in the time of her last infirmity, for forty and two days remained, that she ate nothing. She drank only in those forty-two days for eighteen days the water of chickens, but on the remaining days she drank only clear water, and always with the food of divine sweetness was fed, until she rendered her spirit to heaven, in the year of the Lord MCCXLVI. Those two aforesaid Ladies, namely Lady Gisla and Lady Rigalis, confessed all the above-written to be true, because day and night they were with the aforesaid Saint, and guarded her, and all things confirmed by oath, in the presence of Brother Hippolytus aforesaid and Lady Contessa Sister of B. Humiliana: and this was done in the month of January in the church of the holy Cross, in the place of the aforesaid Friars of the aforesaid City, in the year MCCXLVIII.
[4] Brother Galganus of Florence, a Priest of the Order of the Friars Minor, suffered a fistula in the hidden part of the head, so that through it he emitted pus: There are cured, a fistula of the head, who long laboring with that infirmity, by the physicians could not be freed. Who while he visited B. Humiliana placed in her last extremity, asked of Lady Gisla her guardian, that she should lift a little the hand of the aforesaid Saint. And taking the hand with a cloth (not wishing to touch it bare) he led his head in the manner of a Cross toward the hand: and from then he found himself to have convalesced: and that miracle was patent to many, in the year of the Lord MCCXLVI. The aforesaid Brother Galganus said in the word of truth, all the above-written of his miracle to be true, in the presence of Brother Hippolytus aforesaid and Lord Donatus the Physician son of Ugolinus being present: and this was done in the place of the Friars Minor of the aforesaid city in the year MCCXLVI. Likewise the said Brother Galganus confessed all the aforesaid
of his miracle to be true, in the presence of Brother Hippolytus aforesaid, Brother Daniel a Priest of that Order a Florentine by nation, and Brother Juncta a Priest of the aforesaid Order a Pratese by nation being present: and this was done in the church of the Friars Minor of the aforesaid city on the morrow of B. John the Baptist in the year of the Lord MCCXLIX: yet he said that he knew not whether it was the evil of a fistula, except because from the physicians he heard it. Lady Gisla aforesaid very religious and honest, said in the word of truth all the aforesaid of the miracle of Brother Galganus to be true, in the presence of Brother Hippolytus aforesaid and Lady Benevenuta of holy life and honest conversation; and this was done on the Vigil of B. John the Baptist in the year of the Lord MCCXLIX.
[5] A certain woman, named Maria, once wife of Paganellus, of the people of S. Peter Sceragius of the city of Florence, for XIV months suffering gout in the right arm, arthritis of the arm, so that many times she could not sign herself; on the day on which B. Humiliana had gone the way of all flesh, upon her tomb she cast herself: and a vow being made fully she was freed, carrying with her a waxen image. And that miracle was patent to many in the year of the Lord MCCXLVI. The aforesaid Maria swore all the above-written of her miracle to be true, in the presence of Brother Hippolytus aforesaid and Lady Argenta of honest life and conversation, and Lady Ravenna kinswoman of B. Humiliana, of holy life and conversation. And this was done in the month of January in the year of the Lord MCCXLVIII, in the church of the holy Cross of the aforesaid city. The son of the aforesaid Maria named Ranerius, having heard in order from his mother, in what manner she was sick, and in what manner she vowed herself to B. Humiliana, and was freed; and also because in the time of the infirmity with his aforesaid mother he was day and night, and saw her pain to be vehement; swore all the aforesaid to be true as he believed, in the presence of Brother Hippolytus aforesaid and in the month of January in the year of the Lord MCCXLVIII. Another son of the aforesaid Maria, named Paganellus, confessed his mother to have had the aforesaid infirmity, because staying with his mother day and night he saw her pain to be vehement; and also he heard from her in what manner she made a vow to B. Humiliana, and convalesced: so he swore all to be true, in the presence of Brother Hippolytus aforesaid and Brother Angelus of Poggibonsi, a Priest of the same Order of the Friars Minor: and this was done in the month of March, in the place of the aforesaid Friars in the year of the Lord MCCXLVIII.
[6] a A certain woman, named Rustichinella, wife of Lord Bene of b Bagnalla, of the people of S. Peter of Sceragii, of the city of Florence, a great pain of the body, suffered a great pain long in her body: who came to the tomb on the day on which B. Humiliana died, and placed her belt upon her tomb: again girding herself with it, sound she returned and rejoiced. Witness is her husband the aforesaid Bene, and her son Benincase, in the year of the Lord MCCXLVI: and that very Rustichinella confessed in the year MCCXLVIII.
[7] A certain man, named Riccius; a Camerine by nation, son of John, 40 fistulas with putrefaction, dwelt in the city of Florence in the people of S. Felicitas, in the time in which B. Humiliana had entered the way of all flesh: who had a son of seven years, having arms and legs and feet and hands so full of fistulas, that in no way could he walk, but greatly putrefied before all: for there were more than forty diffused through his body. But that infirmity had lasted the whole time of the life of that boy: and when the father of the boy Riccius had made many expenses on physicians, in no way did he convalesce. At length he vowed him to S. Humiliana, that if she should free him, he would bring to her tomb a waxen image, and presented him at the tomb of the Saint, on the day on which she was first buried; and by her merits before XV days he was most excellently restored to health: and that miracle was made patent to the full people in the year of the Lord MCCXLVI. Witnesses Brother Christianus a Layman of the Order of the Friars Minor, Rudolphus son of Fredericus of the people of S. Florentius of the city of Florence. The aforesaid Riccius swore in the year MCCXLVIII. Lady Bertha, wife of Janus of the people of S. George, of the city of Florence; and Lady Bertha, once wife of Benincase of the people of S. Martin, saw with their own eyes the aforesaid miracle: namely in what manner the boy was brought to the tomb, and in what manner he was freed: the rest aforesaid they heard from the father of that boy, and so they swore in the year MCCXLVIII.
[8] A certain Roman messenger, captured for some days, who had made a passage through Florence, a captive is freed. and was in the proclamation of his death, when Brother John Erri of the Order of the Friars Minor was in the pulpit for the cause of preaching, mentioning S. Humiliana whom he himself had extolled among the people with praises; faith being conceived with desire, poured prayers to the Lord and to S. Humiliana; and immediately having from the prison a way of going out (because the keeper of the prison had withdrawn for the cause of ministering food to that captive) yet seeing the door closed, he went out freed by the help of a candle. After he went to Bologna, the journey being completed having returned, he brought a wax taper to her sepulcher, protesting these things: and this miracle was patent to many in the year of the Lord MCCXLVI. A certain man, by name Salvi, son of Benevenutus, of the people of S. Salvator of the city of Florence, of honest life and conversation, confessed himself before several men to have heard from the aforesaid messenger in what manner he swore in the presence of Brother Hippolytus and Lord Bonavitus a Priest of the church of B. Nicholas of the aforesaid city, and Cavalcante son of Toschanellus of the aforesaid city in the year MCCXLIX being present.
[9] A certain handmaid, named Joannetta, while she was in the house of Albertus, son of the late Joculus, There are cured an inveterate pain of the eye, of the people of S. Simon of Florence, suffering the greatest pain in the eye, such that all the neighbors were grieved by the clamor, which was made by her day and night, fearing too to lose the eye for the pain; made a vow to S. Humiliana, and presenting herself at her tomb immediately was most excellently healed. And although very many expenses had been made in that infirmity, because that pain had lasted for a year and more; she could not be freed except by the merits of the aforesaid Saint in the year of the Lord MCCXLVI. And the aforesaid Joannetta swore in the year MCCXLVIII. Witnesses were Lady Nigra, once wife of John of the aforesaid people of S. Simon; and Lady Ermellina, very religious, of the same people; and Lady Mingarda, wife of the aforesaid Albertus. All these swore of that miracle in the year MCCXLVIII.
[10] Likewise the aforesaid handmaid Joannetta, while she was likewise in the house of Lord Albertus, suffered gout, so that she could not sign herself or do any work; arthritis, and this with the greatest pain for XV days lasting, she could not be freed. She recalled at length the merit of B. Humiliana, who at another time had aided her, in whom she had faith not a little. A vow being made she presented herself at her tomb, and was most excellently restored to health, in the year MCCXLVI. The aforesaid Joannetta and the witnesses aforesaid swore these things in the year MCCXLIX.
[11] A certain Lady by name Bianca, wife of Beliottus, of the people of S. Lucia de Magnolis, of the city of Florence, had a carnal brother, who long in the infirmity of fever grievously lying, and a continual fever, came to death. And when by all beholding him he was judged as dead, she recommended him to B. Humiliana in the absence of the sick one: that if she should free him, she would bring to her tomb a waxen image: for she was before the door of the Friars Minor when she made this vow, but he lay in a country house. And on the same day and hour on which the vow was made, the aforesaid sick one was found to be utterly freed from the continual fever in the year of the Lord MCCXLVI. The aforesaid Biancha swore in the year MCCXLIX.
[12] A certain man of the people of S. Florentius, a bone is removed in the Florentine city, named Benintendi, son of Raynerius, on a certain Lord's day with his family at the third hour ate meats and other foods, as is customary for men. Who when he ate, swallowed a great piece of bone sharp on all sides (as in the present page is seen) which thus turned in his throat, sticking in the throat: that in no way could he eject it or swallow. But fearing death, he recommended himself to God and to B. Humiliana: and coming to her tomb, as he could, to the church of the holy Cross, immediately as he touched her sepulcher, he emitted that bone, and narrated what was done to many Friars of the same place: and that bone he gave to Brother John d'Erro in testimony of the truth: and that miracle many saw with their own eyes in the year of the Lord MCCXLVI. The aforesaid Benintendi swore in the year MCCXLVIII.
[13] Benevienne, son of Vivianus of the people of S. Maria in Campis of the city of Florence, suffering gout for four months in the left arm, there are cured arthritis, came to the sepulcher of B. Humiliana, with great faith and devotion recommending himself to her, and was most excellently freed: and that miracle was patent to many in the year MCCXLIX. The aforesaid Benevienne, a man of great life and religion, said all to be true which are written of the aforesaid miracle, which happened while he was in secular habit.
[14] A certain man of the people of S…of Florence, by name Guicciardus, suffered a most perilous infirmity, namely the iliac. One day he made a vow to B. Humiliana, the iliac disease, that if she should free him from this infirmity, he would carry to her tomb a help of a candle, long according to the quantity of the monument. And the vow being made immediately on that very day, by the merits of B. Humiliana, he was fully freed, and restored to perfect health in the year MCCXLVI. The aforesaid Guicciardus swore in the year MCCXLIX.
[15] an infirmity of 22 years. Ricchiomannus, son of Bencivienne of the people of S. Peter Sceradii of the city of Florence, having suffered for XXII years the infirmity of papici… f lay grievously in bed. And his body putrefied too much, and was excoriated, and in no way could be freed. At length a vow being made, that he would present himself at the tomb of B. Humiliana, he was restored to his pristine health. And that miracle was done before many in the year MCCXLVI. Witnesses were many of the aforesaid people, and they swore in the year MCCXLVIII.
[16] arthritis of the arm, A certain woman, named Alphania, once wife of Albertus, of the people of S. Remigius of the city of Florence, suffering the greatest gout in the arm, came to the tomb of B. Humiliana: and a prayer being made, as she ever had been, sound she withdrew, protesting these things: and that miracle was patent to many in the year MCCXLVI. The aforesaid Alphania swore in the year MCCXLVIII.
[17] A certain woman, named Ricevuta, of the people of S. James inter-foveas of the city of Florence, contraction of the members, wife of Lord Pax, had her son wholly contracted, so that in no way could he walk, nor even use the office of the other members. The mother
indeed vowed to God and to B. Humiliana the aforesaid boy, and carried him to her tomb at the holy Cross with great faith three times. So great health by the grace of God and the merits of B. Humiliana he obtained, that with his feet he swiftly withdrew with his mother: and that miracle was patent to all of the neighborhood, in the year MCCXLVI. Witnesses Lady Gacciatus son of Ugolinus and…son of another Ugolinus of the aforesaid people. The aforesaid Ricevuta swore all in the year of the Lord MCCXLVIII.
