ON ST. HUMILITAS THE ABBESS
OF THE VALLOMBROSAN ORDER AT FLORENCE.
YEAR MCCCX.
PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY.
On her cult, office, feast; the Life's authors, the translation of the body and of the arm.
Humilitas, Abbess of the Order of Vallombrosa, of Florence in Etruria (B.)
BY THE AUTHOR D. P.
Before from Florence we departed in the year MDCLXII, it pleased on XIII February to the suburban of S. Salvi monastery to go out, drawing us thither the celebrated fame of SS. Humilitas and Margaret, of whom there both the acts and the bodies to be had were said. In the S. Salvi monastery the body entire Arriving, received us the Most Reverend D. Catherine Angela Passerini; and, since another then at hand a Priest there was not, by whose work in showing to us the most entire of S. Humilitas body she might use, the very temple's and shrine's keys to me she gave: who thither with P. Henschen having entered, after the adored duly at the altar greater God, having taken the surplice and stole, I came to the altar lateral, under which this was read inscription. D.O.M. To the Virgin God-bearer, S. Humilitas, B. Margaret the disciple, the Nuns of the Vallombrosan Congregation, D. Clement Bonentius of Padua, of the same Congregation a Monk, of this monastery the Prior, P. In the year MDCXXIII. upon an altar made in the year 1623 I opened then the door of the ark, between the altar and above it overhanging to it a tablet so placed, that beyond the wall indeed of the church inward not it projected, outward indeed, on an equal with the very altar height it stood, as if above another altar from the part of the monastery, in an inner chapel and domestic of the Nuns, of whom some with the Abbess there stood for honor's sake, and several about the ark candles had kindled. The ark, beautiful and elegant, crystal were the sides all, so that most clearly could be discerned within placed the body, in its Order's habit most decently composed; but with the mouth somewhat gaping, in which inserted something of cotton, which they said often to be renewed, and to devout friends to be distributed, very many graces by it being a means to be obtained professing; equally as through linen roses, which to the life made on the sacred body several were strewn, and with us also were shared.
[2] Beneath that ark, below the altar, were said to be had the bones of B. Margaret, The feast with the Office of the common, of whom we shall treat XXVI August: the rest nearly alone S. Humilitas regarded, hung about the altar's tablet anathemata several, also silver, as a monument of the received from heaven benefits. Her also feast with the Octave by them to be done XXII May testified the Nuns, and to be done the Office and Mass of the common not of Virgins (for she was by matrimony bound the Saint, when by the consent of her husband, her example following, the Canonical first of S. Mark Religion, the Monastic then of Vallombrosa Rule she professed) but anciently a Mass proper in use to have been they said with this Collect, also in the Office to be recited, in the name, not of the Priest Officiating, but of the Convent assisting; Almighty everlasting God, who the remitted offenses beatitude to thee confessing attributest, by B. Humilitas's prayers hear the vows of the present family thine; and the broken of sin the sting, with spiritual us exultation pour over: that we who hitherto as sheep lost were, by thy Son's blood restored, in the fatherland may glory: who with thee lives and reigns. anciently proper: There followed, for the Epistle a Lesson of the book Ecclesiasticus from Chapter XXVI. A woman sensible and silent, there is no exchange for a learned soul. Grace upon grace a woman holy and modest: but every weight is not worthy of a continent soul. As the sun rising to the world in the highest of God, so of a good woman the beauty for the ornament of her house: a lamp shining upon a candelabrum holy, and the beauty of the face upon a stable age: columns golden upon bases silver, and feet firm upon the soles of a stable woman. Foundations eternal upon a rock solid, and the commandments of God in the heart of a holy woman. There followed the Gospel from Matthew XIII. Like is the kingdom of heaven to a grain of mustard: which all now to the common rite are reduced.
[3] Further from the Life Italian, which published in the year MDCXXXII the very Rev. P. D. Ignatius Guiducci of Florence, a Monk Vallombrosan and Abbot of S. Christina; begun soon from her death to be celebrated it appeared by a most ancient custom, and soon from the death of the Saint and it in the next year MCCCXI following the elevation of the body, begun to be celebrated the feast aforesaid. Since book 3 chapter 6 are alleged Indulgences, by several Prelates, after the manner of that age, granted to those visiting the church of S. John the Evangelist by S. Humilitas built, both on the greater festivities and Sundays through the year, and especially on the natal of that very Saint, through four Briefs at Avignon expedited in the year MCCCXVII, the first indeed XXV March, the rest in the month of April, of John Pope XXII the Pontificate in the year I, subscribing Isnardus Patriarch of Antioch, Raimund of Adrianople, Peter of Nazareth, with indulgences in the year 1317 granted and Bartholomew of Ragusa Archbishops, the Bishops indeed Benedict of Suacinum, William of Como, Gutter of Jaén, Peter of Cittanova, Gottifredus of Brachilum, Aegidius of Adria, Peter of Narni, Bartholomew of Cerne, Ferdinand of Cordova, William of Tartary, John of Nepi, Hugo of Piacenza, Cojordanus of Avignon, Peter of Corbavia, Guido of Asti, John of Tectehum, and Aimo of Arbe. These however from the first Brief, by below to be praised Hippolytus Cerbonius, with some diversity of names and titles, thus are expressed page 21 Isnardus Patriarch of Antioch. Raimund of Adrianople. Bartholomew of Ragusa. Peter of Nazareth Archbishop. Peter of Civitas-nova. Godofridus of Brachilum. Bartholomew of Suacinum. Bartholom. of Cerne. William of Como. Hugo of Piacenza. John of Avignon. Peter of Corbavia. Bartholomew of Brachalum. Peter of Navarino. Peter in the Dominion of the Tartars. Gutter of Jaén. Aegidius of Adrianople Bishop. There is extant also among the very Nuns a Psalter monastic, and with proper hymns, according to the Order of Vallombrosa printed at Florence in the year MDLXVI, by the care of D. Lactantius Medolacus of Bergamo, by the mandate of the Most Reverend Father and Lord D. Constantius Minuccius de Prato-vetere of the same Order General in small octavo, as they call it, to which at the end are sewn certain Offices to the very Order proper, and after the hymns of S. Stephen the Protomartyr, are found hymns two and three orations of S. Humilitas, below to be given by us which whether sometime they were in public use we are ignorant.
[4] Nor to the Florentines only known this festivity is, but also to the people of Faenza, among whom S. Humilitas born, married, and veiled, also by the people of Faenza it is done, and then enclosed years twelve, and finally foundress of the monastery of S. Mary in Malta was. And when this monastery, to the city's walls neighboring, too exposed seemed to the military insolence, then raging; interceding with Alexander VI Duke Valentino Caesar Borgia, given license it was the same with the church to transfer it into the place, in which before had stood the monastery of S. Perpetua and that under the name of S. Humilitas, where her arm who in the same place the first of Religion years had done, according to a Brief given in the year MDI, on the day XII July, of the Pontificate in the year VIIII. We had gone ourselves, in the year MDCLXXVII in November from Faenza passing, to the monastery, wholly with new work from the foundations built: in whose quite elegant church we saw of that very Diva an Altar, with the light of a lamp perpetually burning illustrated, and with many anathemata round adorned; but those who us led, asserted in the monastery to be had of that very Saint the arm. Of this thing mindful I wrote to the Rector of the Faenza College R. P. James Castelli, of the author and the time of the translation thither of the arm, and of the miracles there at the Saint's invocation wrought, to learn something hoping: but he wrote back, the Nuns of Faenza to excuse themselves, for that burning once the monastery the old all writings were consumed: nor now anything is found except that very holy, which they venerate, Relic.
[5] The Latin Life from a Notarial Ms., Since indeed in the preface to the Reader professed the same Guiducci, followed by him a Life by a coeval written, and from the original transcribed by Episcopal authority, this very one among the Nuns of S. Salvi we sought, and kindly exhibited in the sacristy I transcribed myself, together with an authentication of this kind. In God's name. Amen. There is found in a certain book or chronicle, composed of the life and works of the venerable and religious and of holy memory woman, Sister Humilitas, formerly Abbess of the monastery of S. John the Evangelist near Florence, of the order of Vallombrosa (at which monastery the very Humilitas her spirit sent forth to the heavens, and her in the church of the said monastery body was by the faithful of Christ most devoutly entombed) being that very book in the church of the said monastery, the life, the passing, and miracles, which the divine piety of that very Saint by the merits showed; as word for word the tenor, from that very book transumed, in order here appears. Which book was collated with the present copy,
transumed from that very book, by me Philip the underwritten Notary transuming, together with Benedict and Marsoppus the Notaries underwritten, in the presence of the Reverend man, D. Matthew Abbot of the monastery of S. Laurence de S. Severino, Vicar of the Ven. P. D. Francis by the Grace of God Bishop of Florence, for the tribunal sitting in the church of S. Salvator of Florence. And because they were found mutually to agree, the same D. Vicar to this copy his and of the Curia of the said D. Bishop authority interposed and a decree; under the years of the Lord's Incarnation MCCCXXXII, in the Indiction XV, on the day IX of the month of September, of the Pontificate of S.P.D. John Pope XXII in the year XVII, present as witnesses Ser-James Ser-Miniati, and Ser-Peter Paganuccii, Notaries of the Episcopal Curia of Florence, and others very many. This therefore Life when we had transcribed, exhibited also to us for a collation to be made were other books of parchment two more ancient (as it seemed) in which of this kind an authentication was not present.
[6] The author himself a Monk Vallombrosan seems to profess, when Sisters Most Dear he calls them; nay also of that very Monastery the Prior or Confessor, when thus he begins, it is not of the same who wrote of B. Margaret. Ye compel me of S. Humilitas the life, of your mother and mine, in various volumes by various variously written, into one volume, the prolixity omitted, to reduce, and also those things which from the very relation veridical I learned. Wherefore on no verisimilitude rests the conjecture of Guiducci, suggesting the same to seem to be able, who B. Margaret's Life or rather Revelations wrote, John the Presbyter of Faenza. For he of that very B. Margaret the nephew, as he goes after those things which in Latin he wrote, professes himself in the beginning a Notary; after other things indeed which he wrote in Italian, much more expressly himself he names the Rector of the church of S. Anthony of Faenza and by Imperial authority a Notary. Alleges then the aforesaid Guiducci two other Lives, anciently written, one in Italian, the other in Latin, in a certain book of various Saints of Faenza (which book indeed we would wish wholly transcribed to have) but the authors he names not; nor anywhere in the margin, where diligently his he indicates fonts, anything has hither making, unless perhaps at the book I. Other of her authors. Chapter 1 alleging John Zaratinus Castellinus in his Notabilia, and John Baptist Azzurinus in the Life of S. Humilitas: and then book 3 chapter 1 after others several, who of her with praise made mention, as are Raphael Volaterranus book 21 of the Anthropology, Jerome the Vallombrosan below to be referred, Philip Ferrarius in the Catalogue of the Saints of Italy at this day, Peter Ricordati in the Monastic History, Arnold Wion in the Wood of Life, Eudoxius Locatelli after the Life of S. John Gualbert, Lucas Castellini in the book on the certitude of the glory of the Saints: after these, I say, all he praises last the written of D. Hippolytus Cerbonius Abbot Vallombrosan Discourse, of the life and miracles of that very Saint. Is this Discourse printed in Italian in the year 1624, and to it is subjoined a prolix Poem of the bloody tears of Humilitas, while meditating Christ's Passion.
[7] We have those writers all, except the two first named. But as in those whom we have, nothing greatly found Guiducci by which his he might augment writing: The Life Italian more prolix by the author Guiducci, so neither from others much he seems to have been able to have, which not he had in the aforementioned Life, unless perhaps later certain miracles, and few notices, which into the Annotata from him we transfer: who in his whole first book and the greater also part of the second other did nothing, than what in the briefest words the Life absolves, with more prolix to extend, and with similar of other Saints especially Vallombrosan examples, and of the Scriptures sentences to illustrate. This indeed least of all by him to be done would have been, if to preserving the various volumes, in which soon from the death of the Saint inscribed her Acts by various variously were, care had been bestowed fitting, and of the greatest to us use now to be about to be. For it happened to this Author ours, what he to himself to come testified, who wrote: --- Brief to be I labor, Obscure I become. --- To this obscurity, as far as can be done, will meet the Annotata ours: The Saint's own discourses, in Latin dictated. afterward we shall treat of the virtues of that very Saint from Guiducci, having used for this especially discourses dictated by the very Saint: if however the places by him in Italian rendered, we can in the original phrase have in Latin expressed. For in Latin all things dictated the Saint, divinely taught, for the use of her Nuns of the same tongue sufficiently skilled; and therefore also in Latin are for the same written of their Holy Mothers' Lives. But the very Guiducci, that to this age's ignorance he might provide, by which many even religious men a lesser have of that sacred tongue use, than before so few centuries had everywhere holy Virgins, not only those which I said texts, but also discourses some entire and prayer formulas by the Saint dictated in Italian rendered; in which even thus read so great appears of the heavenly spirit's sweetness and affluence, that desirable it is those all faithfully transcribed sometime to come into the hands of those, who either of the Holy Fathers' Library to augment, or of works unedited Spicilegia to collect are busy.
[8] What of the entrusted to us Sparta enough is, that we do: wherefore that care to others leaving, to those only monuments to be dug out we attend, which to the history sacred pertain, and to such we subjoin of things also afterward done the notice from everywhere received: [The translation of the body from the place of S. John the Evangelist to S. Salvi's,] Thus from book 3 of Guiducci we shall take and into Latin render, whatever he has of the Translation of the body of S. Humilitas to the church and monastery of S. Salvi, which before of men had been, and the head of a most pernicious schism in the Order; and then indeed to regular observance reduced, but four only Monks with the nuns, on the occasion of building a citadel from their old monastery excluded, and no certain seat at Florence having, as done in the year MDXXIV. This indeed Translation, of which among the passed over we treated V May, followed several miracles, which similarly in Italian by Guiducci described to Latinity we shall give. First however it pleases from Jerome the Vallombrosan abovepraised Ms. little book to Lawrence Medici, on the Vallombrosan Religion's Blessed, to give the elogium of S. Humilitas, with which he before years more than a hundred twenty his that little book closed, also at XX May in two of the same Order Blessed, Orlando and Albert, praised. It of this kind is, after the elogium of B. Bertha the Abbess, published by us XXIV March.
