ON ST. PETER PARENZO
MARTYR AT ORVIETO IN ETRURIA.
IN THE YEAR 1199.
PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY.
Concerning the Life written by a contemporary, the day of death and cult, and the most recent Translation of the body.
Peter Parenzo Martyr, at Orvieto in Etruria (St.)
BY THE AUTHOR D. P.
Orvieto, commonly Orvieto, the head of the region of the same name near the river Paglia, illustrious for an Episcopal See, and subject to the Pontifical rule, among its Patrons numbers St. Peter Parenzo, once Podestà, or Prefect given to it by Pope Innocent III, when the new Manicheans or Patarini troubled that city, by whom also he was slain. The Acts of his life and martyrdom, with the miracles wrought within a year from his death, The Acts written by an eye-witness Master John a contemporary author and in many things an eye-witness wrote: who that he might pay the debt of the vow which he had promised, those Acts he testifies himself to have written number 27. But number 39 he asserts that this writing was composed by him on the Kalends of October, that is within the fifth month from the martyrdom. The same number 19 indicates, that he had known the sick man for a long time, and had seen him restored to health, and number 25, 36, 41 and 55 he saw those healed, and the infirmities of many he learned from others. Likewise number 52 he saw a lamp lit of its own accord led by the motion of the spirit. At other times he indicates that he was not present at the miracle, but had learned it from other honest men relating it, as number 46 and 50 can be read. At other times from those themselves, to whom the miraculous health
had been conferred, the benefits themselves he knew. But who this writer was is indicated number 58 in the Supplement, where he is called, Master John, a fount of the knowledge of letters: and number 50 he indicates that he was in the Choir with others, and number 38, When all, he says, despaired of his health, he himself presented himself sound in our Chapter. From which it seems to be gathered, that he was of the very Chapter of the Canons of Orvieto, and on account of singular doctrine obtained the name of Master. These Acts had Philip Ferrarius, and Odorico Rinaldi. they are given from the Legendary of Orvieto, The former made from them some compendium, inserted into the Catalogue of the Saints of Italy; the latter, in his Ecclesiastical Annals, and their epitome, alleges very many things from the same, and calls them public tables, deposited in the Church of Orvieto and by a most faithful author. But the Legendary of Orvieto, in which the Passion of St. Peter Parenzo the Martyr was contained, was on a very large parchment leaf, and written in an ancient character, with this preface before it: whose use at Rome, the Most Illustrious Visani commending, kindly afforded us the Lord Advocate Cartari, a learned man and exceedingly well furnished with books.
[2] Since the lamp ought to shine by the exhibition of good works, in the hands of one's neighbors; not that the favor of vain praise be sought, but that glory be referred to the most high Father, from whom proceeds every best gift and every perfect gift; how they are there written. the deeds of those are praiseworthily to be committed by the pen to memory, who for the salvation of their souls and the remedy of sins send before them the lamp of good works, while time is fitted to them by the Lord; and study to exercise some things in the church, by which the house of the Lord may be adorned, and by the deeds and praises of the Saints exalted. Hence it is that the Presbyter Guido of Valloclum, Chaplain of the Church of St. Constantius, a man redolent of laudable opinion, and renowned for honesty; considering the aforesaid Church to labor in poverty of the deeds of the Saints, for the pardon of his offenses bought ten quires of his own; and this book, containing the histories of the Saints, to the honor of God and the aforesaid Church caused laudably to be begun: but the aforesaid gift being made, by a commendable example, the trustees of blessed memory Peter the Abbot, once Canon of that Church, a man best providing for his soul, provident in morals and knowledge, being moved, for his soul gave out a hundred shillings. As many therefore histories of the Saints are here contained, by so many suffrages with God let them be aided, who of their goods to this work shall have led some to be expended: that here the living may be protected by the subsidies of the Saints, and the dead be associated to their fellowship in the heavenly fatherland. Thus there. The Cathedral Church was formerly dedicated to the Virgin Mother of God, afterward named after St. Constantine the Bishop as the Divine Tutelar. To whose Archive the aforesaid codex being brought, now is there most diligently preserved; and there was in the year 1662 struck from it the aforesaid Life in Latin and Italian, by the interpretation of the Most Illustrious Antonio Stefano Cartari then Bishop of that city, which eighteen years after he sent to us, the Rector of our College then there, the Reverend Father Alexander Lucas.
[3] Slain not on the 20th but the 21st of May Philip Ferrarius in both Catalogues refers him to May XX: and in the former indeed of the Saints of Italy, he has an Epitome of the Martyrdom, taken as he says from an ancient Parchment Codex of the Church of Orvieto, which is the very one which we have transcribed; but in the latter he alleges the Tables of the same Church, and referring to the former Catalogue, where from the very Acts he had excerpted a fuller relation, he says, that he suffered in the year 1200. In which a typographical error is to be excused: for Ferrarius could not have so written, who in the aforecited Acts number 8 had expressly read, that the saint in the year one thousand one hundred ninety-nine, on the fifth weekday, taking his last supper with friends, offered the leg of a capon and a cup to his betrayer Radulf: by whom soon delivered to the heretical adversaries about the first watch of the night, and dragged outside the city, before it grew light was slain, surely on the sixth weekday, and so number 19 on the sixth weekday after his death that is on the eighth day; and on the following sabbath that is the ninth day after his passing the wrought miracles are narrated. And all these things again are confirmed by the author of the Appendix likewise contemporary, asserting number 46, that blessed Peter Parenzo died and was buried in the year of the Lord one thousand one hundred ninety-nine, the twelfth Kalends of June. For that year had the Dominical letter C.
[4] on the same day also he is venerated: Wonderful therefore it is, what moved Ferrarius, that he should anticipate the day; especially since from all memory backward the feast is celebrated at Orvieto on May XXI, as lately being asked by us the Very Reverend Lord Domenico Dolci, Theological Canon of that most noble Cathedral, replied: adding, that the feast is celebrated by the Clergy indeed under the rite of a double office; but by the people, not indeed as a precept, yet with no less devotion: nay also that the feast of the solemn Translation, made in the year 1660, Translation Nov. 19, 1660. is every year renewed with the same rite on the day XIX of November; which Translation although many miracles followed, yet of none is a written memory extant, except in votive tablets of every kind, and silver and waxen votive offerings hung around the altar of the new Chapel, which is named from Piety, the public instrument of the aforesaid Translation, sent from the archive of the City, the reader will find at the end of the Life, with a description of that monument and altar, under which the sacred bones now are honored, a lamp burning perpetually within it. This meanwhile I would premise, that in recognizing that sacred treasure, there was likewise found an ancient little chart, written with these words. These are the bones of Saint Peter Parenzo of the City, the Podestà of the city of Orvieto, slain by the Patarini: but how and in what sense these are called Manicheans will be explained in the Annotations.
[5] By saying "of the City" they seem to indicate a Roman origin, but the surname of Parenzo taken from a father so called according to the more usual custom of that century I would rather believe, the surname of Parenzo. than that some family of the Parenzi existed at Rome, drawing its origin from Istria, where in Roman times the known city Parentium even today retains its name at the mouth of the river Quieto, with a convenient port which an opposite island makes: for if it were that, he should rather be called Peter de Parentio than Parenzo: but why in the instrument of the translation he is called of Parenzia rather than Parenzo, except where the ancient writing is brought forth, I do not yet attain.
LIFE
By the Author Master John a contemporary, Canon of the Church of Orvieto. From the old Legendary of the same Church.
Peter Parenzo Martyr, at Orvieto in Etruria (St.)
BHL Number: 6763, 6764
BY JOHN A CONTEMPORARY FROM A MANUSCRIPT
CHAPTER I,
The heresy of the new Manicheans having arisen at Orvieto: for whose extirpation B. Peter is constituted Rector.
[1] The celestial height of counsel, wishing to invite every one to the prize of supernal beatitude, proposed a contest for those to be crowned; in which unless those who shall have lawfully contended, according to the Apostle, they cannot be crowned with the diadem of perpetual remuneration. 2 Tim. 2:5. For the little ship of His Church, to the various persecutors of various times He exposed to be assailed: After various persecutions of the Church, for the primitive Church, purchased with the blood of the immaculate Lamb, the Jewish and Gentile people attempted by various kinds of torments to overcome; but while it was thought to fail in the elect, then at last it obtained a glorious triumph over its enemies. But after it was augmented in both peoples, warring in the camps of this wretched life, also brought by heretics, the fury of the former persecutors almost ceasing, by many heresies by many depraved doctors it is assailed: that those who are of the divine words proved by silver, the sleep of sloth being shaken off in the article of necessity may be made manifest against the persecutors of the Church, that the Shepherds may be distinguished from the hirelings; these watching over the flock enjoying the brightness of the eternal light; but those for the sleep of negligence to the exterior darkness, where is weeping and gnashing of teeth, perpetually deputed. For all sects strive continually in hidden places to shoot at the Catholic Church; but especially the heresy of the Manicheans, and most recently the Manicheans. forging upon its back with all its strength, and bearing the venom of asps under its lips, with the hammer of damned dogma ceases not daily to strike it.
[2] Of this sect a certain Florentine, a son of perdition, by name Diotesalvi, like Satan transforming himself into an Angel of light, feigning himself venerable in aspect, honest in gait and exterior habit, first after Hermannin of Parma b with Gerard of Marsana, in the time of Rusticus c Bishop of Orvieto, sowed the most wicked doctrine of the Manicheans in Orvieto; asserting, those men being driven out who were spreading the heresy at Orvieto. that there is nothing of the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ; that baptism, which the Catholic Church hands down, profits nothing to salvation; that prayers and alms profit not to the benefit of the absolution of the dead; that Blessed Sylvester and all his successors are bound by the torments of eternal punishment; that all visible things are made by the devil and subject to his power; that every good man is equaled in merits and rewards to Blessed Peter the Prince of the Apostles; that every evil man with Judas the betrayer sustains a like punishment; adding other nefarious things, which in the booklet published against heretics can be clearly gathered. These two heretics the venerable Father d Richard Bishop of Orvieto cast out, with manfully pastoral solicitude. Whom two women, Milita by name of Monte-Meato and Julitta a Florentine, the same is revived by women daughters of iniquity, succeeded; who displaying outwardly the quality of Ecclesiastical religion, by frequenting the thresholds of the Churches, and as it seemed intent on hearing the divine offices, walking in the garments of sheep, inwardly held the likeness of wolves. By their simulated religion the Bishop being deceived, judged them to be admitted into the confraternity of Clerics, established for the cause of prayer. And when one of them, Milita by name, like another Martha, seemed to be solicitous about repairing the roof of the greater church; the other, namely Julitta, like another Mary, seemed with all her strength to embrace the contemplative life: the greatest part of the matrons of our city, and certain of their friends, began to venerate them as most holy women. But they, like familiar enemies and pests most efficacious for harming, and like a cold serpent lying hidden in the grass, under the pretext of religion, drew many both men and women into the labyrinth of the said heresy. But the Bishop seeing himself by their simulated religion to be deluded, the counsel of his Canons, Judges and other prudent men being had, ascending from the opposite side, and opposing himself as a wall for defending the Church of Christ, and they are coerced with grave punishments: so far persecuted the heretics, that some sustained the penalty of hanging, others were punished in the head, others were delivered to the avenging flames to be burned, others having suffered a greater than capital diminution outside the city, bewailed the penalty of perpetual exile; others ending their life ill in their own error, received a fetid burial outside the cemetery of the church.