[18] A certain woman, named Paviana, wife of Andreas, contraction of feet and legs, of the people of S. Lucia de Magnolis of the city of Florence, having a certain daughter, who for five months of her feet and legs wholly was destitute of all strength, so that she could not go nor stand; a vow being made to God and B. Humiliana she was restored to her pristine health in the year MCCXLVI. The aforesaid Lady Paviana and Andreas her husband swore in the year MCCXLVIIII.
[19] A certain handmaid of Lombardy, named Finedora, while she was in the house of Lord Magnus the Soldier, of the people of S. Andrew of the city of Florence, fell from a height: whose bones were broken: contraction of the bones from a fall, and coming into the corruption of a fistula, and daily proceeding for the worse, she emitted so great pus of putridity, that the remedies of the physicians were expended at so great a price by those physicians, that she could not in her want bear it. To whom at length it came into her heart to vow herself to B. Humiliana: who made a vow in this manner, If B. Humiliana within eight days shall free me, I will go to her tomb with a waxen image: who before the space of eight days, by the merits of B. Humiliana, was most excellently restored to health: who came sound with great gladness to her tomb. And that miracle was public to many in the year MCCXLVI. Lady Theodora, wife of Rainerius of the people of S. Andrew, and several other Ladies of the same people swore in the year MCCXLVIII. Brother Hippolytus aforesaid is witness of the aforesaid, who himself with his own ears heard all the above-written from that handmaid Finedora.
[20] A certain woman of the people of S. James inter-foveas, of the city of Florence, named Richelda, wife of Bonavitus Trankus, was so destitute of all strength, that she could not eat or drink or see or walk. But she had her sight very swollen and inflated, destitution of strength, so that to human eyes she appeared too horrible. But that infirmity persevered for six weeks. But on a certain day she was led to the tomb of B. Humiliana, where first she was buried: and there a vow being made she lay for one day. But in the evening she returned to her house, sound and rejoicing, and giving thanks to God and B. Humiliana: and that miracle was public, in the year MCCXLVI. But the aforesaid Richelda and her husband Bonavitus confirmed all the aforesaid by oath in the year MCCXLVIII.
[21] A certain woman of the people of S. Trinity of Florence, named Adelina, wife of Benavenna the smith, a fistula, had a daughter of the age of six years, who for three years suffered the infirmity of fistulas, whom her mother vowed to B. Humiliana, on the day of her translation: whence it was done that by the merits of the aforesaid Saint, after two months she was restored to her pristine health. The aforesaid Adelina swore all in the year MCCXLVIII.
[22] A certain one named Deodatus, of the people of S. Apostle of the Florentine city, had a son of the age of four years: whence it happened that on a certain day, an infirmity unto death, from a certain occult infirmity, he seemed lifeless, so that by all he was thought dead. But his parents vowed him to B. Humiliana, and he was carried to her tomb by a certain Lamaldina: who after a little was restored to his pristine health. The aforesaid Lamaldina swore in the year MCCXLVIII. And of this miracle there is a public instrument.
[23] A certain woman named Flore, paralysis, wife of Diotisalvi, of the people of S. Fridian of the city of Florence, had a son of the age of two years, who suffered a very perilous paralysis, who vowed him to B. Humiliana; and immediately he was freed by the merits of the aforesaid Saint in the year MCCXLVI. The aforesaid Diotesalvi with his wife swore in the year MCCXLIX.
[24] A certain woman, named Forestana, wife of Cambius Torsellus, a lethal fever, of the people of S. Martin of the Florentine city, had a son of the age of six years, who lying in the infirmity of fever suffered so great a heat of fevers, that he came to death: and while he was in such a state, his aforesaid mother vowed him to B. Humiliana, that if she should free him, every year she would give a wax taper on her feast. But the boy was much inflated. But the women taking the shift of B. Humiliana, placed it upon him: and the vow being sworn, from inflation and burning and death he was freed, by the merits of the aforesaid: and that miracle was public in the year MCCXLVII. The aforesaid Forestana swore in the year MCCXLIX. Of this there appears a public instrument.
[26] A certain woman of Florence of the people of S. Stephen, named Oliente, when for three weeks she suffered the infirmity of Mitridius so perilous, a lethal infirmity, that by many physicians she was judged utterly about to die, nor to be cured by any remedy; she vowed herself several times to several Saints, and could in no way convalesce. At length she made a vow to B. Humiliana thus saying: I vow to God and to B. Humiliana, that if she give me health, I will go to her tomb, with a help of a candle: who immediately by the merits of that Saint was healed: and that miracle was public in the year MCCXXVII. The aforesaid swore in the year MCCXLIX.
[27] inability to walk. A certain man, named Michael, of the people of S. Proculus, had a daughter of the age of four years, who of her feet was wholly destitute, nor could walk. Whence the grandmother of the girl made a vow to B. Humiliana, that if she should free her, she would give a waxen image. Who by the merits of B. Humiliana was healed in a short time most excellently, in the year MCCXLVII: and that miracle was patent to many, and Sophia the mother of the girl and the grandmother swore in the year MCCXLIX.
[28] A certain woman, named Benevenuta, a Faventine by nation, She is freed falsely accused as a traitress. was with a certain noble Soldier Lord Bonacursus Bellincio of the Adimari as a handmaid, in the time in which the Guelphs were by the King, son of k Frederick, expelled from Florence. She was accused to the Potestate of the same city, that running about here and there around Florence, she secretly cherished the said Guelphs. For which matter or for which cause apprehended, and by two Saracens before the whole Court with a great weight of stones lifted on the rack, she vowed herself to God and to B. Humiliana for her liberation, promising gifts of oblation and of fastings: and so three times lifted up, by the merits of that Saint, each time the rope by which she was drawn was broken. At which miracle very greatly terrified the bystanders, immediately unharmed she was permitted by the Judge to depart: and at once with great joy running to the tomb of this Saint, faithfully she offered what she promised, and performed the fasts, in the year MCCXLVI: and she the aforesaid swore in the year MCCXLVIII.
[29] A certain youth, named Raynaldus, of the age of XVIII years, of the people of S. Stephen of the city of Florence, suffered an infirmity in the thigh, which commonly is called m Anghio, in medical terms is called Bubo, so perilous, There are healed a pestilent bubo, that to human eyes beholding it appeared too horrible, and the thigh was inflated: but that infirmity had lasted for eight days. But counsel being taken it was said to him by a physician, that it would be fitting to bore with a hot iron. But he astonished had recourse to the intercession of B. Humiliana: and a vow being made within three days, by the merits of the aforesaid Saint, he was restored to health, giving thanks to God and to Blessed Humiliana in the year MCCXLVIII: and so by oath he confirmed in the year MCCXLIX.
[30] A certain man, named Guido, of the people of S. Peter the Greater of the city of Florence, a demoniac, had a daughter a girl named Mingarda. This girl was vexed by dæmons: for they brought forth through the mouth of the girl base and wanton words: sometimes too she ran for one mile, that she might cast herself headlong into a river and could be killed, nor could she be held except by several. Sometimes, when she was conjured in the name of Jesus Christ, the dæmons left her for three hours, and more sometimes, and afterward returned into the same: for the dæmons cried out through her mouth saying, We will not go out, unless we be presented at the tomb of Humiliana. And when she had been presented at the tomb of the aforesaid Saint, immediately she was freed: and sound with her feet she returned to her house, praising and blessing God and Humiliana her Saint: and this was public in the people of S. Peter the greater in the year MCCXLVIII: and of this there appears a public instrument.
[31] A certain woman, by name Bene, of the people of S. George of the city of Florence, a blind woman, had lost the whole light of her eyes. She made a vow to B. Humiliana, that if she should heal her, she would bring to her tomb a waxen image. Who by the merits of B. Humiliana was restored to her pristine health in the year MCCXLVIII, and swore in the year MCCXLIX.
[32] A certain Lady, named Ermellina, wife of Lord Orlandus, of the people of S. Felicitas of Florence, an abscess, suffered an infirmity in the hip which is called the melancholic n abscess, which indeed has the sign of death: but that infirmity grew much. But that Ermellina came to the tomb of B. Humiliana, and made there a devout prayer, and also among other words said: My Lady, you know that I would say this to no one, and withdrew. But on the next night the abscess burst, without any medicament, and in a short time was dried up, in the year MCCXLVIII. The aforesaid swore in the year MCCXLIX.
[33] A certain Lady, by name Baldouina, wife of Guicciardus of the people of S. Peter Scargius, of the Florentine city, arthritis, suffering gout a long time in the hip and leg, made a vow to S. Humiliana, and was most excellently restored to her pristine health, in the year MCCXLIX. Witness is her daughter, named Marcha, wife of Bonaguida of the same people.
[34] A certain woman a Pratese by nation, named Plena, wife of Aldobrandinus son of Rinuccinus, a continual fever, suffered for many days a continual fever, so perilous, that by the physicians and by all beholding she was judged utterly about to die thence, nor to escape by any remedy: whence her mother, named Resciarata, having heard the fame of B. Humiliana, that through her God freed many from divers infirmities, persuaded her daughter, that she should vow herself to the aforesaid Saint. Whence it was done, that immediately, the vow being completed, by the merits of B. Humiliana the aforesaid woman convalesced, and afterward was most excellently restored to her pristine health in the year MCCXLVI. The aforesaid women swore all these things in the year MCCXLVII.
[35] A certain man, by name Mazza, of the people of S. James inter foveas, of the city of Florence, had
[36] A certain religious youth, by name Joseph, for seven years suffered gout in the legs and knees, gonagra, so that many times he could not walk or move: he recommended himself to B. Humiliana, and immediately was freed by the merits of that Saint. That miracle was public in the year MCCXLVI, and he swore in the year MCCXLIX.
[37] A certain Lady, named Diamante, of the people of S. Peter the greater, wife of Lord… the Judge, in the time of her childbirth was molested with so great anguish, a difficult childbirth, that the future birth of the offspring, seemed the present setting of the mother. But fearing death, she made a vow to B. Humiliana, that if she should free her from the danger of childbirth, to her tomb she would carry a help of a candle, long to the quantity of the sepulcher. The vow being made immediately most excellently she gave birth with safety, in the year MCCXLIX, and these things she swore.
[38] A certain woman, named Suave, wife of Manettus of the people of S. Paul of the city of Florence, for a long time with her son suffered an infirmity, scrofula, which commonly is called scrofula. She made a vow for herself and her son to B. Humiliana, promising fasts and little oblations: and both alike by the merits of that Saint on that day were freed, and restored to their pristine health in the year of the Lord MCCXLVI in the month of August on the day of S. Donatus o, that is on the day of the Translation of the aforesaid S. Humiliana. The aforesaid Suave swore these things in the year MCCXLVIII.
[39] A certain woman, named Bella, of the people of S. Florentius of the city of Florence, for many days in the legs and knees was wholly made destitute, gonagra, so far that in no way could she walk: who vowed to B. Humiliana that, if she should heal her, she would always fast her vigil on bread and water. Whence by the merits of that Saint first she convalesced, afterward was restored to her pristine health in the year MCCXLIX, in which she also swore.
[40] A certain man, named Guerri, and his wife, named Bonadonna, a grave infirmity, of the people of S. Proculus, had a son of the age of six years, who for several days was so grievously sick, that he seemed to all beholding him, wholly to fail: for he felt so grievously a pain in the body, that for too much pain he bit his own hands. But the parents vowed him to S. Humiliana that if she should free him, they would carry him to her tomb with a waxen image. Whence it was done that on the Vigil of S. Humiliana most excellently he was freed, and restored to his pristine health: and that miracle was published in the year MCCXLIX.
[41] A certain man, named Hostenvallus, of the people of S. Peter Seragius, of the Florentine city, suffered a certain infirmity, which is called [p] Senicis, but in medical terms quinsy, angina, he made a vow to B. Humiliana. And coming with great faith and devout heart, immediately as he touched her sepulcher, which was in the church of the holy Cross, under the staircase by which the Friar about to preach went to preach, he was restored to perfect health in the year MCCXLVI, and swore these things in the year MCCXLIX.
[42] A certain woman, by name Benevenuta, of the people of S. George of the Florentine city, while she nursed a boy, a dying boy, on a certain day he was most grievously sick: and this infirmity lasted for six weeks, so that by all beholding he was judged about to die: he took neither food nor sleep. The aforesaid Benevenuta vowed him to B. Humiliana, promising that, if she should free him, she would bring a waxen image to her tomb. And the vow being made the aforesaid boy, without any medicament, was restored to perfect health: and this was public in the year MCCXLVI. The aforesaid Benevenuta swore in the year MCCXLVIII.