[9] There was also another, a Nun of Faenza, whose name Humilitas: Elogium from Jerome the Vallombrosan. to her no less was familiarity with S. John the Evangelist, and is read once with the Virgin glorious Mary to S. Bernard of Clairvaux to have been: of which most holy John when often she meditated, very often in dreams or through a vision to her to appear he deigned. Hence easily to anyone can be clear, how great both of mind and of body was in her purity; since to him familiar she was, who while he lived besides the mother of Jesus Mary in that virtue before the rest flourished. She therefore when the monastery of Nuns, which de Malta is called (for it is distant not much from the city of Faenza) with Nuns certain most holy she inhabited, and of God almighty the worship to herself now more grateful and perpetual into her mind had induced, sparing of food, of tongue modest, chaste, quiet, opportune, and with patience incredible endowed, of all toward herself the favor and charity, by which very much she herself overflowed, transferring, through a vision by S. John the Evangelist, the city of Florence to approach is admonished; there a place for her of a monastery to be built to be. Which thing to the other Nuns relating, soon into sadness and tears turned to exhort, that the commands of Jesus, and of D. Benedict the institutes, and of the Father John, in God's service and honor to keep and to augment diligently and chastely with zeal and labor they should care. where how she passed from Faenza to Florence, Thence certain seniors a little of the way with tears having followed, and a charity's kiss to and fro given; at length they to the monastery, she indeed with two to Florence hastened: and there not only her mind, but her foot fixed; and by a well living norm and by best of life institutes, very soon to religious of every kind and to peoples pleasing and acceptable made she was. And when with many she abounded miracles, and by the prayers also of John the Evangelist most holy to a lifeless corpse life she had restored, of her to be seen for the sake from everywhere a concourse is made. At last in a short while a temple wonderful at Florence, outside the gate which of Faenza is called, in S. John the Evangelist's honor was dedicated, and to it of Nuns a house added: in which that to God pleasing Humilitas an ample and to God pleasing family, by her best admonitions and examples, to the Lord Jesus and his Evangelist educated; always with her own that very Lord Jesus in Psalms praising and hymns and canticles spiritual. At last loosed from the bonds of the body thither hastened, where with Jesus and his Apostle and the other Saints in perpetual and happy age she enjoys. Thus far Jerome, from another verisimilarly more ancient compendium of the Life, in which of her marriage and husband nothing written was read; whence it happened him to err in the title, and a Virgin to call her, and her virginity more expressly to commend, than to the Queen of virgins and her adoptive Virgin John so familiar to have been he understood: but that lest it should offend, a word one or another at the beginning I have changed.
THE LIFE
By the Author a Monk of her Order and a familiar.
From a Notarial transcript of the year 1332.
Humilitas, Abbess of the Order of Vallombrosa, of Florence in Etruria (B.)
BHL Number: 4045
FROM THE MS.
PROLOGUE.
[1] Ye compel me, Sisters most dear, [Prolixly by others written and to himself known in few to write proposes the author.] S. Humilitas's life, of your Mother and mine, in various volumes by various variously written, into one volume the prolixity omitted to reduce; and also what from the very relation veridical I learned to put; since me, as ye assert, the same setting forth many ye believe to know, which her set forth veridically the sanctity. But me, although to obey you withdrew the life's defect, the smallness of intellect, the temporal conflict, and of its detractors the bleating; yet compelled the of your sanctity affection, by which (as ye know) we are bound intimately of your coming from the first. Take therefore avidly: imitate a mother so holy. Take collected by your prayers, what anxious charity of you in all things subject under certain chapters lucidly transmits; and if anything of her imitation rough should appear, of the age I pray behold the brevity, of the body the vileness, of death the necessity, of the heavenly fatherland the amenity, of Christ the roughness, and all things for certain by the facility prevenient sweetness will distill.
CHAPTER I.
Her first adolescence, marriage, religious Life, the transit to the Vallombrosan Order.
[2] Rosanensis, from the sacred Religion's baptism called Humilitas, in the province of Romandiola in the city of Faenza of a much noble born stock, of her father namely Elimons, b and her mother Richilda c, from the very
of infancy years to divine intent on services, to prayers continual, and to alms great giving herself, to the Lord continually she commended herself; From childhood given to piety, after Christ wholly herself submitting to the Christ-bearer, whom from then in all her deeds she set and by setting took as chief with all her efforts as patroness. And that in the hall of so great a King and so great a Queen to her with easy effort might lie open the access, B. John the Evangelist her there as procurator she instituted, to obtain whatever she would with him going before not fearing with him, who gave and consequently with her who received, at the cross by weeping most bitterly, into a mother sweetly and a foster-child. Rosanensis therefore having spurned, fair very in aspect, sweet in address, in the composition of her manners incredibly gracious in the relation of all, against vanity of dress, while on a day with adornment most light, because of most rich parents the only one, after the manner of her country herself she showed; suddenly to herself she returned, into a chamber she entered, to prayer herself she gave, what she felt she kept silent, except that all vanity laid aside herself wholly ineffably she transformed. Which her parents considering, cruelly grieved; and from of her life's disposition as to the of adornments laying down, to alms she attends, the of base things assuming, and of contemporaries visiting, all hope, which from of her exaltation in the world they had had, they lost; and only, lest secretly she should enter a monastery, they attended.
[3] She began meanwhile whatever she could secretly and publicly to the poor to disburse: the chamber-maids wearied very much this to her parents to announce. Which they themselves to know dissembled, a monastery in vain she seeks, and that to them she should obey to her wish in all things enjoined. To some Abbesses of her affection of a monastery she disclosed; each consented, but how to be extracted from her parents' custody she could none discerns, for that the assent divine providence not yet gave. When Frederick the Emperor Faenza d after a long siege had obtained, and into the city entered he was, an uncle e of him, having heard of this beauty's fame, she refuses to marry a Prince man. with a blind love is taken: messengers several he directs, none her sees. Who when himself thus to be able nothing he discerns, to her parents at last as a wife the young man her asks. That she Christ wished, no other, asked the girl answered: which the young man perceiving, with an intolerable labor himself above lifts, to inquire her further he leaves, and that there be no such girl in this life publicly announced. And although these things she herself perceived, not less however about her custody, until the aforesaid was present at Faenza, she watched.
[4] Elimons also her begetter, a short time elapsed, from this age wicked with an end good is snatched: and Rosanensis to Ugolottus f a noble man of the city of Faenza in matrimony is joined. Which for a nine-year-period in delights great passing, of life's change to preach she ceases not: but a derisory thing he reckoning, To a citizen of Faenza married, in the year after the ninth, that he would not do in perpetuity to himself he said. She indeed on continuous days for a great time to prayer gave herself, and what he denies from God she asks; and into a grave infirmity, while by right he persisted, the most dear man quickly fell. Hither thither physicians are called, by all is judged him it behoves chastely to live: but if not, into a languor fetid and incurable him quickly about to fall, and in a short time by a death most cruel about to die. Began he himself chastely thenceforth to live to say, and his kinsmen and his wife's, that her they should induce to this, lest he perish, to ask. Which when Rosanensis perceived, to God hearing her praises devout she gave, and thenceforth as with a brother as long as he lived and faithfully she dwelt. The aforesaid indeed husband of her, before he her left, several from her sons and g daughters begot.
[5] Considering the prudent Lady that her she could desire to fulfill; together with him she becomes a Religious. she began him on the pretext of health bodily incessantly to encourage, and to religion's entrance with all her strength to animate. To whom he, with much grief and weeping cruel demonstrating assented: among the Sisters of the Monastery of S. Perpetua h near Faenza holily living under a rule, given to him all things which she had, to enter he permitted; and he himself among the external Brothers of the same place humbly entered. Then to Rosanensis the name is changed, and that she be called thenceforth Sister Humilitas is published. The twenty-fourth year Rosanensis had completed, while these things she does: and from that very day her once spouse her with bodily eye never saw. Suddenly she began into a woman another to be transformed, all the base things of the monastery with her hands to work, and by religion so to be formed, that not from the world, but that from the desert she came to none was doubt: of silence, of prayer, of solitude, of obedience toward the sound equally and the infirm, of abstinence and of arduous other works to them beholding now an example.
[6] On a day the Sisters, since she was unlettered, her called, and that she should read at the second table, as is the custom of the Nuns, jokingly as I esteem enjoined. unskilled in letters she wonderfully reads, She indeed her head bent, and that she might obey the book took: which to the place fit coming she opened, with this voice beginning, Despise not the works of God, for all are true and just they are: upon which so arduous things, with eyes to heaven always raised, she said, that the whole Convent running to the spectacle and admiration wonderful she excited: and when to her the sign of termination made was, by saying, But thou, as it befitted, by the Holy Spirit taught most excellently she terminated. What moreover she read, no one ever in the aforesaid codex before or after at all found: and from then the Convent, given to her a teacher, herself the letters, which also she learned, to learn procured.
[7] While at a certain time with a canker a certain grievously in the kidneys she was hurt, holding (as she esteemed) because a physician she would not, a healer deputed by the Abbess; lest by the stench be burdened the Convent, to prayer herself she gave: from which rising forthwith healed she was. and more wonderfully is cured of the canker. And then the Sister, who to her by the Abbess as a healer given was, after the wonted manner to cure her wishing, her thus healed found, as if no there a hurt ever had been: of which very much wondering, the cause from her she sought: which faithfully taken, the whole deed in order with devotion the greatest to the Sisters she published.
[8] Began Sister Humilitas, the rest omitted, to prayer to give herself; which that fully she could, with all her strength the desert to seek, although on account of the strict custody by human help that to attain in every way she despaired. Which affection while longer she had stood in, of contemplation divine on a day herself she gave: what she felt, she kept silent, except that from the monastery herself on the Sabbath day next about to go out she foretold, and what she demanded herself infallibly about to have to the whole Convent she disclosed. Which considering the height of the walls, of the gate and of the Brothers of it and external custody, fantastical to be as it were said esteeming, desirous of solitude she is led out by an Angel, of her words as of impossible things took no heed. Supervening indeed the night aforesaid, a voice a certain sounded: Sister Humilitas, rise: and me follow, it said. About to obey, to the bed of a certain Sister very poor first she came, her tunic worn almost wholly she took, the better which she had to her she left; and with her hand a Psalter holding, with the sign of the Cross herself fortifying, upon the wall in an instant placed she was. While indeed thus she was, and of the descent anxiously thought; some one her invisibly, as before, snatched, and upon the wall the aforesaid book left, the gates being firm, by the keys of the Brothers, them in her presence opened; and forth outside the whole place unharmed her sweetly placed. To a certain i river there situated she came, upon which as if passing with dry feet she walked. the river crossed, Suddenly to herself she returned: where she was, as from sleep awaking, she saw; and to God thanks rendered to the place of the Sisters of the Order she hastened.
[9] To the place indeed already aforesaid Sister Humilitas when she came, all into admiration the Sisters she induced; and on account of her beauty of the peril of straying, among others the Abbess, she betakes herself to the monastery of the Poor Clares, very much doubted. Yet nothing the Abbess showing, together with her Convent, kindly very much her she received, and with herself quickly brought in. Who when of her intention they heard, with edification great edified, and of the exit of so strait a custody not a little wondering; for a certain Soldier l Nicholas by name, a strict of her kinsman, because with her to be she would not, they sent; and into his hands her, with many devout poured tears, they sent back. He indeed sweetly the cause heard her home led, thence into the house of a kinsman, and into a certain beautiful chamber, with himself holding the key, with necessaries magnificently furnished brought in. There the time which she was upon the bare pavement she lay; and with most strait silence, with continual prayers giving herself, besides bread and water for food other nothing she took.
[10] A Religious a certain of S. Apollinaris m of the city of Faenza, to whom on account of a horrible infirmity a foot was to be amputated, who causes a cell to be built for her near the church of S. Apollinaris: by the skilled counsel, having heard her fame thither to be carried himself made, and to her himself humbly commended. She indeed with piety moved, his foot with the sign of the Cross touched. Who forthwith cured, to his own the deed publishing with his feet most glad returned. Which Lord Nicholas aforesaid attending, delay all set aside, to her petitions to her a cell (at the Parish-priest's I think instance) near his church to be made procured. Near the church of S. Apollinaris in the city already said that cell they built, small very, with a little window into the church corresponding, by which she could see and receive of the Holy Mother Church the Sacraments; and also another outside, whence she might receive alms, and freely satisfy those approaching, as she asked. For the entrance a day is fixed; into which by the Abbot of Crispino brought, the whole city thither runs together, and that the Saint they may see by all is acclaimed. The Abbot de Crispino, to whom is subject the place, thither proceeded: of the sacred Religion, received her obedience, to her the habit gave: to succor in necessaries for herself and a handmaid to her promised: that Christ poor she might follow poor, thanks rendered, all things she refused: and signed with the sign of the Cross, behind the oratory a certain n plank for lying for herself to be given she asked. Nor other she had as long as she lived there, nor with herself by any chance to be brought in suffered.
[11] Years twelve in the cell aforesaid she stood, with bread only and water, a most harsh life she leads for 12 years, decocted herbs bitter within on the solemnities, always she used: and to so great abstinence she came, that on any day with three ounces of bread her little body she sustained: nor with herself, all the time which she was in the cell, in a double refreshment, or of foods use, otherwise than as said, by any chance dispensed o. Her body upon the bare with horsehair, or the hide of a swine, with the bristles cut turned to the flesh, always in every case, manner, and time clothed she stood, with a cowl most vile, no interposed skins or any garments.
She used sometimes in place of a hair-shirt a garment woolen most rough, when by some chance it became fitting: wearied indeed upon her knees, upon the aforesaid plank herself she placed; to the wall, weighed with sleep, her head she put psalming, thus sleep she took, or by thinking something of divine things.
[12] On a day a weasel a certain with a little bell [p] at its neck into the cell entered: as given as a companion divinely dearly she takes it: she enjoys the weasel's company: while she gave herself to prayer at her feet itself it places: of the meats to it given studiously as long as she was in the cell, it tasted not: nor with other food ever except, with which the holy Mother to whom divinely given as a companion it was, by its estimation in the little cell to use it saw. A time great thus passed, when certain Ladies in cells, near her Lady's cell, to be it beheld; upon the window it ascended, its Lady as if deriding it beheld, the little bell there it laid down, and as if bidding farewell never it appeared [q]. Her husband therefore, her absence to bear not being able; all things which with her he had given to the monastery dearly [r] dismissed, license of being associated with her instantly asked. Which obtained, the husband also to the Vallombrosans passes. in the aforesaid monastery of S. Apollinaris, to the yoke of holy obedience himself he bound, and after the Prelate, his once spouse as a Superior he took: always her Lady he called, and although never her he saw (as is said) her admonitions in no case ever he omitted: who living for three years, with a holy end this life laborious sweetly terminated [s].
ANNOTATIONS.
p. Pelteolum, soon below Sonalium, commonly Sonaglio from sounding, is called a Tintinnabulum orbicular, a Nola. Of the prior name what may be the etymon not easily I shall say, I suspect it to be a diminutive from the Teutonic Bel, a nola.
q. Guiducci says, that when thence about to depart the Saint was, it leaped down from the window, and by which it had come going away nowhere any more was seen: by which seems to be signified to have been, another to her company thenceforth to be had.
r. Care, that is, willingly, from charity.
s. Adds Guiducci with changed name the said Dom Lewis, and as a witness alleges a little tablet of Greek form, by Cimabue, as they say, painted, which his is said to bear effigy, in the old habit Vallombrosan with a diadem, and has superwritten saint Lewis: whom also his Confessor was wont to say, after S. Francis, a little before, that is in the year 1226, to those above translated, none more humble than him to himself to have been known. To have died moreover to me it seems about the year 1256, before to the saint was added her second Angel: of which she in Sermon 4 thus speaks: This Angel by God to me was given after thirty years of my age, while I entered into the thoughts of a greater seriousness: for when to me given to be guarded sheep were truly, I had not a rod nor the power of its strength. What now moreover these sheep, or these flocks? whether those which to her now a Recluse through some vision the Lord showed, premonishing that of several the rule she to be set over sometime was? So I esteem, unless thou wilt that already then of Faenza some women began by her in spirit to be instructed, from whom then about the year 1266 coalesced the monastery, of which soon.