[3] After these things between the Lord Innocent e the third Pope and the people of Orvieto over the burg of Acquapendente, but the Bishop being detained at Rome, which he said pertained to himself, a grave discord having arisen; the said Pontiff bound the people of Orvieto with the bond of anathema, for almost nine months detaining the unwilling
Bishop at Rome, to the reproach of his city. But the Pastor being absent, the sheep wandering from the flock, were exposed to the bites of wolves to be lacerated; because where there is not an assiduous governor, the people easily falls to sinning. The city of Orvieto therefore being for a time destitute of the rule of its Pastor, a certain Peter f the Lombard, a doctor of the Manicheans, leaving g Viterbo, in Orvieto began to celebrate hidden conventicles with certain depraved doctors: and the heretics again growing strong to whose voice of preaching assembling a multitude of nobles and people, as if deceived by the song of sirens, the little ship of Peter being left, began to sustain the danger of shipwreck. This depraved doctrine so germinated in the minds of the hearers, that to so great a degree the number of heretics increased, that against the Catholics they publicly preached; saying that if the necessity of war against them should be imminent, they would compel them miserably to be exiled outside the city. For now they had conceived in mind conspiring, that, if they could not incline the Catholics to the perfidy of their iniquity, their riches being taken away, and their persons rejected, and subjected to the punishment of death, that city itself, on account of its impregnable fortification, they would depute as the dwelling of heretics assembling from all parts of the world, for assailing the Catholic Church. But lest the tunic of Jesus Christ should irremediably sustain the loss of being torn, a defender is sought by the Catholics, by divine inspiration the Catholics assembled into one, quickly directing Catholic men to Rome: who should receive thence someone as Rector, who should acquire for the people of Orvieto the grace of the supreme Pontiff, obtain the benefit of the peace and grace of the Romans, and from the city utterly pluck out the root of heretical depravity.
[4] By the Roman people therefore the messengers of the people of Orvieto being sent, and St. Peter is given, received with a soul exulting in the Lord Peter Parenzo as Lord and Rector: whom also the supreme Pontiff approved, enjoining the same in remission of his sins to purge the city of Orvieto from the leaven of heresy; declaring to the same, that if for this he should sustain the peril of death, of the heavenly kingdom he would acquire the everlasting rewards. But this man was in age a youth, in sense an old man with hoariness, eloquent in speech, constant in purpose, perspicacious in genius, tenacious in memory, adorned with every kind of virtue, a most diligent keeper of common things; in holding the justice of each one firm, in defending the Catholic faith most firm; most liberal in exhibiting alms, so that when it happened that he rode through the city of Rome with anyone, if he could find the Rectors of hospitals, having inquired about the number of the poor, diligently for buying their food, secretly money he gave, and afterward at the hour of eating returning alone, served the poor, as a servant his lord. He also paid tithes contrary to the custom of the Romans, Tuscans, and others which is to be reproved. Peter Parenzo therefore being called by the people of Orvieto as Lord and Rector, in the year of the Lord one thousand one hundred ninety-nine in the month of February was received by the people of Orvieto great and small, who being received in the year 1199: with branches of olive and laurel, with joy and honor: and because he had come to minister peace to his subjects, his office took its beginning to be commended from peace.
[5] For he forbade the people of Orvieto in Carnival to abstain from the conflicts of wars, because at that time under the occasion of a game h many homicides were wont to be perpetrated. But the heretics, he forbids conflicts in Carnival, who always envy the Catholic unity, wishing to impede his laudable purpose, caused so great a discord to arise on the first day of Lent under the pretext of a game, that in the public forum the whole city fought with swords, lances and stones, through the towers and palaces round about, the covenant of concord being violated. But Peter Parenzo mounting a horse, that he might divide the war, among the midst of the combatants did not fear to expose himself to the peril of death: and passing through the midst of them, was preserved unharmed, divine grace protecting him. But that the penalty of some might be the correction of very many, and severely chastises those offending in this: and lest the facility of pardon should furnish an incentive of offending, and the combatants might be punished in that which they had offended; the palaces and towers in which it had been fought, he caused for the most part to be cast down to ruin; without acceptance of persons punishing all, as the matter of the case demanded. But concerning those who had fought on the ground, because they were not few, and the slaughter was of many, he detracted from the severity of the lawful vengeance. But this to him from those who had been punished, ministered the tinder of envy and the greatest hatred: because it is difficult for one holding the balance of justice, with equal weight to avoid unjust enmities and undue hatreds. But because he could not please all, and chiefly the evil, he procured the friendship of the good Catholics.
[6] But that he might better cut off the heretics from the field of the Church with the sickle of justice, he prescribes to the heretics a time of conversion with Bishop Richard he frequently held counsel in the greater church, adhering near that place [to] the sepulchre, in which his body now remains entombed. But afterward the counsel of very many wise men being had, in a public assembly he decreed, that if anyone within an appointed day should return to the Church, which closes not its bosom to those returning, and obey the commands of the Bishop, he should merit pardon and grace: but he who should disdain to return before the appointed day, should receive the penalty constituted by laws and canons. the obstinate he punishes: But the Bishop blazing vehemently against the perfidy of the Manicheans, received the testimonies of the heretics, returning from heresy to the Catholic unity, with Pastoral solicitude, and presented them to Peter Parenzo. He bound some shackled with iron bonds, judged others to be scourged with public stripes, compelled others miserably to be exiled outside the city, mulcted others with a penalty of money, which being lost is bewailed with true tears by avaricious possessors; from others he received pledges abundantly, the houses also of very many he caused to be demolished. The Rector therefore of our city, walking by the royal way, declined neither to the left nor to the right. Whence justice being preserved prepared for himself the material of persecution in those, whom he had punished according to the rigor of the law and the order of equity.
[7] These things being so disposed, Peter Parenzo, about to keep the last Easter of the Lord's Resurrection with his family, returned to Rome, and by the Pope animated to martyrdom: visited his fatherland. But while he tarried in the city, wishing humbly to present himself to the Lord Pope Innocent the third, he met him then returning from the Church of St. Peter to the Lateran Church near the basilica of St. Daniel i. To whom the Lord Pope said: We wish, Peter, that thou exhibit to us an oath of fidelity, from which thou hast undertaken the rule of our city. To whom Peter said: Holy Father, I am ready to obey your commands. And the Lord Pope said: To thee we remit the oath of fidelity: how dost thou rule our city, and hast thou executed our command against the heretics? To this Peter replied: Lord so have I punished the heretics in the city of Orvieto, that they publicly threaten to inflict on me the punishment of death. These things heard the Lord Pope said: Son, it behooves thee more to fear God, than the punishments of men: boldly assail the heretics: he makes a testament. for although they can kill the body, yet no harm can they make to the soul, but God retains both in His power. But Peter said: What else might happen to me? To whom the Lord Pope said: Son, we by the authority of God, and of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul absolve thee from all bonds of sins, if by the hands of the heretics thou shalt be slain. These things heard Peter Parenzo humbly inclined himself, holding the promise as ratified; and giving thanks. Therefore conceiving in mind the spirit of fortitude, he returned home joyful; and as if foreknowing his death, appointed his brothers heirs to himself, and secretly made a testament. Which when his mother and wife had understood, they afflicted themselves with the effusion of tears and the grief of inward bitterness.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER II.
The Martyrdom: the burial, the corpse honored from heaven, the Robbers punished.
[8] Meanwhile while the Rector was absent from our city, the Manicheans others whom Peter Parenzo justice demanding had punished, made counsel into one, he returns to Orvieto that they might hold him by guile, and to the restitution of pledges, to the renunciation of the condemned, and to having consent and favor in their perfidy, constrain him. Finding a certain servant, Radulf by name, who served the Lord Peter Parenzo, to him they promised that they would give a certain quantity of money, if he would deliver his Lord into their hands to be detained. But the betrayer inflamed by the torches of avarice, sought an opportunity of delivering his Lord into the hands of the wicked. But Peter Parenzo, his kinsmen and friends being saluted with the last address of salutation, returned to the city of Orvieto on the Kalends of May, received a second time by the people of Orvieto with foliage, flowers and very great joy. Then not desisting from the persecution of the heretics, but their terrors and threats being manfully trodden under, he afflicted them with lawful penalties. For so great constancy of virtue
the providence of the most high majesty had conferred on the future Martyr, that with hands often raised to heaven, his mind being prepared for martyrdom: in public and private he besought God, the blessed Virgin, and the Prince of the Apostles, that if ever he should end his life by the sword, he might consummate it by the sword of the heretics, in defending the Catholic faith: asserting that he would be adorned with the glory of beatitude, if through their hands he should endure the peril of death. And the desire of his soul he merited to obtain, and of the will of his lips he was not defrauded. For the betrayer Radulf, like Judas, nay another Judas, because by right he obtained the name of him whose crimes he imitated, studied to attend to the betrayal with effect. For on the thirteenth Kalends of June one thousand one hundred ninety-nine on the fifth weekday, by the conspirators while Peter Parenzo at supper with Henry the Roman Judge and others cheerful remained, the betrayer the leg of a capon from the hand of the Lord and Rector of the people of Orvieto importunately received, and the cup greedily from the hands of the same did not fear to receive, that the manner of betrayal he might more boldly exercise. A man of peace in whom he hoped magnified supplanting against his Lord: nor could the betrayer sleep in mind, but with the heretics had prepared many ambushes about the palace of our Rector and the neighboring places, that under the appearance of Catholics they might enter to the Lord.
[9] When therefore the most Christian Peter Parenzo unshod in the palace about the first watch of the night was sitting, preparing himself to take the rest of sleep; under the night being seized, the heretics, besetting the doors of the palace, sought the Lord as if about to have a conversation: and the betrayer with men not small managing, seizing him at the door of the palace, his throat, lest he should utter a cry, with a strap strongly they bound, stopping up his mouth, and wrapping his head with skins: and removing him from the palace, to remote places outside the city they strove to lead him. Then Peter, already in mind a Martyr, began humbly to beseech them, not to lead him outside the walls of the city; alleging that he was unshod, nor even shod could he walk after the manner of a pedestrian. Then the Betrayer gave him his boots to be put on. Meanwhile a discord arose among them, some wishing to lead him to a certain wood, others wishing to lead him to a certain citadel, Ruspampano, the receptacle of the worst men, he is led outside the city to be detained. Thus the impious discording among themselves, it pleased the whole synagogue of the malignant, to send for the associates of the sworn faction, and the Lord of the people of Orvieto to a certain hut they led. But the synagogue of wolves surrounding the gentle lamb, with one accord proposed, that he should restore the money taken with the pledges to all; should relinquish the rule of the city; should give a juratory caution, if he wished to preserve his life, that he would at no time infest their sect, but rather give counsel and favor. But Peter, from the rock of the Church receiving the firmness of faith, said that he was willing to render the money and pledges from his own chamber, yet he would not relinquish the rule of the city, nor make any caution to their sect concerning not offending but aiding: where refusing to favor the heretics, but replied that he would rather sustain every torment, than deviating from the path of the Catholic faith consent to their errors: adding also that he was unwilling to pass over the command enjoined to him, nor to obligate himself with the bonds of perjury, since he had undertaken the city of Orvieto to be governed for one year an oath being given. But the heretics, threatening him death if he did not do what they asked, could not by threats or terrors move the man founded upon the firm rock.