[43] A certain Lady, named Bona, of Campi, suffered a great infirmity: and while she was much tortured by that infirmity, there came into her heart the sanctity of B. Humiliana: she made a vow that, if she should free her, she would visit her sepulcher, and carry a help of a candle. The vow being made she remained a little while, and was restored to perfect health in the year MCCXLVII, and these things she swore in the year MCCXLIX.
[44] A certain Lady, by name Brunetta, wife of Philippus of the people of S… of Florence, had an only boy, whom she most tenderly loved: and he suffered a continual fever, a continual fever, so that all believed him altogether about to die from that infirmity. His mother vowed him to B. Humiliana saying: If B. Humiliana shall free my son from this infirmity, I will carry him to her tomb with a waxen image. The vow being made, immediately the boy was freed from all fever, and restored to perfect health in the year MCCXLVI: and the aforesaid Brunetta swore in the year MCCXLVIII.
[45] ulcers, A certain Lady, named Deodata, of the people of S. Maria above the Arno, had an only daughter, named Lucia, whose whole body was full of fistulas. She vowed her to B. Humiliana, that if she should free her daughter, she would carry to her tomb a waxen image. Whence the vow being made immediately her daughter was freed from all the plague of fistulas. This miracle was very public in the year MCCXLVI.
[46] A certain woman, named Lucia, wife of master Rustichellus, of the people of S. James inter foveas, when she was pregnant in the time of the siege of the fortress of [q] Capraia, understood of her husband and kinsman that one of them was apprehended by the enemies, and the other slain: endangered by a dead fetus, for which matter she so grievously grieved, that from that grief the fetus was utterly suffocated, and for several days she carried the dead fetus in her womb, nor could be aided by any remedy of physicians. At length she turned herself to the suffrages of B. Humiliana, vowing that if B. Humiliana should free her from this danger, she would always fast her vigil on bread and water. The vow being made immediately she emitted the dead fetus, and this was public in the year MCCXLIX in the month of April.
[47] A certain Lady, named Vianese, wife of Lord Henry the notary, of the people of S. Lawrence of the Florentine city, having a certain boy, a huge pain, who suffered a great infirmity, whence from great corporeal pain he did nothing but wail; vowed him to B. Humiliana (in whom she had faith not a little) that if she should free her son, she would carry a help of a candle to her tomb. Which done, immediately the boy began sweetly to sleep. But morning being made the boy rose sound and unharmed, freed from all pain in the year MCCXLVI, and the aforesaid Lady Vianese swore these things in the year MCCXLVII.
Hail noonday light, humble Humiliana, Exalted from this vain valley to the mountains of heaven, Antiphon, Heal the wounds of our pestilence, placing rough things in plain, Contemplative and humane, pious, sweet and spontaneous, Save the Christian realms. Amen.
℣. Pray for us B. Humiliana, ℞. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ:
Omnipotent eternal God, the sweetness of hearts and the reward of the blessed, Prayer. who didst fill B. Humiliana with the sweetness of inward suavity and contemplation; grant propitiously, that we who devoutly celebrate her solemnities or memory, by her interceding for us mayest make us perennially contemplate the appearance of thy loftiness with her.
ANNOTATA.
p The evil of Senicis, today in the plural le Senici, according to the Academics of la Crusca, an evil in the glandular parts of the throat, by the Latins called Angina.
q Called Castel-capraia by Villani, who in book 6 chapter 36, treats of its siege by Enzius, and writes it taken by treachery in the year 1249 in the month of May.
ANOTHER SHORTER LIFE.
From a Florentine Manuscript codex.
Æmiliana or Humiliana, widow of Florence of the third Order of S. Francis (B.)
BHL Number: 4044
FROM THE MANUSCRIPT.
[1] Of B. Humiliana, a Saint daughter of Oliverius of the Circuli a Florentine citizen, XXVIII trustworthy Witnesses testified. In matrimony she gives effort to works of charity: At sixteen years she is given in marriage, and after one month she laid aside all vain ornaments, and studied to please God alone, and selling her silken garments and head ornaments, and cutting others, and whatever from her labors she could gain, all to the poor and to the altars she disbursed. And so for five years, in which she sustained the yoke of a husband, she intended works of piety and of humility, services of the sick, and visitations of sacred places, and passing nights in prayer and fastings, and much patience in infirmities. For when with dire pains she was tortured, she proclaimed the divine praises. Through a vision the Lord often consoled her in the house of her husband: for she saw herself adorned with white garments, surrounded by boys whitened and shining.
[2] After the death of her husband pressed for second nuptials, because she was a young woman of twenty-two years, she answered: I have a Spouse, from whom I shall never be widowed; another I will never receive: A widow she refuses second nuptials: and if on one side a Spouse of conspicuous nobility, and on the other a burning oven you should set to be chosen, the fire forthwith I will choose. From then they let her go; but the father fraudulently took away her dower, and she cheerful said: As I see no hope is to be placed in the world: because the father deceives the daughter: let him have me in the house as a handmaid. And so she began with one faithful companion to go around the pious places, through rains, and heats, and colds; and the alms, which she could withdraw for herself, she gives effort to pious works: to minister. And the companion complaining of the heat, she answered: God brings forth the wind from His treasures, who for us laboring for His love will temper the heat. And so forthwith it was done, and several times she did similar things by praying. For five years therefore, in which she survived her husband, intending all pious works, she sustained the poor especially the bashful, and from the confusion, by which a certain one for want had disposed to live impudically with her body, she rescued by succoring with alms. Her time almost continually either to prayer or to visitation or to relief she gave: and after food…for the poor she labored, that nothing of her time should be idle.
[3] In the four last years of her life, desiring to be at leisure for prayer and contemplation, in a certain high tower of her father she constructed for herself a cell: in the tower of her father she constructs a cell, where with so great rains of tears she flowed, that her eyes seemed as rivulets, and as an Angel she led her life, taught by the Holy Spirit and by Brother Michael, a religious man of the Order of the Minors, who was her Confessor, and bore solicitous care of her. On a certain night, the lamp of her little cell being extinguished, she desired to have light, as she always was wont, but feared to wake the sleeping handmaid. She prayed therefore to God: and behold suddenly a white dove, with a shining rose in its mouth, flitted through the little cell, and as if turned into a ray of the sun after going around the cell disappeared: which when she wished to take with her hand, it migrated to another place. At length returned into herself, three times by night she divinely receives light, and understanding the divine gift, she was filled with so great joy, that through that whole night she could say only one Pater noster. Another night, while her lamp was extinguished, she supplicated the son of the Virgin Mary, that He would provide her with light: and suddenly a shining hand drew near with a light, and kindled the lamp, and gladdened her. Likewise another night when oil was lacking, she poured water into the lamp, and it wholly burned and gave light, by the virtue of her prayer, as if it had been oil.
[4] Dæmons too often infested her placed in prayer, and scourged her, and sometimes the dæmon placed before her the bloodied bodies of very many slain saying. she suffers the illusions of dæmons: These are slain on account of the Enclosed of Monticelli and of Ripoli, and they were their paramours; and you with so great devotion are affected toward such? better therefore was it to marry, than to be defiled with so great blood. But she recommending herself to Christ, overcame all the diabolical illusions. When the Florentine city on account of the parties by fire and machines from those warring against each other was consumed, the devil came, saying to her: Rise, most dear, and see that your city is destroyed, and now the fire is near. She hearing the tumult, and sensibly tempted to see, that she should look through the window, halted, and said to her body: If you wish, body, go and behold, because the soul you shall not drag with you. At this voice forthwith the dæmon vanished. Sometimes in the appearance of a horrible serpent the dæmon infested her in the cell, but at her command soon as smoke with a stench it vanished: but at prayer the stench of the smoke is turned into a most sweet odor. Then the devil brought a true and material serpent, which for several days in the cell and in the bed she bore: at length she took it wrapped up in her hands, and outside the cell on the roof placed it, and commanded it to depart, and so it departed.
[5] Several from corporeal infirmities, and very many from passions and temptations of the mind, by her prayers she freed. The Sabbath day, she gives admonitions to others: for the reverence of the Virgin Mary, she held in devotion, especially by praying and fasting, and to die on that day she obtained from God by prayers. Sometimes she said to one, desiring solitude: Let your house be a wood, and let your family be woodland beasts: and bear all things patiently and in silence. To another she said: Of the past weep, of the present be grateful to God, of the future think: and in all things keep humility: through which, and through alms I perceive myself to have received many gifts of God. Everywhere she seemed as if dead in the Lord, with eyes cast down and despised proceeding, so that she seemed to draw all to devotion. She fasted the Lent of Pentecost, she rigidly fasts: of the Assumption of the B. Virgin, and others, and at all times four days in the week on bread only and water, unless prohibited by her Confessor, because sick and weak, and sometimes for three days she remained without food. On a certain morning on a Thursday rapt out of herself she remained until the Sabbath day, and then after the setting of the sun returned into herself she thought it to be Thursday, and the food being taken she fell asleep: and at the hour at which she was wont to rise there stood by her a splendid boy with a light in his hand, saying: Rise, blessed Æmiliana, and disappeared. She rising in prayer remained until she receives bread from an Angel: the third hour, and then half a part of most white bread he placed beside her saying; Eat. She devoutly took the bread of the Angels, and that whole week she ate nothing else, but the foods offered to her she sent to the poor: and in that week new consolations in mind, and new strength in body from God she received. She scourged herself with sinews and prickly brooms, perfused with a rain of tears very long; and the whole night on the Sabbath day she kept vigil in prayer, she chastises her body: and in the morning of the Sabbath she communicated: and every Lent and three days in the week she observed silence: and with a hard hair-shirt, interwoven with horse and goat hair, sleeping on a hard little sack, she macerated her flesh, and often was rapt in ecstasy.
[6] Sometimes a raging horse met her in the way: whence she beyond her custom was compelled to lift her eyes, she desires blindness and deafness, lest she be trodden under: and saw the horse, and forthwith grieving said: O would that, Lord, thou hadst deprived me of corporeal light, that I might no more behold vanity! On another day passing along the way, she heard from a certain youth, O glorious woman, why did you not take a husband, with whom you could enjoy sweetness and joy? She answered: O would that I had no ears, that I might not hear such things! And she stopped her ears with cotton, lest she should perceive vain things; and when she was with others her first word was: Let no one here speak except of God. She desired for Christ to be afflicted, and scourged, and to die, as she often said: and she asked God that He would fulfill her desire, saying: O would that there were at Florence one tyrant, and martyrdom for Christ: who having scourged me would burn or behead me! She loved the lovers of Christ, even those not seen: for a certain Camaldolese, named Simon, whom she had heard ardently to love Christ, him especially in Christ she loved, she saw with a glowing face accompanied by two Angels: and she understood him to be a true lover of Christ, while she was placed in prayer, and was filled with much consolation.
[7] Sometimes without corporeal food for four days she had remained, and then one morsel of a gift brought from heaven she took, she is refreshed from heaven, and a shining youth drew near with a phial, as it seemed, of dripping water: which when she received and drank, she felt it to be wine full of all sweetness, and of odor and sweetness ineffable: from this supper she was so refreshed, that again for four days without food she remained. On the day of the Kalends of August she was seen placed in prayer, wholly corporeally lifted from the ground. From her chamber and from her body a wonderful odor emanated, and also from her garments, so that very many wondered. On a certain day her little girl seemed utterly to have expired: she resuscitates her daughter, but she gathering herself wholly to God prayed, and the prayer completed signed her daughter, and forthwith from the panel of our Lady, before which she had prayed, there came forth a little boy, very becoming, and raised the girl sound, and disappeared.
[8] To a certain youth, afflicted with the iliac and the salt drop and other passions and wailing, she said, O most dear, be mindful of your Creator and of the pain of His passion, she takes the infirmities of another upon herself: which for you He sustained. Indignant he answered: Depart, lady, because I can do nothing but recall the pain which I suffer. And she full of charity, answered. Do you wish to give me all your pains? He answered, Would that you had them in your body, and I were sound! But she said: And I willingly receive them, and of this I ask God, if it please His piety. Wonderful certainly! The boy was freed, and she began too in her body to feel most strong pains. And while prostrate in bed she was tortured, there appeared a comely boy as if of four years, playing in the cell cheerfully before her: and immediately the pain was alleviated, and he said: Do you wish still, Æmiliana? She esteeming that he was an Angel of God, she receives the boy Jesus: said: I wish indeed you to speak to me of Jesus. And the boy, It does not become anyone to speak of himself: and forthwith he disappeared, she being dismissed more fully freed. Three little spheres in the manner of the sun illustrated her little cell, and reduced into one body turned night into day. She embracing as it were a wheel of the sun, between her arms the globe with the light vanished, and she remained with wonderful consolation.
