OF BLESSED ANDREW OF PESCHIERA, OF THE ORDER OF PREACHERS IN THE VALTELLINA. PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY.
Of the Summary of the Life, the cult, the translation.
A.D. 1480.
PrefaceAndrew of Peschiera, of the Order of Preachers in the Valtellina (B.)
D. P.
[1] Of the Sanctuary or Martyrology of Como, in the year 1675 printed, the author D. Primus Aloysius de Tattis, of the Congregation Somascan Theologian and of the holy Office Consultor, The cult at Morbegno, at the XIV Kalends of June notes At Morbegno, of the Valtellina a town, of the diocese of Como, the cult and memory of Blessed Andrew of Peschiera of the Order of S. Dominic, and his long elogium weaves; and in the Annotations these he subjoins.
His life's compendium, from the ancient of the Morbegno cenobium monuments, and from S. Benignus the Abbot's Acts manuscript, published at Como in the year of the Lord 1644 Lactantius Guarinonus of the Order of Preachers: with whom agree, John Michael Plodius and Leander Albertus on the illustrious men of the Order of S. Dominic; Lazarus Carafinus in the Catalogue of the Saints and Blessed, whose bodies are kept in the diocese of Como; Francis Ballarinus, of the Chronicle of Como in part 3 ch. 2, and others. Of these Leander in book 5, into the Lives of Blessed Venturinus and Conradinus interweaving a nomenclature of certain men, with exalted sanctity shining, with the title of Blessed in the margin, this only says, Andrew of Peschiera at Morbegno shines with miracles. With more prolix words, but scarcely more significant, uses Bellarinus; and buried he says about the year of the Lord 1490. In this however both him to err, as much as those who the year 1485 define, convicts the Epitaph with a more prolix of virtue elogium published in Plodius or Pius book 3 §. 48: for it is said, that
[2] In one thousand four hundred he died eighty under years. The certain day, says Primus-Aloysius, is unknown: to which was substituted another of the Reposition or Elevation, when namely the venerable of the same bones a more decent obtained tomb, in the year 1497. Adorn him to these very times several little images of wax and of silver, which not only a singular of the peoples observance toward the blessed man, but also the supernal his intercession attest upon those, who by some pressed sickness his patronage implored. Not yet is he enrolled in the Album of the Saints, although everywhere by all is held Blessed, and before his Relics a lamp pendent always burns. Thus far the Author of the Martyrology; who asked the very one, which he alleges, of Lactantius the Summary to communicate, kindly did. It indeed since besides the elogium of the life it contains the history of the Translation afore-noted, and some miracles, it will be congruous in Latinity to give. First however I note, Morbegno a notable town, where the Blessed here is venerated to the Adda river, from Rhaetia sprung and into the Como lake at length plunging itself, to lie adjacent, on its bank right, there nearly where into the very river another smaller flows in, Bito called.
ACTS
From the Italian of Lactantius Guarinonus of the Order of Preachers.
Andrew of Peschiera, of the Order of Preachers in the Valtellina (B.)
FROM THE ITALIAN OF LACTANTIUS GUARINONUS.
[1] Peschiera a, of the Dominion Venetian a fortress, to the blessed Father Andrew of being born the place gave, in a family of Greeks, as much indeed as to gather is permitted from the Life [b] Ms. of S. Benignus the Abbot. He of adolescence the years having entered, an age surely opportune and mature for entering upon of the remaining of life's course counsels, The entry into the Order of Preachers having considered the vanity of secular pleasures and the uncertitude of riches, to the transitory all sent a renunciation; and a secure of salvation port regarding, where he might be outside the tumults and storms by which the world is tossed, he chose the most holy Order of Preachers, by doctrine and sanctity as much as possible flourishing. He received himself moreover into the Congregation Lombard, which then as a dawn rising glittered with the rays of most holy men, the whole Order illuminating. In this so fervently he ran to perfection, he tills the Valtellina that quickly its summit he obtained; wherefore nor he feared himself to give into the public, that he might shine to the world, who burned for God. For indeed (if not deceives us the Life aforesaid of S. Benignus) very young he came into the Valtellina, and before was founded the venerable Convent of S. Antony: where from one another divided those zealous preachers of truth, one from one, the other from the other part were busy of the inhabitants the minds to kindle to virtue; uncertain in what precisely year; but this certain, that the Convent aforesaid was built about the year 1465, under the governance of the first there constituted Prior P. Brother Bartholomew Maggii of Como, as in the books of accounts is demonstrated.
