ON ST. ANDREW AVELLINO, PRIEST OF THE CONGREGATION OF THEATINE CLERKS REGULAR, AT NAPLES,
IN THE YEAR 1608
PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY
Andrew Avellino, confessor, at Naples. (S.)
[1] On St. Andrew Avellino About St. Andrew Avellino, who died at the beginning of the seventeenth century and was soon enrolled among the blessed (in the year 1624) and not long after among the saints (1712), it seems superfluous to undertake a long treatment. For although in treating the deeds of the saints of antiquity and the middle age there is need of much and most diligent care, by which ancient codices may be sought out and illustrated, on the other hand, in more recent matters, which are plainly set before the eyes and hands of all and are covered by no darkness, it is better to use a briefer pen, lest we be overwhelmed by the abundance of matter or do what has already been done, and the greatest effort must be placed in referring readers to sources easily accessible. This method must certainly be followed where the discussion is about St. Andrew, whose deeds have exercised the pens of many, although he was entangled in no public affairs of his age, led the life of a pious priest, and, after he had duly discharged the duties of a superior of a religious house, died with a reputation for holiness. Come now, let us say which of the writers of the Life of St. Andrew seem most worthy of commendation.
[2] There were printed the letter of Alessandro Gargano, A few days after the death of St. Andrew, Fr. Alessandro Gargano, provost of the Neapolitan house of the Theatine Fathers, sent a letter to Fr. Giovanni Antonio Angrisano, provost general, informing him of what had happened at the holy man's death. This was published by Giovanni Antonio Cagiano in the year 1627 [G. A. Cagiano, Successi maravigliosi della veneratione del B. Andrea Avellino Chierico Regolare patrone e protettore delle città di Napoli, di Palermo e d'altre molte (Naples, 1627), pp. 6–13.] . The whole life of Andrew was narrated briefly indeed and succinctly by Giovanni Battista Del Tufo, the books published by Giovanni Battista Del Tufo, in an appendix to the History of the Congregation of Clerks Regular which he sent to the press in the year 1609 [Gio. Battista Del Tufo, Historia della Religione de' Padri Cherici Regolari (Rome, 1609), pp. 343–57.] . He himself had been joined to the Theatine Fathers in the year 1564, at which time St. Andrew was discharging the office of master of novices Del Tufo, op. cit., p. 350. . The writer's credibility is greatly commended by the fact that it was his custom from his earliest years to set down on paper whatever worthy of note occurred in the house; and he used such diligence and restraint that he thought it wrong to narrate what he knew only from report about the death of St. Andrew: "de' quali," so he writes, "io come assente non ne sono tanto pienamente informato, quanto gl' istessi padri Cherici Regolari che sono presenti nella medesima casa di S. Paolo di Napoli, me ne rimetto a quello che essi ne scriveranno, come ho accennato di sopra Op. cit., p. 357. ." [of which, being absent, I am not so fully informed as the Clerks Regular fathers themselves who are present in the same house of St. Paul at Naples; I refer myself to what they will write of them, as I have indicated above.] There follows Giovanni Battista Castaldo, Giovanni Battista Castaldo, who in the year 1613 was the first to publish a separate Life of Andrew, in which he gathered many things about his virtues and miracles from authentic testimonies [G. B. Castaldo, Della Vita del Padre Don Andrea Avellino Chierico Regolare breve relatione, Naples, 1613.] . What Don Cesare d'Engenio inserted into his book Napoli Sacra in the year 1623 was drawn from both the books we have mentioned Cesare d'Engenio Caracciolo, Napoli sacra (Naples, 1623), pp. 91–95. .
[3] Francesco Bolvito, In the same year 1624, in which Andrew too was enrolled in the roll of the blessed, there appeared a little book, Compendio della Vita e miracoli del beato Andrea Avellino Ch. Reg. cavato da processi autentici, scritture e relationi della Rota e Congreg. de' Riti fatti per la sua beatificatione e canonizatione, ad istanza dell' Illustriss. et excellentiss. Signore D. Ferdinando Spinelli, Principe di Tarsia Naples, 1624, 204 pp. . We suspect that the book was written by Francesco Bolvito, since the anonymous author speaks of a fuller and accurately elaborated Life soon to be brought out, and in the very next year the Life of Bl. Andrew Avellino, Clerk Regular, was printed by Bolvito [F. Bolvito, Beati Andreae Avellini Clerici Regularis Neapolis et Panormi patroni vita tribus libris conscripta, Naples, 1625, 302 pp.] . In the year 1595 Bolvito made his profession in the Neapolitan house of the Holy Apostles [I. Silos, Historiarum Clericorum Regularium a Congregatione condita vol. III (Palermo, 1666), p. 563.] , and accordingly, besides what he collected from the sworn testimonies in the Process, he reports very many things which he saw with his own eyes. Giuseppe Silos, Many things also about Bl. Andrew were reported by Giuseppe Silos in the three books of the Histories of the Clerks Regular, and distributed in various places according to the order of the times Op. cit., 3 vols., Rome, 1650, 1655, Palermo, 1666. . The books we have listed so far were turned to their own uses by Giovanni Bonifacio Bagatta [Gio. Bonifacio Bagatta, Vita dell' ammirabile servo di Dio B. Andrea Avellino dell' Ordine de Cherici Regolari, Naples, 1696, 339 pp.] , and others. Tommaso Schiara T. Schiara, Vita di S. Andrea Avellino, Chierico Regolare, Rome, 1712, 384 pp. , Giovanni Battista Barzisa [G. Barzisa, Il santo forte o siano le azioni di S. Andrea Avellino, spiegate in elogi encomiastici, Verona, 1713.] , Olympe Du Marché O. Du Marche, Abrege de la Vie de S. Andre Avellin, Paris, 1713. , Giuseppe Amedeo Perini [G. A. Perini, Breve ristretto della Vita e miracoli prodotti nella canonizazione di S. Andrea Avellino, Brescia [1712], 83 pp., Milan, 1713, 112 pp.] , Innocenzo Raffaele Savonarola [Inn. Rafaelo Savonarola, Compendio della Vita, virtu, morte e miracoli del gloriosissimo S. Andrea Avellino de Cherici Regolari, protettor di due regni ed avvocato degl' agonizzanti particolarmente contro gli accidenti apopletici, Milan, 1713, 320 pp.] , Gaetano Maria Magenis Gaetano Maria [Magenis, Vita di S. Andrea Avellino, Venice, 1714, 473 pp.; Gaetano Maria Magenis, Vita di S. Andrea Avellino. Edizione seconda piu corretta, ed accresciuta della Bolla di sua canonizazione e di alcune notizie intorno alla virtuosa vita del medesimo P. Magenis, Brescia, 1739, 452 and 52 pp.; I. M. T. C. R., Vita di S. Andrea Avellino, Cherico Regolare Teatino, ricavata da diversi autori e particolarmente dal P. Magenis C. R., Naples, 1847.] , Bernard Destut de Tracy [De Tracy, Vies de S. Gaëtan de Thienne… du B. Jean Marinon, de S. Andre Avellin et du B. Cardinal Paul Burali d'Arezzo, Paris, 1774, XXII and 532 pp.] , and their works are not to be counted among the sources of the history of St. Andrew. The beginnings and progress of his cult were narrated in the year 1627 by Giovanni Antonio Cagiano See above, p. 609, note 1. , who had conducted Andrew's cause at Rome in the name of his Theatine confreres.