[9] Pure water brought to her in Lent, because she would not drink wine, into the best wine several times was turned. A certain maidservant angry struck her with a jug, and inflicted a grave wound on her head. she is aided by various miracles: She fearing for the maidservant covered the wound, and told no one: but going to the church she imposed on herself the sign of the Cross: and forthwith she felt a hand anointing the place of the wound with an odoriferous ointment, and so immediately she was healed, that not even a scar of the wound appeared. On a certain night feverish and burning with thirst, she called the handmaid: but absorbed in heavy sleep, she answered nothing. Then she turned herself to Christ by praying: and immediately a comely girl with a glowing face, associated with whitened boys, with a phial of dripping water appeared, and into her mouth little by little poured it, and upon her hands and on her face, and
her with her hands she rubbed. At whose wonderful consolation both the thirst and all the fever departed, and after a little she disappeared: and when she had been asked by her, who she was, she put her finger to her mouth, and the Saint consoled kept silence. A fire was seen to burn in the cloth or veil of the panel, which was in her cell: which when she as if a material fire wished with her hands to extinguish, not feeling heat, she thought it to be divine, and gave thanks to God. Sometimes too her cell was seen to shine wholly, she sees her cell burn with heavenly fire: as if it burned within. She said, approaching her end, that she would shortly migrate, and that of her salvation she was secure, because by God she had been certified. The Lord Ardingus, Bishop of Florence, in his public preachings commended her greatly, as a man a lover of sanctity and honesty, and proposed her as an example to other women.
[10] Blessed Æmiliana therefore remained in virginity in her paternal house sixteen years: and with her husband, who was of the house of Bona-guisi by name, five years, she dies happily in the year 1246 on May 19. in all chastity and honesty: and after the death of her husband in the paternal tower, in a cell prepared for herself, again five years, full of all sanctity: and so in the XXVII year of her life she migrated to Christ. But before her death for XXIV days she took nothing but simple water, and nothing else could she swallow. But approaching her end, seeing the enemy of the human race, she said: Recede from me, envious one, because you have no right in me: behold the Lady Mary the Mother of Jesus with Angels powerfully comes to offer me to her Son. And so the dæmon departed: and she as if sleeping expired on the Sabbath day at dawn, namely at that hour at which she was wont to communicate, eight days before Pentecost on the day of S. Potentiana, in the year of the Lord MCCXLVI, to the praise of Christ. Amen.
[11] And after her death, on the Lord's day immediately following, she was seen by a certain trustworthy Lady, in heaven clad in white, before Christ and His Mother, From her death she appears to various ones. happily to rejoice and to pray. Likewise to Sister Sibilla she appeared, and asked of several things she answered, that she enjoyed ineffable delights, which could not be thought by mortals; and that Brother Michael, her Confessor, of the Order of the Friars Minor, was shortly to migrate to Christ, yet not in the Florentine convent: and so it was done. To another likewise trustworthy she appeared, wonderfully adorned and shining, with two crowns, adorned with gold, purple and the whiteness of garment and gems: and asked of the crowns, One is, she said, the crown of chastity, the other of virginity: which is given to me on account of the grief, which I always had in my heart of lost virginity, the brightness of face and eyes, is on account of the purity of conscience which I had: the whiteness of the garment, on account of humility; the purple, on account of charity and the desire of martyrdom. Likewise she appeared with great brightness to Ghisola of Mucello, famous for sanctity, saying: Let it not weary you to do penance, because I passing through purgatory bore no punishment, because I did perfect penance: but I passed as innocent children. She was therefore buried in the place of S. Cross of the Friars Minor of Florence, with joy and honor on the XIV of the Kalends of June, coruscating with virtues and very many miracles, to the glory of Christ Jesus: who lives and reigns world without end. Amen.
ANOTHER LIFE
By the author Raphael Volaterranus.
Æmiliana or Humiliana, widow of Florence of the third Order of S. Francis (B.)
BY RAPHAEL VOLATERRANUS FROM A MANUSCRIPT.
[1] Raphael to the venerable men, the Custodian and Friars of holy Servator of Florence, Professors of the Order of the Observance of the Minors, greeting in the Lord. The life of Humiliana the Widow, by Brother Vitus of Cortona, a man once of your Order, written rather with a long discourse, than a becoming one, or equal to her virtues, Brother Andreas son of Andreas a Florentine lately offered to me, asking likewise, that with a more commodious reading (as far as it should be lawful) I should interpolate it. But I, since by my own virtue I cannot prepare for myself the grace of God, willingly both write and read the praises of those, who by their merits can receive me into the eternal tabernacles. Wherefore falling into a most welcome occasion of fruit offered to me, this your little book once and again I ran through, and to that brevity to reduce it I attempted, which I judged more important and more necessary, that all the course of her life with three pages explained, might easily be patent to readers. But the rest, besides the inelegance of the style as superfluous to a degree, and things often repeated without cause I deliberately passed over.
[2] Therefore Humiliana, a Florentine Virgin, with her father Oliverius of the noble and ancient family of the Circi a, a useful vessel in the Lord, on account of her most chaste morals and exceptional sanctity, brought to herself perpetual felicity, and to her fatherland the greatest ornament. She therefore under the very times of B. Francis b shone forth, first a girl in the paternal house, Piously educated, not given to base or vain studies after the manner of that age, but to prayers and divine worship continually she insisted. Nothing finally from the beginning in word, deed, or gesture she seemed to bear before her not most holy and approved to all. So little by little without complaint, in all fear and abstinence, obeying the commands of God and her parents, more and more in the Lord through her age she advanced. Afterward twelve c years old, she married a citizen of the same fatherland, of nobility indeed equal, and married, yet of unequal purpose and conscience, since he was infamous for gain and usury. In which marriage that only happy thing came about. The wife of her husband's brother, named Ravenna, under the same dwelling, was a matron endowed with no inferior virtue and spirit; since she was ready at hand continually to her for performing all works of piety. With her, I say, as companion and associate she was wont to visit widows and orphans, and the sacred buildings and solemn rites in the city, she visits devout places, and likewise religious places, intent on prayers, sacred hearings, and sacred mysteries, to frequent. With her husband she lived five years, in which time she was of a virginal and religious rather than a matronal state; and to please the ethereal Spouse rather than the earthly solicitous, not by the adornment of body, but the appearance of mind; nor to the world, but to God she desired to commend and dedicate her age. She studies to please God: When she could not avoid the embrace of her husband, likewise the pleasure of the flesh, with a most chaste mind, and much discipline, and chastisement of the body she compensated. As soon as she could rising more quickly from her bed, she was at leisure for prayer: and her companion being taken the matutinal and good hours in going to the churches, and hearing the sacred things she consumed. After dinner she was at leisure for the work of her hands, that partly for domestic use partly that she might succor those suffering need; given to alms, and many things often from the table, and the morsels of bread, and other things secretly to be given to the poor she filched. From her woman's adornment and her own ornament, whatever with the peace of her husband safe she could withdraw, to the same she took care to impart. A certain silken garment, given by her husband, she made shorter, sleeves being thence made and sold, that she might thence succor the needy. All things finally worn and left at home, both her own and her husband's garments, into the same office she conferred: nay also from her own mattress, half the down once taken away, she made a little bed for a certain naked sick one; so that coming sometimes into the contumacy and anger of her husband, she was assailed with evil words, and was beaten even with hands. But she was of health very slender, since she was often tortured with pain of the stomach.
[3] Finally bearing all things for God with an even mind, she hoped that sometime free she could more commodiously exercise such things. Heard at length by God, she lost her husband, and a widow remained: to whom sick she offered herself, that she would willingly give her dower to his heirs, solicitous for the salvation of her sick husband, if the money, which from usury he had gained, he should wish to restore; preferring herself to live in perpetual poverty, than that her husband's soul should perish. Two daughters she had from him, whom little she left in his house: and falling sometimes into various diseases she was never seen to weep or to complain over them; nay commending to God herself and them, she desired rather in the very threshold of age and the innocence of life to be taken from the midst, and the piety of her daughters. and to return pure to her Author, than afterward to see them grown up illustrious in many riches or human felicity, yet contaminated with various sins. To the paternal house at length after her husband's death she returned, where as many years in widowhood she lived. From the beginning indeed she was vexed by her father and other kinsmen with prayers alike and exhortations, that she should desire second nuptials, declaring her state perilous, and from the Apostle's sentence that it is better for younger widows to marry, to procreate children, She cannot be brought to second nuptials, to be mothers of families. But she in all ways resisting and opposing, with a mind ever obstinate was for widowhood perpetually to be preserved, who affirmed she had vowed the rest of her age. There was at that time a noble monastery of Virgins of S. Clare of Monte Cæli, which she from the beginning thought to enter: but for some time meditating, thus instigated by the divine spirit, she resolved to undertake the habit of the third Order of B. Francis, and to remain in the paternal house: she takes the habit of the 3rd Order, so that nothing in her of her abstinence or works of piety, or of those finally which to cenobites and at the same time most perfect men befitted, should at all be lacking; for both chastity and poverty, in mind at least, she most obstinately kept: to these also obedience to the elders of the aforesaid Order by obeying she added, and almost in this manner to others, whether widows, or virgins she was an example, who excuse themselves to have no place in monasteries, whence nor for that reason can they serve God, they say, and despairing somehow turn themselves back from the plough very many: nay also in their own house, and everywhere to those loving God an occasion and manner of doing good is divinely given.
[4] When therefore Humiliana, this purpose being confirmed, perceived that to dwell in the throng of the rest of the family was not commodious nor of peace; and places a cell in the tower, separately into a certain tower of the buildings she betook herself; and there constructed a cell, accommodated to her holy exercise far from all tumult: and there are assigned by her father four monthly measures of wheat alike and a handmaid, of which what remained she distributed to the poor. The whole morning in sacrifices and sacred ceremonies, then in visitations of the wretched to consume, and six loaves often in her bosom to be given to them to carry at the sixth hour she was wont. she aids in procuring the things of the Church, Through Lents and the ferias of fasting until the ninth hour she protracted it: but if anywhere she perceived money to be gathered for performing some sacred things, or anything of Priestly garments, or of ornaments and pious buildings to be made, a contribution herself always for the substance of her slender means she conferred. Poverty in this manner having embraced in spirit, nothing she left for herself of those things which were over for her use. Nor only of her own, but of another's a minister
of liberality she was, while from door to door for the wretched, and for the enclosed virgins then she asked, and for feeding the poor: and made collections, with which she imparted to the needy; and to them while it was lawful with no bashfulness repressed, she succored. And when the father noticed her unconquered mind toward nuptials, immediately to take her dower for himself, and by a clandestine somehow deceit to circumvent her. she cedes her conjugal dower to her father: For certain witnesses being brought one day unexpectedly with an attestor, he said it would be necessary, that for demanding back from her husband's house the dower she should concede her rights over this to her father: which also without delay she did; the oath however, in a matter of this kind wont to be employed, she altogether refused. And when soon she knew herself deceived and circumvented by her father, of grief indeed she could not be utterly free; yet to providence, and the divine judgment she committed it, all care of herself being left to God. From which, since she had now nothing more which she might give to the needy, action being left, she gave herself wholly to contemplation. Time thus she divided. From the beginning until deep into the night she kept vigil, She incumbs on prayer, by insisting on prayers and holy readings. The manner being then changed she went to bed more quickly, but at midnight or immediately after the first sleep awakened she rose, in prayer until morning keeping vigil, never to the bed wont to return. From the ground sometimes suspended praying they saw her Brother Michael, she is lifted into the air. of the family of the Alberti, a man conspicuous in sanctity, her Confessor; likewise Brother Vigor of Cortona, as afterward they were witnesses.