[10] While such things were being treated, and many calves of the heretics and others surrounded him, and fat bulls besieged him; certain ones roaring like a lion, were called to the aforementioned hut, of whom one raging, like a lion, said: Why with so many words do you detain this most wicked man? he is slain by a cruel death: And with raised hand so struck the mouth of Peter Parenzo with all his effort, that one tooth being knocked out the whole mouth was wetted with blood. But another seized by a like fury, a millstone instrument being snatched, wounded the Lord Peter Parenzo in the occiput of the brain most cruelly, so that prostrate to the earth he received dust in his mouth instead of the Sacrament of Communion. But others following the cruelty of the worst men, the Lord Peter himself with knives and swords slew, four wounds being added to the wound above mentioned: but others desiring to satiate their wicked minds with vengeance, denuded his head of hair in many parts. At length carrying his body to a certain well, covered with a certain little cask, The body is rendered immovable: that they might cast it into the same lest it could be found; they could not move the corpse deposited nor open the mouth of the well. Whence leaving the corpse, they clung to the protection of flight, the body remaining immovable by a certain trunk of a nut-tree: which when it was depraved by the vice of sterility, in the same year twice brought forth abundant fruit; the counsel of the divine disposition bringing it about, that the fruit should commend the tree, the miracles the Martyr.
[11] And when at high dawn six brothers millers were going through the city of Orvieto, they found the corpse of their Lord and Rector far from the palace, thinking some merchant slain: but the splendor of the dawn repelling the darkness, the death of the Lord Peter was revealed to all. Then ran the Bishop, the Clergy and the whole people, afflicting themselves with the bitterness of inward grief, because the Rector of the people of Orvieto had been seized and slain, the Bishop, Clergy and people most greatly mourning, under whose shadow the city received increase in justice and honors: the crown of their head fell, and they were made orphans without a father. As if using the threnodies of Jeremiah they were compelled lamentably to lament; A voice in the height was heard, weeping and much wailing: nor could they console themselves, because their Lord from death, nay more truly from life, they could not recall: but day and night the tears of those weeping descended on their cheeks. They sought a consoler among all their dear ones, nor could they find one; but all their friends spurning them, became unknown and as if wholly strangers: the harp of the exulting people was turned into mourning, and the organ into the voice of those weeping was changed: the garb was darkened, the best color was changed of the Clerics, men, women and all the little ones, for the sadness of heart and the multitude of tears. They were set into reproach and derision to all set round about, to whom a little before they had been a fear and a terror; because it is denied to the highest things to stand long, and worldly felicity is sprinkled with many bitternesses. They cut off the sleeves of their garments, tore their clothes, and their breasts, striking them strongly with their fists. Their hair both men and women plucked out by the roots. All the virgins squalid were oppressed with bitterness, the infants lying in cradles wailed, beholding the sadness of their parents. The ways of the city of Orvieto mourned, because there was for them no festivity nor the wonted joys. The Curia wept, because although there was law in the city, yet there was no one who should render it, nor even demand it; but the laws and plebiscites, by the death of their Patron compelled, kept silence. With such sadness therefore the corpse of the Podestà of the people of Orvieto was carried to the church of St. Andrew: carried to St. Andrew's, whence on account of his burial no small discord arose among the citizens, some wishing him to be buried in the said church; others crying out with Henry the Judge, thence to the greater Church: that by right he was to be entombed at the greater church; which was carried into effect, as it pleased the divine majesty. For it was worthy and consonant to reason, that he who by blasphemers of Jesus Christ and His glorious Virgin Mother had been slain, should receive burial at her church, and the same church should receive an increase of honor and reverence. For to so great vileness had the greater church come, that at all times except on the feast of the Assumption of the blessed Virgin, on the Nativity of the Lord, and the solemnity of Easter, from the reverence and frequency of men it seemed wholly alien, and scarcely in it the lights of three lamps shone. The Patron therefore of the people of Orvieto in that sepulchre, to which he often adhered, having conversation with the venerable Father Richard Bishop of Orvieto concerning purging the field of the Church from the heretical foulness, merited to be buried. The place also, in which the sepulchre remains placed, the roof above being broken had as it were no defense against the rain; whence the rain watering it, that place deserted, with green herbs seemed like a meadow. The Lord Peter Parenzo therefore being buried, not with a stone, but with a b coverlet of sendal, the monument was covered for a modest time, that men might come to perform the sad exequies.
[12] Meanwhile the people blazing for the vengeance of their Lord, seized certain ones truly defamed with the crime of high treason, punishing them in the street c of the Burg of St. Christina with the due penalty. But the betrayer Radulf, the slayers are punished with the due penalty: fleeing to the citadel of Ruspampano, swollen after a little burst; dying receiving a vengeance like that of Judas, that whom a like crime had made equal, with a penalty like Judas's he should be struck. But another, who had inflicted the mortal wound on his Lord, fleeing to a certain castle, swollen shortly breathed out his wretched soul: whose body when it had been given to ecclesiastical burial, so by swelling grew, that scarcely could it be retained in the tomb, infecting the air by its excessive stench: whence the pest of infirmity and mortality had invaded the castellans, a tempest of hail rushing in those parts. But the castellans digging up the most fetid corpse, entombed it outside the castle in a fetid place; and so the cause ceasing, ceased likewise what was pressing. A certain one also snatching the tunic of our Rector from the sepulchre, washed the blood from it, casting it into a place deputed for putrefaction, whence he afterward felt the judgment of divine vengeance. But of his blood somewhat was collected, Some of the Blood, is placed in the Church. and laid up in a certain pyx… remains placed in the greater church. What more? Almost all, who were suspected of the death of our Patron, received the reward of their iniquity from the Lord. Nor let any think that they have escaped the due penalty, since what is deferred is not always taken away by men; since the bow more stretched strikes more strongly the one resisting, and the divine judgment punishes more cruelly the contumacious; since God the jealous asserts that He temporally avenges the sins of the fathers even unto the third and fourth generation; since He did not punish all the worshippers of the calf, but deferred the vengeance to be exercised on the successors; since the death of Christ after forty-two years was avenged.
[13] By such vengeances God showed, that much in Peter Parenzo had pleased Him, whom He set as an example and a defense to all. For unless God had raised up seed from a grain of wheat upon the earth, leaving a blessing after Him, and had made with us a sign for good, the whole city would have perished. For the people walking in darkness obtained the brightness of light, because laughter being mixed with grief the extreme joys occupied the mourning, and sadness was turned into joy: nor did God permit us to be tempted above what we could, but made with the temptation an outcome, lest the immensity of sadness should absorb us. For it pleased the Creator of all things, that the lamp should not lie hidden under
the bushel, but set upon the candlestick should show its brightness, and the city set on a mountain should make itself manifest, and the fruit should render the tree commended, The corpse remains sweet-smelling, lively and flexible: and the persecution had for the sake of justice should demonstrate the indication of beatitude. For although our Rector in the occiput of the brain, in the groin, in the breast, in the hinder part, in the reins, was wounded with the greatest blows, and the corpse was fleshy, in the tomb covered with the veil of a coverlet; it emitted no stench, but an odor as it were aromatic emanated from it. Whence all were amazed, and manifoldly wondered, that since there was the greatest heat, it emitted no stench, but retained a color more vivid than when he lived: nor did the body grow pale, nor did the members grow stiff destitute of the vital spirit. For the Presbyters and Soldiers very frequently touched his fingers, and so found them pliable, as if the body the vital spirit and soul quickened. Dona-Deus, the sacristan, a man fearing God, fleeing falsehood and loving truth, related with certain others to the Bishop and Canons, the beatitude of the soul is indicated from heaven. that on the third day after his death, the setting of the sun being imminent, he had heard a boyish voice, and a voice similar to his voice while he lived: and by the boyish voice it was said over the sepulchre, Peter, dost thou wish to rise again? But he replied, saying that he was unwilling to rise again, nor to return to the misery of mortality, since he enjoyed the rewards of the true life. The said sacristan added also, that on that day around the sepulchre divine virtue wonderfully relit an extinguished light. And although concerning the abovesaid he wished to make faith with others by an oath, yet the hearers by no means applied the ears of credulity. For occupied by the straits of sadness, the root of the tree, by which the wrought miracles were narrated, they did not subtly scrutinize. Our tree therefore, founded and rooted upon the firm rock, ought to produce fruit to be commended; because Peter Parenzo, not by his own authority, but founded upon the firm rock, which is the firmament of faith, by the authority of the supreme Pontiff exercised lawful vengeance against the heretics, made obedient even unto death: whence suffering persecution for the sake of justice, he was afterward reddened with the blood of his passion.
[14] From which it evidently follows, that by sustaining persecution for the sake of justice he procured for himself the glory of beatitude, the Lord saying in the Gospel: Blessed are they who suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matt. 5:10 He obtained the benefit of absolution from the Lord Pope Innocent the third, the certainty of the same is proved from Scripture. the successor of the Prince of the Apostles, who holds the same fullness of power of binding and loosing with his predecessor the Prince of the Apostles, the Lord saying to the same: Whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth shall be bound also in the heavens, and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth shall be loosed also in the heavens. Matt. 16:19 In the cabinet also of his breast the knowledge of law rests. That with the arms of charity the Patron of the people of Orvieto was fortified, is evidently gathered, the Lord saying: Greater love than this no one has, than that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 But this man not for an earthly friend, but for a heavenly one received the cup of passion; as if he should say with the Prophet: What shall I render to the Lord for all that He has rendered to me? Ps. 115:12 I will take the cup of salvation. But charity, like a pure fount, of which no stranger partakes, the vices being expelled prepares a dwelling worthy of God. Likewise the effusion of blood for the confession of Christ, by the testimony of Augustine, is known to obtain the effect of baptism; nay baptism martyrdom or passion is called by the Lord in the Gospel: I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how am I straitened until it be accomplished? Luke 12:50 Likewise by the sickle of martyrdom all superfluous things are cut off, for this the cause made him a Martyr, and the penalty for the Catholic faith to be defended. Likewise all that he had he renounced silently, and a true martyrdom. who chose rather to suffer for Christ, than by consenting to those more iniquitous than Pagans, to preserve for himself the conveniences of mortal life.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER III.
Miracles wrought soon from his death, in the month of May and June especially.