CHAPTER II.
Monasteries near Faenza and Florence she builds and rules as Abbess: with miracles also after death illustrious.
[13] Began a Bishops, Abbots, and other Clerics religious to ask her, that she would construct a monastery b in the city; among whom was the Rev. Man D. Plebanus, c Abbot Major of the Order of Vallombrosa. To whom solidly believing, from the cell she went out: near Faenza, in a place which Malta is called, in honor of the God-bearer d under the rule of B. Benedict a monastery she constructed; Having founded the Maltese monastery near Faenza, in which (under the aforesaid Father's obedience living and the Rule aforesaid) of the same Father's and his successors' hands herself and the place, perpetually she subjected. Began the fame of her sanctity hither thither to run: of magnates very many to her dominion their daughters and kinswomen to deliver, whom to keep the Rule already said to the letter she taught; although she herself of the life, which she had held in the cell, by any chance nothing changed. On a day when a certain sister she had received, and notably that less well the office of Superiorship in a certain monastery she had had she had attended, her basely sinning she found; and what is worse, secretly rebuked often by her, to amendment to attend she cared not. A delinquent Sister she chastises and corrects, Which the mother attending, publicly in the Chapter her she rebuked, and by the discreet ones' counsel as resisting impudently to prison she committed: who also of foods anything to take utterly refused. For several days while in such a state she had remained, to the prison the Abbess proceeded, her arms crossed her knees she bends, that to her health she would attend her sweetly she besought. Then she at her feet herself prostrated; and her crime confessed, penance voluntarily did; and thenceforth holily living, that well she had been rebuked, to all she disclosed.
[14] On a day a Sister a certain of hers, grievously infirm, after the wonted manner she visited: a sin such naming between herself and her secretly, others to integrally confessing by their sins revealed she induces: which for shame to none ever she had confessed, she disclosed; and that she should confess sweetly she animated; and let her know for certain that on the feria VI next coming, and at the sixth hour, she is from this age about to go out; and of that very sin with others to God an account about to render, she announced. From which she confused into herself returned, before the standing-by Convent that true it was publicly said, and to the Priest confessed with many tears, at the hour of the day aforesaid the heavenly penetrated. To a certain her Chaplain, going on a morning a certain to celebrate, to meet she went; and as if dissembling, whither he tended she asked. To whom whither he was going answering, secretly very devoutly she said, Confess first, my Son, such a sin which thou hast committed: and then securely to approach fear not. Then he confused with many shameful tears first in order all things, which only God to know he believed, to her said; and diligently confessed, thenceforth such he committed not.
[15] When a little fish a certain to her had been offered, to the cellaress she enjoined that to be prepared she would cause: and from it to the whole Convent in the morning she would give. She indeed considering, that scarcely for two and ill it would suffice, diligently with peppered liquid prepared it, and to the Abbess alone upon the table set it. Which she considering, before the whole Convent the dish angry took, and on the pavement with the fish threw. Wonderful to be said? not so sweetly placed on the table, as cast down it was: for as if it were nailed and wooden it persisted, thus on the ground brought the whole Convent saw. Then the server from the ground the disobedient by a miracle she rebukes, raised it, and of it, as before she had ordered, to the Sisters all ministered. On a day suddenly to a certain of the Sisters, while was the holy Mother at Faenza, to flow into a basin blood so from her nostrils began, that of all
despaired of a remedy of health by the physicians' report, to the end last, a sick woman she heals, as to all was clear, she drew near. Which when the pious nurse perceived, the highest physician sweetly after her custom calling, upon her the sign of the Cross she put, and forthwith her strength resumed most fully cured she was. When on account of the abundance of snows after the manner of the country of the houses threatened a ruin, the snow she scatters, nor could for themselves in any way provide, her the Brothers external and the convent approach, and that for themselves and theirs she would provide in such tribulation humbly ask. Then she, having comforted them, to prayer herself gave: and suddenly driven away the variety of weather, a sun warm very appeared, and the snows destroyed all that variety rested.
[16] wearied divinely a horse she receives, When to Rome for certain arduous affairs on foot she went, and on a rougher way for weariness altogether she failed; some one with a horse most gentle appeared, upon it her placed, and even to the lodging sweetly with her talking led: where she set down bidding farewell, and bread for her suitable. who he was hither even said not, or how he withdrew from the companions as well Ladies as Brothers no one saw. While indeed in the aforesaid place the companions ate, and she of bread so rough to take nothing could; that all should eat commanding, from the table she rose, and into the way until they should eat solitary much to prayer herself gave (for to her the custom was, that as often as at any time to a place some she descended, forthwith upon her knees lying to prayer she gave herself, until to others to attend it behoved) suddenly some one appeared, bread most white to her gave, and that from it she should be refreshed kindly commanded and departed. To whom while gladly she obeyed, the Brothers and Sisters who had eaten were present, two Recluses she consoles, and wondering very much, the matter heard, giving to God praises, the journey which to go they had begun completed. While indeed in the aforesaid journey to the cell of two Recluses she had descended, soon as her they saw, to cry they began, This is the Lady, who to us in sleep appeared, and how in the way of God we ought to go us instructed. Whence to be lodged with them they compelled, and from her, as in a vision they had seen, a great of the night part most devoutly they received. On a night, while in her monastery at the Matutinal she was present, the thirst of a sick Sister she relieves. suddenly a sign she made, and that to her wine should be carried and water with gentleness she commanded. Which brought, into the infirmary to a certain infirm woman grievously she sent; and who by thirst weighed to sleep could not, to God and the Mother holy thanks rendered the drink took, and then sweetly rested.
[17] Although to her B. John the Evangelist several times had appeared, and his to be built place had enjoined; Bidden at Florence to build the monastery of S. John the Evangelist. on a certain night to her he appeared, and that not at Venice as she had disposed, but that she should do it at Florence, commanded; promising that of that which at Faenza she had done, and what at Florence she was about to do, the care he would bear spiritual, and on the journey of the ways the perils she would pass, fully of peril without a mark. Then with the sign of the Cross herself fortifying, certain Sisters she called secretly: the deed to them disclosed; and nothing from the monastery taking, to the Prioress f the Convent commended; and with those whom g she had named with bare feet, amid of wars perils, with all her society unharmed, the Evangelist going before she hastened. When long to have B. the Evangelist John's relics she had desired, nor whence she could by any chance have she esteemed, she came to Florence going to the parish h of Otto: where she is received by the Parish-priest and Clerics gratefully; his Relics on the way she receives, and if she would to see his Relics, to her he says he to show desiringly. Who gladly the promise receiving, with reverence the greatest beholds. By which moved the Parish-priest already said, a certain little case with the manna of the Evangelist John which he found, with his Relics to her freely i gave: which with inestimable joy to Florence she carried, and in due time in his honor of wondrous beauty a church she fabricated.
[18] By the Florentine therefore Prelates and subjects, religious and lay, joyfully she is received; and a lodging hired, outside the city in the square of S. Ambrose, and after a two-year period she enters new buildings. honorably she is placed: where having seen her sanctity, in so great veneration she is held, that as a Saint inestimably she is published. While thus at Florence a two-year period as it were she had stood, the place where now is the monastery by the Florentines k is bought: to which she forthwith, with some Ladies noble of the city of Florence, and those whom with herself from Faenza she had led, as she could quickly herself she enclosed; and under the Rule which she had assumed, as it sounds, simply to God to serve as a soldier she instructed them.
[19] While on a day, as to act she was wont, in the bed of the river l Munio, near the place of theirs situated, pebbles for the place's building she collected and upon a little ass placed, a dead man she resuscitates. and home it leading led; to two women, the son of a certain Florentine carrying and grievously weeping, meeting and with piety moved, the cause of so great mourning sweetly she inquired. To whom while they said, on the pretext of infirmity prolonged by the command of his very parents to them to have led, and so on the way to have died; many words omitted, at her feet they prostrate themselves, and that to them she would resuscitate the aforesaid boy with sobs the greatest her they ask. Then the of kindness mother in her arms him takes, before the altar of B. John the Evangelist, then being in a certain little house near the way, upon a footstool m him she placed, and devoutly before the standing-by to prayer herself gave. By which wearied longer she rises, the son takes, to a certain man imminent death she foretells, and unharmed to them gave; commanding her own that as long as she lived to none they should say, and that to collecting the stones quickly with her they should go. A Noble a certain Soldier de Rubeis of the city of Florence, of the people of S. Felicitas, by name Bernard, on a day her visited; and himself, although a secular, very devoutly to her prayers commended. Whom she kindly receiving, that to his soul he should attend persuaded, that on the Thursday day next coming from this age he was about to go out, and before God of his account of acts to render. He therefore, although sound and most illustrious he was, these things heard was terrified; and to his own returning, on the day aforesaid (as he set forth) expired.
[19] The Mother therefore holy, once in aspect most beautiful, in the way of God and of the world most prudent, of penance by the path from day to day more avid, in calling sinners sweet-flowing, in corrections as it was expedient wine pouring and oil most sagacious, of all manners in the composition most adorned, in charity most perfect, of her age (if I mistake not) in the year n eightieth or beyond, into a great languor on the day of B. Lucy o came: in which from the fervor of penance to be done (which always even by a nod, while she could not speak, she showed) all standing by to serving the Most High incredibly she kindled. On the day therefore twenty-second of May MCCCX, she herself dies in the year 1310: on the feria VI, at the hour about VI, before her standing-by holy college, weeping sharply and equally psalming, the heavenly she penetrated. On the day indeed Sunday, in the church which in honor of S. John the Evangelist she had built, near her altar on the left [p] side, with honor the greatest of Prelates secular and religious, and of Clerics others, before a people's multitude copious, with devotion wonderful buried she was.
[20] Began meanwhile the stone [q] superplaced on the tomb to emit oil apparently. Which another [r] of the Sisters attending, lest it should be an illusion, and the sepulcher sweating oil, began to wipe often often and prudently. Which while something divine to be she beheld, as it was, she said to all approaching. Made the wiping all by experience truly it appeared, and on that account of her translation to the Florentines indeed care it gave. From the side right of the altar in the same church a solemn altar [s] by the devotion of the faithful is erected, on which on the day VI June MCCCXI, present the Venerable Fathers and Lords, Antony [t] Bishop of Florence, Rogerius Abbot of Vallombrosa, Azzo Abbot of Florence, Gratia of Septimum [u] Abbot, and with other many Prelates and subjects Religious and secular, the body is raised in the year 1311, and also various Clerics, and of the Florentine People an admirable multitude, the body from the place, where it was entombed upon the bare earth, entire is extracted; to the people to be seen, until are celebrated the Masses' solemnities, it is granted: which finished, adorned wonderfully, into the place for her made (as we said) with honor great, as it befitted, it is buried.
[21] The Rev. man D. Albert, Abbot de [x] Razzolo, with a grave of a foot languor detained, himself to her with devotion the greatest commended: there are wrought miracles. and that to him health she would restore, humbly he besought. The prayer indeed scarcely finished, most well freed he was; and this a witness of her translation being, publicly he announced. A woman a certain, fifteen as it were years of her eyes' light deprived, the place of the Saint visiting, of her things avidly asked: a certain Sister a little jar [y] a certain, on the Saint's table superplaced long before her, to her gave: which to her eyes most devoutly putting, suddenly cured most well, to her country she cared. To a certain Sister of that very Monastery grievously languishing D. by name, on a certain morning neither fully waking nor well sleeping, she appeared; and that from her bed she should rise and into the church should go, about to hear the second Mass as she herself did, she commanded, and equally departed. To whom quickly she obeying from her bed rose, and to hear the Mass sound and cheerful, many to God and her holy Mother rendering thanks, hastened. A young girl a certain of the same place a Sister, by name Frances [z], while in extremities she labored, suddenly, standing-by the whole holy Convent her, Wait for me, Wait for me, to cry began. Who while by the standing-by, what it was, asked was; the holy Mother Abbess by nods to be she said: and so made very clear, to her whom she had called suddenly flew away.
[22] If beyond what ye wished, Sisters holy, your I have neglected petitions to obey, grant I pray pardon to one erring, The author's Epilogue. although can none to one awaiting quickly to succor: by a certain confidence however myself I drew back to several things, the treatise less I rendered to single things. Your I have known prudence not to be hidden, and to so arduous a work to be able to follow up (as I said) you me to discern not endowed. By your, I pray, prayers may I be able, her of whom I wrote, although improvidently, with Christ in the fatherland to see again; who rejoices perfectly in him, whom while in religion long she lived, as at present weeping most abundantly, by nails on the cross she saw always dead, and afterward by a lance most cruelly for our crimes pierced. And who this reads; I beseech, let it not be irksome by correcting to revise, where he beholds what is written in anything corrupt: for grateful it will be in so holy
ANNOTATIONS.
but she indeed through a vision was admonished by the God-bearer, of erecting from the foundations a monastery.
p. The altar greater to have been writes Guiducci, which was in the middle of the church.
q. This stone to have been carved the same says.
r. Perhaps the handmaid of the Sisters, for writes the same author, that the Sisters from above from the Choir looking down it first noted, and sent the handmaid serving them in the church, that she should wipe the stone; who when then the same often of her own accord she had done, again that this she should do admonished, with indignation she answered, that they should attend to their prayers, nor God's works scrutinize more curiously; nonetheless the same handmaid often resumed the care of wiping the stone, the matter silently considering, until also the church's minister a Cleric it noted, and to the Abbess indicated: who before she gave faith to the words, another of greater with herself faith person delegated to explore the truth of the miracle, then indeed ordered the stone with a carpet to be strewn for reverence's cause. A few days after came thither from the monastery of the Vallombrosans of S. Pancras of Florence a Monk, the miracle by himself about to know. Who the stone to be wet beholding, raised his eyes, doubting lest from above perhaps moisture had slipped down. To him indeed assisting the handmaid aforesaid, offered the linen drawn from her head, and ordered him to wipe the stone; which he did, and again saw bursting forth of oil most pure drops, and what he had seen returned to his own with stupor narrated. Finally when matrons some of Florence thither had come, and the carpet removed the same had noted; several by their relation they moved, that they themselves the matter prodigious and of spiritual solace full to behold should wish.
s. Upon this altar, says Guiducci, in an elegant tablet and well adorned was represented she herself, and the picture surrounded little tablets fourteen, certain chief of her works referring: which indeed picture in that altar stood, as long as there were the Monks, that is for years 240. Now in S. Salvi devoutly is kept. But it is wont, says the same book 1 chapter 26, to be painted with a little skin lambskin above the veil: because such she was wont to wear when she was at Florence Abbess, and the same little skin still in honor is had.
t. Antony Ursus, Bishop of Florence, from the year 1309 to 1321.
u. Septimum, an Abbey of the Order Cistercian, of the diocese of Siena.
x. Razzolum, an Abbey of the Order Vallombrosan, under the name of S. Paul, among the Apennine ridges.
y. This little jar even to the present day among the Monks in S. Salvi venerably is kept, says Guiducci.
z. The same suggests the name, by its sole first letter written.