[5] By the devil too she was often vexed; whom often too appearing in diverse forms and images she was wont to deride, and continually recognizing she cursed and execrated him. For her two daughters, whom she had left in her husband's house; she conquers the vexations of dæmons: in her bed dead he showed her. Ravenna likewise, the wife of her husband's brother, of whom above I made mention, dead he indicated. Of a serpent too in the manner, but sometimes of a virgin, now of a certain Abbot known to her taking the likeness; but also daring so great a crime, and invading her face, he bruised her teeth so grievously, that for fifteen days she scarcely took necessary food. But all things by the benignity of God, who guarded His Saint, she overcame; and by the sign of the Cross expelled. Often likewise coming into an excess of mind, and into the contemplation of God rapt, whole nights she led sleepless; and after the manner of Paul, whether in the body or out of the body, she did not sufficiently recall. Of which thing witnesses several venerable matrons, she is rapt into ecstasy: often seeing this were. Among whom Sister Sibilla, Cecilia the wife of her brother, Gisla, Compiuta, Scotta, Dialta, Jacoba, Altebene. But her kinsmen, and especially her German brothers, thinking from some disease this to happen, attempted to cure her through the cutting d of the teeth. Whence she by the importunity of such sometimes roused wept, and with complaints filled all things afterward, and asserted herself from great pleasure drawn away, into misery again to have fallen. she strictly fasts: The greatest abstinence in foods she used. Four loaves only in the week she was wont to eat, rarely and with slender and mean e companage content. Several Lents in the year she kept, but in the Major even from wine she abstained. But in the remaining time four days of the week she fasted, the second, fourth, and sixth feria, besides the Sabbath. Often too until the third day fasting she lasted in that time, in which with the family she stayed. If ever she went on a pilgrimage, by visiting churches or doing other works of piety, the companions of the journey she admonished, that they should call her on the way secretly with a changed name; in the evening then returning, she commanded nothing of the table to be sent back and kept for her, lest she should hold the rest solicitous for her sake. she commends herself to Christ and the Mother of God. From the stomach she often labored, yet no complaints she uttered: only the name of our Lord Jesus Christ together with His mother being invoked, often to them, and her perseverance, in all things giving thanks, she commended herself. The memory and veneration of the Blessed Virgin above all things she so bore in mind, that in all her labors and afflictions she felt her ready at hand, prepared, and present. With a humble and mean tunic she was clad, under which a most hard hair-shirt for some time she bore: which finally feeling unwholesome for her slender health, through her Confessor she was ordered altogether to lay aside.
[6] Her body with most hard sinews she assiduously chastised. Willingly in solitude she remained and sought hiding-places, chastising her body, with herself she spoke, with herself she meditated. Silence very long, especially after the Eucharist, which for the cause of the Virgin every Sabbath she took, she was wont to keep. An idle word neither to hear, nor to bear could she; if by chance into colloquy with any she had come, she forewarned, that besides necessary things which should occur, unless of God they should not speak, she refuses to hear or see vain things, if they desired her to be present. Since she could not avoid, that sometimes, whether at home, or abroad, along the way, she should not hear some unchastened word; she was wont often to stop her ears. Moreover to behold anything vain she did not easily endure; whence deliberately with eyes fixed on the ground she walked, and stood continually: nay also of the lights to be deprived, that with mind she might better contemplate, she desired, and nothing rather than holy men, where they were, to see and hear she affected: these to imitate, and happy alone to call she was wont. Finally martyrdom for the name of Christ to undergo she revolved in mind, and that an occasion be given above all things she desired. When the father, the first house being left, into another, which near S. Ambrose he had prepared for himself, migrated; he ordered her too to follow. she suffers many things from her father and cousin, Which utterly refusing, now there bound, and that tower, as the prison-house of the flesh and her own spiritual delights, knowing not to desert, again into the greatest contumacy against him besides the first, which had been about the refusing of nuptials, forthwith she came. But also of Galganus the cousin of her father, that there together with his wife he wished to dwell, soon punished, she sustained a long vexation: from which accusation and pursuit each is said to have suffered evils. Galganus a little after time died, but the father struck with a grave disease. Some, on account of these and things like these, and her obstinate purpose in virtue now begun, taxed her as obstinate; besides the whole kind of life they condemned, that at home rather than in a monastery she had lived, and that by many apparitions of dæmons she was deluded, and that finally so frequent an excess of mind she suffered they did not very well approve; all whom indeed to err her most laudable end and issue showed.
[7] She began to be sick in the month of January, with a fever from the beginning, grave, which she attempted to dissimulate even into March. Then more grievously she began to be, Sick she always prays: and her body to be tortured rather with pains; which punishment even to death accompanied her. By the way holy prayers to God being poured forth, and by the hope of heavenly reward and the expectation of future glory she recovered. There assisted sedulous two Friars, Michael her Confessor and Bonamicus: both most proved in Christ, and among the illustrious of that Order numbered; both exhorted after custom, and asked whether from that disease she hoped to escape. By no means, certain of the hope of eternal salvation: she said. Finally what of her salvation she believed? So certain she said she had her predestination, that if an Angel from heaven announced otherwise, she would by no means believe him. Nay to the handmaid assisting she commanded, that she should prepare shoes, with which soon her dead she would clothe; as if divining that men would adore her, and would kiss her feet too, fearing to be touched naked; so great to her care of modesty even dying had been. Finally those asking, that to them dead she should return, she said Brother Michael would quickly follow her, which afterward happened. But to the other although she did not answer, the custom however she observed, as afterward I shall say. Of food for forty-two days she was deprived; only for eighteen days with the water of chickens, but for the rest with well-water she was sustained. The greatest impugnations of dæmons in the last moment she had her gestures and words sufficiently show; For that I am damned, she said, neither to you only, who from the beginning have always been false, she overcomes the vexations of the dæmon, but neither to the holy Angels announcing it will I assent. Go from me malign one. By which contentions indeed terrified those who stood by, the panel of the Blessed Virgin, which she was wont to adore, taking, and with blessed candles in the form of a Cross bound together, upon the breast of the sick one they placed, whence the malign spirits soon departed. But she seeming to recover; Thanks, she said, I give to thee, Lord God, who hast rescued me from the snare of the hunters, and from the multitude of those working iniquity. And when from morning until Vespers in ecstasy lying she had been, by her kinsmen, thinking her to labor in her last extremity, roused, then returned to herself she groaned, and said: Why in solitude? far set apart I am not, and from you the enemies of my consolation alien. Nor much after these words she sent forth her holy spirit in the twenty-seventh year of her age, but of salvation the forty-sixth above the two-hundredth and thousandth, she dies in the year 1246, on the XIV of the Kalends of June, on the Sabbath day at dawn, which was the feast of S. Pudentiana. For this day was most desired by her, on account of the blessed Virgin, to whom with a peculiar ardor of mind she was always devoted. She was carried out with the desire of all good men, and tears accompanying, especially men and women of her Order, and in the temple of holy Cross, until this day, g buried.
[8] But prodigies, so great that no other at that time greater, or clearer, and of diverse kinds produced, which indeed both her sanctity and glory most show: so that those, who had accused her in life, may easily be able to blush and be confounded. But I because they are almost innumerable to write all things will forbear, she is illustrious by miracles. and only those will pursue, which of all are seen more important, or which together with the rest by the testimony and diligence of Brother Hippolytus of Florence, a most religious professor of the Observance h of the Minors, were proved and written down, witnesses of the truth being sought from everywhere, under Innocent IV, in the year of salvation the forty-ninth above the two-hundredth and thousandth. Rising on a certain night, when she saw the lamp extinguished, and feared to wake and trouble the handmaid in the dead of night, she commended herself to God; whence soon she deserved to see the hand of an Angel kindling it. On another night again, the same oil failing little by little dying, water immediately taken in place of oil did its office, she trusting in the virtue of Him, who renders the olive in the field openly to all beholding from the irrigation of water and rain fruitful. Moreover the dæmons so often by her driven off, and lofty in praying she often stood, and an excess of mind so often to have suffered, among her miracles especially I would place. Endowed too with a prophetic spirit, many things foretold by her show; Things foretold: among which the near departure of Brother Michael (as above I have narrated) and the day of her own death, twelve days before, and the hour foretold. Cecilia the wife of her brother from the lower house affirmed she had felt the greatest odor, a sweet odor in her cell: which inquiring whence it proceeded, from the cell of Humiliana she saw it emanate: who otherwise with all corporeal cultivation neglected by the grace of Christ was wont to live.
On a certain day Regalis her daughter, knocking at the cell, she introduced; her dying daughter is healed: who when suddenly as if dying she fell down, the mother anxious and helpless of counsel, turning to the panel of the Virgin, which she was wont to adore, prayed suppliant for her safety. Without delay, she saw a boy coming forth from the panel, who the sign of the Cross being made roused her half-buried immediately, and restored her to her pristine health. the boy Jesus appears. She desired too once to behold the boy Jesus, and to hear the wisdom of that age, which also she obtained. In her closed cell she perceived a certain unknown boy suddenly to have appeared, and with her to have had discourses of the Kingdom of God, as it was known from Sibilla her Sister, and afterward from the testimony of Humiliana herself (who not of herself, but as if speaking of another, for the cause of modesty affirmed) this to have happened. She desired too to behold something in the likeness of the Trinity: whence on a certain night in the darkness praying after her wonted manner, The mystery of the Trinity is revealed. three i lamps appearing to her she saw, like the radiance of the sun. But she from the beginning terrified, soon confiding, and approaching nearer, about to embrace them, into the air disappearing and into one light reduced, she noticed.
[9] On a certain day during Lent, in which time from wine she abstained, thirsting, Water turned into wine. she bade her handmaid Præcilia to bring a little fresh water in a vessel. And when she did the commanded things, the Saint of God thinking herself to taste water, perceived it to be wine, and immediately casting away the vessel rebuked the handmaid. But she excusing herself, that she might defend the truth, the very pitcher full of water again from the well brought back, the Lady secretly from a high place watching: and soon applying it to her mouth again she beheld it made wine. Understanding therefore this prodigy to be from God, she gave Him thanks, and the wine afterward for the uses of the sick she reserved. But after her death to many and divers she appeared sufficiently is established. To Sister Sibilla first standing by indeed near her bed; Sibilla, she said, Appearing from death she indicates her glory, O Sibilla, I am Humiliana, who have come to visit you. But she terrified, In what, she said, dearest Sister, in what place is your matter? what seats hold you? have you suffered any punishments after death? Brother Michael our how is he deserted by you? how so greatly once beloved is he neglected? But she, Places hold me of the Blessed, nothing could the purgatorial fire avail, with ineffable sweetness of pleasure and perpetual felicity I enjoy: but you above all things worship God, despise this earthly felicity, that to this felicity you too may come: Brother Michael a few days after he too into eternal glory from life will migrate.
[10] A certain woman, holy in spirit and body reckoned, desiring to visit her, on prayer continually insisted. At length to her amid praying clad in white garments she appeared, with her head adorned with a double diadem. And when she had asked her, girt with a double diadem. what that twofold ornament of the head meant for her; The first, she answered, on account of the great grief of virginity lost in matrimony, which through all the time of my life indeed in mind I bore; but the other on account of perpetual chastity, conjugal alike and widow's, in mind and body kept: but the white and glowing garment, on account of the purity of conscience, and at the same time the humility of heart, in which continually I was delighted. These things said she vanished. Brother Bonamicus, of whom above I made mention, Likewise in the year 1247, in the temple. who had asked the dying Humiliana to return to him; when on a certain night, as he was wont, to ring for Matins in the temple of holy Cross of Florence he rose, found all the lamps except one extinguished; which being kindled, and likewise a candle, which he held in his hands, affording some light in the darkness, Humiliana, who in the year before in the temple had been buried, adoring with hands brought back to her breast, as she was wont, with a black garment, and a white linen of the head (namely a matronal habit, as in marriage she had been wont) the other part of the veil to the ground let down he beheld: whither when he wondering for the cause of investigating the truth approached nearer, where he clearly recognized her, and saw her likewise coming to meet him, trembling and astonished on the spot he fled, and into the sacred vestry of the building he betook himself; and there by a certain Brother coming up asked what had happened, he narrated the whole matter. Soon some chief men of the Order and his companions being applied, as if to be other witnesses in the future, again the same he revisited and affirmed. The rest of her portents, to curing those affected with diverse kinds of diseases, seem to pertain; which those desiring to know to the same little book, whence these were excerpted, I will relegate. These things only briefly to note it pleased me, Miracles written elsewhere are omitted: that I may be a partaker of her good things, who indeed to posterity perpetually ought to be commended, the pillar of her times, who in a fragile sex, in so brief an age, in so great an impugnation of her own, so great an infestation of dæmons, finally so great a dejection of adverse fortune, so many examples of patience and of every kind of virtue bore before her; whence on account of the labors of life endured for the Lord she may justly be compared to the Martyrs, yet by the grace and benignity of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be honor and dominion world without end.