[4] There lay hidden, unedited, the commentaries So far, the printed books. There is kept in the Neapolitan library of the Museum of San Martino a manuscript Life of St. Andrew by Giovanni Antonio Cagiano, "compiled from the processes drawn up for his canonisation and from the authors who at various times wrote about him", of Giovanni Antonio Cagiano, which can be neglected without any loss [Cod. 542. On the codices of the Museum of San Martino which we adduce here see C. Padiglione, La biblioteca del Museo nazionale nella Certosa di S. Martino in Napoli (Naples, 1876), especially pp. 418, 424–26, 431, 465, 495–97, 508–513.] . Not so the work of Valerio Pagano, of Valerio Pagano. Breve relatione del principio e progressi de la religione de Cherici Regolari e
delle attioni d'alcuni di essi Padri, which is held unedited in a codex of the same library Cod. 564. The prologue was edited by Padiglione, op. cit., pp. 496–97. . Chapter XLVI of this book is entirely about St. Andrew Avellino, abounding more in abundance of matter than of words, and drawn from genuine sources. For Pagano, having entered the Congregation of Clerks Regular in the year 1571, in the monastery of St. Paul at Naples, and having been appointed to keep the house archive, left many writings on the history of the Theatines; whatever seemed worthy of remembrance he arranged accurately ["Con l'occasione che da miei superiori mi fu imposto, che dovesse ponere in assetto le scritture che stavano male acconcie nella nostra casa di San Paolo Magiore di Napoli, ho atteso non solo a ponere quelle che vi erano in buon ordine, ma anco a procurarne molte altre, e tutte antiche; et ho fatto autenticare quelle che non vi erano … Dall' anno 1571, ch' io so stato alla Religione, quelle cose che ho visto et inteso da persone fideli, e che essi han visto, cosi le ho notate con tutta la diligenza possibile per quanto le mie deboli forze han possuto." [On the occasion when it was laid on me by my superiors that I should put in order the writings which were badly arranged in our house of San Paolo Maggiore at Naples, I have attended not only to putting those that were there in good order, but also to procuring many others, and all ancient; and I have had those authenticated which were not … From the year 1571, since I have been in Religion, the things which I have seen and heard from faithful persons, and which they have seen, I have noted with all possible diligence, so far as my weak strength has been able.] Pagano, Prologue, in Padiglione, pp. 496, 497. In the Museum of San Martino there are found many things transcribed, annotated and compiled in the hand of Valerio Pagano; letters also, both written by him and addressed to him; cf. Padiglione, pp. 237, 247, 265, 299, 301–312, 369–372, 418, 425, 431, 439, 466, 495–97, 511, 512, 517, 523, 533. Yet you would look in vain for Valerio's name in A. F. Vezzosi, I scrittori de' Cherici Regolari detti Teatini, 2 vols. in 4to, 1780. Valerio knew Andrew Avellino in person in the Neapolitan house, where he lived with him for many years. He bore excellent testimony to the virtues of the man of God in the Roman process of beatification, in the year 1614 (below, no. 5 f), fols. 1–12. He died at Naples, over eighty years of age, in the year 1631. Silos, Historia Clericorum Regularium, vol. III, p. 105.] . In what he wrote about Andrew's Life in the year 1616, the eighth after Andrew's death, he touched only in passing on whatever had already been truly said by others; but what he had received from his mouth or seen with his own eyes he busily strives to report, so that his testimony seems to deserve the highest regard. Omitting the others, then, which are either of less moment or easily found, we have copied the whole chapter on Bl. Andrew and shall set it before the eyes of readers.
[5] [For illustrating Andrew's Life the statements of witnesses in various juridical processes contribute,] Besides the manuscript books in which his Life is contained, there remains an ample harvest of testimonies which, according to custom, were collected for the process of beatification and canonisation, most of which are kept both at Naples in the library of the Museum of San Martino and at Rome in the archive of the Theatine Fathers. Especially to be noted are:
a) The informative process begun at Naples in the archiepiscopal palace before Orazio Veneto and Curzio Palumbo, on the 15th of December 1609 (Mus. S. Martini, cod. 652, fols. 125–208).
b) "Witnesses examined by the Rev. Fr. Don Basilio Scorza, consultor of the C. R., with the intervention of Don Tommaso Pellicione, C. R., by commission of the Most Rev. Fr. Don Giovanni Antonio Angrisano, General of the C. R., concerning the life, morals, conversation and death of Father Don Andrew Avellino." The process begun at Naples, on the 3rd of September 1611 (Mus. S. Martini, cod. 652, fols. 1–45).
c) "Copia authentica del Processo compilato nella critta di Surrento per l'informatione d'alcune gratie concesse a diverse persone per intercessione del B. P. D. Andrea Avellino." [Authentic copy of the Process compiled in the city of Sorrento for information on certain graces granted to various persons through the intercession of Bl. Fr. Don Andrew Avellino.] 1611 (ibid. fols. 49 ff.)
d) "Process of inquiry, information and proof … concerning the holiness of life, works and miracles of Fr. Don Andrew Avellino of pious memory… begun in the city of Naples before the Most Illustrious and Rev. Lord Pietro Antonio Ghiberto, Doctor of both Laws, vicar general of the Most Illustrious and Rev. Lord Decio Cardinal Carafa, archbishop of Naples." Begun on the 12th of October 1613 (Mus. S. Martini, cod. 641; a double exemplar in the archive of the Theatine Fathers).
e) The second part of the Neapolitan process (b), begun on the 7th of November 1616 (a double exemplar, Mus. S. Martini, codd. 644, 646).
f) "The Neapolitan or Roman cause of canonisation of the servant of God Andrew Avellino… Statements and depositions of witnesses before the Most Illustrious Giovanni Garcia Mellino, Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church … concerning the faith and excellence … of the life and also the working of miracles of the servant of God Andrew Avellino…" Begun in the year 1614 (Mus. S. Martini, cod. 649; archive of the Theatine Fathers; Sacred Congregation of Rites).
g) "Process of inquiry, information, proof and repetition … concerning the holiness of life, works and miracles of Fr. Don Andrew Avellino of Castronuovo, of pious memory… drawn up by the Most Admirable, Illustrious and Rev. Lords Giovanni Girolamo Campanile, Doctor of both Laws, bishop of Lacedonia… and Orazio Mirto, Doctor of both Laws, bishop of Ruvo, by virtue of letters remissorial sent by the Rev. Fathers the Lords Giovanni Battista Coccino, dean of the Sacred Rota, Alfonso Mancanedo de Quiñones and Giacomo Cavalleri, auditors of the same Sacred Rota." Begun on the 18th of August 1621, at Naples (Mus. S. Martini, cod. 647; archive of the Theatine Fathers).
h) "The Neapolitan cause of canonisation of Fr. Andrew Avellino. Summary concerning the virtues, faith, hope, charity, prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance of the servant of God Andrew Avellino, Clerk Regular" (Brussels, Royal Library cod. 8939, fols. 1–155).
i) The process instituted at Piacenza in the year 1614 (Mus. S. Martini, cod. 648; excerpts).
k) The process instituted in the city of Platia (Piazza), in the year 1618 (Ibid.)
l) The process instituted at Palermo, in the year 1622 (Mus. S. Martini, cod. 650).
m) The process instituted at Anglona, on the 22nd of September of the year 1682 (Archive of the Theatine Fathers; Sacred Congregation of Rites).
n) There was printed in the year 1695 the "Positio on the doubt whether, and of which, miracles there is proof, which supervened after veneration was granted to the said Blessed."
[6] The Acts of the general Chapters of the Theatine congregation, For illustrating the life of Andrew Avellino and determining the times at which he discharged his various offices, the Acts of the general Chapters of the Congregation of the Theatines also contribute, which are found in the codices of the Museum of San Martino 487, 488, 489, 490, and in two codices of the archive of the same Congregation, which we have seen. The series of the Acts begins from the year 1524, and comprises those following up to 1627, with some exceptions, whose place is suitably supplied both by the Annals of Gregorio de Marinis of Venice, continued by Ambrogio of Bitonto, and by other anonymous writers, which exist in codex 612 of the Museum of San Martino On these Annals, Pagano, Breve Relatione, in the Prologue. , and by the Century of Chapters of the Congregation of Clerks Regular compiled by Valerio Pagano (Mus. S. Martini, codd. 489, 490).