CHAPTER III.
A supplement of the miracles in her life and after her death wrought.
[23] On a day while in the monastery aforesaid is not found except a single bread, and the hour of refreshing now passed; the venerable Abbess addressed the Cellaress, With a single bread the whole convent she refreshes. saying; Why do the Sisters not eat? But she, Because this bread a sufficiency is not had: except indeed one only bread, no other we find. The Abbess indeed, confiding in the omnipotence of her creator, who from nothing all things founded and created, who also is all in all; soon as she heard these things, ordered the table after the wonted manner to be prepared, and the single bread forthwith to be brought. Taking moreover it the Abbess, her eyes raised to heaven said; The Lord who fed five thousand men of five barley loaves, thee may multiply: and the Cross's sign made she broke it, saying to the Cellaress, that to each of those reclining his fragment she should set, and the Lord will multiply it in their mouth. The Cellaress moreover these things hearing and firmly believing, to each one one conferred. The Sisters indeed, who thirteen were, ate to the full in the greatest joy, and there remained more fragments than those which set aside had been.
[24] At a certain time while on the lips of the Abbess a certain tumor had arisen, so that it permitted not her to eat; the Nuns said, Lady, it behoves to be sent for a physician that freed thou mayest be. she is healed miraculously, The Abbess indeed, herself unwilling answering, said: His medicine I wish, who me freed from the canker. The following indeed day freed she was. At another also time, when the army of the people of Bologna was at the city of Faenza, the Abbess foretold to the Nuns, that the people of Bologna on the day following ought to come, and to enter the monastery, and to plunder the sheep and oxen and all things which to them should please: and therefore she enjoined them, that all things well they should lay up, lest they could be lost. On the day therefore which the Abbess had foretold, the people of Bologna went to the monastery, she foretells the plundering of the monastery, taking away all things which were in the monastery, except the garments of the Nuns which continually they used. Them indeed, for the reverence of the Venerable Abbess, in no wise harming, they returned to their camp.
[25] It happened at another time, that the Abbess by divine revelation foresaw a dearth to come in the year next future; and she called the Cellaress, asking her of the other crops which she had, and the dearth of provisions from grain even to spelt: and enjoined her not to dare of the said crops to give to the animals, but all to preserve thenceforth even to the year coming. And when this the Cellaress to the other Sisters had announced, they said to one another: Believed perhaps our Lady us from so great abundance, in which we are, into want to come: far be this from us. But approaching the time with dearth the greatest and famine, the grain or other corn, which the Abbess had caused to be preserved, so profited the monastery, that nothing of the dearth they felt, but in that time large alms they made. b Which the Nuns seeing, the Lord they praised, whom with the Abbess truly to dwell they saw.
[26] A certain Lady the world leaving, entered the monastery aforesaid with all her goods her. And when after some time she had confessed to a Priest, the Abbess called her, she reveals a sin by one ill confessed concealed. asking whether well she had confessed. But she, Indeed Lady. And the Abbess, Not to me so it seems, because I see thee troubled a face to have. Then she, A certain sin I have, which never to anyone I dared to confess. The Abbess said to her, Never canst thou be saved, unless thou confess the sin, which by stealth thou hidest. She moreover considering of her crime the enormity, said herself to have not dared to anyone to confess. Then the Abbess, Wilt thou it confess to a Priest, if with my own mouth I shall say it to him? Then she, knowing her crime to all to be hidden and to no one open, said to her; How can ye know those things which never to anyone I have confessed? The Abbess answered: Well I know, well I know. But she consenting, said that she should do whatever she would. Calling moreover the Priest the Abbess, said to him the sin of her Sister, which to no one ever she had confessed. And when the Priest this to the Sister announced, she was astonished much, and for too great fear confessed to him the sin. The Priest moreover absolved her, praising God of the sanctity of the Venerable Abbess.
[27] While in the summer time of the month of August, the Abbess a fever continual suffered, and nothing other than ice asked, and they said that the time of ice then was not present; the Abbess said, ice to be found she causes in summer, that to the well they should go. Who when to the well on a certain morning had gone, in the bucket congealed water in the manner of a c cutting-board
they found; and taking the ice, they brought it to the Abbess, all together being astonished.
[28] A custom this was of the Abbess, that when she saw against God anyone mortally to sin, immediately with face troubled she looked at the sinner; and her color lost as if half-alive she became. Once while Christ's passion, with bloody tears she weeps Christ's passion, which always in her breast she bore, bitterly she bewept; with a little cloth, which for the too great tears with herself she carried, after the wonted manner she began to wipe her eyes. On which looking, she saw the tears into blood wholly to be converted. And when this she had seen, for the too great humility she hid the little cloth, lest it should be seen d by another.
[29] At another also time, while the Abbess remained in the cloister of the monastery already said, having with herself under a compendium, namely a book on the Angels, and the soul, and of many discourses very good, which book is in that very e monastery; and when the Abbess to be written caused the same book; going through the cloister two Nuns and equally toward the Abbess looking, they saw upon the shoulders of the Abbess a dove most white, to her dictating the book seems to speak into her ear a dove, with feet golden and beak golden, holding its beak in the ear of her, until to be written she caused the book aforesaid. The Nuns finally related to the Abbess, what with their own they had seen eyes. But she, saying to them, So it is what ye say: yet what ye have seen to no one ever to relate presume. On a day while to be written she caused in the cloister aforesaid, elsewhere strongly through all the house it rained, nor does the rain harm. upon the back indeed and shoulders of them no drop rained: this indeed truly was clear to all in the cloister dwelling.
[30] Once came to her a certain woman, carrying with herself a certain her niece, suffering the disease of scrofula: she heals scrofula, who when she had come to her, she cast herself at the feet of the Abbess, and that her niece from the aforesaid infirmity she would cure humbly she besought her. The Abbess indeed, pious and humble, ignorant of her infirmity, her throat touched, the Cross's sign making, and she blessed her. Soon moreover the woman looking, saw her niece healed, giving thanks to God and to holy John the Evangelist.
[31] On the third indeed day after her death, while a certain monk Presbyter his arm was pained, nor for six months and less the Mass to celebrate could, an arm ill affected, he came to the tomb of the Abbess; and himself to her commending and into prayer giving, immediately freed himself he felt, giving thanks to God and B. Humilitas. On the same moreover day when a certain woman an infirmity from a five-year period had suffered; and as it were every day neither to speak, nor to eat, nor her mouth to open could, when it she had; nor ever had profited medicine any; she came to the most pure body of B. Humilitas, and touching the same's body to pray she began. Who home withdrawing, bettered herself she felt: and after a few days herself she found totally freed, giving thanks to God and B. Humilitas. two grievously infirm, On the aforesaid indeed day a woman a certain, most devoted of B. Humilitas, who long a hidden infirmity had suffered, came to the monument, where now buried was the body most holy. And when grieved and wept the woman upon it, praying with tears, a consolation immense she felt, beginning to say this prayer, as was revealed to her; O most holy Humilitas, full thou wast of patience and charity, by Christ's love and the mother's grace, always I pray thee to pray for me the King heavenly, that my may spare crimes by thy holy merits f. Which prayer she said well forty times, before from the monument she rose, for the joy which she had. Who from prayer rising, soon healed herself she felt, and thanks to God rendered and to B. Humilitas.
[32] likewise two others, At a certain time a woman a certain, while she suffered an infirmity most grievous, once in the greatest pain sleeping, a voice heard saying to her, Recommend thyself to S. Humilitas: for by her merits know thou health to obtain. And when awakened she had been, herself reverently and most devoutly recommending to the same, soon freed herself she felt. Another woman labored in extremities, and said to her own, Why send ye for physicians? Do ye not see the day of death to be imminent? Her begetter moreover this hearing, forthwith to B. Humilitas came, and with affection too great his daughter to the same recommended: and when home he returned, a Sister a certain of the already said place, carrying with herself the veil of the holy Abbess, the aforesaid visited infirm woman: and binding with it the head of the same infirm woman, soon she convalesced, and after a few days totally healed she was.
[33] When a certain woman, coming to the already said monastery, an injured hand, had asked most devoutly of the things of the Abbess; she received a little of the cloths which the Abbess on her back had worn, and withdrew to Volterra: for there was there a certain man, into whose hand glass incautiously had entered, who for the too great pain quiet and peace in no wise to find could. And when the woman of the infirm grieving man the hand had touched with the cloths aforesaid, immediately freed he was, giving thanks to God and B. Humilitas. Another woman a son a certain had, and a boy ruptured. who ruptured and swollen in his bladder was: and when the parents the only son saw so perniciously infirmed to be, much they grieved. The man moreover with angry mind saying to his own wife, said, Ill hast thou kept our son. Soon the mother recommended him to B. Humilitas, and rising in the morning saw her son most fully healed.
[34] Another also woman grieving her arms, when to labor she could not except with immense pain, asked and came to the tomb of the venerable Abbess, likewise two women. and humbly herself to her and devoutly recommended: and when she had recommended, soon herself healed she felt, giving thanks to God and Blessed Humilitas. A certain Nun of that very monastery, while five years full she had been of pains in all her body, nor without grave pain to walk could, recommended herself to the Abbess holy; seeing that no medicine to her profited. And when from prayer she rose, so herself freed she felt, that no pain in her remained, and she praised God and B. Humilitas.
The Notarial Attestation.
[36] And I Benedict of Mag. Martinus, by Imperial authority Judge and Notary of Florence, and now of the R. P. D. Francis by the Grace of God Bishop of Florence the Notary, the original book, the said chronicle containing, saw and read, and it with the copy present transumed by the underwritten Philip Notary and by the underwritten Marsoppius Notary subscribed, in the presence of the abovewritten D. Matthew Vicar of D. Bishop of Florence, diligently with those very Notaries collated: and because mutually they agreed, by that very D. Vicar's mandate, his and the Curia's of D. Bishop authority and decree to this copy interposing, here me as a witness with the wonted sign I subscribed, in the church of S. Salvator of Florence, present as witnesses Ser-James Ser-Miniati, Ser-Peter Paganuccii, Notaries of the Episcopal Curia, on the day year, indiction, and Pontificate, above in the beginning written. I Marsoppus of D. Guidalotti Pintaccii de Signa, by Imperial authority Judge &c. And I Philip son of the late Benincasa de Florence, by Imperial authority &c.
ANNOTATIONS.
While thou bewailest most sacred of the beloved Jesus the stigmata, For tears thou givest blood, which all waters thy face.
O most holy Humilitas, full thou wast of patience and charity, on account of the love of my Lord Jesus Christ, and of the mother most holy Virgin Mary, I pray thee always, that thou adore for me the King of heaven, that of thy holy merits to me he may remit my sins. Amen.
ANALECTA
On the virtues, writings, translations and miracles of S. Humilitas.
From the Life in Italian published by Ignatius Guiducci.
Humilitas, Abbess of the Order of Vallombrosa, of Florence in Etruria (B.)
FROM THE ITALIAN OF GUIDUCCI.
CHAPTER I.
On the Spirit by which instructed she wrote, and the two Angel Guardians of her, and S. John the Evangelist her Patron.
[1] It was a thing altogether admirable, to see B. Humilitas, who never letters had learned, Unlearned she dictates Latin treatises most learned, not only reading at the table, as is said in the Life; but also discoursing and speaking in the Latin tongue, as if much in it of study she had put; dictating discourses and treatises most beautiful of things spiritual, in which appears profound doctrine, with most apt expressed words, even about the more sublime of sacred Theology mysteries, with a description lucid of the glory immense of the Blessed. To find in them is excellent discourses upon the Incarnation divine, the nobility and offices of the Angels, the praises of the God-bearer and of John the Evangelist, of S. James and of the Angel Guardians. To be pondered moreover here especially is, with words by the Holy Spirit suggested, that words of her not so much from herself proceeded, as from heaven by the Holy Spirit dictated: this indeed, God so ordaining, in various of her Sermons places she herself indicated. Namely in sermon III, whose words, and the rest after these similar places I shall exhibit from the Italian version again by me into Latin rendered: for the original texts often asked and long since promised, which variously hindered friends not yet to transcribe could, to await it is not allowed, delay not bearing the press. In sermon therefore the third thus she says: I wonder and fear and blush at those things, which I dare to write and dictate: because them not I have read in other books, nor to human science to be learned ever myself I applied; but only God's spirit in me speaks, who fills me with those words which I ought to say. as she herself in various places confesses. In the second moreover: Known to you be it, she says, the words divine which I speak, not to be mine, but to come from the Father and most high God, who gives to each one as more to him it pleases. He me teaches to interrogate and to answer, and with me meanwhile speaks in the hidden: I
moreover to you exteriorly in public speak. He me teaches in the silence of the spirit, and I with a clear voice pronounce to you those divine words which I hear. Beware therefore lest in vain ye receive, what my tongue brings forth, moved by the Holy Spirit. And elsewhere: I go to the Lord, that he may bid me this work to do; and immediately the spirit of my Jesus teaches me. From then and always of every matter secure I am, that I speak not as one ignorant: but I understand whatever I see, and fully instructed I am of that which I think. Finally in Sermon VIII thus she has: Since thou my master art royal, most sweet and pleasant: thou speakest with me cheering me, and by speaking thou kindlest the desire of loving Christ. Thou me teachest to speak and to know the truth. When to me near thou art, thou makest that I unworthy thy handmaid should speak and bring forth with my mouth those words, which are not mine.
[2] From what is said clearly it appears, that what dictated Humilitas, all from the same was the spirit, who similar things in this same century XIV was about to work in another equally beloved his spouse S. Catherine of Siena, as afterward did S. Catherine of Siena. in years XXXVII after her death about to be born; who to her Confessor (as is in book 1 of the Life num. 84) thus declared: Hold ye for a conclusion most true, my Father, that nothing which pertains to the way of salvation, taught me ever any man or woman, but precisely the Lord himself and Master, the Spouse precious and super-most-sweet of my soul, the Lord Jesus Christ, either through his inspiration, or through a clear apparition speaking to me, just as I now speak with you. The same also demonstrated the divine miracles, which the dictating Humilitas illustrated, and are referred above in her Life num. 29. From those moreover thus dictated sermons we know, From them we know, that besides the assigned to her from her nativity guardian Angel; afterward, with the care of souls to her subjected, she received also, for their more conveniently rule, an Angel another, just as in such a case to be done is wont teach the Theologians. For in Sermon IV thus she speaks.