[15] From what has been said it can be clearly gathered, that he can deservedly be called both Blessed and Martyr: for denoting all which the Crowner of Martyrs deigned to show three insignia similar to his history. For on the fifth weekday he was betrayed, offering a morsel and wine to the betrayer; with five wounds he was wounded; on the third day after his death, like Christ, he first appeared in a vision to a certain woman. For a certain matron, of the district of a Corvaro of the diocese of Orvieto, for four years had had her hands so contracted, The contracted hands of a woman are healed, worn out with all leanness, that in them only the sinews seemed to exist, and they were wholly alien from the offices of women. Her a certain Prior of St. Andrew of Monte-Martha sent to a certain venerable honest and religious man, Anselm by name, learned in medical science, a citizen of Orvieto, that he might assist her with the help of medicines. Who when he could not profit her with his medicines, on the ninth Kalends of June giving sleep to his eyes in the night, and to his eyelids the wonted rest, saw in sleep himself before the altar of B. Peter the Apostle at Rome with a great multitude remaining; a double vision preceding and hearing the concert of many Angels, what song it was, began humbly to ask. To whom one of them inquiring replied: This is Peter Parenzo, who was slain in Orvieto by the swords of the impious; and these are the Angels who lead him to the dwelling of the fatherland. But waking in the morning the aforesaid physician, advanced in age, began subtly to consider what this vision signified. Then there came the already-mentioned matron, and visiting him related to him her vision, saying that she had seen in sleep the same night the whole world covered with abundant waters, but in those waters men were submerged, and the same woman was up to the lips occupied by the liquids of the same water; and a certain one eminent above the waters said to her: Go to that wounded one and he will grant thee health, and from the waves of the waters he will free thee. And as the woman herself related, Peter Parenzo seemed to stand near her, so in truth wounded, as he had been wounded by the hands of the wicked. But the woman said in the vision: Lord, help me. And he extended his finger, and the woman began to grasp the finger of B. Peter Parenzo: and straightway going out of the water in the vision, she was with many peoples freed. But Master Anselm hearing the woman and considering her vision, revolving also in mind for what cause the Lord Peter had been slain; said to the woman: Sister, go to that holy Martyr: because since he was slain for the sake of justice, perhaps he will grant thee the desired health. But the woman giving faith to his words, devoutly and humbly presented herself at the sepulchre of the Martyr; and there praying all the fourth weekday, the sinews stretching and the bones making a crash, with hands raised she said: God help me. And straightway she received in her hands health, so that with her hands she might work, whatever the offices of women demand. Whence returning to the often-mentioned physician she showed him her most sound hands. But the physician conceived immense joy, when the same woman returning to the sepulchre, rendered praises and thanks to God. This miracle being divulged, the people, who from immense sadness were affected with pallor, and keeping silence seemed as if dead, revived in spirit; and as if rising from the heavy sleep of sadness, to the church of the Mother of God with hastened steps flew, praising and blessing God, who wonderful in His Saints does prodigies and great marvels alone; who heals the contrite of heart, binding up their contritions and healing them with the medicine of joy; who when He shall have been angry, shows the bowels of His wonted piety, as it were mixing the liquor of oil with wine, striking the sons with a staff, and sustaining them with the rod of mercy.
[16] But the people praising over these things the Creator of all things, Master Anselm met by fortuitous chance the father of a certain boy of the castle of b Porano, whose son having a dry right arm, and the dry arm of a boy, and deprived from birth of the power of his whole right side, in vain had received the counsel and help of the Master above mentioned. But the father of the boy thus Master Anselm addresses, showing the woman healed through the Martyr: Brother, dost thou see this woman healed? As God to the honor of the Martyr healed her, so to thy son if He wills He can exhibit the grace of health. But the father of the boy strengthened by the words of the physician, carried his son to the sepulchre, prostrate to the earth, and watered with tears: whose son the same night the Lord through His Martyr restored to full health.
[17] On the very day on which our Rector fell by the hands of the impious, a certain woman of the castle of Sermognano of the diocese of c Bagnorea, the sinister report being heard of the death of the Martyr slain, who had punished her heretic friend with the due vengeance, began not a little to exult; and bending her knees and raising her hands began to utter blasphemy against the Martyr, saying: Blessed be God, because that most wicked man is dead, who unjustly afflicted many men. The mouth of the blasphemer distorted is restored she repenting. The speech of blasphemy being completed, straightway she sustained in the hinder part of her mouth a twisting, that in that in which she had offended she might be punished. She repenting of what she had committed, weeping and wailing visited the tomb of B. Peter; and weeping for her guilt, she felt her mouth restored to its former state. From these and many other miracles, which it would be laborious to reduce into writing, the fame of our Martyr, like an alabaster of broken ointment, was redolent through all the parts of Tuscany and other surrounding provinces; and many coming brought those ill, and all were cured oppressed with various languors. Certain malign spirits, wishing to restrain the frequency of men from the tomb, in a certain window nearby cast stinking and rotten flesh, which afterward by God was not unpunished.
[18] The Presbyter Lambert of Plano, because he had been besprinkled with the leprosy of heretical foulness, from the communion
of the Clergy and from the Ecclesiastical benefice was separated. And when his brother Pepo had had from the beginning of August his fingers so rigid and joined together, Rigid fingers are restored to their former vigor: that he could bend none, nor separate one from another; he humbly besought the Bishop of Orvieto and the Clergy, to restore the said Presbyter into the communion of the Clergy and of benefices in regard of divine piety, that from the Ecclesiastical proceeds he might be able to minister to himself the necessaries of life, because he had no patrimony or any money, from which he could in any way sustain himself or his wife or his sons. By whose prayers when the Bishop was by no means bent, on the fifth weekday after the death of the blessed Martyr, the aforesaid Pepo with many others burdened with infirmity, by the steps of feet and of faith visited the sepulchre of the Martyr; and there lying, and bewailing his sins, humbly besought the Martyr, that he would restore to health his hands long since lost. And straightway his hands were so restored to their former soundness, that no traces of infirmity remained in them. I the writer knew this man so long impeded, afterward I saw his hands most evidently restored to health. On the same day Agatha the wife of Prungnolus, of the region of the Holy Apostles of Orvieto, when she had labored with the vice of blindness for the time of ten years now elapsed, before the sepulchre of the Martyr received the brightness of the desired light. On the same day, by the merit of his Martyr, the blind are illuminated: the Lord restored to health one of the eyes, which Michael Cannaiolus had lost.
[19] He healed also the daughter of John Agnes, who from birth of a dry arm was destitute of strength. On the same day the stepdaughter of Ventura, who long had lacked the strength of her arm, obtained the grace of health. And the daughter of the Lord Marsuppius received the light in one eye, other sick are cured. which she lacked, with vehement joy. On the sixth weekday after his death, that is the eighth day, from a certain woman he drove away a demon. On the following Sabbath, that is the ninth day after his passing, while at vespers, Let us bless the Lord, was said, a certain woman of Forricella, by name Andromacha, whose skin the flesh being consumed and the sinews contracted clung to the bones, so that from the neck downward the office of all the members seemed impeded; lying and praying before the sepulchre, obtained the grace of full health, a woman of advanced age; so that now not an old woman, not as yesterday and the day before infirm and weak, but most sound and most powerful she seemed a young woman.
[20] On the following day, that is the Lord's Day, while the Bishop with the Canons was chanting Terce by the wonted custom, and while the keeper of the most holy body to the standing throng of the languishing said and cried: Before the Pope's messengers Depart from the sepulchre, because behold the Messengers of the supreme Pontiff and of the kindly City come, that they may see the sepulchre, inquiring if true are the things, which fame divulges through the surrounding provinces; a certain woman of the village of Atriano, who on the night of the Kalends of November had wholly lost hearing and speech, before the sepulchre five days had lain half-alive. She was destitute of the offices of arms, hands, feet, and of both legs and of the power of the whole body, St. Peter appearing a mute and contracted woman is cured. the faculty only of swallowing and digesting what she took being left to her. This wretched woman indeed almost blind in bodily eyes, saw in spirit Peter Parenzo, whom with bodily eye she had never beheld; deaf she heard the Apostle of the people of Orvieto, the vanquisher of the Manicheans, at whose voice straightway the woman rose, sustained by no human aid; and the sign of the Cross being made for herself she emitted this first voice saying: Holy Peter Martyr, help me. The girl once adorned with beauty of body now more comely in mind, perceiving inward and outward health, sees him in spirit and recognizes, whom she had never seen in the body; and although she was worn out with leanness and oppressed by long infirmity, made a daughter of obedience, the second command not being awaited she obeys; and without help, without any delay she rose: which is a manifest indication of health restored in the body. For this was by divine providence ordained, that the coming Messengers of the Romans, before a very great throng flowing together, might see through the Martyr a manifest miracle, as if Christ for His Martyr should say by alleging; A perverse generation believes not unless it see signs and manifest prodigies: that the spite of envy, conceived against the Martyr while he lived, might be deleted, because according to the voice of Truth, A Prophet is not without honor except in his own country: because it is a natural vice, for citizens to envy citizens, and virtue is accompanied by the material of envy. Matt. 13:57 Spite seeking the highest, which feeds upon the living, after death by no means rested. This Martyr I believe, by the testimony of the Apostle, to be to some an odor of life unto life, to others an odor of death unto death; that after the manner of Christ to some he is set for resurrection, to some for ruin. 2 Cor. 2:16 Him so love the enemies of the Church as the Jews the Lord Jesus Christ. Make with us, we beseech Thee God, by the intercession of Blessed Mary ever Virgin, and the venerable merits of all Thy Saints, a sign for good unto the firmament of the whole Church, that what our sins impede, the grace of Thy piety may obtain for us and a revelation of the Lord divinely inspired touching the heart.
[21] But among all the miracles which the Lord through His Martyr showed in Orvieto, a great miracle to the honor of God and of His Martyr very often coruscated before a multitude of various nations. For with the multitude of the faithful and the unfaithful standing by and beholding, Lamps lit by fire fallen from heaven, innumerably copious, a fire from above from heaven at times was sent downward, and the extinguished lamps, candles and tapers it wonderfully lit, now displaying a scarlet color, now golden, sometimes wholly alien from our usual fire. By which miracle the hearts of the faithful were vehemently kindled toward the church of the Mother of God, which was as it were deserted, and toward visiting the sepulchre of the Martyr. For this also the prevaricators, who called that a den of robbers, returning to their heart, the thresholds of the church, as it seemed, with devout minds visited. to the reproach of the heretics, For it was expedient that one should die for the people, lest our whole city should perish: because then the heretics, who at first in the streets and villages publicly preached, became dumb. Let them therefore look at this lamp set upon the candlestick the foxes of Samson, destroying the Ecclesiastical institutes, locusts never remaining in the same place, wandering from the womb of the Church; and let them see if through any of theirs, burned or hanged for his error, God deigned to show such things. But it is not to be wondered at, since like sterile and cut trees, cut off from the unity of the Church, you cannot produce fruit to be commended. But because you cannot deny the miracles, you say that Christ did not work visible miracles. But not being able to deny the visible miracles, you lie that your Lucifer your God and Lord works them, because God by no means works through you. From whom therefore does any of you, destitute of the office of his members, or burdened with infirmity, seek to be freed? How do you say that you adore the true God, and the example of the Catholics. since according to your error retaining no power in this world, he can give nothing or take away? From whom but from the devil, whom you secretly adore, do you ask the necessaries? Let them look at the already-mentioned lamp the vassals and feudatories of Jesus Christ, living from a patrimony not their own but Jesus Christ's, milking, shearing and even cutting the milk, wool and flesh from the sheep of Christ; and let them study to recall what errs, to heal what is sick, to bind up what is broken; not fearing the threats of men, because this Martyr to the breastplate of the Church God willed to ordain, setting him as an example to all the faithful. But those who shall refuse from fear or love of men to imitate his example in the battles of their Lord, let them know that they have without doubt committed the ingratitude of losing their fief, and that they are to be repelled with closed doors from the court of the heavenly Lord.