[7] the writings of Andrew himself Nor are the writings of St. Andrew himself to be omitted, although for the most part they concern ascetical and spiritual matters. All of them, except the Directory of the Master of novices and the Treatise on the obligation of serving God, which were presented in the year 1750 to the monastery of the Theatines at Paris De Tracy, Vies, pp. 203 and 242. , are kept in the church of St. Paul at Naples [St. Andrew had entrusted his writings to Father Andrea Castaldo: "avanti che morisse mi ha raccomandato che n'havesse cura, et morto che fu, le consignai tutte al Padre Don Alessandro Gargano then provost of St. Paul's, et ivi sono conservate nella nostra 〈casa〉 di S. Paulo, et io so ancora di vista, che tutte quelle opere scritte di mano di questo servo di Dio D. Andrea che come laborioso mai stava otioso, et sono in buon numero." [before he died he commended them to me that I should take care of them, and when he was dead I consigned them all to Father Don Alessandro Gargano, and there they are kept in our 〈house〉 of St. Paul; and I know also by sight that all those works are written in the hand of this servant of God Don Andrew, who, being industrious, was never idle, and they are a good number.] The testimony of Father Andrea Castaldo in the Neapolitan process, Summary, fol. 110.] . There were published at Piacenza, in the year 1617, Twelve instructions for forming the spiritual life, by the care of Giuseppe Benzoni, who "added some things from his own store Silos, Historia Clericorum Regularium, vol. III, p. 527. ." There appeared at Naples, in the years 1670 and 1674, the Treatise on hope and fear [For so it seems one should read in de Tracy, op. cit., p. 312, in place of: 1570 and 1574; cf. Lettere scritte dal glorioso S. Andrea Avellino, vol. I (Naples, 1731), preface. We saw an exemplar of the year 1670 at Rome in the Vittorio Emanuele library. Certain little flowers plucked from Andrew's letters and books were printed by Giovanni Antonio Cagiano, Naples, 1636, others by Giacomo Dentice in the year 1646; cf. Vezzosi, op. cit., vol. I, pp. 176, 301.] , in the years 1731–1732, the letters of St. Andrew, comprised in two volumes [Lettere scitte dal glorioso S. Andrea Avellino a diversi suoi divoti, date alla luce da' Chierici Regolari di S. Paolo Maggiore di Napoli.] , and finally, in the years 1733–1734, his remaining works in five volumes [Opere varie composte dal glorioso S. Andrea Avellino Chierico Regolare, divise in cinque tomi e date alla luce da' PP. Chierici Regolari di S. Paolo Maggiore di Napoli.] , besides those treatises which we said were carried to Paris. and letters. That not a few of the holy man's letters have perished, or at any rate lie hidden, follows from the fact that in the year 1665 Giuseppe Silos testifies that more than twelve hundred letters were then found in the archive of St. Paul's Silos, Historia Clericorum Regularium, vol. II, pp. 220–21. , whereas in the codex Registro di diverse lettere, which we inspected [At Naples with the Theatine Fathers of San Paolo Maggiore, in two volumes, of which the former is marked on the spine: Lit. Tom. 2, and a little lower, in larger characters: IV; the latter: Lit. Tom… s; the number has faded with age, but that Tom. 3s is to be read is gathered from the fact that where Tom. 2 had IV, this has V. A first volume must have preceded both: which I wonder never occurred to anyone; for Silos said, Historia Clericorum Regularium, vol. III, p. 527, that in the archive of St. Paul's there existed "very many volumes of letters" of Bl. Andrew, which you would hardly understand of two. Further, among the manuscripts of the Museum of San Martino at Naples (cod. 653, fols. 229–249) we came upon a list in which certain excerpts to be made from the letters of St. Andrew were briefly indicated. Now whatever is ordered to be copied from the second volume, is in fact in the volume which is now the second, in its places
found; whereas, on the contrary, what is indicated as to be taken from the first volume is all absent from the other volume which now exists. Indeed those very letters seem to have perished, since in neither of the two volumes which are extant today are found the letters which we know from the list were given at Piacenza from the 23rd of April 1572 to the 29th of April 1578, at Milan from the 22nd of December 1578 to the 20th of November 1580, again at Piacenza from the 7th of June 1581 to the 15th of February 1582. And since I. Silos reports that "more than twelve hundred" letters were written by Bl. Andrew, and the registers, such as now exist, comprise no more than 1098 letters, it may not rashly be conjectured that, besides the two present volumes, a third once existed, in which some supplement to the volume which is now the second was presented. If this is so, St. Andrew does not seem to have written the codices into which he entered the letters he sent in one continuous course, as it were. For after he moved to Piacenza, he added only a few letters sent from there (up to the 22nd of April 1572, with one of the 19th of March 1573 added) to the series of letters which he had sent from Naples. Then he broke off the Neapolitan codex and began another (23 Apr. 1572), the Piacenza one, which he carried on up to the year 1582 (Feb. 15). Then, having returned to Naples, he went back to the former codex (15 June), which accordingly, in the order of time, encloses the Piacenza codex. When this was filled, he began a third codex. Of these three volumes the editors of the year 1731 obtained only the last two; for all the letters which they published appear in these two codices, arranged in the same order of time, with a few others added which were omitted in the edition for whatever reason. As to what is read in its preface, "che tutte non sono meno di mille e trecento," that they are in all not fewer than thirteen hundred, we judge it to have been inconsiderately repeated from the words of Giuseppe Silos. In cod. 389 of the Museum of San Martino are collected letters of various people written to Andrew Avellino from the year 1578 to the year 1608; cf. Padiglione, op. cit., pp. 224–26.] , reach the number of 1098 only. Some letters to St. Charles Borromeo and to Cardinal Sirleto have recently been edited [Pellegrini, S. Carlo e S. Andrea Avellino, in La Scuola Cattolica, ser. 4, vol. XVIII (1910), pp. 248–71; Pio Paschini, S. Carlo, il cardinal Sirleto ed i Teatini, ibid., ser. 5, vol. XXIII (1922), pp. 291–94. The letter to Fr. Scorcovillus on the deeds of certain Theatine Fathers had been edited by Vezzosi, I scrittori de' Cherici Regolari, vol. I, pp. 73–85.] . Two unedited ones, given on the 20th of July 1580 and the 22nd of May 1589, are held in the Trivulziana library at Milan Cod. 1587, no. 23. , one of the 29th of January 1603 in the Museum of San Martino Cod. 496, fols. 205–206. .
[8] A treatment of the virtues and miracles of St. Andrew, which is found most amply both in the writers of his Life [In the bull of canonisation, in the lessons of the breviary and in most hagiographers we read that Andrew pledged himself to God by two heroic vows, "that he would never obey his own will and would count no day without a new reckoning of perfection". The matter is passed over in silence by the first biographers, Del Tufo, Castaldo, Pagano. Among the "articles of the postulators" of the Neapolitan process of the year 1621 (fol. 15) we found this alone: "He also bound himself by a vow to strive daily towards greater perfection, as he himself testifies in a letter to the marchioness of Casalbore, on the 10th of September of the year one thousand five hundred and ninety-seven." But that letter is lost.] and above all in the answers of the witnesses to the advocates of his cause, seems altogether to be omitted. We shall therefore note his chief deeds briefly, keeping the order of time.
The chronology of his life. In the year 1521, in the territory of Castronuovo, in the province of Basilicata, diocese of Anglona, he is born of Giovanni Avellino and Margherita Apella. The name Lancellotto is given him in baptism, which, on putting on the religious habit, he exchanged for Andrew. He is instructed in humane letters at Senise, which is a place not far distant from Castronuovo Castaldo, op. cit., pp. 1–2; Pagano, Breve relatione, no. 1, below, p. 615. .
1537. Sixteen years old, he takes on the administration of his father's house [Bolvito, op. cit., p. 4. Andrew's letter to Prince Ludovico of Stigliano, Lettere, vol. II, p. 390; to Io. Hier. Avellino, Mus. S. Martini, cod. 496, fol. 206.] . Soon he puts on the dress of clerics [On the testimony of Federico Avellino (Mus. S. Martini, cod. 691, fol. 142), on the wall of the church of San Nicola at Castronuovo Andrew had carved with a nail these words: "In the year of the Lord 1537 the subdeacon Lancilotto de Avellino sang the epistle, on the 19th of August."] .
1545. He is raised to the priesthood.
1547, in the month of October, he comes to Naples to devote himself to the study of both laws, and there he chooses a dwelling in the street of San Pietro a Maiella [The testimony of Brother Lorenzo Thomei in the Neapolitan process of the year 1614, cod. of the Theatine Fathers, fol. 115.] . Those err who with Bolvito Op. cit., p. 9; likewise Cagiano, manuscript Life, ch. 4; Silos, vol. I, p. 358. think that Andrew was advanced to the priesthood only after obtaining the doctorate in both laws, and was ordained in the cathedral of Naples. For he himself asserts, in the letter to Fr. Scorcovillus In Vezzosi, same vol., p. 73. , that he came to Naples in the month of October of the year in which St. Cajetan died, that is, the year 1547. And Valerio Pagano testifies in so many words No. 2, below, p. 615. that he left his native soil already initiated into the priesthood. Besides, it is established from Andrew's letters that from the year 1545 he devoted himself to hearing confessions [Lettere, vol. II, pp. 68, 73, 79, 98, 124, 139, 199, 213, 234, 282; the year 1546, however, seems to be indicated on pp. 419, 434, cf. p. 330.] .
1548. He devotes himself to the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises under the direction of Fr. Diego Laínez, and resolves to strive after better things. It is commonly asserted that he had another cause for changing his life, I mean penitence for a lie he had committed. This opinion has been weighed in our Analecta [R. Lechat, La "conversion" de S. Andre Avellin, in Anal. Boll., vol. XLI, pp. 139–148.] .
About 1551. At the suggestion of Fr. Giovanni Marinoni, Clerk Regular, the care of bringing the convent of the nuns of Sant'Arcangelo back to its former pattern is entrusted to him by Scipione Rebita, vicar general of Naples [Del Tufo, op. cit., p. 343; Castaldo, op. cit., p. 10; Pagano, no. 2, below, p. 615. Scipio Rebiba was appointed vicar general by Pietro Carafa, archbishop of Naples, on the 17th of June 1551. B. Chioccarelli, Antistitum praeclarissimae Neapolitanae ecclesiae catalogus (Naples, 1643), p. 332.] .