[3] Indeed all the Angels heavenly I love, but two especially are the delights of my joy, who day and night me comfort, two guardian Angels to her to have been given: and communicate inestimable gifts of their riches. My Lord them to me as guardians assigned, that me they defend from all molestation, which divine mandate most diligently they have hitherto executed, because by their strength most well I am comforted. Both they me sustain on the right and on the left, nor fall can I except through sloth mine: so that if myself firmly near them I shall have held, never to harm me can my enemies. Through the grace of S. John the Evangelist, both this and that I know by his proper each name to call. The first is from the choir of the Angels, of those who are given to men in their life for guardianship; and his name is Sapiel, one Sapiel called, which denotes the divine wisdom. As often as that name I hear pronounced, suddenly is cheered to me the heart. This moreover was with me from that moment, in which into this life I entered. I confess indeed that him often I have offended with so many my defects; but he, as wholly benign, every fault to me remitted, nay also always to me with the Lord Jesus was a diligent advocate. The other is called Emmanuel, from the order of the Cherubim; the other Emmanuel a Cherub, and to me was given after the year of age the thirtieth, when I entered into the thoughts of great affairs: since by God committed to me was the guardianship of sheep, although I had not a pastoral rod, nor strength or vigor sufficient for so great a work. He his own wings spread, and me aided in my labors and undertakings: and, as he is benign, consoled me, partaker me making of his most opulent treasures. And again elsewhere, that is, in Sermon XII, Manifest to you be it that these two Angels are proper, the first, and best, for help and aid to me with God to be borne, declaring to me many things of the divine secrets.
[4] To these two Angels most obedient she always was; and to the same to be honored she composed that beautiful Treatise on the Court of Paradise, where these things are read. in whose honor she dictates a treatise on the Court of Paradise. I have immense glory in my heart, certified of the nobility and greatness of my Angels: but when I think of their beauty, I feel myself to go into ecstasy, and as if outside myself to be rapt for the excess of joy; because two lovers I have so perfect, who always assist in God's presence, and meanwhile a great support to me are. They are like two rocks impregnable; and in them all security laid up I have: and so great is their fortitude, that I fear not with whatever enemies to be engaged. They are quite wise, and so industrious, that in every kind of virtue me they instruct. So solicitously moreover and so promptly to me they provide, that before it is necessary, them to me to be present I find: and they are two solid columns, for sustaining my weakness.
[5] To this so powerful society she commended herself in her necessities, just as in Sermon XI she declares, saying: And ye my Angels strong, walk about all ways mine, and diligently watch lest the enemies be able to approach the doors of my heart. Bring forth before me the sword of your defense, and constrain my mouth so well, that closed it remain to every word vain and idle, nor thence to go out such can when it will. Sharpen my tongue with a razor, and to them she commends each of her body's senses. for extirpating whatever vices and virtues to be planted. On my eyes impose two seals of love, that no of this world thing together with the Beloved to behold they be able: hold nonetheless the same open and vigilant, that they be not impeded through somnolence to recite the divine Offices, nor the mind aggravate when it ought to attend to God's praises. Keep my ears open to the name of Jesus: and effect that to them penetrate cannot a word other any, which to the soul a deadly poison may be. Bind my feet with the chain of love, lest they be able to move themselves through the way of sin: but let all my steps be to the honor of Christ, and of his glorious mother. Constrain my hands with your blessed wings, always prompt and ready for divine services. Remove the smell from all vanity, that my soul only may feel the odor of the heavenly flowers. Guard all my bodily senses, that may be delighted the spiritual, and the soul may quietly repose with its Beloved. Make that the ways of divine love in me so be fortified, that when shall run into them rivers of vain delights they cannot pass through, for they would draw the soul to submersion. Angels mine most dear, behold I am deposited into your guardianship, and commended to you by my most sweet Jesus; I ask you in his name, that always solicitously ye guard me. I commend myself to you, O most benign Angels mine: pray the Word eternal, that he would to himself draw my heart, nor permit ever that elsewhere it wander. Finally in Sermon II about the end she says: O Emmanuel, O Sapiel, who are my Angels guardians, I pray you, most sweet ones that with all your strength ye render to me aid so efficacious, that when ye shall have led me to the presence of the great Queen, I may be able to contemplate and enjoy the mother with her beloved, and from the maternal bosom between my arms to receive that glorious little infant.
[6] To these she adds other Patrons, Long it would be all the other places to enumerate, in which her beloved those Angels she praises, and to them thanks she gives. Enough it is to know two to have been, to whose tutelage she had joined also to herself the protection special of S. John the Evangelist, S. James the Greater, and S. John the Baptist, whom she named the three most solid of her life columns: whence also she said in Sermon XI: Make my Lord, that those my holy Advocates me animate, that without thy offense through the right ways myself I may bear to thy presence. Command them that even to death they be my guardians, and then offer to thee my soul, wholly cheerful and joyful. Nor with these content, but as she was most loving of her Spouse, so she venerated all his servants; from whom for herself besides Protectors she had chosen S. Catherine the Virgin and Martyr, the Archangel Gabriel, S. Cecilia, S. Joseph, and especially the most glorious Mother of God, just as below shall appear. What to S. John the Evangelist pertains, especially S. John the Evangelist. began to him more devoutly to be affected Humilitas already from her boyhood her: but growing the years grew also the devotion, while she with new and new from him favors daily was heaped, a father him having and a master in the way of the spirit, as expressly she says in a certain Sermon: S. John the Evangelist my master is and doctor, without whom no doctrine I will to learn. He, after Christ and his blessed Mother, is my glory, my hope, my refuge, my counsel and the joy of my soul.
[7] In Sermon indeed XI she declares with these words his love toward herself: O Evangelist, bearer of sweet loves: thou from heaven to thy beloved ones beautiful many gifts sendest. and her toward him love she explains. Remember me poor and a beggar, if yet me still thou recognizest. As of me care thou hadst when I was rich, so do not abandon me in more urgent necessities. For if for the love of the Sultan of the Saracens into these lands I had come, just as I came for the love of thee, for his urbanity solicitous of me care he would have. Recall a little, O John of continual largesses, with which me thou heapedst with things most precious and incomparable: recall of those sweet legations, which to me thou sentest, that more me into thy love thou mightest inflame. Indeed with all my heart I love thee: and although I be a vile and of price no leaf, thou indeed a lily white and odoriferous; do not now forget that to me sometime thy great liberality thou hast exhibited. Remember a little of that most beautiful little knife, which thou thyself fashionedst with strokes of love, not of scourging, mindful of the benefits from him received: with which to me the heart thou hast transfixed; and love renewing, with the same knife again me thou hast pervaded; and to thyself so strongly hast fixed it, that thence to be torn away it cannot or be taken sweet love thine. O most beloved John, thou me hast bound with a chain golden and hast betrothed with a ring. Since therefore commended I am to thy guardianship, O spouse mine most sweet, do not me abandon. I beseech that thou recall that thou hast married me by thy love, and hast dowered me with spousal gifts, and so many other things
precious and beautiful, together with that line of precious gems. I could also of other many thy gifts speak, but the time is of finishing, lest in whom the mind little sound is, thorns they gather and roses scatter. I confess besides that ill I have used thy gifts, nor thee have loved as I ought; but pure my love made is worse, and less nay ill ordered: but thou in loving merciful art. I beseech therefore that we renew our friendship, so that my soul be recreated in thy love, and of his praises she dictates 2 Sermons. and produce that best which I desire fruit, that it may be able to work to thy glory. From which and other words undoubtedly we can understand, how singularly she was affected to this great Saint; in whose honor two also Sermons she dictated, in which distinctly and with great affection she declares, how great toward him a reverence to her was divinely instilled, how great in him placed she had confidence, how great of his familiarity and liberality she used.
CHAPTER II.
The devotion of the Saint toward the God-bearer: her Praises how and with what fruit by her dictated.
[8] Much more tender was S. Humilitas's devotion toward the most blessed Mother of God. It is established indeed that never she began an action any, but she implored her aid; To the God-bearer wont always to flee, and the praise of Mary in all her sermons was mingled. If any to her happened adversity or a necessity whatever weighed, implored her help immediately she was comforted. In her fixed she had all her thoughts, now her virginal birth considering, and the laborious offices to her little son's education bestowed; now of the most bitter passion the sword meditating, now the supreme over all things created power to her granted contemplating. Therefore not wonderful was, that of this toward her love by the regard the Queen of the heavens so many graces to her made, and often to her herself to be seen personally presented, just as in her Sermons is read. many good things to her ascribes, For in III she confesses and clearly recognizes, that the Queen of the Heavens a guide to her and a companion is through the path of Paradise, which in Sermon VIII with these words she explains. The Queen of the heavens the mast and the sail is in the little ship of our soul, and by her mercy easily it she leads, showing the way safe, and the brevity of the journey, and that quickly about to come it is to the port. There shall meet the same the Angels, who its treasure shall represent to the Lord; who as most liberal, for one talent shall render a hundred, besides a vast abundance of inestimable riches. And in Sermon XII: Ye know, Brothers, that not only in a vision, but even in colloquy familiar and domestic, to all our interrogations and petitions from the very mouth of Mary the Virgin given were most grateful answers. Then in Sermon IX, Let it not to me be imputed, she says, to glory what my tongue speaks, because they are not words mine, nor I of them have power; but render the praise to the Queen, because from her goodness all things are derived.
[9] In Sermon also IV of her praises thus she discourses: The supreme Deity came from the imperial heaven into earth, and humbly entered the little vessel of one girl, and her humility, whom in beauty to himself like he rendered, because she was the mother of simplicity, whose purity so great is, that to shine her it makes among all Virgins as a gem most pure. She is the Queen of humility, who wisely penetrated to the bottom of this virtue. She is our Lady, who with her most humble eyes such darted glances, that sufficiently powerful they were for the highest God from his heavenly throne to be led down into the lands. A little moreover lower she subjoins: So flowery is her virginity, that those conversing with her she makes chaste. And in Sermon VI: O root holy, who to us brought forth a branch, by which our life is governed! O Virgin glorious, whose festivity always solemnly is renewed in heaven! So great and so divine is the beauty of her, her beauty, that the Angels and Saints cannot be satiated her beholding. Her ringlets are filled with gold, with which her head most holy is covered; nor can be explained the beauty or splendor, with which that head irradiates all things. Her eyes, most honest and amorous, kindle in the heart a flame divine. Her smile and mouth, while she speaks, always bring some new and precious gift: but with her words she cheers those hearing, purifying and adorning the mind. The Angels desire to hear her, and in her voice are delighted the Saints. From her mouth and nostrils breathes a fragrance of so sweet an odor, that in all it renews the desire again her to see and to salute. Her lips more ruddy are and more odoriferous than roses new. The whole heavenly court adores that breast divine which suckled the eternal King, and the body, which is the most sacred altar. While to her speak the Angels and Saints, they lift to themselves their crowns royal from their head, her majesty exceedingly she praises. and repeat that gracious salutation, which once on earth to the same said the Archangel Gabriel: and together all await a benediction from those most holy hands, in which laid up is all power: then they wish service and reverence to exhibit to this blessed Queen, who is the Empress of the Angels and of all the Court divine. Her crown of stars twelve, through a figure designated in the Apostles, and with the encaustic of solar splendor depicted, which infused into her the highest King's beauty, when from this life she ascended to the nuptials above all the heavens, and was placed at the right of God, sitting upon the Cherubim. This is the joy of the court all heavenly &c.
[10] In these and similar discourses seems Humilitas an end none to find: to whose toward her affection corresponding the most liberal Virgin, She is bidden by her to weave for the little Jesus a pallium, among other favors this to her specially conferred, that sometime to her meditating of her childbirth divine she appeared, commanding that her single mysteries attentively she would contemplate, that them to others she could herself manifest. She commanded besides, that her little Jesus she should clothe with a pallium, with gems inwoven, and of a triple color's variety conspicuous. And when she humbly answered, O my Lady most sweet, impossible to me appears the of heaven and earth maker, whom scarcely the Angels themselves to touch dare, with a garment material to cover; especially since neither gems any I possess, nor of the colors required the kinds I know. Answered moreover the Most Holy, that nothing by it she should be anguished, about to be present indeed at her command soon the Evangelist John, who would teach what to be done it would be needful. He moreover to her immediately explained, the garment that not ought to be material; but wholly of things spiritual inwoven, namely of a dilated heart, which of what kind it ought to be teaches S. John the Evangelist. a spirit humbled, an ardent mind, a sweetness of love inexplicable, sighs fervent, copious tears, contemplation penetrative. From these, as from so many golden filaments and gems, the inwoven garment she should offer to the infant; the colors moreover three required he named, red, flesh-colored and white: of which by the first to be denoted he said Christ's divinity, by the second the humanity of the same, by the third the virginity and merits of the mother Mary. With this indeed garment not only to be covered the son and mother, but the whole also heavenly court.
[11] Thus instructed Humilitas, She herself dictates the Praises of B. Mary, just as in the Hymn of her is sung, A book she composes by the spirit dictating, Full of praises of the Virgin Mary, Which if anyone reads grace he gains By his prayers. But recite most frequently those Praises the Monks of S. Salvi, for they are full of mysteries of the Incarnation divine, and the singular of the God-bearer prerogatives contain, and as much the son's as the mother's name most frequently they repeat. In the beginning moreover of that very treatise, praying for those about to recite them, which only those Praises contains, of this kind a prayer is found: O holy Virgin Mary, Queen of heaven, hear my prayers and my oration. I ask moreover from thee mercy for all those, who shall read this book in thy honor, or to be read shall hear, or devoutly to the same shall be affected. Give them a great reward and gift precious, of thee, I say, and of Jesus Christ the love. In the hour of death be present for their defense, freeing their souls from the mouth of the dragon. Thou indeed, Jesus, in the kingdom heavenly grant them health and glory. Amen. Another then little prayer she composed, the said Praises to be premised, in this manner: O Virgin most pure, enlighten our hearts with the light of the Holy Spirit, that we may be able to hear the doctrine, and to learn, and in that manner to recite that to thee for praise it may turn and to us infirm for medicine. She explains then, and explaining whence she received the same, so willing him by whose inspiring she was acting, how the aforesaid Praises not are of her composition, saying: O most dear Brothers and Sisters most pious, with great devotion let us be affected toward these Praises of Mary the Virgin, which are not taken from a book any, nor from doctrine human received. The Masters of them to be written were Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary, who are the summit and perfection of all virtue, to them be glory. A woman a certain them dictated, and another wrote: and the Holy Spirit the same inspired to a certain sinner.
[12] Narrates afterward she herself S. Humilitas, how the aforesaid Praises on the Vigil of the Assumption of our Lady to her were revealed; in their use endowed with singular graces. and them reciting with a singular a certain grace deigned she was, but with what she indicates not: only she says, A sinner a certain (such herself she named the most humble Saint) asked a certain grace, for which my Lady mediatrix interceded, and immediately she obtained. O how fortunate a gift, immense, wonderful, lovable, and wholly sweet and precious this was! She gave to her a grace exceedingly notable, a light a certain divine, by which she knew to use the occasion of praising her and herself to her commending, whence her heart not a little was cheered. Here showed our Lady her true humility, because she loves sinners and to them most merciful is, since indeed so clemently she acted with that sinner. O most dear Brothers, let us recite often and attentively let us meditate those Praises. I say to you in truth, that by that reasoning from Mary the Virgin we shall obtain many spiritual gifts: for that in them we praise the most lofty Lady, who to our souls brings an efficacious medicine. She the heart cheers, the mind enlightens, peace composes between the spirit and the sense, far drives away thoughts evil and dangerous temptations, and of her love partakers us makes. For while of Mary the Virgin the odor we perceive, makes she that the mind forget of things temporal, and teaches Christ and things spiritual to love; makes the world and all things earthly to despise, and the heavenly to seek with the greatest desire them to find. Wherefore let us prepare our heart, and let us be fed with the fruit of these divine Praises of Mary the Virgin, who our light is and the star matutinal.