ANNOTATA.
THE EPISTLE OF THE VICAR GENERAL.
Æmiliana or Humiliana, widow of Florence of the third Order of S. Francis (B.)
Brother Hilarion Sacchettus, the unworthy Vicar General, to Raphael Volaterranus greeting in the Lord.
Hail again, father of the poor, and well-deserving of our Order. John Baptist and Marianus, our venerable Florentine Brothers, brought to me the life of B. Humiliana, indeed beautifully and briefly described by you, than which truly nothing at this time more welcome have I received: since in this, both God in the first place, and the Order and discipline of B. Francis, from which she came forth, moreover also our fatherland you seem greatly to praise. Wherefore to you, whom as another Jerome (without flattery let me speak) and the parent of our Religion we observe on earth, and for the sake of your labor, to our Lord Jesus Christ, by whose work and spirit a poor little and humble woman from the dunghill to the throne of glory you have raised, that she may sit with the princes of His people, we give immense thanks. But I, since it lies upon my office especially upon those things which pertain to the praise of God, more diligently to be vigilant, about to set out for Rome shortly, will deliver it to the supreme Pontiff our Leo, as you advise, to be read. For I think both with the love of God and the Saint, and of the Fatherland, moreover that he shows himself most loving of your affairs and writings, I shall do a thing most welcome to him. It remains, that besides our prayers and entreaties to God, of which you are always a partaker, you should know us and all our things, especially Brother Hilarion to be among yours: whom I ask embrace with your wonted charity. Farewell in Christ, and pray for me, from our place of S. Servator near Florence. On the Nones of June MDXX.
SUMMARY OF THE PROCESS
Made in the year MDCXXV for obtaining the Remissorials.
Æmiliana or Humiliana, widow of Florence of the third Order of S. Francis (B.)
FROM THE PROCESS MANUSCRIPTS.
[1] On Wednesday the XXIV of September, of the year MDCXXIV before the most Illustrious and most Reverend Lord Alexander Marzio Medici Archbishop of Florence, sitting for the Tribunal . . . . there appeared Federicus Christophorus Doctor of Both Laws as Procurator of the Reverend Fathers the Prior and Friars of the Convent of holy Cross of Florence of the Order of S. Francis of the Conventual Minors, and also of the Noble man Lord Verius of the Cerchi a Florentine; and exhibited articles, which he asks to be admitted: of which this is the tenor. Florentine information concerning the common opinion of the sanctity and the veneration of the Relics of the Servant of God Humiliana of the Cerchi a Tertiary of the Order of S. Francis at Florence.
I First the aforesaid Lord Procurator articulates and wishes to prove, in what manner the said Servant of God, both in life and after death, by all commonly was held, To prove the Fame of Sanctity: kept, and reputed for a probable, just, holy woman, and a friend of God; and by the same name was called and named: whose fame and opinion of sanctity, from that time even to the present day, with the greatest perseverance and increase very widely in this city has grown frequent . . . whose image, on account of her greatest sanctity, now for many years is found depicted in the church of holy Cross even under the year MCCCCLXXVI, whose author was Feus of Belcari; ancient images are alleged, and in the Metropolitan church of Florence, which commonly is called S. Maria del Fiore, likewise is found depicted the image of the said Servant of God among other Saints and Blessed of Etruria. Similar images of her are found with noble men of this city, which are held in veneration these three hundred years past: and they are held and venerated as the images of Saints; and especially with Lord Verius of the Cerchi, is found an image of that very Servant of God, in whose diadem this is the inscription, SAINT HUMILIANA OF THE CERCHI. Nay public cult is exhibited to her. For her Relics are publicly venerated, an annual solemnity, and especially on the day of her death, which every year solemnly in the church of holy Cross is celebrated: and in the Library of holy Cross, in the book of the process of her life and miracles, made until those times, there is and is found the Antiphon and Prayer of that Servant of God, as of a Saint.
II. In place of proofs and articles he reproduces the writings of all the undersigned, The ancient Life, who professedly of her life and miracles wrote: among whom signally is placed her most ancient Life, which is kept in the Library of holy Cross in a certain old manuscript Latin book, on parchment, written in an old character, from years as it is judged about three hundred.
Verinus, a notable Poet, about the year of the Lord MCCCCXL of her wrote in these words: Powerful in nobility, in wealth a poor little one, a Virgin Æmiliana was; but by far more illustrious than these By her morals, and to no one's probity of life second.
The Reverend Father Mark of Lisbon a Portuguese, wrote her life in the Portuguese tongue b; the Reverend Father Brother Philip de Sosa c a Spaniard, in Spanish; also in other languages, the Reverend Father Brother Valerius the Capuchin a Venetian, in book 5 after the life of S. Clare; the Reverend Father Gonzaga in the Seraphic History, likewise in a most ancient codex of an uncertain author her Life in the Tuscan tongue is found with Lord Verius of the Cerchi.
[2] Likewise he sets how her Relics until the present day are held in the greatest veneration by the Florentine people, The Relics exposed on an altar. both publicly and privately, and in the aforesaid church, where the said Relics in the chapel of the family of the Calderini, Florentine Citizens, honorably with lights are kept; and in public solemnities in the midst of the said church upon an altar publicly are exposed, but especially on the day XIX of May, on which the day of her passing with public cult is celebrated. Her head in a silver Shrine is kept, with the inscription S. HUMILIANA OF THE CIRCULI: THIS JOHN RICARDUS OF THE CIRCULI CAUSED TO BE MADE. d Her Arms and Feet in reliquaries adorned with gold e: the rest of the body in a most beautiful gilded little chest, in the likeness of a sepulcher, is kept. Her ring, which a few years before was lost, was held and kept always in great veneration.
[3] The witnesses of these articles produced and according to the Interrogatory, The witnesses brought forward depose, proposed by Lord Paulus Brosius the Fiscal Procurator, were examined the undersigned. On the XXIV of September, the most Illustrious and most Reverend Lord Franciscus, son of the late Senator John of the Venturi, a Florentine Noble, Bishop f of S. Severus in the kingdom of Naples said: g I have read in various histories and books of the life of this Blessed one, that she died in the year MCCXLVI, on the day XIX of May: and I know that ecclesiastical burial was given her in one of the chapels, h within the cloister of holy Cross, of the translation made in the year 1557, under some altar, as the bodies of Saints are wont to be buried. And I have heard it said, that on occasion of a certain inundation, which happened in the year MDLVII, the aforesaid sacred Relics were taken out of that humid and humble place, and divided into diverse reliquaries, with great reverence; and laid up in the Chapel of holy Cross and other chapels. Likewise I have heard it said, that in the unsealing of that ancient sepulcher, with the sacred Body was found the effigy of that very Saint, painted to life, made in those times, as from the form it is understood, having in the diadem written these words, SAINT HUMILIANA OF THE CERCHI: which effigy, with the old effigy, perhaps from the donation of the Fathers of holy Cross, now is found with Lord Verius Cerchi, then (as I understood) given to his grandfather. And these things I heard from Lord John my father, and others trustworthy, of whom I do not remember.
[4] On the day VI of October the most Illustrious Lord Nicolaus Antellensis, a Noble and Senator of Florence, and of the most Serene Grand Duke of Etruria Counselor of state, the conditory splendidly prepared, said among other things: I know, that . . . . . when Laurentius Calderini, several years past, had decreed a certain chapel of his in the church of holy Cross to clothe with most precious marbles and noble paintings, at the expense of several thousand scudi; he wished under the altar to make a certain notable sanctuary, where with greater honor could be kept the sacred Relics of that church, among which were also the relics of S. Humiliana: which, because I was one of the Prefects of the fabric . . . . it happened to me often to see, both in the sacristy, and afterward in the said chapel of the Calderini . . . . But it is said that there was also the proper ring of that very Saint, the ring reverently kept, held in great veneration: but because last it was in the power of Carolus Latinus son of the late John of the Albizi, whom his adverse fortune compelled to withdraw from the fatherland, all his fortunes being left amid the hands of the Magistrates and creditors; I understand that in that disturbance the aforesaid ring was lost, which was kept in a little case of red holosericum: and I know that the most Serene Lady Christina of Lotharingia, the Grand Duchess, paternal grandmother of the most Serene Duke now reigning Ferdinand II, with the greatest diligence caused, and causes even now it to be sought: on account of the singular devotion with which her Highness, so far fervent in divine worship, is affected toward the aforesaid Saint, as her most Serene Highness herself, speaking with me of this matter, often signified to me. k
[5] On the same day the most Illustrious Lord Michael Angelus Leonardi of the Buonarroti, a noble of Florence, the exposition of the Relics, among other things said . . . . I have seen the body of the Saint and the bones preserved in several vessels, exposed in the time of Indulgences and on other occasions, on which the aforesaid church is visited: but the head enclosed in a silver chest representing her effigy, in which in most ancient characters is written, SAINT HUNILIANA OF THE CIRCULI: and it is added: the antiquity of the statue, THIS WORK JOHN RICARDI OF THE CIRCULI CAUSED TO BE MADE. Which John, as I have seen and known, having diligently scrutinized the public writings of the noble family of the Cerchi, had as great-grandfather Lord Consilium of the Cerchi, the brother of that very Blessed one, and lived in the year MCCCLVI, and was still living in the year MCCCXCI. But her effigy is kept with Lord Verius of the Cerchi, a painting very ancient, and (as much as I can judge) elaborated by the hand of l Cimabue, once a famous painter; and so esteem also other noble men, and namely the most Illustrious Senator Lord Nerius Alberti, and Lord Jacobus Giraldi. I have seen also with Lord Carolus Strozzi a manuscript Office of our Lady from the year (as it appears) MCCC, and the feast, in whose Kalendar are noted the churches, which daily in this city are visited in the course of the whole year, where on the XIX of May is noted the feast of this Saint to be kept. On the same day there appeared the very Reverend Father Augustinus of the Franceschi, of the Order of the Conventual Minors of S. Francis, and the ring-case: and the most Illustrious and most clear Lord Nerius of the Alberti, Senator and noble Patrician of Florence; who after several other things said: I have seen the ring-case of the lost ring, which is in the manner of a round amulet, and a label was affixed indicating the Ring of B. Humiliana: which ring-case is found now with Lord Verius Cerchi.
[6] On the day X of October there was heard the most Illustrious and most Reverend Lord Cosmus, son of Count Bernard della Gerardesca, Count of Donoratico and Castagneto, Lord of Segalari and Petra-Rossa, Bishop of Colle. On the same day the most Illustrious and most Reverend Lord Alexander, son of Lord Prinzivallius Stufa, of the Counts of Calcione, Bishop of Montepulciano, among other things said: In an old manuscript little book in the vulgar tongue appears on the XIX of May the ancient practice of celebrating the feast of the said Saint: for these words there are noted: S. Potentiana Virgin and S. Peter de Morrone Pope, likewise of the feast, and B. Humiliana of the Cerchi of Florence: and the feast of S. Peter de Morrone is held in the street of S. Gallus, and B. Humiliana's feast at holy Cross, and there is her body. On the XI of October the Reverend Father Federigus del Riccio, a Priest of the Order of the Conventual Minors of S. Francis, from an old Kalendar, of the Convent of holy Cross of Florence. On the XIII of October the very Reverend Father Laurentius of the Mati, of the Conventual Minors of S. Francis of the same Convent. On the same day the very Reverend Father Philip son of Anthony of the Guidi, a Florentine, of the Order of Preachers of the Convent of S. Maria Novella.