1553. He gives the Lenten sermons in the monastery of Sant'Arcangelo Edited in the Opere, vol. III, pp. 1–378. .
1554. In the same monastery he expounds the Gospels of each Sunday of the year Same vol., pp. 379–693. .
1556. He is very gravely wounded by an assassin with three wounds in the face. Received as a guest by the Theatine fathers of San Paolo Maggiore, he recovers his health beyond hope. He steadfastly refuses to betray his assailant Del Tufo, pp. 343–44; Pagano, no. 3, below, p. 615; Castaldo, pp. 10–14. . On the 30th of November following, he receives the habit of the novices there under the master Fr. Giovanni Marinoni, and is thenceforth called Andrew [Ambrogio of Bitonto, Annales Clericorum Regularium, at the year 1556; Pagano, no. 4, below, p. 616. Giovanni Marinoni, a Venetian, born in the year 1490, entered the Congregation of Clerks Regular in the year 1528, governed the house of San Paolo Maggiore for 19 years, not continuous; he died there on the 13th of December 1562 with a reputation for holiness. Gio. Batt. Castaldo, Vita del beato Giovanni Marinoni Venetiano de Chierici Regolari (Rome, 1616), pp. 3, 5–6, 73, 103. What St. Andrew wrote about him to Fr. Scorcovillus see in Vezzosi, same vol., pp. 74–78. The cult of Bl. Giovanni Marinoni was approved in the year 1762 by Pope Clement XIII.] .
1558, on the 25th of January, he makes his solemn profession, the same Fr. Giovanni Marinoni being provost Ambrogio of Bitonto, at the year 1558. , and he is appointed to hear confessions Del Tufo, p. 345. .
1559. Called to Rome, he sets out on the 3rd of April, and on the 8th of the month of May he returns to Naples Ambrogio of Bitonto, at the year 1559; Bolvito, p. 28. .
1560. He is elected a vocal in the Congregation of Clerks Regular Pagano, no. 5, below, p. 616; the same, Centuria Capitulorum, fol. 212. , that is, he is endowed with active and passive voice, which only those priests enjoy "who excel in learning, prudence, integrity of life, who are able to be an example to others, to safeguard the observance of religion and even to increase it" Constitutiones Clericorum Regularium, part III, ch. 3 (Rome, 1610), p. 169. . In the same year he is substituted for Fr. Vincenzo Massi as master of novices; which office he discharged for ten continuous years Del Tufo, pp. 345–46; Pagano, Breve relatione, no. 5, below, p. 616. .
1562. He takes part for the first time in a general Chapter of the Congregation, and subscribes his name to its Acts, as also to the Acts of the Chapters of the years 1564, 1565, 1568, 1569, 1570, 1574, 1575, 1576, 1577, 1579, 1580, 1581, 1582, 1586 Acts of the general Chapters, at these years. . In the same year, Marinoni their confessor having died, he directs for eight years in the way of perfection the four Palescandala sisters, who afterwards (in the year 1579) converted their mother's house into a convent under the invocation of St. Andrew the apostle and the rule of St. Augustine. Of this convent Avellino was held by them to be the founder [Del Tufo, Supplemento all' istoria della Religione de' Padri Cherici Regolari (Rome, 1616), p. 47; La fundatione de' monastero di S. Andrea di Napoli, Naples, Mus. S. Martini, cod. 99, fols. 6v–7.]
1567. Provost of the Neapolitan house of San
Paolo Maggiore he is declared [Castaldo, p. 22, Magenis, p. 172, Bagatta, p. 42, and others refer this to the year 1566; to the year 1567, Ambrogio of Bitonto in the Annals and Valerio Pagano in his catalogues (Centuria Capitulorum, fol. 17); and these indeed rightly, for almost all agree that Andrew presided over the Neapolitan house for three years and was sent from there to Milan in the year 1570. Cf. Castaldo, p. 23; Del Tufo, pp. 345–46; Magenis, pp. 173, 202; Bagatta, pp. 42, 71.] , which office he discharged for three years. He was the first to take care that schools of philosophy and theology be established in which the novices might be trained [Pagano, no. 5, below, p. 617; Castaldo, pp. 32–33. Andrew's letters to Cardinal Sirleto on this business were edited by Fr. Paschini, in La Scuola Cattolica, vol. XXIII (1922), p. 287 ff.] .
1570, in the month of April, at Rome, in the general Chapter, he is sent to Milan, and there he is designated vicar of the house of Santa Maria at San Calimero, given to the Theatine fathers by St. Charles Borromeo, under the provost Fr. Geremia Isachino [Del Tufo, Historia, p. 346, cf. pp. 106–109; Acts of the general Chapters, at the year 1570; Pagano, no. 6, below, p. 617; Letter of St. Andrew to Lucrezia Arcella and to other women, Lettere, vol. I, pp. 137, 140–43. Cf. Paschini, in La Scuola Cattolica, same vol., p. 287 ff.] .
1571, in the month of April, he is set by the general Chapter over the house of San Vincenzo at Piacenza, which Bishop Paolo d'Arezzo had granted to the Theatine fathers. He is designated director of the seminary recently established according to the rules of the synod of Trent, confessor of the students, and diocesan penitentiary [Ambrogio of Bitonto, at the year; Del Tufo, pp. 113–14; Pagano, no. 6, below, p. 617; G. A. Cagiano, Vita di Paolo Burali d' Arezzo (Rome, 1649), pp. 156–59, 183, 215–20.] .
1572, 22 April, Fr. Marcello Maiorano having been elected provost of the house of Piacenza by the general Chapter, Andrew is ordered to return to Naples Ambrogio of Bitonto, at the year; Acts of the general Chapters, at the year. ; in fact, however, he did not change his place; for all his letters that we have, from this very year to the 19th of April of the year 1578, were given at Piacenza [Lettere, vol. I, pp. 200–202; Excerpts from the letters of St. Andrew in cod. 653 of the Mus. S. Martini, fol. 229 ff.] . Meanwhile the care of a monastery of penitent women recently erected is entrusted to him by Bishop Paolo d'Arezzo Del Tufo, p. 167; Cagiano, Vita di Paolo Burali d' Arezzo, pp. 236–40. .
1573. He is designated by the general Chapter visitor of the houses of Lombardy Acts of the general Chapters, at the year. .
1574. He is elected by the general Chapter provost of the house of Piacenza, and in the following year he is confirmed in the office Ibid.; Pagano, no. 6, below, p. 617. .
1576. He is confirmed for the third time in the aforesaid office by the general Chapter, and is sent again to visit the houses of Lombardy Pagano, Centuria, fols. 143 and 159. .
1577. He is relieved of the burden of governing the house of Piacenza, and is designated visitor of Lombardy for the third time Pagano, ibid. .
1578. He is dissuaded by a pious nun of Genoa, Battista Vernazza, whom he had questioned on the matter, from freeing himself, under the appearance of his own perfection, from all business of governing and even from hearing confessions Del Tufo, pp. 346–349. . In the same year, in the month of April, he takes up the government of the Milanese house of Sant'Antonio Del Tufo, pp. 176–79; Pagano, Centuria, fol. 157. .
1579, in the month of April, and again in the following year, he is confirmed in the same office Pagano, ibid.; P. Paschini, in La Scuola Cattolica, same vol., pp. 264–68. .
1581. He is again set over the house of Piacenza Pagano, Centuria, fol. 159; the same, Breve relatione, no. 6, below, p. 617. .
1582. He is sent to Naples by the general Chapter, which complied with his petition Acts of the general Chapters, at the year; Castaldo, pp. 29, 158. .
1584, in the month of April, he is given as provost to both Neapolitan houses of San Paolo and of the Holy Apostles [Acts of the general Chapters, at the year; Del Tufo, p. 352; Castaldo, p. 30; Pagano, Breve relatione, no. 7, below, p. 617. Silos, vol. I, pp. 632, 641, who narrates that this happened in the years 1585 and 1586, must be corrected.] .
1585, 9 May, Vincenzo Starace, who was the "elect of the people", having been slaughtered by the populace rioting because of the dearness of grain, he offered the magistrates whatever bread and grain there was in the house, and to appease the wrath of God he began a solemn procession of supplication through the streets of the city [I. B. Castaldo, pp. 42–43; cf. the statements of an eyewitness, Andrea Piscara Castaldo, Cler. Reg. (brother of Giovanni Battista), in the Neapolitan process, Summary, Brussels codex 8939, fols. 46v–47v. On the Neapolitan riot see the report of Giacomo Gerardi, envoy of the Venetian state, in Mutinelli, Storia arcana ed aneddotica d' Italia raccontata dai Veneti ambasciatori, vol. II (Venice, 1856), p. 140 ff., and the narrative of another eyewitness, edited by Faraglia, in the Archivio storico per le province Napoletane, vol. XI (1886), pp. 436–41; cf. vol. I (1876), pp. 131–138.] .