[13] To the same praises' efficacy to confirm make two miracles, A Religious a certain in a vision which in an old codex together with the same are found described. A Religious a certain with so grave of spirit tribulation pressed, that to himself it seemed
plainly abandoned by God; since greatly he made the exemplary of this holy Abbess life, of her trusting the merits to S. Salvi monastery himself betook, where he had heard to live enclosed girls virgins of best name. But before to of any of them the sight or address he came, willed God by another reasoning to declare to him the great of them purity. He represented indeed to him a table, with royal magnificence and with dishes altogether heavenly furnished, at which reclined all those, and reclined also he himself. Incredible was of so divine refreshment the sweetness: tempered however it a grief some from the sight of three Nuns, who from the already said table enclosed, far thence as if sick lay on the ground. proposing to transcribe them, The vision finished remained to the good man a compassionate grief, joined with a desire of the poor little ones to aid; and prayer made he resolved the aforesaid prayers, by their Abbess composed, to transcribe; first indeed that he himself solace spiritual might find, by which from that tribulation he might be freed; then indeed that those three Sisters them reading and rereading better might become, and to the common with their companions degree of sanctity might come. Wishing therefore as soon as possible to the work to apply his hand, and to this by those three exceedingly desiring it stimulated, again he was rapt in mind; and saw the same three with most white covered garment, to whom meeting a matron of aspect venerable, suddenly led them to the others' company; who together all began the said Religious to strike and to scourge, imploring for the pain's sense the help of the holy Foundress. he is freed from a grave tribulation. Then to himself restored altogether serene to himself his mind to be he found, by this alone that he had proposed through the writing of the said Praises, the devotion to propagate so grateful to the Queen of the Angels.
[14] Another certain Religious, of salvation to be obtained most desirous, had chosen in a place some deserted to himself and his Creator solitary to live. the same experienced another This to bear least of all being able the demon, whatever he could of temptations engines against him turned so furiously, that he almost now hands gave. He resisted nonetheless and variously himself defended: and when among other means on a certain day also the aforesaid Praises he had begun to recite, a victory swift over the enemy from the God-bearer he gained, interceding the merits of that very Saint. Overcome moreover the infernal enemy, and of the gained confusion impatient, on a day about the hour of Tierce in a horrible and gigantic appearance appeared in the chamber's door, and the whole from the foundations shook, the same into Italian he turns and so disappeared. He indeed the devout Religious from that day to our Saint most devout remained; and that to more might attain, of so profitable prayers the fruit, them from the Latin tongue into the vulgar translated, and at their end thus wrote: Therefore most dear Brothers, frequently and devoutly let us recite these praises of the most blessed Virgin: and whoever a tribulation any or an infirmity of spirit suffers, with prayers of this kind let him recur to the heavenly Empress; because the same attentively reciting, easily her he will move to granting to himself the desired health, and the former of his mind quiet, just as that very Saint in the beginning of these praises affirms.
CHAPTER III.
The translation of the body to the monastery of S. Salvi, and another twofold to her proper altar: the ancient cult of the Saint proved, and the Processes are begun.
[15] Feared the Republic Florentine war and a siege of its city by the army of Clement Pope VII, In the place of the destroyed old monastery joined with the forces of Charles V the Emperor. Wishing therefore itself to fortify, and as far as it could impregnable to render, it ordered to be destroyed buildings many to the walls near, lest to the enemy a refuge they should afford. Among these were the house of the daughters of S. Humilitas, of which a part from the foundations was demolished, a part lower by half made, still shows traces of the old dormitory. There also is found that well, where in the summer time ice to be found caused the Saint, as in her Life is read num. 27, and today is called the Well of S. Humilitas; there is kept the Saint's well near which of a certain courtyard indications are discerned, in which place D. John Brancadori of Fermo, of the citadel there built the Prefect, to be painted caused the Saint, to whom most devout he was, on a bed lying in that state, in which the aforesaid ice by praying she obtained. Took care the same that the very well clean and entire be kept, against fevers famous. for that to it from all the neighborhood round about it is sought with great confidence of obtaining health especially from fevers, which confidence confirms the very success in several the water thence taken drinking. Of the church indeed of S. John the Evangelist other nothing survives, than a part of the frontispiece with certain pilasters of white marble, and a small trace of its gable, which wholly of marble white and black elegantly composed and polished had been constructed.
[16] Destroyed moreover the monastery, from that which I said cause was, in the year MDXXIX on the day XXIV September, It was destroyed in the year 1529 with not a small besides damage in the estates, houses and fields neighboring to the monastery equally pertaining, in years CCLVII after into the place's possession her daughters had brought S. Humilitas. On the day XXIV of the month aforesaid, the same were brought into the urban S. Catherine monastery: where scarcely for months two they stood, when to them on the day XXIV November it was announced, that they must go out within two days. and the monks transferred into the city Was this announcement so much sadder to those good Mothers, by how much less hope there was quickly of obtaining the promised to them, when should be destroyed the place of S. John, a habitation at S. Anthony's; nor was it possible in that confusion of things, a lodging fit to find by which themselves they might receive. But this difficulty removed D. Raphael late Francis de Hieronymis, for the following year named Confalonerius, a man upright and just. He effected indeed, to S. Anthony's: that the promised and desired habitation be vacated by the soldiers there residing; so that to immigrate thither they could on XVIII December; and there they remained even until in the year MDXXIV translated they were to the monastery of S. Salvi where now they live, in this which follows manner.
[17] Wished the Most Illustrious Alexander de Medici, the first Duke of Florence, to build a citadel with fortifications, and this place to a new citadel attributed, within which it was necessary also to be comprehended the greater part of the place occupied by the monastery of S. Anthony: whence for the Rectors of the city necessary it was of a habitation other for our Nuns to provide. And so the matter conferred with the Most Reverend of Vallombrosa General, decreed it was, that he himself their spiritual Father should grant them the monastery of S. Salvi: which to them compassionating willingly he assented, and consenting Clement Pope VII, by the same Duke Alexander was to execution mandated. in the year 1524 they migrate to S. Salvi. Hither therefore entered those Reverend Mothers on XIV August, the Most Reverend General P. John Mary Cunigiani them receiving at the principal gate of the monastery, and with a liberal gift it resigning with all to it pertaining, gardens, vineyards, fields, silver and the furniture of the church. The donation accepted the Abbess then D. Dianora, daughter of D. Peter-Paul Machiavelli, of great prudence a matron: who amid the disturbances and tumults those, the subject to her Monks with great quiet governed, under the direction of D. Blasius, of the same to the rule spiritual set over.
[18] The body of that very of God handmaid (which from the year MCCCXI even to the year MDXXIX had rested under the altar, While thither also the body of the Saint is translated, to her honor erected, in years CCXVII) on the day XXVI September, together with the body of B. Margaret, translated was to S. Catherine's, thence indeed to S. Anthony's, and at last to S. Salvi's; in which last translation a case happened memorable. The bearer who from the church of S. Catherine to the church of S. Anthony had translated the casket wooden, of the sacred pledges guardian with iron grated, and long about ells three, professed publicly that of it no weight he had felt: wherefore the same five years after for a benefit to himself asked to be indulged, that again to translate the sacred casket he might. A heavier casket made the cloths, no weight of the ark otherwise heavy is felt by the bearer. in the ark enclosed and stuffing the holy bodies with much cotton lest shaken and jolted they should suffer anything. A Dalmatic likewise Diaconal cast over covered the bier, after the manner of that time; the journey moreover was of two miles; he swore however even then no to himself weight to have been seen, just as is referred in the Act Notarial of Mag. Bernard Mochi, under the day XVI December of the year MDCX. Afterward for the variety of occasions the aforesaid ark placed was in various places of that very church, it first is placed in the sacristy; always however with as great as most it could reverence, by the will of the very Nuns. And first placed it is in the sacristy of the monastery, upon a most beautiful altar for that cause erected: then in the choir upper, on this which to describe I undertake occasion.
[19] In the year MDLVII on the day XIII September the banks transgressed the Arno, in such manner had inundated all the S. Salvi plain, that the aforesaid casket it covered wholly an ell entire higher the water: nor however when within two days after thence was extracted the casket, and in the year 1557 by the overflowing Arno nothing having suffered, even one little drop thither itself to have penetrated was found: and so unharmed remained whatever within placed was, so that even its whiteness kept the byssus silken, itself enwrapping the bodies, and with gold inscribed having letters golden: by which on this side indeed Saint Humilitas, on that the year MDXXX was expressed: when however similar cloths quickly are wont by the encaustic that to be consumed, by which to them the gold is applied. Therefore that byssus by the Nuns reverently is kept; and for the relief of the infirm sought, is sent into places various, with frequent of the obtained health fruit. Lest however to the same peril again should be subject the holy bodies, it pleased into that which I said choir the ark to be translated, in the year 1562 it is translated to its proper altar: where it remained even to XXI May of the year MDLXII. Then it was carried to a new altar, in the sacristy of the church exceedingly beautifully adorned, under a tabernacle skillfully sculpted of marble white, by the hand of Benedict of Rovezzano a sculptor most known. The same ark in the year MDCXXIV on the day XXXI March placed was in the church, upon an altar which to those entering on the right meets, the work caring for already from XXII May of the preceding year D. Clement Bonenti of Padua a Monk Vallombrosan. which in the year 1624 is renewed, To the translation this to be made assented the Most Illustrious D. Alexander Martii Medici, Archbishop of Florence: and opened was the casket before witnesses seven, and D. Zenobius Benveri a Notary of Florence: who all found and saw the body entire excepting only the arms, of which one before had been granted to the Nuns of S. Humilitas of Faenza, and is found the body incorrupt cut off only the arms. the whole to themselves body demanding; the other with those very monks. of S. Salvi in a most beautiful crystal enclosed is kept. Is moreover worthy of note, that so white remained the skin of the Saint, in the whole of three hundred and what runs over years time, that of a living one the appearance almost it bears; nor less
that the military fury it escaped, so nothing having suffered from the ruins and burnings by which more than once overwhelmed the casket was, than from the inundations of the river. Much also of cotton was found about the bodies sacred, and they were covered with cloth red, and above this spread was the aforesaid byssus, and another wholly streaked with gold.
[20] A new then made was a casket, comely no less than precious, for this a new casket is fabricated whose sides crystal so lay open to the sight, that to dust entrance none they left. In this placed was S. Humilitas, with face upward turned, so that besides the countenance and feet is discerned nothing: the rest indeed of the body covers a cowl monastic according to the norm of the Order Vallombrosan. The bones of B. Margaret loosened, placed are at the feet of her Mistress, in that plainly manner in which they had been found in the casket old. Done were moreover these things on the day XXX April MDCXXIV, and the translation is made 4 May, before the aforesaid Notary. Afterward on the day IV May finished the Vespers, the aforesaid new casket was placed upon the new altar of S. Humilitas, to which twice in the week a plenary Indulgence granted Gregory XV, under a Mass there to be celebrated for that very monastery's deceased Nuns. It stood thus exposed the holy Relic for two days, that is even to the morning of the day VI: so great moreover was the concourse of the people, with the greatest concourse on the 25th. as well from the city as from all the neighborhood round about, as great as no one in any solemnity himself to have seen remembered, so that narrow seemed the ways public which lead to the monastery; that which more wonderful was, because no had preceded publication of this thing future, but it was cared for that as most secretly all things should be done.
[21] Moved that frequency the abovepraised of the citadel Prefect D. John Brancadori, that on the same day to S. Salvi to be brought he caused six hundred little mortars, which from the common of the bombardiers munition, without the monastery's expense, often discharged, the same the day after came the Grand Duke with his. increased the gladness was and the applause popular. On the same day twice thither among several other illustrious persons came the Illustrious D. Alphonsus Giglioli, Nuncio Apostolic with the Grand Duke of Etruria: came also the Most Eminent D. Charles the Cardinal de Medici, of the Vallombrosan Congregation the Protector, but on account of the throng of the people he could not with his carriage to pass. On this account to come on another day deferred the Most Serene Ferdinand II, the Grand of Etruria Duke, with his brothers and sisters his, the same's grandmother D. Christina of Lorraine, and mother D. Mary Magdalene of Austria; the Duke likewise and Duchess of Mantua, Prince Lawrence de Medici and the Princess of Urbino, with all the court retinue. Therefore on the day VI May this holy Relic processionally was led within the cloister, so placed before the grate, which exteriorly and interiorly the altar in place of a wall separates, that by the people in the church placed equally as by the Nuns inside constituted it could be discerned, neither however themselves mutually to see.
[22] Was wont our Congregation Vallombrosan in some monasteries to celebrate a Mass, The old Office of the Saint in the Breviaries of the Order, and the Office to recite in honor of this Saint, and there is had noted a Mass with Antiphons and Hymns and Orations proper, printed in various little books or psalters, according to the use of the Vallombrosan Order. That which also can be gathered from four Briefs Pontifical, truly notable, through which are granted Indulgences to those visiting the church of S. John the Evangelist. Besides Alexander Pope VI, in the year MDI of his Pontificate the IX, granted the faculty to the Anziani of Faenza, at the intercession of Valentino Duke Caesar Borgia, that for the monastery of S. Mary Novella (which, because to the very of the city ditches it adhered, had been in the war time leveled) another to erect within the city under the title of S. Humilitas. In the Calendar also of the Psalter Vallombrosan, at XXII May, a rubric is noted of Humilitas the Abbess: and in the Office Marian according to the use of the same Congregation, in the Litanies after the Psalms Penitential, and other indications of a feast anciently celebrated is read S. Humilitas pray for us. Which all an undoubted testimony afford of a feast anciently celebrated. Nay even among the ephemerides of the monastery, in which is contained what on each day was spent and received even to the year MCCCC, are found noted expenses, made by the Monks for the feast day of S. Humilitas.
[23] But after destroyed was the church of S. John, since there lacked the convenience of visiting the altar and the body of this handmaid of God, which within the monastery was detained to no one external discernible; had cooled that observance, except among the Nuns of each monastery the Florentine and the Faentine. Of this therefore mournful the Fathers, and wishing the defect to repair, the affair commended to the Order's Procurator in the Curia D. Virginius Moscardi; for which to be examined named a Commissary in the year 1621 who soon to be informed caused D. Francis Penia Auditor of the Rota, and to him offered the most ancient memorials of the life, sanctity and miracles of the great this of God handmaid. But before the cause was led into the Rota each from the living departed in the year MDCXI. Some then years after, Virginius's successor D. Thomas Davanzati, the same for end supplicated the Congregation of Rites, and Commissorial obtained to be directed to the Most Illustrious Lords the Bishop of Faenza and the Archbishop of Florence; by which to them was commanded, that in his each diocese with the daughters of that very Saint information they should take, of the life, miracles, devotion and concourse popular, and other things pertaining to proving to her Sanctity the ancient cult of Humilitas. Signed were those letters on the day XX April of the year MDCXXIV: and afterward on the day XXIX May D. Alexander Martii de Medici Archbishop of Florence to S. Salvi for that cause came, in the company of three his Canons, and the Cross-bearer and Train-bearer and Chancellor.