[7] On the same day the XIII of October, the most Illustrious Lord Carolus son of the late Thomas Strozza, a Noble of Florence, among other things said: There is with me on parchment a little book, whose Kalendar contains all the feasts of the year, and namely those which especially are observed at Florence; and it is according to my judgment, founded on the form of the character, written about CCL years ago, where on the XIX of May are in the vulgar tongue the words above mentioned. I know moreover that the Relics of that same Saint with great reverence are kept in the chapel of the Calderini, which once was of the Balacci. Her head is in a silver bust, ancient indeed, but yet skillfully made about three hundred years ago; and in the breast are the words above indicated. But John Riccardi of the Circuli, who caused it to be made, afterward was surnamed of the Riccardi, because he was expunged from the number of the Magnates, and the author of the statue, and made himself a Florentine of the people. He made his testament in the year MCCCXCIV on the day VIII of April, and among other legacies such a one in these very Latin words is found: Item for the remedy of his soul he left and willed, that in perpetuity there be made and ought to be made, who also founded the feast, in the church of the Friars Minor of Florence, in the month of May of any year, the feast of B. Humiliana: in which feast there be celebrated Masses and divine Offices, and in which every year there be expended of the goods of the said Testator ten gold florins, which to the Convent of the said Friars he willed to be given by his heirs. Thus far the words of the Testament. As for the body, according as it is understood from the Life, and of the votive tablets. to it were hung many votive offerings, which I believe all to have perished badly by the injury of the times; and because two or three times the sacred body was translated, perhaps also while the church is adorned and repolished. The ring I think to be retained by him who took it away from devotion alone, since it is of a very small price, and the ring-case was not taken away at the same time. On the XV of October Lord Franciscus son of the late Ser-Marcus of the Segalloni, a citizen and Notary of Florence, deposed of the Lives of the Blessed read by him, written by Vitus of Cortona and Raphael Volaterranus.
[8] On the day XVI of October, at the instance of the said Procurator, the most Illustrious and most Reverend Lord Archbishop of Florence himself transferred himself, with Notaries and Witnesses, to the church of holy Cross, The Relics are inspected by the Archbishop, by ocular inspection more certainly to know, the things which are in Article 2 deduced to be true: where he saw all the aforesaid things. Then in the sacristy of the aforesaid church by the same Procurator were produced as witnesses, the very Reverend Fathers Brothers Petrus Maria of the Candelini, Guardian of the said Convent, Master Marcus Antonius of the Lanciotti of Massa, and Master Bartholomæus of the Procaccioli of the City of Terni, Vicar of the holy Office, all residing in the said Convent, upon the recognition of the said Relics, and signally upon this that the said Relics are such as they are named, namely of the Servant of God Humiliana of the Circuli, and as such and for such they were by the ancient Fathers of the said Convent from ancient time, before that, in the sepulcher laid up; then into the sacristy of the said church honorably
exposed, and afterward into this place translated, and in successive times under faithful custody and great devotion preserved, and for the Relics of the said Servant of God were and are from the said ancient time even to the present day held, kept, and reputed, and are held, kept, and reputed publicly and openly by the whole aforesaid Religion, and by other outsiders here in the city of Florence, and elsewhere having notice of the said Relics.
[9] Thus far the words of the Process, into a certain Summary of the articles asserted by the Witnesses once from the original by us contracted: there were also Lections, composed for the Office, which whether likewise at Rome they were proposed I know not, never were certainly brought into use; for thus far of B. Humiliana the Office is made of the common neither of a Virgin nor of a Martyr, and the Process is sent to Rome, and that under a Double rite, by a use verisimilarly ancient. But neither did the Florentine Archbishop mention them in those letters, with which to Pope Urban VIII the Process formed by him he transmitted, thus writing: Most Blessed Father. Several centuries ago to heaven, as is piously believed, flew up the Servant of God Humiliana of the Cerchi, a Florentine Noble; who left such monuments of her sanctity, that not only do most grave authors confess it with illustrious testimony, but also to them even unto this day the fame responds. Wherefore Verius, of the same family of the Cerchi, again and again demanded of me, that of the common opinion of Sanctity and the veneration of the Relics, I should form a Process by ordinary authority. Which I did with that sedulity, which is fitting in such a business: nor did I admit witnesses to be examined, unless conspicuous in religion and integrity of morals, that of much weight might be their proofs. The copy therefore after custom closed and fortified with my seal, I have given to John Baptist of the Pagli a public Notary of Florence, who for this office is selected, that he may bring it to your Sanctity: for whom after the due kissings of the feet most largely I beseech from the immortal God better charisms. Given at Florence, the day before the Nones of December MDCXXV.
[10] The Process received the Pontiff transmitted to the sacred Congregation, but that committed it to Julius Cardinal Sabellius to be read over again: of which a report being made to the holy Congregation it answers; which when the most Serene Grand Duchess had understood, she commended to him for her piety the business dear to herself; and from him received an answer, written at Rome the XXII of April MDCXXVI, that nothing would not willingly for her cause be done. And afterward on the day II of May the Congregation answered the Pontiff, In the cause of the handmaid of God Humiliana of the Circuli, that Remissorials could be granted. in which was sought license of celebrating the Office and Mass on the day of her death, the most Illustrious Sabellius reporting the informative Process by the Ordinary, the Sacred Congregation of Rites answered, That there is a smoke, and that Remissorials can be granted. By the smoke we can understand some obscurity in explaining the reason of the cult, thus far to B. Humiliana given and sufficient to prove the exception of the case from the recent Constitutions of the aforesaid Urban: for to prove this Remissorials had to be given Cionaccius indicates in Part 3 chapter last, whence we have taken these things; but that the Lords Cerchi and the Franciscan Fathers did not proceed further he adds, and left that care of seeking the Remissorials to their posterity. Moreover since the Mass and Office in the church of holy Cross are made of the Blessed one from the Common, as I have said; it seems the supplication was not so much for obtaining those (as the words seem to sound) as for the confirmation of the ancient use, or even the extension to other churches of the city of Florence.
ANNOTATA.
p This is that one, the Senator, afterward Carolus Strozza, whose library, having collected whatever of antiquarian knowledge about Florentine matters sacred and profane can be found, first to us at Florence lay open in the year 1661, and which even now by the favor of his sons, heirs of their father's virtue and doctrine, is prepared to supply if anything perhaps escaped our examination or diligence in transcribing.
APPENDIX TO THE PROCESS
From the Life published in Italian by Franciscus Cionaccius.
Æmiliana or Humiliana, widow of Florence of the third Order of S. Francis (B.)
FROM THE ITALIAN OF CIONACCIUS
[11] The family of the Cerchi or Circuli, powerful in riches and laudable in piety, for several centuries in Etruria flourished: for by hereditary right they held the fortress of Aconum in the Valley of Sève as Toparch of that place (Cattani or Captains the ancients called them) and in the time of the civil discords, under the impious Frederick II, among the Nobles pertaining to the region of the Gate of S. Peter, Of the ancient and noble family of the Circuli, to the Guelf that is the ecclesiastical and orthodox party, against the Ghibellines royal and schismatic, they constantly adhered. The same connected by affinity with several noble families through the sisters of S. Humiliana, the Adimari, Cedernelli, Donati it associated to itself, that I may meanwhile be silent of others. But six Sisters S. Humiliana had, eleven brothers, from the double bed of her father. But of the first wife, is born the Knight Alexander, who undoubtedly bore the Saint herself, the name lies hidden: the second, was called Ermellina of Cambio, and to her husband Oliverius bore Lord Consilium, whence it glories to descend, which still today at Florence remains, the house of the Circuli, and is of the most illustrious Senator Alexander of the Circuli, Knight of S. Stephen and first Secretary of the most Serene Victoria della Rovere, mother of the Grand Duke Cosmus III today happily reigning.
[12] Held and intent on such an office, yet for his religion toward the Saint of his lineage he never ceased to think of promoting her glory by whatever ways he could: he busies himself for the honor of the Saint of his lineage, wherefore both her image, such as above we have given, he took care to be elegantly engraved on copper, whence copies taken should far and wide make her known even in countenance; and in an expanded sheet a brief epitome of her life and deeds he caused to be printed at Bologna in the year MDCLXXIII; and the business of obtaining from the Apostolic See the faculty for pursuing her with the honor of the Ecclesiastical Office and Mass not slothfully he resumed: and finally, old and new material being gathered from everywhere, he committed to Franciscus Cionaccius a Florentine Priest the History of B. Humiliana, in a fourfold work thus to be explained, that sufficient certainty might be given, I of her life, and he takes care to have a fourfold history of the Saint published. II of the cult from fame from time immemorial, III of the writers, IV of the notices apparently pertaining to that Blessed one, and published in the year MDCLXXXII he sent it to me. The style is prolix and encomiastic, the speech Italian, the form of the types elegant, the measure of a just volume: which yet could have been shorter, the tedious deduction of authors being omitted, who in eight tongues and as many nations, some after others, and with almost a similar sense of words, mentioned the Blessed one, or named her in some manner. But the fourth part
the more seems to be redundant, because the conjectures which there are treated, by the judgment of the author himself, only can seem to pertain to the assumed argument. To me no diligence about the Saints and their memories is esteemed excessive; and perhaps at least the third part, to the intended end at Rome not only useful, but necessary too may have been judged: According to this yet it is not the intention in either part to be rendered in Latin, either to abuse my time, or the patience of the reader. The first, which almost wholly depends on the credit of the ancient monuments already above produced, for the illustration of the same suggested some little observations not useless: but from the second it pleases here consequently to supplement some things, in the Process made fifty-eight years ago passed over, or afterward done: and thus to absolve all this material.
[13] As for the Relics therefore, their particles, even elsewhere than in the church of holy Cross, in various places her Relics are venerated: obtain their veneration. And first in the Royal Palace, which is surnamed from the Pitti, many notable Relics in various cabinets are kept, and to public veneration are exposed in the holy week: when, the Court being there, the Lord's sepulcher is adorned there. And indeed in the second little cabinet there is only a tiny particle; but in the third a much greater part, namely from the spine of the back a whole node, in a silver reliquary within two crystals: to which at the foot is subscribed, OF BLESSED HUMILIANA OF THE CERCHI. In the monastery of S. Anne of Florence, there is a finger of one foot, bound with silver, within a reliquary of older work, which the epigraph too indicates with ruder letters in Latin written, OF BLESSED HUMILIANA OF THE CIRCULI. At Siena too in the monastery of S. Petronilla, there is held another Relic of the body of that same Saint, enclosed in gilded copper and sealed faithfully, and with the permission of the Ordinary is exposed to public veneration. Finally at Capraia among the people of S. Stephen, of the diocese of Pistoia, is found a wooden pectoral statue, partly gilded, partly with colors expressed to the likeness of one living; where in the very breast is enclosed a bony particle, and with gilded letters in the Tuscan tongue is subscribed, B. HUMILIANA OF THE CIRCULI A FLORENTINE NOBLE.
[14] About the images we have already noted some things from the process, The image once placed on its own altar, others from the same Cionaccius suggests not to be contemned. And first, that which in holy Cross anciently stood, the Florentine Ordinary visiting the church, in the very acts of the Visitation is thus in Latin inscribed, The image of the said servant of God is painted on canvas, on all sides adorned with gilded wood, in the form of a woman, standing with rays and splendors after the manner of the Saints, and clad in the habit of the third Order of S. Francis; and in the lower part is this inscription, BLESSED HUMILIANA OF THE CERCHI; but in the posterior part appear inscribed these words, now in the Sacristy with the image of S. Bernardine: namely, DIFEO BELCARI MCCCCLXXVI. That Feus was illustrious in letters and piety, and had held the supreme Magistracy in his city in the year MCCCCLIV, piously affected toward the very Saint; and when he had appointed burial for himself and his own in the temple of holy Cross, he erected an altar to her there, over which in the aforesaid year he caused to be placed the aforementioned image. That its field or whole ground was gilded is understood from the testimony of the Bishop of S. Severus: who asserts, that in his time it was kept in the sacristy, from when namely Cosmus I, in the year MDLXV about to adorn that church with new work, ordered all the monuments of the former altars to be removed: which on a similar occasion happened also to the altar and image of S. Bernardine of Siena, in like manner then carried to the sacristy, where it adorns another cabinet, opposite to that over which B. Humiliana stands.
