ON B. VITALIS OF BASTIA,
HERMIT OF THE THIRD ORDER OF S. FRANCIS,
IN THE ASSISI DIOCESE OF UMBRIA.
YEAR MCCCCXCI.
HISTORICAL SYLLOGE.
Of his life, miracles, translation, and cult.
Vitalis, Hermit of the Third Order of S. Francis, at Assisi in Italy (B.)
Col. 475AG. H.
Bastia, a place in the territory and diocese
of Assisi, toward the city of Perugia,
was the fatherland of B. Vitalis, who
from this drew his cognomen. But at
Assisi having taken up the habit and rule
of the third order of S. Francis, Fatherland.
with all things left which he possessed,
in the year one thousand four hundred
seventieth withdrew to a hermitage, a thousand paces from
Assisi distant, where near the Church of B. Mary, called of Viola,
in a certain little chapel a solitary life for over twenty
years he led, Life holily passed. in harsh penance and the highest perfection.
His conversation was with God in prayer and
contemplation: his exercises were in fasts, in body's chastisements,
and in mortifications of his senses.
Furthermore from when as Hermit to the said place he migrated, never
is said to have kindled fire or light. A rigid follower of poverty,
he wore a tunic and habit pieced together
from cheap and rude cloth, and with bare always feet he walked.
Wine or relish or anything seasoned with salt
he did not taste. Lest he be conquered by sleep, he was wont his prominent
hair with wood placed above to interweave, and by other
ways to repel slumber. pious death in the year 1491. So filled with merits and virtues,
he died on the day XXXI of May of the year MCCCCXCI; and to the people
venerable, bright with miracles, and on a recently
made stone sepulchre placed, and in his little chapel buried:
where afterwards in his honor a Church was built,
since by God with many and various miracles his sanctity was
declared.
[2] Miracles. Of which a few from very many to the notice of posterity have come,
are these: A certain Scholastic memory and
speech had lost, who when his sacred relics he had visited,
both recovered. A boy deceased, by parents
to his sepulchre brought, and to his intercessions
commended, to life was recalled. A certain Tudertine,
condemned to death, when of B. Vitalis he had implored the patronage,
with prison and chains divinely opened he fled.
Finally for very many years possessed by demons,
and torn, at his tomb were cured. Wherefore by such great
operation of miracles excited the citizens, his body they elevated, translation of the body made in the year 1509.
which from the church in solitary place built, with
solemn pomp to the Cathedral church was translated,
on the day XXII of September, in the year above one thousand and five hundred
ninth, and deposited in a little chapel in the very servant
of God's honor dedicated, which the Chapel of S. Vitalis is called.
His image, both in the prior church, and in the Cathedral
to public veneration exposed is seen. The day however
of his birth in the city and diocese of Assisi under the rite of double
is celebrated XXXI of May, Ecclesiastical Office. and the feast of the translated body XXII
of September. On the very feast in his honor is instituted
through the city a solemn procession, where besides is a noble
and numerous Confraternity, S. Vitalis named.
[3] Writers about him Arturus du Monstier in the Franciscan Martyrology
reported him on the day XXV of November. We in this relation
have followed especially Ludovicus Jacobillus, who
at Foligno a place quite neighboring the Lives of the Saints and Blessed
of Umbria wrote. On the same day XXXI of May, reported
him Ferrarius in the Catalogue of Saints of Italy, and
in another general Catalogue. Wadding the same celebrates in
his Annals at the year 1491 no. 42, who the body
into the city translated asserts in the year 1599. But since
Jacobillus that translation had reported in the first volume
at the year 1510, in the Additions and Corrections to the third
volume joined, where also he mentions Wadding, he ascribes
it to the year 1509; an easy however error could
have happened in the cipher in Wadding, a parochial church to him dedicated. that be written
the year 1599. Besides Jacobillus adds, from the Index
of castles and villas of the County of Assisi, that there is a village
under the title of S. Vitalis with a church dedicated to him,
in which are numbered one hundred and fifteen families.
Other authors, who treat of B. Vitalis, are cited very many
by said Jacobillus and Arturus, to whom we send the reader.