[22] Demons are put to flight. The material of miracles overwhelms me the writer, therefore the miracles of our Martyr are to be abbreviated. On the day on which d Theodora was freed, the same illustrious martyr drove away from a certain woman of Stendanello e seven demons. A certain woman, Complita by name, of the village of Citerolo, a peasant of the noble men Munaldo-Petri Cittadini and his brother, There are healed, a woman with a twisted neck horrible, the space of one year and two months then elapsed, had had her neck so twisted, that her mouth and whole face looked rather at her back than her belly: who was so horrible in aspect, that none of the household of the aforesaid Nobles wished to enter her house, about to receive lodging. This wretched woman also was bound with the bonds of so great infirmity, that she could never put a morsel to her own mouth by herself. And when the fame of our Martyr sounded in her ears, she said to her sister, that she wished to visit the sepulchre of the Martyr. Then her sister and the whole household, since they had utterly despaired of her health, reputing her to speak as one of the foolish women, began manifoldly to dissuade her, that she should not go. But she trusting in the virtue of the Martyr, the words, threats, terrors and prayers of her household being despised, on the third Kalends of July visited the sepulchre of the Martyr, there hoping in the Lord and His Martyr by remaining for the space of six days. After which, while she was there, Paul, the messenger of the Lady Odolina mother of the Martyr, received most fully health, and to the Bishop and Canons was presented sound and whole: whom healed we saw; and that she had been oppressed with the already-mentioned infirmity we learned through the keepers of the sepulchre and the said Lords of the woman, and her household, and public fame.
[23] contracted in legs and feet, The Lord of this woman Munaldus, a noble, a citizen of Orvieto, wise, humble, powerful and exceedingly abounding in riches, was so destitute of the strength of his legs and feet, that he could not rise from the bed by himself, unless his little clients lifted him. He when he had had the counsel and help of various physicians, could not enjoy the grace of the desired health: but in vain with many expenses he caused himself, lame in feet, but walking by the steps of faith, to be carried in a coverlet of sendal by his servants to the sepulchre of the Martyr; and there persevering a little, humbly imploring the help of God and of Blessed Peter the Martyr, he was restored to the grace of health; so that he who had been carried by the hands of others, sound and whole returned to his own, blessing God and His holy Martyr.
[24] The Presbyter Rusticus, of the village which is called Apulia of the diocese of Orvieto, A Presbyter laboring with a fistula and fever: for many years had been so wearied with the vice of a fistula, that many expenses being made on physicians, he utterly despaired of health. At length having recourse to the wonted mercy of the Lord, when he was burdened with the weight of the said infirmity, and exceedingly glowed with febrile heats; he presented himself at the sepulchre of the Martyr, obligating himself by a vow to the Martyr, that through his merits he might be freed from the infirmities, which afflicted him most vehemently. Then he gave sleep to his eyes, granting rest to his eyelids; and afterward
rising from the rest of sleep, he found himself so freed from the burden of the fever, as if it had not at all afflicted him. But the orifices of the fistula so began, the medicaments being removed, to dry up in the said Presbyter, that within eight days he was, human aid being removed, most fully freed. This man also, as it is reported, our Martyr freed from the peril of the soul, which is graver. Because whereas at first he was reputed an enemy of the Church, now made a friend of the same, honoring God, visiting the church of the blessed Virgin, and venerating the sepulchre of our Martyr, he showed himself not ungrateful of the health received, but by words and works shows himself a cultivator of the Christian faith. The patronage of this Martyr, with all devotion of mind implored and purity of soul, directs the vows of the faithful to the saving port, the Author himself, as I the writer learned by the effect, writing this quire to the honor of God and of His Martyr, paying the debt of the vow which I promised.
[25] Likewise a certain youth by name Bochus, so burdened with infirmity of the back, five contracted or paralytic persons that he could by no means rise by himself, nor in any way walk, unless he had two crutches placed under his armpits, often (while the Martyr lived in the world) was in his presence. Him B. Peter the Martyr healed, as one known to him, straightway when he himself was dead. And a certain one, by name Caput-auri, who from long times had his hands so contracted, that he could work nothing by them, received from the holy Martyr health. He was of the region of the matrix church. To the Presbyter Bonus-homo, Chaplain of St. Stephen, who is believed well more than a centenarian, for six years seeing little or nothing, he so restored sight, that now he sees whatever is necessary for him. A certain little old woman by name Benesurda, so bent that she carried her head a little higher than her knees, always leaning on a staff, so the glorious Martyr healed, that now free without a staff erect she walks, from when she gave herself as a handmaid to the Martyr: and she was of the region of St. Constantius. Seeing these and many other miracles the Lady Maria, wife of Tudinus Rapizo, than whom in Orvieto none was more noble, when she was deprived of all the strength of her right arm, and in her hand had no strength, offered herself to the Martyr, promising him always to serve him: whence after a little time she received most fully power in her arm and hand: and she was of the region of St. Andrew. A certain citizen of ours, by name Alamannus, son of Stuplo, likewise another. of the parish of St. Juvenal, who from boyhood had his hand and arm hanging, so that in no way could he raise it; after he devoted himself to the Martyr, received sufficient strength through small intervals of time in his hand and arm: and so now uses that as the other. Nor is it wonderful if not all, whom our Apostle was about to heal, he straightway fully healed. Mark 8:20 For our Lord Jesus also, when a blind man according to Mark was brought to Him, that He might touch him and enlighten him, the hand of the blind man being grasped led him outside the village; and spitting in his eyes, hands being imposed asked him, if he saw anything; and looking he said, I see men as trees walking. Then again He imposed His hands upon his eyes, and he began to see, and was restored, so that he saw clearly. Whom He could cure all at once with one word, by little and little the Lord cures, that He may show the magnitude of human blindness, which scarcely and as by degrees returns to the light; and indicates His grace to us, by which He aids the single increases of perfection.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER IV.
Various miracles done in the month of July, August and following.
[26] Two blind men are healed and as many contracted, On the day of St. Margaret, many being present, he illuminated the eye of a certain one of the County of Siena of the castle of Montella, by name Anarcescellus. On the eleventh day entering July, while Matins was said, he healed a certain Andrew beyond Bella-villa of Campania, who had had his right hand and arm contracted for fifteen years, as he himself said. But the infirmity of this Andrew and the duration of the infirmity became more fully known to us, from the scar and signs of the arm, and the assertion of the noble Clerics and laymen of that country, who when they had seen and known him infirm in the land of his nativity, and at the Burg of St. Christina saw him healed, held it for a great miracle; and straightway praising God, who alone does marvels, they came to the sepulchre of the Martyr: and there praying nights and days, more than a week they persevered, declaring to all who wished to hear, that Andrew had had a dry and contracted arm. Afterward from a certain woman of Castro-Turris, which is in our Bishopric, he most manifestly drove away a demon. On the same day on which he healed Andrew, of whom it has been said, the Mass being finished one contracted was cured: and sight restored to a certain girl, niece of Benedicto of the region of St. Constantius, who for the space of four months had lost the light of one eye. Master Donadeus, an excellent worker in wood, while he was cutting a certain beam, oppressed by the mass of the beam, for four years walked so bent, that walking he almost touched his knees with his mouth: but coming to the sepulchre, and asking mercy from the Martyr, obtained the grace of full health: and he is of the region of St. Andrew.
[27] and a woman. A certain woman, by name Bona-femina, of the region of St. Juvenal, whom God by His hidden judgment had long since deprived of sight, on the fourteenth Kalends of August, the Bishop and the whole Clergy being present, received the light: whence then first the Bishop and Clergy at her illumination sang the hymn Te Deum laudamus. In his sermon the Bishop reputed this for a notable miracle, that that most blessed Martyr inviting harlots in dreams to the kingdom of heaven, as from their confession he had received, converted them to the cult of religion. To this the same Bishop sitting in the assembly related, A captive is freed that when the Lord Farolfus of Corvaro at Monte-Marte detained a certain one under three locks in iron fetters, B. Peter the Martyr appeared in spirit to the captive, saying: Rise and go. Who knowing the place of his captivity very fortified, and himself shackled with iron bonds; utterly despairing of flight, not before he was admonished a third time took the road; to whom by the divine nod of their own accord the doors were opened, and so that captive and bound man most easily with his irons betook himself to his liberty. and one fallen from a height, When the son of Ildibrandinus Dalimani, of the region of St. Mary, fell from a very high cliff of Orvieto, in the very fall he began to cry out and say; St. Peter Martyr, help me. Straightway B. Peter seized him by the lock of his head, and so gently by the lock deposited him onto the plain, that the youth felt absolutely no harm. And when his mother cried out to him from above, thinking him to be standing near her; he replied from beneath the cliff saying: Behold I fell, but B. Peter deposited me on the plain very gently: and straightway sound and whole returning through the gate, the Bishop and Clerics wondering, the peoples praising God he was presented. When a certain woman of Torrecella, a contracted person is cured. the venerable man the Presbyter Benedict Prior of Stiolo and several other honorable persons relating, had lost the offices of almost all her members for many years, on a litter to the sepulchre of the Martyr she caused herself to be brought: and there for some days and nights persisting in prayer, was so restored to health as if she had suffered no infirmity.
[28] When from the sixteenth Kalends of August even to the twelfth Kalends, A light appears in the shield of St. Peter. in the shield of the Martyr, which in the church was hung up, by night now one, now two, now three, now four lights seemed to be kindled, and the same after some interval seemed to be extinguished; the throngs running together and wondering and praising God, some said these lights arose from the lit lamps, whose number ascended to one hundred twenty-four; others said, that therefore so frequently of themselves by material fire the candles and lamps were kindled, and in the shield appeared those gleaming stars, that men might be kindled in that Catholic faith which the Martyr preached. But the opinion of the latter seems to have prevailed, because the lower lights did not seem to be so disposed, that the shield in any part of itself could receive light from them: and because the lamps being extinguished the aforesaid lights like stars shone in the shield, and the lamps being lit that light sometimes appeared not in the shield. On the third Kalends of August we saw another thing, Contracted women are healed which seemed more wonderful than all the preceding miracles. For now there had passed fourteen years and more, when a certain Lombard woman came to Orvieto. She carrying two little benches in her hands, creeping upon the ground, her shins, legs and feet leathery she dragged after her. And when for some years she had so crept upon the ground, from what she had sought door to door she bought herself a little ass, which carried her until the appointed day. She while on the fourth Kalends of August she slept in the hospital of St. George, which is with us, our Martyr a third time appeared to her saying, Rise. When at the first and second time she believed not, the third time admonished she rose; and without any human aid stood erect on her feet; and trembling entered the city, coming to the sepulchre of the Martyr: on the second day her soles were consolidated, her legs strengthened, so that now to this it seems she was never infirm. On the same day he healed two women of Viterbo, of whom one was of Plano-Scarlani, for five years bent, who lay nine days before the sepulchre before she was healed. The other woman had both hands wholly dry, who ten days had been with the Martyr. Of the first infirmity the witness was Donadeus Vigilia, Rainaldus Boccabovis, and several others. Of the second infirmity, who was infirm in her hands, the witness was John brother of the Lord Dominic, who had brought her from Viterbo, and the Lord Dominic and many others. Witnesses of the health are we, who saw them and knew them to be sound.