1590, 7 July, he is substituted by the provost general for Fr. Eliseo Nardini as visitor The autograph letter of the provost general [Giovanni Battista Milani to Andrew exists in the Mus. S. Martini, cod. 389, fol. 99.] . From the month of October to January of the following year he discharges the office of visiting the Roman and Neapolitan provinces ["Io sono stato in volta per la visita dal principio d'ottobre insin'a i 23 di gennaro, e pero non l'ho scritto…" [I have been travelling on the visitation from the beginning of October to the 23rd of January, and so I have not written…] Andrew's letter to Vittoria Caracciola, 1 Feb. 1591, Lettere, vol. II, p. 16. "Se ben' il viaggio di 740 miglia con piogge, venti e freddo, dovea darmi qualche notabile infermita in questa eta di 70 anni, con patire molti disaggi per le male et incommode de hosterie; non di meno con stupore di tutti son ritornato sano, e sto meglio che stava prima che mi partisse." [Although the journey of 740 miles with rains, winds and cold ought to have given me some notable sickness at this age of 70 years, suffering many discomforts from the bad and uncomfortable inns, nevertheless to the astonishment of all I have returned healthy, and I am better than I was before I set out.] Letter to the duchess of Nocera, 11 Feb. 1591, Lettere, vol. II, p. 21. Bolvito wrongly says, p. 79, that he discharged this office twice, in the years 1590 and 1591.] . While he is at Rome, he refuses a bishopric offered him by the supreme pontiff Gregory XIII Castaldo, p. 127; cf. Lettere, vol. II, p. 14. .
1593, in the month of July, Francesco Antonio Avellino, his nephew, having been foully slaughtered, Andrew forgives the enemy who had killed him, and strives that he be likewise forgiven by Francesco Antonio's brother [Castaldo, pp. 122–24; the testimony of Fr. Andrea Piscara Castaldo in the Neapolitan process, Summary, fol. 45; Lettere, vol. II, pp. 148, 152, 155, 157–58.] .
1594, 20 August, Fr. Matteo Bencio, provost of the house of San Paolo, having died, he is appointed vice-provost in his place, and governed it also for a space of eight months Bolvito, p. 82. .
1595, 29 July, the faculty of hearing confessions in any dioceses whatever, even without asking the licence of the ordinaries, is granted to him by Cardinal Cusano Letter of Cardinal Cusano in the Mus. S. Martini, cod. 389, fol. 153. .
1608, 10 November, while he is beginning Mass at the altar, he is seized with apoplexy. Carried to his room, he is fortified with the sacred viaticum; and in the evening, at about the 23rd hour, he dies. Very many flock to his funeral. His blood is collected; which on the eighth day after his death was seen to give off foam and to boil [The letter of Fr. Gargano, provost of the house of San Paolo Maggiore, to Fr. Angrisano, provost general, in Cagiano, Successi maravigliosi, pp. 6–13; Castaldo, pp. 162–185; Pagano, Breve relatione, nos. 8–14, below, pp. 617–19. The testimony of Fr. Andrea Piscara Castaldo in the Neapolitan process, Summary, Brussels cod., fols. 58v–59; the testimony of Fr. Paolo Tolosa in the Neapolitan process of the year 1614, Roman cod., fols. 56v–57; the testimony of Giulio Iasolino, physician, an eyewitness, ibid. fols. 94–96; the testimony of Pietro Vecchione, in whose hands the blood of Bl. Andrew boiled, ibid. fols. 144v–145.] .
[9] The beginning and increase of the cult. What we add in what follows refers to the rise and increase of the cult shown to St. Andrew.
In the same year, on the 7th of December, as the fame of his miracles grew, the provost general entrusted to Frs. Andrea Castaldo and Antonio Caracciolo the care of consigning them to authentic writings. Soon they obtain from Cardinal Acquaviva, archbishop of Naples, that by his authority a canonical process be instituted, and from the 15th of December of the year 1609 the witnesses began to be heard [Cagiano, op. cit., pp. 13–17. An exemplar of that informative process is held at Naples, cf. above, no. 5(a).] .
1610, in the month of October, the sacred body was carried by the provost general Giovanni Antonio Angrisano from the cemetery into the church, and laid up there before the altar of St. Joseph, where Andrew had last begun Mass Pagano, no. 15, below, p. 619; Cagiano, p. 17. .
1611, 27 August, the provost general entrusts to Frs. Basilio Scorza and Tommaso Pelliccione the care of hearing sworn witnesses from the Congregation itself concerning the virtues of Don Andrew Avellino of venerable memory Cagiano, pp. 20–22. Cf. above, no. 5(b). .
1611, 10 November, the blood, which had congealed, was seen, many standing by, to liquefy again and boil; which was noted also in the following years, the same anniversary day recurring [Cagiano, pp. 22–23, 28–29, 42, 50; the testimony of Fr. Marcello Surgente, provost of San Paolo Maggiore, in the Neapolitan process of the year 1615, fols. 102v–104v.] . Hence the Theatine Fathers for some years had a public instrument drawn up about the matter. The letters subscribed in the year 1613 by various witnesses about what they had seen in the years 1611 and 1612, found in the library of the Museum of San Martino, we shall publish in their place Below, pp. 622–23.
1613. The cause of the servant of God is committed by the supreme pontiff to the Sacred Congregation of Rites; the archbishop of Naples was commanded "to have processes drawn up by the ordinary way, lest the proofs perish" Cagiano, pp. 24, 30–37. Above, no. 5(d). .
1615. The general Chapter exhorts the provosts of the houses to take care that some solemnity be held on the anniversary days of the Blesseds Cajetan, John and Andrew Acts of the general Chapters, at the year 1615. . Which indeed at Naples was already in use
and the thing was being done in such a way that it seemed to exceed measure. For the apostolic nuncio ordered the image of Bl. Andrew to be removed from the church. At length the supreme pontiff granted that thenceforth on the appointed day a solemn Mass of the feria should be sung and a sermon given to the people [Cagiano, pp. 28–30, 37–42, 46–54, 64–68; Pagano, nos. 17–21, below, pp. 620–22. Already in the year 1613 Paolo Tolosa (Cler. Reg.), bishop of Bovino, and formerly most closely bound to Bl. Andrew, gave a public sermon on the virtues of the blessed man, which we have seen printed by the care of Fr. Giacomo Mascari: P. Tolosa, Predica… fatta in Napoli nella chiesa di S. Paolo l'anno 1613, la domenica 24 dopo la Pentecoste, alli 10 novembre giorno anniversario della morte del Padre D. Andrea Avellino Chierico Reg. celebre per fama di santita. Rome, 1614.] .
1622, on the 13th of May, the body of the servant of God was recognised by the bishops commissioners of the Neapolitan process and placed in a new chest Cagiano, pp. 107–110. . In the same year the relics of the blood were recognised by I. B. Pamphili, apostolic nuncio Ibid., pp. 122–23. . Of the phials in which it had been collected, three survive, which are kept in the sacristy of the church of San Paolo Maggiore, and every year on the 10th of November are exposed to the veneration of the faithful.
Andrew soon among the blessed, 1624, 4 September, the decree is issued by which the honours of the blessed are decreed to Andrew Avellino Ibid., pp. 177–80. . In the same year, on the 22nd of October, the citizens of Palermo choose Andrew as their patron Ibid., p. 193. We saw the decree with the Theatine Fathers at Rome. ; in the following year the Neapolitans also Cagiano, same vol., pp. 285–97. , and other cities: Bitonto, Castronuovo, Piazza, Nola, Vico Equense, Capri, Cosenza Ibid., pp. 314, 380–90. ; on the 22nd of June 1627 the patronage of the whole kingdom of Sicily Silos, vol. II, p. 523. ), and on the 9th of January 1628 of the city of Capua Michele Monaco, Sanctuarium Capuanum (Naples, 1630), pp. 550–53. is committed to him.
1707, 12 May, the decree is confirmed by the supreme pontiff Clement XI by which it is asserted that one may safely proceed to the canonisation of Bl. Andrew [J. Chiapponi, Acta canonizationis sanctorum Pii V, Pont. Max., Andreae Avellini, Felicis a Cantalicio et Catharinae de Bononia, habitae a sanctissimo Domino nostro Clemente XI (Rome, 1720), pp. 5–6.] .
finally the honours of the saints are decreed. 1712. Bl. Andrew, and together with him the Blesseds Pius V, Felix of Cantalice, Catherine of Bologna, are enrolled in the roll of the saints with solemn pomp Ibid., pp. 304–320. . At about this time a brief Life or synaxarion of St. Andrew was published in Greek by Domenico Regollotto [Anal. Boll., vol. XXI, p. 395; H. Delehaye, Une Vie grecque de S. Dominique, in Miscellanea Dominicana (Rome, 1923), p. 5.] .
[10] He is invoked against sudden death. Since the custom has long prevailed of choosing the patronage of saints by reason of the deeds or notable things which are reported in their Life, the Christian people soon began to implore the help of St. Andrew Avellino, who was struck by apoplexy, against the danger of sudden death. Confraternities of the Dying in the name of St. Andrew were erected in many places, which it would be long to enumerate. It will suffice to have mentioned those of Turin and Milan in Italy, and in our Belgium that of Antwerp instituted in the year 1812, that of Brussels in the year 1862, that of Minderhout in the year 1879 [Magenis, Vita, p. 316; J. L. Buys, Leven van den H. Andreas Avellinus, patroon tegen vallende ziekte, geraaktheid en onvoorziene dood (Ghent, 1889), pp. 139–62. Cf. Godvrugtigheden en aflaeten van het Broederschap van den gelukzaligen Andreas Avellinus, patroon tegen de geraektheden, vallende ziektens en subiete dood, opgeregt in de parochiaele kerke van Onze Lieve Vrouwe van Finis-Terrae, binnen Brussel, Brussels, 1817; Handboek van het Broederschap opgerecht ter eere van den H. Andreas Avellinus behoeder tegen geraektheid, vallende ziekte en schielijke dood, in de parochiaele kerke van Fines-Terrae van Brussel, Brussels, [1831]; Manuel de la confrérie érigée en l'honneur de S. André Avellin, patron contre l'apoplexie, l'épilepsie et la mort subite, en l'église paroissiale de Fines-Terrae de Bruxelles, Brussels, [1832]; Manuel des membres de la confrérie de Saint André Avellin, érigée canoniquement dans l'église de N.-D. de Finesterrae à Bruxelles, Brussels, 1862.] .