[24] Scarcely there had come the Prelate, when in the very porch before the church, he saw a marble most ancient statue, by which S. Humilitas to be represented it showed with a lambskin upon the head a little skin, he sees the old statue of the Saint, with which always and everywhere she is painted; and he said that there would be no need of other proof, since that alone would suffice for the end intended. He saw nonetheless many most ancient pictures, of which some made were before three hundred years, and all exhibited circumduced to the Saint's head a diadem. Especially however to him pleased a tablet, in the sixth after the happy transit year, and the old pictures, that is MCCCXVI painted, with a nun at the feet praying (whom B. Margaret to be they wish) surrounded by little areas fourteen, containing as many of S. Humilitas miracles, and her in single of them diademed. In the monastery besides shown to the same were many writings and memorials ancient, by a notarial hand authenticated, and the writings by which the Life of the Saint is contained; a book likewise choral, in which noted already of old composed; and other several things, which long it would be to enumerate single ones. By all these fully to himself satisfied testified the Archbishop, accruing besides that writing by which were contained the miracles done through the cotton, by which the body within the old ark had been stuffed, and which after the day of the translation aforesaid liberally had been distributed to the people. and the body. He saw finally the body itself, still like a living one after years CCCXXII, and of all a relation made in writing he received.
[25] Followed after these the year MDCXXVII when D. Everard Niccolini, of the Congregation Vallombrosan President general, wishing the cause that to be promoted, to D. Ignatius Guiducci, then his in the City Procurator general, the matter commended: who having received a relation of those things which at S. Salvi the Archbishop had done, signed on the day XII November of the year MDCXXVII, A relation is made to the Congregation of Rites in the year 1628 informed the Most Eminent D. Cardinal Mellinus, of this cause the Ponent. He finally in the year MDCXXVIII on the day XXVI February, with great affection, of her referred before the Sacred of Rites Congregation, concluding that to the Vallombrosan Congregation could be granted, what it asked, the faculty of a Mass and Office of the of God handmaid Humilitas, as a Saint, to be made; attentive the certitude of the authentic documents, in which the chief place held the Life, in the year MCCCXXX by the Vicar of the Bishop of Florence authenticated, with the Bulls of Indulgences and the Brief original of Alexander VI. He added to these most efficacious reasons, namely that in the year the transit happy immediately following D. the Bishop of Florence, present many Prelates and Lords titled, under her name erected and consecrated a most beautiful altar, and upon it exceedingly honorably to be adored exposed the holy body; that already of old her feast was celebrated, and it is proved in various ways as a Saint, always venerated Humilitas, just as abundantly prove the Mass, Hymns, Antiphons, and the rest by hand and by types expressed in S. Salvi; with a daily commemoration there by the Nuns wont to be used, according to their Psalter printed; that the same Monks, and also the Faentine, from immemorial were wont the feast to do, reciting however all from the Common; and often through the year in her honor a Sacred to be said to cause, with great of the people devotion and frequency (as the sworn on both sides testimonies, by the Archbishop of Florence collected, taught) that the title of Saint immediately to her from death given, and at the re-digging of the holy body; and that also it appears in many psalters, martyrologies, calendars and writers ancient. Nor lightly to be weighed he esteemed, that she herself the Foundress was of the Monks of the Order Vallombrosan, who therefore equally as S. John Gualbert, of the Monks the Institutor, worthy was of veneration public. Afterward he produced the relation of D. the Archbishop of Florence, an eyewitness of so many images, statues, votive tablets with rays, a diadem, the title of Saint expressed for the space of years three hundred: finally he recited the Summary of the life and miracles, in the best order digested by D. Pompey Serni, Auditor of the Most Eminent D. Cardinal Pius.
[26] Such a Relation heard, and inspected and considered the documents alleged, decreed the Congregation, that there could by Apostolic authority be formed Processes for proving, There are ordered to be made processes for the Canonization. that the Monks should celebrate the feast reciting the Office of the Common, and causing to be celebrated Masses, with the concourse and devotion of the people. And so on the day X March of the year MDCXXVIII, our most Holy Lord Urban Pope VIII the desired Apostolic Commission kindly granted, and on the day of the same month XXVIII were by the sacred Congregation expedited letters Remissorial and Compulsorial to Florence and Faenza, to this that by Apostolic authority, through the Most Illustrious Lords of the dioceses said the Prelates, be formed Processes, about to be valid in order to the Canonization, whenever there should be one who could and would the expenses necessary to make. Finished was moreover the Process Florentine and to Rome sent in the year MDCXXIX on XXX March, but the Faentine in the year MDCXXX on the day XXI February.
CHAPTER IV.
The miracles after the Translation of S. Humilitas done, also by the use of the cotton to the body placed.
[27] There was in the monastery of S. John the Evangelist a young Monk, There are healed a Monk in her whole body tortured, in her whole body so ill affected, and so great now of old pains suffering, that to live herself beyond measure it wearied. To her her mistress her persuaded, that since every day were seen miracles through the intercession of S. Humilitas in various men
external done, she also with living faith to the same should recur. Obeyed the counsel salutary the young girl, and the Saint besought, that, who so many had aided, also in her she would show the power of her benignity. On the next night appeared to her S. Humilitas: whom she seeing immediately began herself to her to commend, and what she desired to ask. The Saint indeed kindly answered: Nothing doubt, daughter, this indeed faith thee has healed: go and hear devoutly the sacrifice of the Mass: whatever indeed thou hast wished thou shalt obtain. and a girl a fever suffering, Obeyed she, the Mass heard, and immediately wholly healed herself she found. There also was being educated a girl a certain of Florence, and with a most ardent fever now long was afflicted, when recalling the ice by the Saint, to whom devout very she was, once obtained in a similar infirmity, from the same a refreshment some and help humbly she sought. Appeared moreover she to her by night, with a bucket of ice full, as if it to her offering, and soon disappeared: the girl indeed in the morning awaking, and herself from the fever free feeling, with great of mind consolation thanks gave: and is found the aforesaid miracle depicted in a tablet quite ancient, and is kept at S. Salvi, in which is discerned the Saint, holding a bucket full of ice, and the girl before her on knee bent.
[28] D. Gregory Tiglia-mochi, a monk Vallombrosan and Confessor at S. Salvi, in the year 1562 is cured a pain of the arm. a year now the fifth suffered a grave in his arm pain, so that neither to move it, nor to use somewhat it he could. He when in the year MDLXII on the day XXI May about to carry was the body of the Saint, from the choir of the Nuns to the altar of the Sacristy lower; immediately as he touched the casket which so great contained Relics, of that pain freed himself he felt, nor such anything any more he suffered. Such moreover a miracle, together with three following, is found in the acts registered by the hand of Mag. Bernard Mochi, Notary public of Florence, under the day XVI December of the year MDCX. In the year MDLXXXVII Sister Joanna, 1587 is freed a demoniac, called in the world Floretta, from the year of her age XIV bewitched had been, and hidden in her had remained a demon for years XVIII, although now and then some of itself it gave indication. But the aforesaid years elapsed, on the Vigil of the Assumption Marian, it began evidently itself to manifest, in various and pitiable manners the possessed afflicting; now of sight, now of hearing or speech, now of senses all her depriving, so that neither to move herself she could, nor to be moved by others, made of weight unportable. That matter not a small to the monastery disturbance brought: wherefore often iterated by fastings and prayers asked God and the very holy Mother was, for her freeing: then the exorcisms of the Church for days six upon her continued D. Alphonsus Porta, a Monk Vallombrosan and Confessor of the place: on the last moreover day, and the same Vigil of S. Bartholomew, carried about processionally was the arm of S. Humilitas. And when with hymns and psalms devoutly recited the aforesaid Relic placed was upon the head of the infirm woman, the Saint's arm applied, went out the demon, leaving her for an hour's space as if dead. Horrible moreover was the noise and howl excited by the going-out demon: and it not only the Monks in the monastery, but even a frequent people, who to the procession had run, heard: the infirm woman indeed, immediately as to herself she returned, with bent knees and hands joined the hymn Te Deum recited, and whole XXXVIII years afterward unharmed lived.
[29] In the year MDXC D. Julia Galeotti, a Noble of Florence, wife of Alexander Reineri, in the same are healed a dying woman in the year 1590 of one year's space sick lay to death. Often for her to be cured gathered had been the College of Physicians: but little to her to profit could they. At last she herself vowed to S. Humilitas, and with much instance supplicated, that to her house her venerable arm be carried. Soon moreover as it on her head she received, better she had, and shortly restored she was to entire health. and in the year 1607 a bedridden woman for a seven-year period. In the year MDCVII seven years infirm had lain D. Porcia Laudi, wife of D. Benedict Ridolfi, a Noble of Florence, with a disease no less grave than loathsome; for so the head sat, that to raise it in no wise she could, nor except with the greatest molestation to move; to which evil acceded a pain in her whole body diffused. Unknown to the physicians a symptom by no could art be relieved, and it was doubted whether it not was to a sorcery to be ascribed. Recurred therefore to the Saint the infirm woman, to her herself commending: and when to her devoutly supplicating into her house was carried her arm, better to herself to become she felt; and that more decently she might receive so venerable a Relic, she herself by herself rose from her bed (that which she had not been able for so many years to do) and with her own hands prepared, and with flowers adorned a little altar to which it was to be placed. Then when it on her head was placed, made over it the Cross's sign, with the admiration of those standing around all, she was wholly healed of so grave a torment, nor ever afterward, as long as she lived, a similar one she suffered. Present to the miracle were D. Catherine de Pazzis, wife of D. Bernard Zerzelli; D. Margaret Capponi, wife of D. Francis Michelozzi; and D. Mary Capponi, wife of the Captain Pecori: who a public to so admirable an event testimony gave.
[30] When D. Clement Bonenti, a Monk Vallombrosan and of the monastery of S. Salvi Rector, The Rector of the monastery having suffered a swoon was in the sacristy, where already from the year MDLXII the body of the Saint stood upon the altar; a sudden syncope he suffered, which so prolonged and so vehement was, that for certain it was believed him to be dead, and now were present bearers the corpse about to carry, when he began into himself to return. But known so dangerous a symptom, since not yet to speak he could, his eyes he fixed on the altar of the Saint; and himself to her with interior prayer commending, he promised, that by her benefit to himself restored, he would cause her body thence to be translated into the church upon a new altar more decently to be adorned. Scarcely such a decree in mind and vow he had formed, when suddenly to his former he returned health: he vows a new altar to be cared for, and although otherwise sometime he suffered of this kind swoons and vertigos he had, afterward however nothing such he felt ever; and therefore he doubted not his soundness to the Saint, as by a miracle received, to refer. And so he began for a new altar to be constructed to prepare all things: and behold on a night a certain he sees the Saint, solicitously commending, that no delay to the begun work he should interpose. Obtained therefore from his Superiors a license a beginning for the to-be-fabricated altar new he made, urging the completion of the work, and often saying it perfected to be about to die himself: which thus altogether happened. and it finished he dies as he had foretold. For a few he survived months after the translated thither sacred body, a weak thenceforth health always using; and having received the Church's Sacraments fortified for the departure, with great humility and devotion his spirit he rendered to his Creator.
[31] The wife of Raphael Corsi the baker Archiepiscopal of Florence, by an obstructing quinsy through her jaws nothing to swallow could, nor a drop even: a vow moreover made to S. Humilitas, is healed a quinsy, suddenly she convalesced. Catherine of Francis de Mazzuola, a hand bearing enormously and foully swollen, with a most grievous spasm, came to the altar of S. Humilitas, and to her herself commending, the following day found her hand to have subsided, and of two women a hand maimed. and healed herself to be. Catherine of Angelo de Amerino, when in the year MDCXX from devotion to Fiesole she had gone, falling to the ground so ill affected a hand thence she bore, that the fingers contracting themselves all, nor to open it she could, nor anything with it to work. At length in the year MDCXXIV on the day XIII May she came to S. Salvi: and when herself there with great fervor she had commended to the Saint, faithfully she prayed that a string her precatory be applied to the casket, in which the sacred body rests: then the same she moved to the maimed hand, and through each finger it she led. To the stupor moreover of all it was, that the following night the loosened nerves so themselves extended those fingers, as if no evil ever in them had been: wherefore in thanks giving she brought a hand silver, to the casket to be appended.
[32] There follows now a little list of healings, graciously obtained through the use of that cotton, on which the sacred body in the old ark was placed and on all sides stuffed, By the use of the cotton to the body placed are cured, a spasm, lest to be shaken and jolted it could while it was translated. D. Julius Caesar Guerini, Captain of the light cavalry of the Most Serene Grand Duke, for days forty with great pains a spasm had endured in one of his legs, on the occasion of a leaden ball by a gun discharged: but when the part affected with that cotton he touched, and the sign of the Cross over it with the same he expressed, ceasing the pain, shortly he convalesced: and he came to S. Salvi, with great of mind joy a testimony to deposit of his recovered health. In the same manner and the following day suddenly himself healed felt Peter of Dominicus del Golpe, a fever, from a most ardent fever by which he had been for whole three months cruelly afflicted. Dianora, wife of Antony Scacchi, a nephritis, days twenty-two had lain in bed full of pains, which through the neck even to the kidneys led there clung, with so great molestation, that neither to move herself she could, even until the aforesaid cotton to herself she applied: which done soon more lightly she ached, and quickly wholly healed she was. Peter Laurence Becagli ten weeks suffered a most cruel fever: a fever, to whom D. Marius Acciajuoli, within a little paper sent of the aforesaid cotton: and suddenly at its touch convalesced the sick man. But when wholly healed something inordinately he had done, and thence into a fever had relapsed; the same Noble and his Patron the same little paper to him sent, and its recurrence; confident that the Saint, to human fragility compassionating, again her to him help would bestow: which also she did. For when of new with the same cotton himself he had signed the sick man, a perfect he received health on the day IV August in the year MDCXXIV.
[33] When Elisabeth, daughter of Baccius Scalandroni, had come to visit the Saint's body, a flux of blood from the nostrils, still in the church standing forth; there burst to her from the nostrils blood: neither flowing ceasing for hours two, so weakened her head, that to fail she began, no human profiting remedy. She recurred therefore to the intercession of S. Humilitas, and to her head placing something of the cotton aforesaid, stopped suddenly that dangerous flux, and healed she was. D. Dominicus Gigolus of Parma came to S. Salvi, on that day on which thither came the Grand of Etruria Duke Ferdinand II. a despaired-of fever, After some moreover days to Parma returned, in bed he lay seized with a fever: and it daily increasing, given up by the physicians he was. Recalling moreover S. Humilitas, to her himself he commended. And when her to himself he seemed in sleep to see, the day after he rose sound, and gave to God and his handmaid thanks. Of the same Dominicus a rustic certain woman for two months had borne an abscess in her side, so malignant and solid, that the surgeons could not it to maturity and a discharge to make bring. an abscess of the side, The Lord therefore her sent
to her a particle of the said cotton; with which when herself devoutly she had signed the infirm woman, ruptured was the abscess, and healed was the woman, to the very Saint and her patron thanks giving.