[2] by sermon and example All of Andrew the Preachings, to his institute conformable, to this tended, that of the peoples he should care the conversion, their minds deeply imprinting the contempt of mundane and the love of celestial things. Which to him marvelously succeeded, since in the whole valley no however small place he left unaccessed, in which he did not sow God's word, so much more penetratingly the hearts striking, by how much of a more profound humility and Apostolic simplicity by examples he went before. Outside the Convent about to spend the night, with the poor more gladly and more frequently he lodged than with the rich; more this to be expedient judging, whether for diminishing in his hearers the estimation of the comforts of this world, or for continuing the more austere which he used of food manner, with only bread from millet grains made and chestnuts and water content, nor unless hardly to lie wont: with a glad nonetheless always countenance, of God mostly speaking, and the charity to him by his hosts corporally bestowed spiritually remunerating. It is not easy to explain, with how great he burned zeal for all to Christ to be gained: a true surely of his great Patriarch Dominic son, he dies in the year 1480 whose breast not other had been than a furnace of love toward the neighbor. In whose obeisance this servant of God whole himself expended and over-expended, until of mortal life the term he attained, of rare sanctity footsteps after himself leaving, in the year 1480; and therefore of celestial honors worthy esteemed by all.
[3] That moreover the devotion of the peoples toward this of the afflicted consoler, the father of the poor, the master of the ignorant, is translated in the year 1497 and the leader of sinners more might be kindled after his death; willed God that in the year
1497, from the of the common burial humility raised the bones should be carried to a tomb, in a chapel of S. Roch erected, with due honor; painted above his image radiated, and subscribed, Pray for us Blessed Andrew of Peschiera. On each side painted also were his miracles of the chief two, of whose memory together with the picture was covered with lime, by the incurious of the to be conserved antiquity men, when in the year 1627 the chapel of S. Roch was whitened: there remain however up to today votive little panels several, with anathemas of silver and of wax, and a lamp before the sepulchre burning, from that perhaps time in which first the tomb erected was, with this Epitaph anciently inscribed. Brought forth Andrew with a fortunate Peschiera birth, Of the high-speaking Order who the fortunate yokes bore. he is praised in the Epitaph, He preferred at a slender, sumptuous than to eat at a table, The arduous things of the cloister to whom sweet made love. He imbued with auspices happy these peoples; Of Christ's the asserter of Religion he was. The very many things which he did living and by death pressed Prodigies, these proclaim how great his grace. To this one worth the labor so often to relieve the poor wretches, He unfolds immense with piety his bosoms. In one thousand four hundred he died eighty under years, Who here reposes, of the Valley and of Morbegno mindful.
[4] Time nonetheless, by which slacken and grow tepid even most fervent beginnings, gradually had extinguished of the peoples the devotion: The cult renewed about the year 1623 and 1630, this therefore that they might resuscitate the Morbegno-folk, in the year 1623 with new ornaments the tomb they adorned. Which done grew warm again the ancient toward the blessed man religion, especially in the year 1630 raging an epidemic plague: when of the Community of Morbegno the Magistracy, among other things a vow made of caring for the of the sacred bones Translation at the cost of crowns two hundred, if, what it hoped, it should obtain from God; and to the same soon others by making a testament added legacies various. It was begun therefore the following soon year of such a Translation to be treated, and resumed sometimes thereafter was of that business the care: is decreed a new translation in the year 1641 but the public of those times calamities, and which various supervened impediments, the matter deferred up to the Priorate of the Reverend P. Brother Thomas Fontana; under whom so much was advanced, that in the year 1641, when he already was of his office discharged and it was vacant, the last hand was applied to the work, on the occasion of the coming into the Valtellina, on account of certain his businesses, the most Illustrious and most Reverend D. Lazarus Carafinus Bishop of Como.
[5] Then indeed it was agreed between the most illustrious Syndics of Morbegno and the Fathers of the Convent of S. Antony, that through their on each side proctor, the Bishop of Como consenting: namely the most Illustrious D. Peter Antony of Castello of S. Nazarius, a suppliant for this libel they should offer, as was done they having gone forth in the encounter of his most Illustrious and most Reverend Lordship, then in the Convent residing; by which he was asked to favor the counsel, undertaken to the honor of one Blessed, so greatly honored by the people, esteemed by the Dominican Religion, and by the very Bishop entered in the tablets of the Martyrology of Como, with this most worthy elogium: Brother Andrew of Peschiera of his morals the piety by miracles after death wrought showed: that nothing be said of John Michael Pius of Bologna, Inquisitor of Milan and formerly of Lombardy Provincial, and of Leander Albertus most honorably of him having spoken. It was added, at Peschiera the country of the Blessed, in the church greater an altar to be had, to his name dedicated, with a lamp before it burning, as testified the most Illustrious and most Reverend Bishop of Verona.