I. BRIEF LIFE OF ST. ANDREW AVELLINO
BY VALERIO PAGANO
Andrew Avellino, confessor, at Naples. (S.)
From the Neapolitan codex of the Museum of San Martino 564, fols. 237–247. Cf. Prel. Comm. no. 4.
De alcune poche cose appertinenti alla vita e morte del nostro B. Padre Don Andrea Avellino de la nostra Religione Cap. 46. [Of some few things pertaining to the life and death of our Blessed Father Don Andrew Avellino, of our Religion. Chapter 46.]
[1] Lancellotto Avellino Di questo B. Padre ne diro alcune poche cose, solo per non mancare al ordine di quest' istoria [Breve relatione del principio e progressi de la religione de Cherici Regolari e delle attioni d' alcuni di essi Padri. Prel. Comm. no. 4, above, p. 610.] e per haverle inteso molte di esse io medesimo dal istesso B. Padre, et altre le ho viste di presenza; ne mi estendo molto per esser il mio intento solo di non fare andare in oblivione alcune cose degne di memoria de li nostri; e poiche questa vita e stata discritta da altri [I. B. Del Tufo (1609) and I. B. Castaldo (1613). Cf. Prel. Comm. no. 2, above, p. 609.] io solo attendero al mio intento. born at Castronuovo, Nacque questo benedetto Padre nella Provincia di Basilicata nel Regno di Napoli nella terra di Castro Novo, diogese di Anglone, l'anno 1521. Il suo padre si chiamo Giovanni, e la madre Margarita et ambidui dell' istessa famiglia Avellino, persone di bona vita e di timorate conscienze, e molto pij de piu principali di quella terra. Fu chiamato nel battesmo Lancelloto e fu allevato da suoi teneri anni con molto timore di Dio, e con bona educatione, massime da la madre, la quale era grandemente devota e bona christiana. Et attese con gran diligenza allo studio delle lettere humane, et anco a un principio di legge nella sua stessa patria. Fuggi sempre ogni mala compagnia di giovani dati alli piaceri e diletti del mondo, et in tal modo fuggi la prattica delle donne, havendole in aborrimento, che due volte fu assalito da quelle per rubarli il pretioso dono de la castita, e lui fuggi senza imbrattarsi e senza machiarla. there raised to the priesthood, Nel istesso suo paese prese tutti l'ordini sacri, essendosi dato al stato ecclesiastico perche non volle seguitare il secolo.
[Of this blessed Father I shall say some few things, only so as not to fail the order of this history, and because I myself heard many of them from the blessed Father himself, and others I have seen in person; nor do I extend myself much, my intent being only not to let certain things worthy of memory of our men go into oblivion; and since this life has been described by others, I shall attend only to my intent. This blessed Father was born in the Province of Basilicata in the Kingdom of Naples, in the territory of Castronuovo, diocese of Anglona, in the year 1521. His father was called Giovanni, and his mother Margherita, and both of the same family Avellino, persons of good life and of God-fearing consciences, and very pious, of the chief people of that place. He was called Lancellotto in baptism and was brought up from his tender years with much fear of God and with good upbringing, especially by his mother, who was greatly devout and a good Christian. And he applied himself with great diligence to the study of humane letters, and also to a beginning of law, in his own homeland. He always fled every bad company of young men given to the pleasures and delights of the world, and he so fled the society of women, holding them in abhorrence, that twice he was assailed by them so as to rob him of the precious gift of chastity, and he fled without defiling himself and without staining it. In his same home town he took all the sacred orders, having given himself to the ecclesiastical state because he did not wish to follow the world.]
[2] At Naples Venne in Napoli per perfectionare il suo studio delle leggi civili e canoniche essendo gia sacerdote Prel. Comm. no. 8, above, p. 612. ; he devotes himself to both laws. ne per qualsivoglia occasione relasso punto de la sua bona vita. Prese amicitia con li nostri Padri di San Paolo, e in particolare con il P. Don Pietro Fuscareno veronese [He entered the order on 17 Oct. 1532, in 1536 was provost of the Neapolitan house of Santa Maria in Stabulo, which having been abandoned by the Fathers on 18 Jan. 1538, he founded the house of San Paolo Maggiore, where he died on 28 Mar. 1551. Vezzosi, Scrittori de' Cherici Regolari, vol. I, pp. 366–68. He is praised by Andrew in the letter to Fr. Scorcovillus in Vezzosi, same vol., p. 73.] , primo preposito de la detta casa, huomo di santa vita e di molte lettere, come di sopra si e detto nel descrivere la sua vita, il quale mori l'anno 1551, in modo che esso prattico in detta casa prima di questo anno. In questo tempo il nostro cardinale Teatino [Giovanni Pietro Carafa, first provost general of the Congregation of the Theatines, created cardinal 22 Dec. 1536, archbishop of Naples 22 Feb. 1549, supreme pontiff Paul IV 23 May 1555.] fu eletto arcivescovo di Napoli, e mando per governo di quella chiesa per suo vicario generale Mons. Scipione Rebiba, il quale fu poi eletto vescovo di Mottola; e quando il detto cardinale fu assonto al pontificato, lo creo cardinale di Santa Chiesa et arcivescovo di Pisa [Scipio Rebiba, in 1541 bishop of Amyclae in partibus infidelium; 22 June 1551 vicar of the archbishop of Naples (Chioccarelli, Antistitum praeclarissimae Neapolitanae ecclesiae catalogus, Naples, 1643, p. 332); 12 Oct. 1551 bishop of Mottola; 20 Dec. 1555 cardinal; 13 Apr. 1556 bishop of Pisa; died 23 July 1577.] . Questo degno prelato, mentre era Vicario in Napoli, amo grandemente il detto Don Lancellotto Lancillotto cod. conoscendolo per huomo intero, honorato e di gran bonta, et anco letterato; e percio l'impose il carico e governo spirituale de un monistero di monache, detto di Sant' Arcangelo, gia estinto e levato [Suppressed in the year 1577 by Archbishop Paolo d'Arezzo. Cagiano, Vita di Paolo d' Arezzo, pp. 285–88.] .
[He came to Naples to perfect his study of the civil and canon laws, being already a priest; nor on any occasion whatever did he relax at all his good life. He made friendship with our Fathers of San Paolo, and in particular with Fr. Don Pietro Foscarini of Verona, first provost of the said house, a man of holy life and of much learning, as has been said above in describing his life, who died in the year 1551, so that he frequented the said house before this year. At this time our Theatine cardinal was elected archbishop of Naples, and he sent for the government of that church, as his vicar general, Mons. Scipione Rebiba, who was afterwards elected bishop of Mottola; and when the said cardinal was raised to the pontificate, he created him cardinal of Holy Church and archbishop of Pisa. This worthy prelate, while he was Vicar in Naples, greatly loved the said Don Lancellotto, knowing him for an upright man, honourable and of great goodness, and also learned; and therefore he laid on him the charge and spiritual government of a monastery of nuns called Sant'Arcangelo, now extinct and suppressed.]