[15] But of the same age or even a little earlier is another painting, in the most ancient church of S. Florentius, another in the church of S. Florentius, today translated to the uses of the Congregation of the Fathers of the Oratory; where within the chapel of the assumed Virgin is represented her coronation in heaven, with a double order of twice three Saints on this side and that, of whom each has the head girt with a golden diadem, and in it his own name inscribed, except one old Bishop (whom we can conjecture to be S. Zenobius) but the rest are S. Francis, Founder of the Minors; S. Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux, Tutelary of the Palace; Florentius, Bishop the titular of the church; but under these S. Julian the Soldier, with the Apostles Peter and Paul: but on the other side at the horn of the Epistle, S. Louis the Bishop, of the Order of S. Francis; S. Anthony the Abbot, Patron of smiths handling fire; and that Bishop whom I said Anonymous; and under these S. John the Baptist, you have her among the 12 Patrons, Protector of the Florentine Dominion; S. Ursula, Virgin Martyr; and S. Humiliana, in widow's habit, with hands devoutly crossed before her breast. But as under the feet of S. Paul, a man with bent knee; so under Ursula, an aged woman; under S. Humiliana, is seen expressed another far younger: but they denote the donor of that very tablet, with his two wives, whom Captain Cosmus della Rena, most knowing of Florentine antiquities, demonstrated, the man indeed to be Paulus son of Bernard of the Gangalandi; but the women Ursina Gori, once of Jacobus del Rosso, in the year MCCCCXXVII still living; and Miliana Lapaccei, once of Mannus of the Cerchi, joined to Paulus in the year MCCCCXXX. Thus far Cionaccius, where from this that each is painted under their Patrons, rightly you would infer, Ursina to be said contractedly for Ursulina; and Miliana for Humiliana or Æmiliana. with the Fathers of the Oratory also keeping the feast, Meanwhile from this cause the aforesaid Fathers renew the feast of this Saint, in the said Chapel and altar, every year on the day XIX of May, adorning it with flowers and sacred Relics, with no small concourse of people to it.
[16] To the aforesaid can also be added, I, that in the year MDXCVI, by the care of Antonius Buonfanti the Minister of the Third Order, there was printed above the Indulgences granted to that Order, an image, containing its Saints and Blessed, and among them Blessed Humiliana of the Cerchi. II, that when in the solemn array of the Cathedral church, Similar ones publicly exposed among the Saints, when the nuptials of the most Serene Grand Duke Cosmus II, with Maria Magdalena of Austria, in the year MDCVIII, were to be celebrated, along the wall of the lateral nave, within its pillars below each window, were disposed the effigies of the Etruscan Saints, with lights kindled on both sides and various ornament; her own place too had B. Humiliana, as in the Process deposed Cosmus Minerbetti Bishop of Cortona. III, that when in the year MDCXXII, by the Florentine nation at Rome solemnly was to be received the banner of S. Philip Neri, the church of the same nation there before the frontispiece had placed images of the Florentine Saints and Blessed; and among them appeared this blessed widow, several in the houses of the Cerchi: as from the Relation of that festivity, at Rome likewise printed, is demonstrated. And these are all public ones: with which content I omit to recount, in how many places and ways, or by what artifice, gesture, ornament, privately with various ones, especially with her lineage, in their oratories, houses, gardens, the effigy of the Blessed one is held expressed, with elogia and epigrams in verse and prose conceived: somewhere even with the annual veneration of the neighbors.
[17] But I ought not to omit the tablets of last will, by which their ancestors, the testamentary legacies of these for the adornment of the Relics, not only expressed their devotion toward the domestic Saint, but also gave public testimony of the cult continued from of old. The first among these Franciscus son of Simon, the late Bertus of the Cerchi, the great-great-nephew of the Blessed one from the brother Gerardinus, in his former testament which he dictated in the year MCCCLXI on the day VI of June, not only ordered and willed to be made a certain ornament, for the Relics of S. Humiliana, existing within the church of the Friars Minor, in which he willed twenty gold florins to be expended; but also among other pious legacies, by his heirs annually to be paid, to the Convent of the Friars Minor, on the feast and for the feast of S. Humiliana, he attributed five pounds of the small florin, that is, of the lesser florins, every year in perpetuity. The same in another testament of his, the last of the following January, willed and commanded, the whole use, fruit, revenue and proceeds of a certain house of his, and for celebrating the feast, every year in perpetuity, to be converted and distributed by the executors of the present last will or by the heirs of the said Testator; namely for half in making and about making to celebrate a certain feast of S. Humiliana, which is wont to be celebrated by those of the house of the Circuli aforesaid, in the church of holy Cross in the month of May. But another of the posterity of Lord Consilium, the brother likewise of B. Humiliana, John of the Circuli surnamed the Fat, the late Nicholas, who was of Ludovicus the late Riccardus of the Circuli elsewhere named, likewise by his testament about the year MCCCCXXXVI ordained, that from the renting of a certain house of his twelve gold florins should be expended to the Friars, obliged to the annual celebration of that same feast.
[18] I omit to say, that Bindaccius son of Michael of the Circuli, of the posterity of the same Consilius also one, prefixing to his merchant's diaries of the year MCCCCLXXX and LXXXXVI the wonted in such things invocation of God and the Saints, other arguments of singular devotion toward the domestic Saint, after his other special Patrons, adds the name of S. Humiliana: that his nephew Alexander son of Oliverius to his kinsman Franciscus the Bishop of S. Severus often said, that he wished for the sacred bones of the Blessed one to found a perpetual and becoming burial: that the same by testamentary disposition, in the case in which his son Verius should die without male children, defined a considerable sum to build in the church or cloister of holy Cross, or there in the neighborhood, an oratory or chapel to the glory of God and in honor of that Blessed one, with a title or inscription to preserve the memory of the testator; that the same finally wishing dedicated to her his domestic oratory, in which often the said effigy painted by Giotto today is kept, caused it to be adorned with various paintings of her life, with added, which the aforepraised Bishop of S. Severus and celebrated for the cultivation of the Latin tongue is said to have composed, an inscription: To Blessed Humiliana, the highest ornament of the Cerchi lineage, that some monument of his piety toward her might be extant at home, and by her suffrages he himself and the whole family may be fortified by divine protection, Verius Cerchius, son of Alexander, an agnate, placed this chapel: and her excellent virtues and signal sanctity, to himself, his household, and his posterity as a domestic example he proposed. These, I say, all I omit to explain more distinctly, because either they are private, or by a failing condition they did not have their effect: but I pass to certain more recent benefits, attributed to the merits of B. Humiliana.
[19] With the Franciscan Fathers there is received by pious use the annual allotment of Patrons; In the year 1673 the Blessed one being invoked the Guardian of the Minors, from this when in the year MDCLXXIII the very Reverend Father Brother Franciscus Maria Cappelli the Guardian had obtained B. Humiliana; he who to her commended himself from that day daily, recalling that in her Life it is read, in what manner the Saint freed many from
arthritic pains, with which he now for the tenth year struggled; to her too this his infirmity to be cured he began to bring, only with this end, that he might go before his subjects as an example of common observance, especially through the Advent and Lenten fast. With this confidence conceived he instituted the common with the rest abstinence from meats and milk-foods, although both the physicians and the Friars dissuaded him, knowing the evil to be aggravated by foods of another kind. And he indeed even to the day of S. Thomas happily pursued his fast: but when on the day before the Vigil of the Lord's Nativity he had walked rather much through the city, the old evil being irritated thereby, he is freed from the Gout; occupied his foot with so troublesome a flux, that he feared lest he should be compelled to keep the very feasts limping, and then to lie in bed. But this fear a new confidence dispelled, conceived in his holy Advocate; and when turned to her effigy he had said, I cannot believe, O B. Humiliana, that you will permit, that I cannot on these sacred days in the choir and other functions serve God; to bed he betook himself that evening; and notwithstanding the pains he took sleep by night, and in the morning rose wholly free. Therefore with the same confidence he undertook also to fast through Lent, and without the wonted torture came to Easter: but on its third feria the greater toe of the right foot grew hot with the wonted humor, and fixed the man to bed; whence yet within three days he rose, his holy liberatress being again invoked.
[20] To the very Reverend Father Master Brother Hieronymus Castaldi a Florentine, to a certain Carmelite is relieved a huge pain of the head: of the Order of S. Mary of Mount Carmel, in the month of June of the year MDCLXXII, came a tertian fever, with a torture of the head so intense, that for relieving them when nothing had availed one bleeding, another the sick man asked of the physician. But because before this could be put into execution the febrile cold again returned, recalling B. Humiliana, to whom her Life being read he had begun long before more devoutly to be affected, of the cephalic tortures, which struck him with greater solicitude than the fever, a remedy he asked of her; again and again with heart and mouth repeating, B. Humiliana pray for me. Then from those assisting him he asked to be given her own Prayer with the Antiphon above-written, and the grace asked he obtained. For the heat coming on after the cold, with which the headache was wont to arise, that to have vanished he rejoiced, nor with the fevers returning did it return any more. And when that thing had happened about that time, in which the regional supplications are wont to be instituted through the city, before the feast of S. John the Patron of the Florentine Dominion, at which the Regulars are present with the Priors and Rectors of parishes; the sick man asked the Master of Novices and the other Fathers to accompany him, that on the following morning, when they had come to holy Cross, before the Relics of S. Humiliana each should recite an Ave Maria for him in thanksgiving: which then he himself offered more fully freed from the fever.
[21] In the town of S. Miniato del Tedesco with grave pains of the stone, with a perilous suppression of urine, to the Plebanus of S. Miniato the suppressed urine is loosed, was afflicted the Lord Abbot Carolus Ceccherelli, Plebanus of S. John the Greater of Valle-Vola, and when he had passed many hours in such torture, he had decided to summon a physician and surgeon. Meanwhile not forgetful of seeking spiritual aids, he applied cotton consecrated by the touch of the Crucifix of San Miniato to that place where he felt the weight of the suppressed humor, and commended himself to B. Humiliana, whose Life expressed on a flying sheet together with the image, he had first received: and a little after again he invoked her, and the Lord's Prayer with the Angelic salutation reciting to her, the desired grace he obtained. For the obstacle being removed and without pain there flowed urine most copiously, nor from the day IV of December of the year MDCLXXIII, on which this happened, anything similar thereafter did he suffer. And it happened to him the following January, that when a maidservant in warming his bed, to which he had hung the aforesaid image, had put a brazier; he coming to bed, found, and a fire is extinguished: the wooden little bridge being burned under which the earthen tile containing the fire is suspended, the tile broken and coals scattered all over the bed; and in that state the matter had been for three whole hours, as much as could be established by conjecture. Fearing therefore lest all things should now burn with the danger of the fire spreading more widely, he invoked B. Humiliana: then diligently shaking out everything, he found, except a part of the lower blanket and the first mattress, nothing to have been violated by the fire: and both graces to the Saint he ascribed.
[22] Toward the end of the same month of January the Lord Oliverius Cionini, a Priest the Curate in the town of Ciarlini, to another Curate are dissipated troublesome temptations, because the aforesaid Life on a sheet he had heard read, conceived a firm hope of obtaining a remedy from the Saint, and liberation from certain troublesome temptations and suggestions, by which he was drawn away from celebrating Mass: and having obtained what by an internal vow of his soul he had asked, he confesses also, that by the Blessed one's intercession he was healed from a most grave scabies, which had swollen his whole body, and a scabies is healed. and fixed to his bed prohibited him to speak ever so little. For when for six continuous days by interior prayer he had besought the Saint, he found himself cured of that loathsome disease; notwithstanding that cold season of the year, and the defect of every natural remedy.
[23] Lord Dominicus Vasalli Doctor of Both Laws and Fiscal Advocate in the office of the holy Inquisition of Genoa, to the Fiscal of the Inquisition of Genoa, and a Priest too, fixed to bed in the spring of the year MDCLXXIII, on account of the pains which an inflated foot bred for him, had recourse to the intercession of B. Humiliana, toward whom he had conceived much devotion, her life being read, and Father Master Brother Sixtus of the Cerchi Doctor of Sacred Theology of the order of Preachers being heard. The office of Inquisitor general he exercised at Bergamo, Brescia, Piacenza, Genoa, Bologna, and now the same he exercises at Milan; an inflated foot is healed. and on occasion of a certain Relic of the body of S. Humiliana, which passing through Florence there he had obtained in the year MDCLXVIII, that devotion toward the Saint everywhere he scattered. Father Sixtus therefore being heard aforenamed, and the image of the Saint seen, her intercession the aforesaid Dominicus asked: and on the following morning he felt himself almost free from all inconvenience, nor long after he professed himself to have received full health.