[6] These heard approved his most Illustrious and most Reverend Lordship, who the tomb opening and praised of the parties supplicating the devotion: to which that he might comply, he resolved before all things by himself to be inspected the chest. Therefore having assumed into testimony men some noble of the Morbegno place, to the church he betook himself; and the doors closed behind him he went to the chest, of brick work fabricated, and founded upon a spacious stone: and all things diligently described in a Process thereupon made, he ordered to be broken by the masons the tomb from one end. This done there appeared inside a wooden chest red, outside with a linen cloth wrapped; and it thence drawn out and unsealed we saw, with great solace of all, the venerable bones of him who so faithfully served the Lord; with which a glass phial, and in it a membrane wrapped, and with words of this kind inscribed. he finds the testimony of the first Translation, This is the body of the venerable Father and blessed Brother, Andrew of Peschiera, who for a long time through this Valley's towns and villages preached, never nearly, unless when to wash he wished, his garments drawing off; beds plainly leaving, and upon twigs always sleeping; foods delicate rejecting, with millet bread, chestnuts, and of water drink his life sustaining; with the poor most gladly lodged, and them by examples rather than of words by leaves to live well persuading. With a holy end he rested in the year 1480, in the convent of Blessed Antony the Abbot; and in this mausoleum laid 1497 on the day XIX of the month of May, through the Venerable Brother Dominic of… From the other of the membrane part was written: This blessed Father's soul among the Heaven-dwellers placed, no one of those knowing is who doubts, both through the zeal which most fervent he had of souls, both through the testimony of all: and as is said Venerable… both therefore the miracles, with which him after death the Lord to decorate willed… For while with a certain Apothecary [f]… The rest are lacking, by age corrupted, even in the spaces by dots noted.
[7] These read through and transcribed, were collected the sacred bones into a linen cloth, and replaced within a little box new, and the bones he transfers into a portable chest, which with three seals sealed within a cell a certain was placed; until his most Illustrious Lordship should return from Ardenno. Meanwhile every which way was diffused the report of the future Translation: was sent also someone to Peschiera, to invite of that place the Chief men, that they might choose from their number some about to be present at the solemnity. Finally returned after the businesses performed to Morbegno the most Illustrious and most Reverend Lord on the day VIII of June, 8 June, and on the morrow (for Sunday it was) to complete all things desiring; the aforesaid sacred bones he replaced within a box of lead, within with a silk cloth clothed, sealing it over certain silk bands to it drawn around. After that of Musicians from divers places summoned a choir notable, with great pomp, led down the deposit venerable to the church, singing the Hymn, Iste Confessor: and the most Reverend P. Brother Peter Martyr of Acqua-nigra Inquisitor of Como, to the solemnity invited also himself, in a pluvial cope clothed stood at the foot of the stairs, from the dormitory of the convent leading to the church; which whole in the manner of a noble theatre marvelously was adorned, with little trees [h] of equal tallness. Not far from the steps, upon which rises the sanctuary, before a numerous Clergy, and nearly in the middle of the church, erected was an altar, with six candlesticks and a Cross silver, a white above canopy furnished, and with seats on each side in order placed up to the beginning of the steps of the sanctuary, for receiving the Lords Curates and other Ecclesiastics, designated for the ministry of the Pontifical Mass and the processional pomp to honor. Then were begun the Vespers of Blessed James [i] the Venetian Dominican, the Office making the most Reverend Father Inquisitor, before the most Illustrious Lord Bishop. By his moreover disposition, all things most studiously and most wisely arranging, were summoned the Protonotaries Apostolic, Archpriests, Provosts, Curates, and other all Ecclesiastics, especially from the territories of Morbegno and Traona k: and it was ordered that on the very evening preceding be rung the bells all of the said territories for an hour entire.
[8] on the morrow the sacred things Pontifically done By such an invitation and also affixed through divers places papers, excited those whom I said Lords, on Sunday morning with a notable retinue from everywhere they came together. The sacred moreover of Mass Office with Pontifical rite and chant performed the Lord Bishop; and in praise of the Blessed a panegyric had from Milan summoned a most celebrated Father, Thomas Reina [l] of the Society of Jesus. The Mass finished was raised the Blessed's banner silken, on each side his image painted exhibiting; which a moderate rain bedewed the sky, as a testimony affording to his sanctity: which however rain, lest a hindrance to the Procession it should be, soon ceased. The banner moreover that bore the most Illustrious D. Peter Antony of Castello of S. Nazarius: there following two Confraternities under their each banner, then under its Cross the Fathers of S. Antony, of whom thirteen from Como and Milan had come, the Fathers also Reformed of Traona, Processionally it he carries around, the Fathers Capuchin, the Clergy finally secular very numerous, in chasubles, dalmatics, surplices and copes clothed, for each one's grade. Then there was carried before the very most Illustrious one and the of the sacred bones venerable bier the Crozier Pastoral, by a certain Ecclesiastic titled, whom there followed torch-bearers six, all Nobles of Morbegno; and behind the most Illustrious one himself, to whom for of devotion the tenderness frequent from his eyes flowed tears. He with his own shoulders among the first the sacred bones bore, until others and others in order should succeed by changed turns, as changed also those Nobles who of the canopy portable the shafts sustained: there following again other torch-bearers six, and D. Diocletian Bergaminus of Peschiera, also a torch bearing among noble men two. Nothing I say of the cries of the energumens at the sight of the sacred deposit raised, nor of the of the persons devout acclamations glad, and of others' pious tears.