[29] On the following Sabbath from a certain woman, who according to her assertion had long dwelt at Rome,
he drove away a demon. likewise contracted and blind persons. On the sixth weekday before the feast of St. Mary he healed a certain one, who was contracted: and two blind men he illuminated; one of Ficulle, who was called Daniel, who had been blind for five years. The feast of the Assumption of B. Mary in so great joy did our Bishop, the Clergy and his people celebrate, in how great it was not celebrated in the times of our fathers and grandfathers; but the gladness was turned into mourning, and the joy into sorrow: for so great a scandal arose on that day between the household of the Bishop and the Canons, as before had not arisen. I know not whether on account of this, or on account of another hidden judgment of God, from then the lights ceased to be lit of themselves before the sepulchre, nor were they seen afterward to be lit, except on the feast of B. Severus, which is on the Kalends of October, when before almost every day it was lit. On the octave of blessed Mary the son of John Amoroso was stretched out, a little boy contracted almost from birth and wholly lost; to which John frequently the Martyr appeared, saying that he should carry his little boy to his sepulchre to be healed. On the second weekday after the Octave of B. Mary he illuminated the sister of the noble man Peter de Fractaguida, who for three years and more had been deprived of her sight. When the said Peter Porcarius, who formerly, as he said, had been a servant at St. Andrew of Laon in the Archbishopric of Sens, had his eyes so turned about in his head, that from one he had little, from the other no light, and scarcely his pupil appeared; from that time in which our Martyr suffered, frequenting the sepulchre in prayer with devotion he persevered: and when all of us despaired of his health, yet he himself always hoped, and on the feast of B. Calixtus presented himself sound and whole in our Chapter.
[30] When a certain Castellan of Lerona was incredulous of all these things, 2 Blasphemers are blinded: and said that the Martyr had been a sinner, nor could any blind man through him be illuminated, forthwith he was struck with blindness; nor did he receive the light of his eyes before publicly he confessed his sin to the Bishop. But when he came to the sepulchre of the Martyr, and before all confessed his offense to the Bishop, without delay he received health. Likewise when a certain Noble of the city of Bagnorea wholly did not believe these things, but rather in derision and contempt of the Martyr said, that he had a certain blind ass, that he wished to lead it to the sepulchre of the Martyr, that on that ass he might experiment, and prove the power of the Martyr, whether he could illuminate the blind; he too lost the light of his eyes, and was burned with so great a fire and pain in the eyes, that he could by no means rest in anything, repose, nor have any quiet. Coming therefore to the sepulchre on the fourth Kalends of October, and confessing his sin to the Bishop, swearing also that so in truth it was as we have said, straightway he lost the fire and pain of the eyes, but had not received the light on the Kalends of October, when this writing was composed.
[31] A certain girl, daughter of John Agnes, of the city of Bagnorea, had so lost the use of her members for a year, The use of the members is restored. that in no way could she rise. Her father devoted her to our Martyr, and for twenty-five days before his sepulchre caused her to lie. She then not being freed; as if despairing of her health, he led her back to her country. But when on a certain night she lay, she heard a voice saying to her, Rise. She thinking herself called by her father, replied: Father, how dost thou command me to rise, when thou knowest me infirm? and that I have no power of rising? To whom her Father said: I did not command this, nor did I call thee. And when she had again slept, the Martyr appeared to her saying, Rise and stand upon thy feet, because I have freed thee. Straightway cheerful made sound she rose, and wherever she wished well sound she walked. When Peter Galdie, a citizen of Bagnorea, had a son by name James, The infirmity of a leg is cured, who in his leg suffered an incurable infirmity, since the bones of the leg made great openings, so impeding the young man, that he could go nowhere unless he were carried by one or two persons; divinely inspired, he sent him to the Martyr through his mother; and there the youth with his mother at the sepulchre with many tears praying lay for three days, and through the mercy of God and the merits of the Martyr from the infirmity, which he suffered, so recovered, that he is in no pain at all, scarcely the scars of the openings appear, and the youth aided by the small help of a staff competently walks. But the places of the leg, which were deprived of bone and flesh, had not yet fully received their filling when we wrote the miracle. The youth was healed in the year one thousand one hundred ninety-nine, in the month of December: the writing was made in the year one thousand two hundred, the fifth day entering January. On the fourteenth Kalends of April, the bones being restored, I saw him walk well. The son of James of Castro Lubriano of the Bishopric and county of Bagnorea, from his beginning suffered a spasm; whence his father a physician, on the fifth day after his birth, cooked him between the shoulder-blades. The boy was freed from the spasm, the pain remaining from the spasm. but he held so great pains from the cooking almost even to sixteen years, that he could be fit for doing nothing. But when about to make an offering he came to the sepulchre, more vehemently than usual it afflicted him: but as if saying the last farewell it in no way afterward touched him, and from then he was made most sound, as from the mouth of the freed man himself I received and believed, since he was a man rich, discreet and of very good opinion.
[32] The Bishop of the city of Rome Innocent committed a certain case, which was being tried between the Abbot of St. Salvator of Monte-Acuto, and the Prior of the Holy Trinity of Pio, to our Venerable Father Richard Bishop of Orvieto to be decided. And when the aforesaid Prior being summoned had come to the presence of the said Bishop, and a respite being received was departing from him, at Marsciano he began to pour forth vain and idle words concerning our Martyr, not believing that the divine power, on account of the merits of our Martyr, wrought the miracles which were said. Whence certain of the people of Orvieto hearing these things, were vehemently indignant; The iliac passion being inflicted on one detracting from the miracles, but for the reverence of the Roman Church by whose command he had come, and the love of the city of Perugia which they affectionately loved, they patiently bore it. But He who leaves no good without reward, and no sin without penalty, the aforesaid Prior having returned to the case, and in Orvieto being so afflicted with the iliac passion, that he wished rather to die than to live, granted this, that of the incredulity which he had had, and the words which he had said he should repent, should cause a waxen image to be made in sign of the devotion and faith, which lately he had obtained, and should send it to the sepulchre of the Martyr: but before the offering went out of the lodging of the Prior, before the image came to the sepulchre of B. Peter the Martyr, in heaven the prayer was received, and wholly on earth he was freed from the deadly passion by which he was held.
[33] A certain Florentinus, on account of the misdeeds which he had perpetrated being captured, and plunged into a very deep pit, A captive is freed, when by night watching as if certain he awaited the morning hanging, began to invoke the help of the blessed Martyr. He being lulled in spirit the blessed Martyr appeared, saying: Rise, withdraw. Straightway the fetters were loosed, and he being lifted up was placed outside the pit of the prison, and the door of its own accord was opened, and the gate of the house: and so the captive Florentinus going out, took a chain on his neck in sign of his deliverance, and from Florence even to the sepulchre of the Martyr, manifestly praising God and the Martyr, carried it around his neck. A man of great race and great riches, Count Strobulus of Mezanello, the sciatica being cured when he was most grievously held by the sciatic passion, invoked the help of B. James and of many other Saints: but he was not freed before he vowed himself to the blessed Martyr Peter. But from when he made the vow, he said that with all his mind, with all his strength, he would serve God and the holy Martyr Peter, if he should rescue him from the infirmity by which he was held. Straightway, as we learned from his own relation, he was so bettered, that erect he walked well, and after the wonted manner competently mounted a horse and by riding without harm came to the sepulchre of the Martyr. And there for a very long time glorifying and magnifying God, and most affectionately bewailing his sins, he prayed the Lord, that, as in his own body He had wrought a visible miracle through the merit of the Martyr, so in some other one himself being present He would show the power of His majesty; that thence his faith might grow more, and he might more confidently preach the divine miracles to others. He so standing, lifting his eyes on high, crying out with a voice, many being placed before, forthwith himself and many beholding a light was kindled in a lamp, which before for many days had not burned. Straightway with hands raised to heaven, together with others who were present, they began to praise and bless God, who so great things frequently wrought through the Martyr: and so the aforesaid noble man, rejoicing and exulting returned to his country. A certain woman of Bagnorea, for four years contracted, and a woman contracted 4 years is healed. coming to the sepulchre, and there long persisting in prayer, was restored to full health. Her I the writer did not see, but that so it was the Presbyter Albert, a religious man, who kept the sepulchre, and other Presbyters relating, I learned.
CHAPTER V.
Miracles wrought in the year 1200 even to the Octave of Easter.
[34] Berardus, son of the noble man Martin of Agello, but also himself no less in morals, beauty, virtue noble, A blind man illuminated when he so utterly lost the light of his eyes, that he saw not even the very white horse which he rode, nor recognized anything else by the sight of his eyes; long before he came to the matrix church, where the body of the Martyr was laid up, for the reverence of the Martyr descended from his horse, and led to the sepulchre most devoutly placed his head and body, as he could, under the sepulchre; praying and with many tears confidently asking, that He would render him the light, for whose faith the glorious Martyr Peter by the swords of the impious heretics had died. A small space of time being interposed, when from the multitude of tears his whole face was wet, and he so unceasingly and affectionately prayed; his prayer was heard, and the light which he sought he received: and most grateful to the saint, and straightway he rose, and with hands and eyes raised to heaven, took a bundle of burning candles from the hand of his servant, and held it before the sepulchre. And when it was said to him by Matthew Prior of the greater church, that he should let the candles be applied to the candlestick, because the melting wax burned his hands; he replied that the burning was sweet to him, and that he was ready to undergo any labor for B. Peter, who had restored to him the light long lost. And when it was the third weekday, which is before the beginning of a Lent, on which secular men more than usual are wont to gorge themselves,
invited many times by the above-mentioned Prior, he always replied that he was wholly full of joy, nor could he take any bodily food: and so he passed that whole night before the sepulchre, with a fasting stomach sleepless. And when on the following day he saw the ladies of the city, but on account of the sight of women suffered a diminution of light and as a youth was somewhat more than just delighted by their aspect, the light which he had received in part he lost: but returning to the sepulchre, the aforesaid offense with all his heart bewailing, he received a clearer light than from infancy he had ever had, and seemed to have his very eyes larger. To his fellow-soldiers of the city who before had had him known and a friend, testing whether he saw clearly, among other proofs he said; Cause a needle and thread to be brought to me, lest your faith concerning my Lord St. Peter waver. By chance a certain furrier offered a certain needle, most fine and most narrow, with a thin thread; in no way thinking, that Berardus, or another of most keen sight, by night placed far from a candle, could put in the thread; the penitent sees more keenly than before: Berardus putting the thread into the eye of the needle without difficulty, all who were present greatly wondering, since several stood near the candle, nor could any present put in the thread. And when all asked, whence this happened; Berardus replied: With the eyes, with which I came forth from my mother's womb, I did not see so clearly: but these eyes and this brightness of light my Lord St. Peter restored to me. On account of this many were made believers, who before concerning the fame of the Martyr were mad; and there were converted those who before, as is believed by some, had been persecutors of the Martyr.