[34] Margaret of John Pagni, for hours forty a cruel having suffered fever, a continuous fever, no rest to take could: a vow therefore she made to S. Humilitas, her cotton applied to herself, and in the morning following wholly sound she was. Elisabeth of Agnulus Dini, for five months bore her hand left so impeded, that it in no way to use she could and her whole arm thence swelled. She when on a day a certain had come on which the body of the Saint to be beheld is presented, a maimed hand. and her arm to her head had been placed, and to the hand then applied cotton; immediately convalescing the arm returned to its former uses, and she a silver arm to the altar brought. Felix the innkeeper at Varlungo, a swelling of the leg, a leg monstrously swollen having, had lain in bed a whole week, because on her feet she could in no wise stand. When moreover the following Sunday bearers to be sought she had ordered, by whom to the Mass to be heard she might be carried into the church; the offered to her of the cotton a particle to the evil she applied, and immediately the leg subsided, and she by herself to the church proceeded. Catherine of Nicholas Pagoletti, a continuous fever, for three days continuous with a fever struggling, with an inflation monstrous of her throat, which whole deformed her, the same cotton applied, convalesced in that very moment, and to the field's labor to be exercised proceeded. Philip of Paul de Logoro, seized with a sudden fever and a head's pain, a pain, so that in a chair he was to be carried home, by a similar application immediately convalesced, and to of his craft the exercise returned.
[35] Sister Thecla de Fortuna, a monk in S. Ambrose's of Florence, and a swelling of the head, from a certain indisposition bearing a head greatly inflated and her face whole, in a moment healed she was, soon as she moved to herself that cotton. D. Clement a Presbyter, son of Laurence a Pace, a pain in the knee, for days several so great in his knee left a pain had sustained, that to him impossible it was the ground with his foot to touch. He signed moreover the part offended with that cotton, and immediately came to S. Salvi to give thanks for the benefit. A three-year-old little boy, of Andrew of Vetto and of Vita his wife the son, by a surgeon's judgment of his eyes one wholly had lost, with the other indeed he saw very little: but to each the sight entire returned, a darkening of the eye, immediately as applied to him the Saint's cotton was: and in turn a pair of silver eyes the parents offered. Of Horatius the barber the wife, a pain of the head, for several days having suffered a pain of her head intolerable, by the same remedy cured suddenly she was. To Michael of Antony Servalli had died his brother of heart-pain, and he himself of the same infirmity was in peril; of the heart, and now given up by the physicians he was with holy Oil anointed, when for him a vow made was to B. Humilitas, and applied the cotton; and immediately burst the abscess, ceased the fever, and he himself a dark garment put on, and in it in the habit to go he wished and to S. Humilitas thanks to give. Sister Mary Angela Rucellai, and of the eyes, a Monk in Monticelli of Florence, ill from her eyes having, and with cotton signed, convalesced. When moreover afterward the said cotton by a chance a certain to her fell out in the garden, a rain indeed most dense upon it fell, found it was however wrapped in its paper, so dry as if altogether not it had rained, although with water and mud it had been covered. Bartholomew of Laurence Allegri de Linto, ten days to bed fixed by a fever, an extreme fever, with his stomach so overturned that food altogether none it retained, the evil growing heavy, of his life he foresaw to be imminent peril. Placed therefore upon him was something of cotton, and of that cloth with which the Saint's face had been covered: and immediately to be healed beginning he began food to take, and the following day a very small he felt fever, the day after indeed altogether none.
[36] Andrew of Justus Montelatici, long weighed with an infirmity of his stomach, an infirmity of the stomach, which at length into of life a peril verged; applied to himself a little paper, in which was something of the hairs and cotton of the Blessed, suddenly convalesced. Augustine of Raphael del Brozzi for a longer time many had borne wounds about his throat, a wound in the throat, with an intense and almost intolerable pain, which to him had begun about XXIV June in the year MDCXXIII, all his face foully corrupting and destroying. Of the year moreover following on the day X May, on a horse himself he caused to be carried to the body of S. Felicitas: where his throat with the very cotton signing, suddenly the pain all from the wounds he drove away, and on the day XXVII May a votive anathema he brought to S. Salvi, because himself plainly healed he believed. D. Ignatius, a lethal fever, a Monk Vallombrosan, for days five with a fever most ardent with a most intense of head and breast pain had labored, and was despaired by the physicians, and therefore of preparing the funeral for the day following it was thought. He remained moreover in the greatest straits even to midnight, of all devoid of rest. Meanwhile with the greatest affection he commended himself to the Saint, and his prayer finished he fell asleep. In the morning indeed awaked free from the fever and pain all himself he felt, and soon his former strength recovered. Coming therefore on the day following the physician D. Antony Medici, and in so good a state his sick man finding, vehemently was astonished: but understanding what had been done, a great he conceived also himself veneration toward the Saint. He indeed who infirm had been, immediately came to S. Salvi, and on the altar of the said Saint a sacrifice to God eucharistic offered, and there a silver anathema left.
[37] D. James Federighi, with pustules pestilent so besprinkled, petechiae, that next about to die he was believed; signed with that cloth with which the body of the Saint had been within the casket covered, and in that very moment better to have beginning, quickly wholly convalesced. The people whole of the Abbey of S. Reparata de Marradio, in the year MDCXXX, the premised fast, confession and communion, with an equal had bound itself vow in honor of the Saint, that they might be freed from an epidemic which then raged evil: a pestilence, and although the Castle and neighboring places overran the malignant plague, the place itself however so immune from it kept was, that no one complained to himself a head to ache. Romulus of Statius, grievously infirm and given up by the physicians lay on account of a fever hectic which into a continuous turned was: a hectic, but soon as he began himself to commend to the Saint, he began also to have better, and quickly convalesced. A girl for many years in bed lying so contracted, a contraction, that to move herself she into no part could, with cotton touched and immediately healed she was. The wife of Thomas Montelatici two after childbirth months so impeded in her arm that to use it she could not, nor help to bring a physician, recurred to the help of the Saint to be implored; and suddenly better having within eight days full she recovered health: and in memory of the benefit a silver arm she offered to the altar.
[38] Br. Laurence, a Lay-brother Vallombrosan, under his horse into a ditch deep fell: dismissed grave perils, and himself commending to the Saint, unharmed thence drawn out he was. A most bad a certain purpose in mind had conceived Hippolytus Potiti, for terminating an affair whence of his and of several other families ruin was feared: nor could persons God fearing, who as mediators themselves offered, his fixed will to bend; until of his own accord he himself to the help of the Saint to be implored himself turned, and heard he experienced himself to be, the disturbances all in a short while settled. Catherine of Antony del Pace, to an erysipelas her face occupying a remedy none finding, is healed an erysipelas, dissipated it, superplaced to herself the cotton often said. The son of D. Julius Caesar Paganelli, a Noble of Faenza, and of his wife D. Bartholomaea Barbavera, with most grievous oppressed symptoms only not seemed dead, and that to him happened often. an epilepsy, But when by a vow offered to the Saint suddenly he convalesced, and was brought with an anathema silver to the altar of her. With a similar success another a certain noble matron of Faenza her son from a horse fallen commended to the Saint, and sound received him. a fever, D. Julius Rondanini, with a fever malignant seized, a Mass in her honor to be said caused, and immediately free from the fever he was.
[39] a deafness, A perfect deafness had incurred Sister Catherine, she understood many graces through the intercession of S. Humilitas to be obtained, on a certain evening to her herself she commended, and the following day rose sharply hearing. a pain of the arm, Sister Archangela, a Monk in S. Humilitas's of Faenza, with a prolonged of her arm torment exercised, by the same freed was, when herself she commended to the Saint. Sister Victoria in the same monastery, with a most grievous seized symptom was breathing out her soul, a privation of the senses, of motion of speech and of sense devoid, nor of the last Sacraments capable. Which last when her companions Monks especially anguished, all bent on their knees began her to the most benign their Mother to commend. Behold moreover a thing stupendous! Returned into herself the sick woman, as if nothing of evil she suffered, and her Confession performed and received the Viaticum, the day whole as sound she did; the following indeed day with the greatest devotion her spirit she rendered. Sister Laura-Felix Vergimilii, a sharp in her arm torment suffering, the same wiped with that cotton signing it, and a silver arm offered in memory of the received grace. To Sister Theodora Carrari in her eye a film had emerged, which besides deformity in it also a blindness a defect of the eye, caused: but commending herself to the Saint, by the same freed she was.
[40] Sister Magdalene had been a whole month blind, so that not except with others' hands to take food she could: a blindness, invoked moreover the Saint immediately she recovered her sight. Another time when from a pain of her breast she failed, signed with cotton to herself she returned. Sister Cecilia Victoria, by the physicians given up was on account of a malignant fever: a fever, but by a certain her aunt that herself to S. Humilitas she should commend admonished, when she had recited that devout prayer, which begins, O most holy Humilitas, immediately she fell asleep, and awaked was sound. To Sister Maura Dingofanti, petechiae, with a pestilent fever with pustules laboring, after the given Extreme Unction applied vesicatories were by the surgeon, who the following morning without doubt extinct herself about to find said: but because to the Saint herself she commended, found her the same wholly sound. Another time before the Saint's arm the same praying freed she was from a grave torment, which in her arm so she suffered, that neither to clothe herself nor anything else to work she could. In the year MDCXXXI Camillus, son of Peter Francis of Marradio, with a pestilence seized, a pest, with vomiting and a fever excessive; and now given up by the physicians, for that all in that place seized with that evil now had died; a vow he made to S. Humilitas, and ceasing soon the fever ceased the vomiting, and the anthrax pestiferous burst.
[41] an arthritis, In the year MDCXXXII Antonia, daughter of Andrew Pampaloni, for years seven with arthritis so was bound, that never either to walk or even to stand on her feet she could. She vowed therefore to S. Humilitas, for obtaining a freer of her step faculty, the Vigil of her feast to do fasting on bread and water. Behold moreover while in the evening in her bed the wonted prayers to the Saint she offers, she heard a voice
saying to her, Rise and walk. Obeyed she, and began through the chamber to walk. There ran to so great a novelty her mother and brother D. Jerome, Rector of S. Stephen in Curtibus, and many neighbors, and with admiration full thanks to God gave. There lasted to her this health for days four, so that out even to a certain her estate by a way difficult and arduous she proceeded: after the fourth moreover day, when she wished in the morning from her bed to go out, a grave catarrh. again herself she found in her feet maimed, and so she remained thus, that only to walk with a support thenceforth she could. To Silvagia Redini, the wife of Silvius Annibal, a vehement catarrh a fever had brought, with a pain of the head all rest taking away. She asked moreover exceedingly instantly that there be brought to her the veil of S. Humilitas, and with it signed immediately of fever and pain she lacked.
HYMNS AND ORATIONS
From the Vallombrosan Offices, in the year 1566 at Florence printed.
Humilitas, Abbess of the Order of Vallombrosa, of Florence in Etruria (B.)
THE FIRST HYMN.
Praises lofty let the Nuns sing, Melodies flaming the Monks devout, On the feast sacred of the pious Mother our Humilitas.
The world thou spurnest, lofty Cherubic one, Flying to Christ ardent Seraphic one: Who thee clothed thy resigned self With his light once.
The Cherub great of the highest Hierarchy Thee the spouse of Christ tends and governs; When the Pastoral care thou tookest up An Angel strong.
A book thou composest by the Spirit dictating, Full of praises of the Virgin Mary: Which if anyone reads, grace he gains By thy prayers.
Day to day a word thou hast belched forth, Drawn from the fountain of the highest Trinity; When of the coming of our Redeemer The causes thou unfoldest.
Sculpted in thy heart with the chisel of charity Thou hast Mary, the mother of thy Spouse; By whose love wounded thou criest, Hail Queen.
Many treatises thou writest, holy Doctress, Not knowing a book, an idiot knowing, A white holding on thy shoulder dove The Holy Spirit.
A pallium thou weavest for Christ about to be born Of triple color, the admonitions blessed Mystically fulfilling of the Virgin Mary, Whom thou hast loved.
Thee betrothed with a ring supernal Holy John, the eagle heavenly; And he bestows gifts precious From Paradise.
When food thou takest, to thee are demonstrated The stigmata of Christ, and the wine myrrhed, The poor, the naked, and the imprisoned, Of bread lacking.
Glory to God be to the eternal Father, And to Jesus Christ, to the holy Trinity, To the Mother Mary, and to John the holy Evangelist. Amen.
ANOTHER HYMN.
A hymn let us sing of glory, a hymn of new victory, Of Humilitas the Lady holy by the gift of virtue.
In a strait cell thou art enclosed, for twice-six years thou art beaten, And after these from under the bushel thou shinest in the candelabrum.
A matron most noble, with all virtue endowed, On a mount holy a city thou irradiatest Florence.
By prayer's showers the canker thou drivest from the kidneys, And the lips swelling abhorring medicines.
John forewarned thee that thou come to Florence, And of the Ladies citizens compose a monastery.
With signs thou glitterest the greatest and with valid prodigies: A boy of ten dies, but alive through thee is restored.
While thou bewailest most sacred of the beloved Jesus the wounds, For tears thou givest blood, which all waters thy face.
With a single bread thou satisfiest the famished disciples: And many of bread fragments lays up the Dispensaress.
The hidden of the heart thou penetratest, sins many thou unsealest, One near to death rebuking, his decease foreseeing.
While with a fever thou burnest valid, bearing of August the heats; Thou hast desired ice, which taking thou feelest rest.
Who visit the Mausoleum, bear back a benefit; And of health the grace, who have faith the best.
Glory to thee Lord, who born art of the Virgin, With the Father and the holy Spirit, through the ages of ages.
Amen.
ANTIPHON.
O flower of chastity, of benignity, of mercy, and of charity, B. Humilitas, intercede for thy daily devout ones, asking thy suffrage.
ORATION.
O God who S. Humilitas to the heights of virtues and of contemplations heavenly most excellently to lead hast deigned: grant we beseech, that by her merits and prayers, the earthly things left, always the heavenly we may meditate. Through the Lord &c.
ANOTHER.
O God, who the glorious Humilitas, letters ignorant, with so great of the Holy Spirit abundance hast filled, that a book of the heavenly things and of the praises of the citizens supernal in the Latin tongue she composed: grant us we beseech, that by her prayers and merits of the same Holy Spirit the grace we may be filled. Through the Lord &c.
ANOTHER.
O God, who of thy most beloved Spouse Humilitas's holy body, for showing of her glorious mind the integrity, unharmed and entire to preserve hast deigned: grant propitious, that by her prayers and merits, of our mind and body no of corruption wounds we may suffer. Through the Lord.