[3] Having taken up the care of the nuns of Sant'Arcangelo, Prese il carico il destro sacerdote, e subito diede principio a volerlo riformare, levandoli tutti li trafichi e prattiche inutile e di poco honore a Dio e a quello monistero, fra le quali ci era un canonico della catedrale cadredale cod. chiesa, ma piu tosto secolare che ecclesiastico; a questo taglio afatto la prattica e per cio fu minacciato crudelmente piu volte, ne mai il diligente et accurato sacerdote dismise punto il suo zelo e buon governo; onde quel meschino, tentato dal demonio, da uno assasino li fece dare una ferita nel volto; ma esso senza farne rumore attese a farsi medicare, non essendo la ferita molto grande; et essendo guarito di quella attese piu che mai, e con magior diligenza, a custodire la gregge commessali dal Vicario. Onde quel infelice vedendo non haver il suo intento
[The skilful priest took up the charge, and at once began to wish to reform it, removing from it all the dealings and visits that were useless and of little honour to God and to that monastery, among which there was a canon of the cathedral church, but rather secular than ecclesiastic; to him he cut off the visits altogether, and for this he was cruelly threatened several times, nor did the diligent and careful priest ever abate at all his zeal and good government; whereupon that wretch, tempted by the devil, had a wound given him in the face by an assassin; but he, without making a stir about it, attended to having himself treated, the wound not being very great; and having healed of it, he attended more than ever, and with greater diligence, to guarding the flock entrusted to him by the Vicar. Whereupon that unhappy man, seeing that he had not attained his intent,]
con questo, fra poco tempo di novo dal istesso assasino fu percosso con due ferite di novo, he is wounded by an assassin l'una de esse fu crudelissima, perche non solo li taglio tutta una guancia, ma anco il naso a traverso, e gionse insino all' altra guancia, e l'altra fu poca, e vicino alla barba. Ma la magiore fu tanto profonda che li taglio l'arteria. Hor vedendosi cosi mal trattato, et havendo fatto molta esperienza de la gran carita de li Padri di San Paolo, and is cared for among the Theatines. li quali l'haveano grandemente compatito quando la prima volta fu ferito, e se li erano offerto ad ogni suo bisogno, si fe condure alla loro casa, ove fu ricevuto carissimamente, e subito furono chiamati li megliori medici de la citta per curarli le ferite, e fu giudicata mortale quella magiore perche per tre giorni et tre notte continue non si possi stagnare il sangue del arteria e fu bisogno ponerci molta quantita di vetriolo e per tanto tempo mantenere con la propria mano un prattico, accio che la gran furia del sangue non cacciasse il medicamento; e percio nella guancia si ci fece una gran fossa, che dimostrava dovesse restare la sua faccia faccie cod. molto difforme quando fusse guarito. Ma Iddio, che lo medicava con altre regole di quelle de la medicina, in breve tempo si guari, e tutte tre le cicatrici cicatrice cod. restorno tanto ben saldate et appianate che in nullo modo si conoscevano, ancor che aposta fusse, da chi lo volesse vedere, riguardato; et io ragionando con esso di questo li dimandai il luogo ove fu ferito, et mostrandomelo esso stesso con il suo deto, si ci vedeva un filo sottilissimo cosi alla guancia, come al naso, ne era possibile poterlo vedere, salvo che si fusse appostatamente, como fece io, approssimato; si che questo fu tenuto per manifesto miracolo. Fu questo fatto l'anno 1556; e sparso il rumore di questa crudelta, tanto barbara e diabolica, il vicere Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, duke of Alba. fece esquisite diligenze per haver notitia de li malefattori, ne mai si possirno sapere, perche esso non li volse mai scoprire; et essendo andato l'avocato fiscale a visitarlo mentre stava in letto, e in diversi ragionamenti amorevoli, mai celo possi cavare di bocca, ancor che esso molto bene sapesse tutti li malifattori. Ma quella vendetta che non si possi fare dalli giodici terreni, la fece Iddio dal cielo; poiche poco dopo, il canonico avante le gradi de la porta di San Paolo fu miseramente ammazzato senza nullo aiuto, ne spirituale, ne temporale Cf. Del Tufo, p. 345. , e l'assassino mori malamente in galera, ove per altri delitti ci fu condennato.
[with this, within a short time he was struck again by the same assassin with two fresh wounds, one of which was most cruel, because it not only cut the whole of one cheek, but also the nose across, and reached to the other cheek; and the other was slight, and near the beard. But the greater was so deep that it cut the artery. Now, seeing himself so ill treated, and having had much experience of the great charity of the Fathers of San Paolo, who had greatly pitied him when he was wounded the first time and had offered themselves to him in his every need, he had himself carried to their house, where he was received most lovingly, and at once the best physicians of the city were called to treat his wounds; and the greater was judged mortal, because for three continuous days and three nights the blood of the artery could not be staunched, and it was necessary to put on it a great quantity of vitriol and for a long time to keep a practitioner holding it with his own hand, so that the great rush of the blood should not drive out the medicine; and for this reason a great hollow was made in the cheek, which showed that his face would remain very deformed when he was healed. But God, who was treating him by other rules than those of medicine, healed him in a short time, and all three scars remained so well closed and smoothed that in no way could they be recognised, even when he was looked at on purpose by one who wished to see; and I, talking with him about this, asked him the place where he was wounded, and when he himself showed it to me with his finger, a very fine thread was seen both on the cheek and on the nose, nor was it possible to see it unless one approached on purpose, as I did; so that this was held for a manifest miracle. This was done in the year 1556; and the report of this cruelty, so barbarous and diabolical, having spread, the viceroy made exacting inquiries to obtain knowledge of the evildoers, nor could they ever be known, because he would never reveal them; and when the fiscal advocate went to visit him while he was in bed, and in various friendly conversations, he could never draw it from his mouth, although he knew all the evildoers very well. But that vengeance which could not be done by earthly judges, God did from heaven; for shortly after, the canon was miserably killed before the steps of the door of San Paolo without any help, either spiritual or temporal, and the assassin died wretchedly in the galleys, where he had been condemned for other crimes.]
[4] Admitted among the novices, Hor subito che Don Lancellotto fu guarito, prego li Padri, li quali con molta carita l'haveano tenuto in casa loro, che lo volessero ricevere alla religione; e dopo molte e molte istanze fatte al B. P. Don Giovane Marinonio Prel. Comm. no. 8, note 15, above, p. 612. , che in quel anno era preposito de la detta casa di San Paolo, fu ricevuto l'istesso anno a 14 d'agosto, e ad ultimo di novembre del medemo anno li fu dato l'habito de la probatione (conforme al costume solito de la religione) e li fu posto nome Andrea; his name being changed to Andrew, e prima che facesse la professione, li Padri lo fecero confessare per esser huomo tanto provato e di spirito grande, et anco di eta matura. Quando questo degno Padre fu ricevuto in detta casa ci era il P. Don Marco Venetiano, he shows outstanding charity towards a decrepit old man. uno delli primi Padri che entrorno in Roma nel principio che fu fundata la nostra religione, e questo Padre era venuto in eta decrepita et era fuor di sentimenti, e percio di molto peso alla casa per doverseli usare la conveniente carita non havendo esso giuditio ne anche a fare li suoi bisogni naturali, e percio se imbrattava quasi di continuo. Fu dato il carico di questa gran opera di carita al novo hospite, il quale l'esercito diligentissimamente in modo che questa li fu una bona scola per imparare la vera patienza nella santa religione; lo vestiva e lo spogliava, lo cibava e lo serviva apunto como fanno le balie alli fanciulli, e molte volte mentre li apuntava le calze, quel insensato li dava buoni boffetoni, et esso tollero questo tormento per lo spatio di nove mesi, poiche quel povero vecchio mori il sequente anno nel mese di magio. Ne li mancorno delli altri esercitii al novo soldato di Christo perche essendo la casa in quel tempo sprovista di gente di fatiche, li bisognava fare molto piu di quello che humanamente si poteva da un solo huomo; e per potere supplire alle cose de lo spirito e delle orationi s'agiutava con l'hore de la notte, sottraendo il necessario sonno al suo corpo per attendere a quello di magior importanza. Pochi mesi dopo che entro esso alla religione, entro anco il P. D. Paolo d'Arezzo, in modo che essi fuorno novitij insieme, et l'uno dava buon esempio all' altro, et con tali occasione fra di essi si contrasse grande amicitia [Paolo Burali of Arezzo, after he had discharged for about 20 years the office both of advocate and of royal counsellor, entered religion on 25 Jan. 1557, in the 46th year of his age; 23 July 1568 bishop of Piacenza, 17 May 1570 cardinal, 19 Sept. 1576 archbishop of Naples; he died 17 June 1578; on 8 June 1772 he was enrolled among the blessed by the supreme pontiff Clement XIV. Vezzosi, vol. I, pp. 62–65. Cf. Cagiano, Vita di Paolo d'Arezzo. Andrew narrated the deeds and virtues of his most intimate friend in the letter already cited, in Vezzosi, same vol., pp. 78–84.] .
[Now as soon as Don Lancellotto was healed, he besought the Fathers, who with much charity had kept him in their house, that they would receive him into religion; and after very many entreaties made to the Blessed Fr. Don Giovanni Marinoni, who in that year was provost of the said house of San Paolo, he was received in the same year on the 14th of August, and on the last of November of the same year the habit of probation was given him (according to the usual custom of the religion) and the name Andrew was given him; and before he made his profession the Fathers made him hear confessions, as being a man so proved and of great spirit, and also of mature age. When this worthy Father was received in the said house, there was there Fr. Don Marco of Venice, one of the first Fathers who entered at Rome at the beginning when our religion was founded, and this Father had come to decrepit age and was out of his senses, and therefore a great burden to the house, since the fitting charity had to be shown him, as he had no judgement even to do his natural needs, and therefore he soiled himself almost continually. The charge of this great work of charity was given to the new guest, who exercised it most diligently, so that this was for him a good school for learning true patience in holy religion; he dressed him and undressed him, fed him and served him just as nurses do for little children, and many times while he was fastening his stockings that senseless man gave him good cuffs, and he bore this torment for the space of nine months, since that poor old man died the following year in the month of May. Nor were other exercises lacking to the new soldier of Christ, because, the house being at that time unprovided with labouring people, he had to do much more than could humanly be done by one man alone; and in order to be able to provide for the things of the spirit and of prayer, he helped himself with the hours of the night, taking the necessary sleep from his body to attend to what was of greater importance. A few months after he entered religion, Fr. Don Paolo d'Arezzo also entered, so that they were novices together, and the one gave good example to the other, and on such occasions a great friendship was contracted between them.]