[35] Another Martin of Arezzo, who of the light of one of his eyes, as he himself related, likewise another. was deprived for two years, from when he came to the sepulchre of the Martyr, forthwith was freed. a wounded knee is healed, A certain soldier's son of the city of Arezzo, when on account of a fall he had been injured about the knee, and had experienced the medicaments of many physicians, it happened that whence health was hoped the infirmity grew, and that from the incisions made the young man could not hope; coming to the monument of the Martyr, his injured hip wonderfully divided itself, and the young man almost sound departed. The noble man Fatucius Marini, when he had seized a certain rustic of his of Sermognano, a bound man is freed. who had come to visit the sepulchre of the Martyr, shackled his feet with iron bonds, but bound his hands with hempen ropes, and so his hands and feet being bound cast him into the vault of a tower above. When the rustic had slept, the Martyr called him, commanding him, that he should descend from the tower. He not believing himself loosed, again heard the Martyr saying to him: Rise, withdraw. And forthwith the bonds were loosed from his hands, and from one of his feet the fetters were loosed: and so he, like another Jeremiah, a little cord being made of old rags, descended from the vault of the tower and departed. And when he came home, and his neighbors and parents could not draw the iron from his other foot, and they deliberated to send to Bagnorea for e a saw, one of them said: What is it that we do? Cannot He who broke the bonds of the hands, who from the fetters loosed the other foot, also break this iron, that he be wholly freed here? Straightway a certain little boy approaching, and without delay without effort touching the iron with his hand, the bond of the fetter was loosed.
[36] And in these days after the wonted manner the lamps were frequently lit, as nobles and several assert, the lamps lit of their own accord, who testify that they had seen them frequently extinguished, and wholly extinguished so often relit, and emit vehement and great flames. And when the lamp was near the ground, set under us who were in the Choir, so that nothing in it could be concealed from us; we began to treat what this was: nor could we find anything else, except that the Omnipotent wished to be served from oil, and the minds of men to be kindled into His service. About the ninth hour on the same day many being present another light was miraculously kindled. On the Sabbath before the Sunday of the Passion, a certain woman full of days, who for eight years had had almost no part of her body except her head in her power; commanded the noble man Peter Civitellae the Presbyter, whose Parish she inhabited, a sick woman desiring to confess, that either then or on the following day at high morning he should come about to give her penance. And when he, as we learned from his own relation, impeded by various divine and human affairs, delayed even until after the Mass of the Lord's Day to succor the aforesaid woman by penance; behold the woman stood before the aforesaid Presbyter, saying, that B. Peter the Martyr in white garments had appeared to her; she is healed by St. Peter appearing: and while she lay in bed after the wonted manner, had commanded, that she should rise; and so that she was wholly and fully healed: and so she confessed her sin. O wonderful and admirable virtue of God and wisdom of God! The infirm soul could not have a sound body, but from when the woman disposed to confess, the Pitier of all did not wait that she should confess, but straightway the woman washed away the filth of the soul, cleansed by the water of saving wisdom. What she could she did, she commanded the Presbyter, that he should come to her about to give penance, because she could not go to him, oppressed by the weakness of her whole body. The Presbyter being negligent, B. Peter was solicitous for her; and as he had before healed her in soul, so straightway he healed her in body; and sent her to him, who being called had neglected to come to her.
[37] On the Sunday of the Passion f, when almost more than four thousand men were in the greater church, again a lamp is lit. the Offertory of the great Mass being said, there was a great murmur in the people, of those coming to see the miracle of the lamp which was being lit. Among whom also I the writer, the spirit being led by the motion, came; and with a multitude of men I saw the lamp often and much smoking flame. On the following day, A mute man speech, that is the second weekday after the Sunday of the Passion, a certain man of St. Salvator of Monte-Acuto received speech, who for two years and a half had been wholly mute. A certain man, by name Rainerius of g Monteclello, with his wife for recovering the sight of his son, whom for more than a year and two months he had lost, a blind man receives sight. whatever he could he spent on physicians. And when he saw all physicians fail in the cure of his son, together with Meldina his wife, who also was the mother of the little boy Roland, they brought the little boy himself to the Martyr, hoping and asking, that as he had healed many others, so also he would heal his son. Prayer being made through the night and day, sight was restored to the young man, so that he saw as clearly as he had ever seen: and this was done on the second weekday after the Sunday of the Lord's Passion.
[38] Likewise when on the Sabbath before the Passion a certain man from beyond the mountains, ensnared by several and grave crimes, asked penance from the venerable Father Richard Bishop of Orvieto being sound and whole, Having confessed his sins he is preserved from a ruin, saying that the quarry, in which he labored, was shortly about to fall, and that the peril of death threatened him, if B. Peter did not free him; the Bishop occupied with other things deferred to give penance, but the stone-cutter on the following second weekday more strongly insisted, and so far insisted before the sepulchre of the Martyr, until the Bishop knew the contrition of his heart, and heard his confession; and after a canonical admonition, and a penalty lawfully designated, bestowed his blessing. After a very few blows made on the stones, upon this man h the cliff fell, but it falling he who was to be crushed, called B. Peter to his aid; and so miraculously the immensity of infinite stones oppressed him, that it harmed him in nothing. his companion being crushed. But his companion, who that day had not visited the sepulchre, nor had confessed his sins, was so crushed near him, that no members or bones remained together.
[39] On the Holy day of Easter, a certain one from the plain of Ravenna presented himself to the Bishop, A blind man is illuminated. saying that for many times back he had lacked the benefit of light; that to recover the light he had gone to B. Peter the Apostle, and when there he could not enjoy the wished-for light, he said that he himself had offered himself with heart and mouth to B. Peter the Martyr; and when he entered the city of Orvieto, in the very entrance of the gate he had seen the light fully. On the fifth weekday, which is in Albis, behold a copious multitude of Soldiers with wallets and staffs (as is the custom to go to B. Peter the greater Apostle) when the first little bell was rung for Vespers, entered the greater church, among whom was a certain noble, by name Captain, with several others, who the middle finger on occasion of a certain woman, The contraction of a finger is cured, whom a year and eight months before he had taken, had so bent, that now he had made a pit in the middle of his palm, from which he could in no way move the finger. He straightway when he prostrated himself before the sepulchre with all his heart, before the second bell ceased to sound was so restored to health, that he had greater power of extending and contracting than in the others. Him we saw sound; but of the Nobles who were with him and by the relation of many we learned, that so it was true as they asserted.
[40] of an arm, On the following sixth weekday a certain woman of the castle of Panicale, which is in the County of Chiusi, was healed, who had her right arm so contracted, that she could not in any way raise it or separate it from her side. On the same day when the people of Todi, many males and females, young and full of days, the people of Viterbo and citizens of many other cities had come to see the sepulchre, and to know the marvels which were done; with all the neighbors came a certain Castellan of the Castle of Tusculano, of a leg, with his son as it seemed twelve years old, who from the first years of infancy had had one leg distorted, and a dry arm, not able to raise it, or lower it, or extend it in any direction. Wonderful to say! straightway when the father entered the church with his son, soon when he touched the sepulchre, like the Evangelical woman, who suffering a flux of blood touched the fringe of the Lord's garment, the boy felt the virtue of the Martyr: the leg being erected, the arms healed, he began erect, with hands raised to heaven, like a prudent and wise man, to go around all the altars of the church: and with the neighbors, acquaintances and friends, and men of various nations and tongues, who there had flowed together to pray, with many tears for excessive joy to render praises to God. Matt. 9:10 On the octave of Easter the men of Civitella of Massa, of the County of Todi, of the hips. commonly all came to the greater church for the reverence of the Martyr, bringing a great and most beautiful candle, for this
that a certain fellow-villager of theirs for three years had had his hips applied and joined to his buttocks, and from them wholly inseparable. Straightway when by the mediation of their Chaplain, he asked the Martyr for health, he was restored to full health: and sound and whole, with his Presbyter and people, presented himself to the Martyr.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER VI.
Other miracles adjoined by other writers.
[41] Because every good thing brought into public notice more beautifully shines, lest the lamp of the miracles of our Martyr be set under a bushel but set upon a candlestick it lie open to all; certain things which by Master John, the fount of the knowledge of letters, were omitted, and after his death coruscated, we have judged fittingly to be declared. In the year of the Lord one thousand one hundred ninety-nine, in which our Martyr, There are cured of a hernia one the stole of mortality being laid aside, was aggregated to the assemblies of the Martyrs in the heavenly fatherland, the son of the late Anselm the physician, a man provident and discreet, a true cultivator of the Christian faith, very much learned in medical science, while he tarried at Bologna in the study of letters, so labored with the vice of a fracture, that the counsel of various physicians being had, he had utterly despaired of health. And when he compassionated himself, watered with abundance of tears, the fame of B. Peter the Martyr came to his ears, divulged in various parts. But he giving faith to those things which he had heard preached concerning the Martyr, began with heart and mouth tearfully to implore his suffrages, that through his merits God would grant him the wished-for health. But after a few days he enters the church about to pray, and pouring devout prayers to the Martyr, joyful brought back the joy of the health bestowed. Fourteen years after the death of the Martyr now elapsed, the son of a certain noble Lady of the city, had incurred the passion of the aforesaid infirmity. But his mother laboring in vain in the counsel and help of physicians, from the aforesaid man, and another, by name Albertino, instructed laudably in medical disciplines, humbly asked counsel. But he beholding the boy's disease, with which he himself by experience had been oppressed, said that he could not heal him, unless God should show about him His virtue of goodness miraculously through His Saints. From his counsel at length, relating himself to have been freed from the same infirmity, through the glorious merits of the Martyr; the mother confidently obligated her son to B. Peter the Martyr by a vow, and the boy shortly received the benefit of celestial medicine. But the said Albertino was ready concerning his health to make faith before the supreme Pontiff by an oath; and concerning the health of the boy with his noble mother he asserted he would do the same.
[42] In the year of the Lord one thousand two hundred sixteenth, about the end of April and the beginning of May, on account of the coming of the Lord Pope a Innocent the third to the city of Orvieto, Pope Innocent being at Orvieto, a copious multitude of peoples assembling, the providence of God wishing to diffuse the fame of His Martyr among various nations in the world, and to certain Romans and Campanians, who the Martyr while he lived in the flesh by no means loved (because it is a natural vice for citizens to envy citizens, and the conversation of neighborhood is wont to minister the tinder of discord, and virtue is wont to beget envy) for reproaching their incredulity and hardness of heart, deigned to show various miracles. On the last day of the month of April Rainaldus Benedicti, there are healed, a sick man of 4 months, a citizen of Orvieto, when for the space of four months he had lain on the bed of sickness, destitute of the help of physicians, by a vow in the evening vowed himself to the Martyr humbly and devoutly; and so great firmness of convalescence received in the night, that in the morning he came to the sepulchre, carrying a waxen image with his own hands with a devout mind.