[9] At the church's entrance was built with a beautiful artifice a triumphal arch, with a notable apparatus of triumphal arches, according to the laws of perspective inward leading, inscribed with verses and with other furnished ornaments, upon columns two; so that on the side right were apses two, with as many statues and a Cherub, each apse with its as it were wings embracing, below moreover this elogium: Sits Andrew near the of Benacus [m] why waters? A great fisher what, unless a river, loves? under other two on the side left statues, above impending a Cherub, below thus was read: To Andrew the across-bones-bearing why jubilations do you bring forth? Me by a word into life glad also himself bore [n]. In the bases of the columns was expressed a figure of a Lion, and under of the very arch the hemicycle hung Angels flying two, having in the middle a shield ancestral of the most Illustrious Lord. The eminent above the door wall woven into the form of garlands ivy surrounded, and also the image of the very Blessed, under which such was read an inscription: To Blessed Andrew of Peschiera, in this once notable valley of souls a lover exceptional, a lover once of yours, now with the Heaven-dwellers a protector, the sacred renew obsequies you Morbegno-folk. Hither vows, minds, funeral offerings give. Festive to the bier let leap joys: tears either let express or let explode gladness.
[10] and with a various of public gladness argument. On the gable of the door rose pyramids four, and between them a statue of S. Antony, as the Patron of the church: and at last from the very frontispiece basilican summit hanging a banner precious, at the will of the light breeze fluctuated: sounding meanwhile the Morbegno bells all. At the head of the area before the church lying open, by which there is going into the streets of the town, at one or other square stood pyramids two with the insignia of the Community and of the very Blessed: and from the other of the area part stood a third pyramid, to the door greater corresponding. When moreover it came to the market of the very town, there occurred another triumphal arch, and next to it a fountain wine good flowing, from the liberality of a certain person much devoted to the Blessed. Of the houses moreover the walls with pictures, garlands, and clusters to be clothed the common of all testified gladness, by whatever pomp it was led; arches also triumphal others in other places were seen, until there was returned to the area of the Convent. Here the sacred bier on their shoulders received the Dominican Fathers four, to be brought into the church: who it there placed upon the altar, the Blessed's Breviary religiously kept. and left to the veneration of the people that day, together with the very Blessed's Breviary manuscript, which within a silver chest placed lay at the foot of the altar. And in this manner performed that festivity was. Afterward a certain devout to the Blessed person brought two crutches under-armpit wooden, on a certain morning found before the altar of S. Mary Magdalene, which is of the most Illustrious Lords
Castelli, there (as he believed) left by someone, in his feet maimed and divinely healed.
[11] Certain graces to him attributed, both then, Now indeed to be narrated by me it is, what deposed John Mateselli of Gerola, as wrought in the person of his daughter Antonia of months eighteen; to whom had befallen a continuous certain tremor, with a fever and a nodding of the eyes assiduous, and an inappetence of maternal milk. In this state she was brought to D. Priest Orlandus Curtoni, Curate of Bema, that her evil he might know and to her bless. He after some prayers over her recited, persuaded the father, that the convent of Morbegno of S. Antony approaching, he should devote her to S. Dominic of Soriano, and take of the Oil of the lamp before the image of the Saint burning, and with the same anoint the little one. He did what to him persuaded was; with the oil moreover which he received, he wished to be mixed something of another lamp, before the deposit of Blessed Andrew burning, that with multiplied intercessors more easily what he desired he might obtain. Thus instructed and home coming there met him his wife rejoicing, and saying; I believe that of blessing something with you you bring: because our daughter suddenly healed is. He anointed her nonetheless solicitous the father, and sound thereafter she persevered. This moreover happened in the year 1642. The same said John to himself to have happened in his son the preceding year, in the very in which the Translation was to be made time, when him to S. Dominic of Soriano and to Blessed Andrew he had commended. and formerly in the year 1488.
There is also in the Convent of S. Antony a book old of the incomes of the monastery, concluded in the year 1645, in which is read that in the year 1488, a certain D. Andrew Rusca, to the most Blessed Virgin Mary, to Saint Father Dominic, and to Saint Vincent Ferrer, and to Blessed Andrew vowed sixteen pounds, to be given to the Convent, if through these Saints' merits children to him should grant the Lord: of which vow a possessor made I believe, because afterward in the very book in his hand he noted that the aforesaid money he had paid.