[43] contracted 16 years, On the second day after the miracle already premised, a certain miracle happened, manifest especially to all the citizens. For Guido Riczuti, when he had his hands for sixteen years so contracted, that he could not adapt them to the uses of human office, in the public forum was set out for the merchandise of pot-herbs to be sold: and when he sold the pot-herb to those wishing to buy, the buyers put coins into his purse. He coming to the sepulchre of the Martyr humbly and devoutly, shortly felt in the extension of his hands health. But when this miracle came into public notice, all began to render the proclamations of praises to God and the blessed Martyr joyfully. For making faith of this miracle fifty-four men, of good opinion and fame, who especially had been conversant with the healed man, caused their names to be reduced into writing, which they showed me R. with the highest joy, and afterward with them I presented it to our Bishop. They wished before the supreme Pontiff concerning this miracle to be established to deposit their oaths; but with great instance they could not obtain any entrance to him.
[44] bent. On the third weekday through His Martyr God showed a manifest miracle, which is not to be passed over in silence. For a certain boy reaching ten years, of the castle of Sermognano of the diocese of Bagnorea, by name Severinus, when from his birth he had been destitute of the office of walking, bent to the earth, contrary to the course of nature using little stools with his hands, and rolled to the earth on his knees, wretched wretchedly begged, asking alms more by act than by voice from individuals. Whose misery Ugolinus de Graeca compassionating, in his house ministered to him the necessaries of life. He bent coming to the sepulchre of the Martyr, before a not small throng, on the third day of May, new received the new office of walking. Of this most evident miracle both Clerics and laymen all the Catholics of the city can bear testimony to the truth. On the same day a certain boy of Adriano received, lying at the sepulchre of the Martyr, the new office of walking.
[45] On the same day also a certain miracle happened, which for many times with us had not been manifest. a lamp lit of its own accord: For when in the greater church a very great throng had assembled, a certain b taper alone placed in a certain iron grating, distant almost four paces from the ground, was lit, the virtue of the Lord doing it. And when all manifoldly wondered concerning the lighting of this kind, and that taper contained in itself little oil; certain ones the said grating the rope being loosed setting on the ground, to which a long time being passed it had not been let down, presumed to put oil into the burning taper, and straightway the taper was in part broken. Behold how well God almighty, wonderful in His Saints, by the insignia of miracles the cause of His Martyr, for repelling hardness of heart and spite, which even after death rests not, to be abolished, and the hearts of the faithful to be converted, deigned from heaven to allege, after the manner of our Lord Jesus Christ, who the dropsical man on the Sabbath day before those skilled in the law restored to health. Luke 14:2 He moreover before a throng raised Lazarus from the dead, and a throng coming to meet Him, and certain Gentiles desiring to see Him, asked glorification from the Father and merited to obtain it, as blessed John in his Gospel most openly protests, as if he should say openly for the Martyr by alleging: And if you believe not the words, believe the works, because unless this man were from God he could do nothing. John 11
[46] In the year of the Lord one thousand two hundred sixteenth, the tenth Kalends of June, when certain citizens of Orvieto, visiting the thresholds of B. Mark, were sailing on the Po a great river; The peril of shipwreck removed. the same river so by rain-waters began to swell immensely, that almost the whole natural channel being left through the slope raging it rushed over ruinous places. And when the sailor, the ship being left, which then as it were sustained the peril of shipwreck, inclined on the other side, with many others enjoyed the protection of swimming; those who had remained in the ship with others terrified, began to say and cry out: St. Peter Martyr, help us. At this voice the said ship, which was being carried to destruction, so firm remained as if it were pressed by the weight of an anchor. Then the sailor with others set in the crisis of death returned to the refuge of the ship, and the ship directed against the waves of the raging river, so returned to the wonted channel, the divine virtue aiding at the invocation of its Martyr, as if it needed the help of none. But sound and whole, escaping the peril of death seen, to the honor of God and of His Martyr, on the Holy day of Pentecost, carried a waxen little ship to the greater church. Blessed Peter Parenzo died and was buried in the year of the Lord one thousand one hundred ninety-nine, the twelfth Kalends of June.
[47] d In the year of the Lord one thousand three hundred seventeenth, on the second Sunday of the Lord's Advent, I Vannes Putii of Pisa, Presbyter and Notary, Canon of the Church of Orvieto, having a certain brother of mine in the flesh, by name Cintius Putii of Pisa of Orvieto, infirm in body, of whose life it was wholly despaired, according to the signs which appeared in him in all things, and the opinion and judgment of all the physicians, who stood by in his cure; having recourse confidently with tears to the throne of grace and mercy of Jesus Christ, A dying man a vow being made revives. and of the Most Blessed Mary the Virgin His most glorious mother, and to the merits and prayers of the Saints, and recalling to memory the miracles and graces, obtained and done through the merits and prayers of B. Peter Parenzo the often-written Martyr, whose most holy body rests in the greater church of Orvieto; prostrating myself on the ground with tears, and on bended knee praying most reverently I asked of the said Most Blessed St. Peter Martyr, that by his holy merits and prayers he would obtain from God, that my said infirm brother, laboring in his last extremity, He would restore to me and to our mother, and to his daughters alive with his former health: whom indeed we thought and reputed already dead. And to the same Most Blessed Peter I promised and vowed (yet reputing myself unworthy to ask the said grace) if he should obtain the said grace and mercy, that I would subscribe these things and the said miracle with my own hand, near the other miracles of that glorious Martyr, for the certainty of the present and the memory of the future: then cause the said miracle and also the infirm man to be painted in the aforesaid church of Orvieto, and often to say these things and bear testimony to the truth. Which vow being emitted and made, the mother and other kinsmen and friends keeping watch over him by night sleep seized; and at length rising from sleep, the same man laboring in his last extremity, they saw by a sudden change wholly freed from the sickness, without sweat and disturbance or ecstasy. And these things for the firmness of the truth and the honor of the Martyr
with my hand I have confirmed and written out.
The place of the Notarial ✠ sign.
ANNOTATIONS.
APPENDIX
Concerning the Translation made in the year 1660 and the present-day cult.
Peter Parenzo Martyr, at Orvieto in Etruria (St.)
FROM A MANUSCRIPT INSTRUMENT.
[48] In the name of God, Amen. On the day XVI of November 1660. Whereas the city of Orvieto, which from ages past more often, and in our own most recent times, the whirlwinds of wars, the dearths of provision, the epidemic plague, The people of Orvieto wishing to render thanks to their Patron, and the rest of the graver afflictions if there are any has happily escaped; let it hold for certain that this happened more than from the circuit of inaccessible cliffs and from the indefatigable providence of the citizens, from the protection of those, who resting in the bosom of beatitude, from heaven by assiduous prayers with God consult for our salvation. And since among these is worthy of peculiar note St. Peter of Parenzia, who not only presided over this city by rule and example, but also for the Catholic religion gloriously poured forth his blood on our soil: the citizens of Orvieto, exceedingly mindful of his excellent virtues and prodigies, had nothing more at heart, than by that signification of a grateful mind which they could to repay the immortal benefits, derived upon themselves from the most holy man. These things considering in mind, and directing the keenness of mind to the nearer manner by which they could accomplish this; no other better offered itself, than the amplification of the cult of the sacred relics of the holy Martyr, from which both the brightness of his name, and the imploring of his help long intermitted should revive.
[49] they decree that the body should be placed more honorably, Animated therefore by the singular piety, and exceptional propensity in divine things of the Most Illustrious and Most Reverend Lord Fr. Joseph della Corgna Bishop of Orvieto, they besought of the same, that he would permit the arguments of their devout will toward St. Peter of Parenzia, as the most beneficent Patron of the whole city of Orvieto, parent and defender, to come forth into public. Therefore the above-praised Most Illustrious and Most Reverend Lord Bishop, a colloquy being had with the Most Illustrious Lord Chamberlain and the Lords Overseers of the fabric of St. Mary; ordered the most sacred bones of St. Peter, from the place in which they were situated to be removed, and in a more opportune one and obvious to the eyes of the faithful to be placed, which it was decreed to be in the chapel named Nova-ara; in which is placed a marble effigy of Christ lifeless and hanging from the bosom of His mother.
[50] And because this removal and successive replacing ought to be preceded by a legal recognition of the same bones: whose bones the Bishop hence it is that in the year 1660, the XIII Indiction, but on the day Thursday, the XVI of the month of November, the same Most Illustrious and Most Reverend Lord Joseph della Corgna, Bishop of Orvieto; in the presence of the Lords, the Archdeacon, Sforza the Treasurer, John Paul Phoebeus the Archpresbyter, Vincent Bucciosante the Penitentiary, Flavio Magonio, Hieronymo Spadentio, Joseph Durante, Philip Gualterio, Canons of the Church of Orvieto, and very many Priests and other seculars, opened the chest, in which are preserved the bones of Divus Peter of Parenzia: recognizes individually, Nov. 16, and so were found all the bones, examined by the said Most Illustrious and Most Reverend Lord Bishop; namely, the whole entire Head, two shoulder-blades, one leg, one arm, the other leg, one hip-bone, and the other of the hip, one spine of the back, the other arm, the great breast-bone, another part of the flat bone, six long and thinner parts, other parts of bones to the number of one hundred sixty-four, three teeth, one chart, on which was written: These are the bones of St. Peter Parenzo of the City, the Podestà of the city of Orvieto, slain by the Patarini; fragments of bones to the number of fifteen, and a quantity of ashes. And the examination being made the said chest was closed and replaced in its place, the Witnesses being employed the Lords Ascanio Polydoro, and Alexander Auveduto.
[51] On the day Saturday the XVIII of the same the same Most Illustrious and Most Reverend Lord Bishop, on the 18th transfers them into a new chest, the bones being removed from the old chest, placed them with the said little chart with his own hands into a new chest, which closed and sealed the Most Illustrious Lord Count Pantaleo Saracinello Chancellor of the Reverend Fabric, and the Lord Chancellor of the Most Reverend Chapter, on the 19th places it under the altar. the abovewritten Lords Canons and the Witnesses and others being present. On the day Sunday, the XIX of the said month, there was made a solemn procession: in which was carried the said chest, and after the procession placed under the altar named della Pieta, the Lords being present, Count Ascanio Polydoro and Alexander Auveduto, and a great multitude of the people.
[52] Thus far the Acts of the translation, from the public archive described for us, under the name of Ovidio Fauchini, its annual veneration, Notary of Orvieto being asked, expressed in the margin: to which from a manuscript instruction moreover sent there is added, that the aforesaid new little chest is of gilded wood, which on May XXI is exposed to the veneration of the faithful on the high altar, whence, after the solemn Mass there celebrated processionally it is carried through the city. But the rest of the year, the same little chest is preserved in the lateral chapel of the Cathedral church named the New Chapel, under the altar which is called della Pieta, and the adornment of the place. in which a noble marble work superimposed is beheld by a notable artist once, Hippolytus Scalptia of Orvieto, skillfully sculpted and elaborated, the image of our Savior taken down from the cross in the bosom of His Mother, with Mary Magdalene kneeling and kissing the feet of the Redeemer himself and groaning; and Nicodemus standing, bearing the ladder, nails, hammer, and the rest of the instruments of the Passion of Christ; the whole carved entire from a stone of Parian marble, expressing it to the life. And the said little chest through a gilded iron grating, in the front face of the aforesaid altar, having a wooden frontal engraved and gilded, is looked into. But there burns day and night a lamp within before the body: and the feast of the aforesaid Translation every year in the Cathedral is celebrated with the recitation of the Office under the rite of a Double.