[5] Professed in the year 1558, Fece la professione il sequente anno de 1558 a 25 di gennaro, e poco tempo dopo li Padri lo fecero maestro di novitij conoscendo la gran prudenza sua, soon master of novices et che in breve tempo havea imparato quanto bisognava per la via de la perfectione di buono religioso, il quale carico esercito molti anni con gran spirito, e con carita esquisita, in tal modo che allevo degni figli nella religione, e lui diede buon principio alli particulari esercitij de oratione. Era il suo uso levarsi ogni notte due hore avante il matutino per spenderle in orationi, e similmente chiamava li suoi novitij, conforme li pareva, sempre avante l'hora solita del matutino. L'anno 1560 nel capitolo che fu celebrato nella nostra casa di San Nicola di Venetia fu fatto vocale Prel. Comm. no. 8, above, p. 612. , e l'anno 1567 fu eletto preposito de la casa di San Paolo di Napoli, in the year 1567 he is elected provost of the house of San Paolo. ove esso fu il primo che introducesse il studio de la filosofia e de la teologia in questa casa, che poi se introdussero nell' altre case Prel. Comm. no. 8, above, p. 613. ; perche li nostri Padri ricevevano persone provette e di matura eta, a quali non se potevano imponere novi studij; ma si esercitavano in quei studij che gia erano introdotti. Governo la detta casa di San Paolo tre anni continui con molto spirito e con gran osservanza; et essendo particulare huomo di poverta l'impresse tanto bene alli suoi suditi, che tutti l'osservorno insino alla morte esattamente.
[He made his profession the following year, 1558, on the 25th of January, and a short time after the Fathers made him master of novices, knowing his great prudence, and that in a short time he had learned all that was needed for the way of perfection of a good religious; which charge he exercised many years with great spirit and with exquisite charity, in such a way that he brought up worthy sons in religion, and he gave a good beginning to the particular exercises of prayer. It was his custom to rise every night two hours before Matins to spend them in prayers, and likewise he called his novices, as it seemed good to him, always before the usual hour of Matins. In the year 1560, in the chapter which was held in our house of San Nicola at Venice, he was made a vocal, and in the year 1567 he was elected provost of the house of San Paolo at Naples, where he was the first to introduce the study of philosophy and theology into this house, which were afterwards introduced into the other houses; because our Fathers used to receive persons advanced and of mature age, on whom new studies could not be imposed; but they were exercised in those studies which had already been introduced. He governed the said house of San Paolo three continuous years with much spirit and with great observance; and being a man especially of poverty, he impressed it so well on his subjects that all observed it exactly until death.]
[6] In the year 1570 to Milan, L'anno poi del 1570, quando ad istanza di San Carlo Cardinale fu presa la casa in Milano Prel. Comm. ibid. , ci fu mandato perche il P. D. Geremia Isachino [This man too, carried off by the plague at Venice in the year 1576, is commemorated by Andrew in the letter to Fr. Scorcovillus. Vezzosi, same vol., p. 84.] , che in quella fu eletto preposito, dimando alli Padri del Capitolo questo buono religioso per suo compagno; e percio ando in Milano e condusse seco alcuni Padri suoi cari figli e di spirito conforme al suo gusto. Et il sequente anno, in the year 1571 to Piacenza, che si prese la casa in Piacenza a istanza del nostro P. D. Paolo [Paolo Burali of Arezzo, on whom see above, p. 616, note 4. Cf. Prel. Comm. no. 8, above, p. 613.] vescovo di quella chiesa, e cardinale di Santa Chiesa, e ci fu eletto preposito il primo anno, e la governo secondo il suo solito con santita di vita e con gran poverta. E poi di nuovo ci fu eletto l'anno 1574, e ci fu confirmato per l'altri dui sequenti anni; e poi di nuovo ci fu eletto anco preposito l'anno 1581. in the year 1582 sent to Naples, Et il sequente anno dall' obedienza li fu imposto che ritornasse in Napoli, essendo stato tredici anni continui in Lombardia.
[Then in the year 1570, when at the instance of Cardinal St. Charles the house in Milan was taken, he was sent there because Fr. Don Geremia Isachino, who was elected provost there, asked the Fathers of the Chapter for this good religious as his companion; and therefore he went to Milan and took with him some Fathers, his dear sons and of a spirit conformed to his taste. And the following year, when the house in Piacenza was taken at the instance of our Fr. Don Paolo, bishop of that church and cardinal of Holy Church, he was also elected provost there the first year, and governed it after his custom with holiness of life and with great poverty. And then he was elected there again in the year 1574, and was confirmed there for the other two following years; and then again he was elected provost there also in the year 1581. And the following year it was imposed on him by obedience that he return to Naples, having been thirteen continuous years in Lombardy.]
[7] Et essendo venuto in la casa di San Paolo attese alli suoi soliti esercitij di giovare a'prossimi e non dementicarsi di se stesso con l'orationi continue et con asprezze grande del corpo suo, come in tutto il suo tempo havea sempre usato. Il cibo suo era di cose grosse, most sparing of food and sleep, e pochissime volte mangiava carne, e dopo alcun tempo la lascio
[And having come to the house of San Paolo, he attended to his usual exercises of helping his neighbours and of not forgetting himself, with continual prayers and with great austerities of his body, as he had always used throughout his time. His food was of coarse things, and very seldom did he eat meat, and after some time he gave it up]
a fatto. Quando digiunava anco nell' eta decrepita non mangiava insino alla sera, e senza prender cosa alcuna la matina. Il dormire era poco tempo, an enemy of idleness, e sempre sopra un sacco di paglia. Non perdeva mai tempo, spendendolo o in oratione, o in beneficio di prossimi; e quando per casa ritrovava fratelli a ragionare insiemi, anco all'hore di sollevamento permesso dalla religione, esso soleva dire: "tempo perduto, tempo perduto."
[altogether. When he fasted, even in his decrepit age, he did not eat until evening, and took nothing at all in the morning. His sleep was of short duration, and always upon a sack of straw. He never lost time, spending it either in prayer or in the benefit of his neighbours; and when about the house he found brothers talking together, even at the hours of recreation permitted by the religious life, he used to say: "Time lost, time lost."]
Ogni matina diceva la prima messa e dopo attendeva o a confessare o a scrivere, he applies himself to prayer and to zeal for souls il che fece molto, e fece assai bone compositioni di diversi esercitij spirituali Prel. Comm. no. 7, above, p. 611.. Quando visitava infermi o persone afflitte ragionava sempre di cose fruttuose, ne si fermava molto tempo, e soleva dire alli fratelli: "Quando visitate queste persone, siate sempre breve perche si sete grati con il vostro ragionare, con magiore volunta sete ricevuto; e si sete ingrati meno disgusto date a chi ve ascolta." L'anno poi del 1584 e lo sequente fu eletto preposito de la casa di San Paolo, e anco di quella di Santi Apostoli, essendo state cosi unite queste due case. E sempre continuo il suo solito e consueto stile. right up to extreme old age.
[Every morning he said the first Mass, and afterwards he attended either to hearing confessions or to writing, which he did much, and he made a good many compositions of various spiritual exercises. When he visited the sick or afflicted persons he always spoke of fruitful things, nor did he stay long, and he used to say to the brothers: "When you visit these persons, always be brief, because if you are pleasing in your talk, you are received with the greater goodwill; and if you are displeasing, you give less annoyance to whoever is listening to you." Then in the year 1584 and the following one he was elected provost of the house of San Paolo, and also of that of Santi Apostoli, these two houses having been thus united. And he always continued his usual and accustomed manner.]
Et essendo gionto all 'anno 1608 e del eta sua ottanta sette, con magior spirito era piu sollecitato che mai, ancor che havesse perso molto il vigore della vita solita, essendo stato sempre in tutta la sua vita di gran fatiche, ma in questo ultimo, ancor che non poteva si violentava tanto, e dava da fare a qualsivoglia giovene. Il P. preposito Alessandro Gargano. per dubio che non li fosse succeduto qualche fastidio faceva dormire nell' istessa sua camera un fratello laico [Br. Giacomo Bellino. See his testimony in the Neapolitan process of the year 1614, fol. 50v ff.] et anco per servirlo in quello che esso non poteva; ne resto mai di levarsi la notte al piu tardo all' hora di matutino, e si diceva dieva cod. l'officio in camera, e dopo faceva buon pezzo de oratione mentale, e quando era l'alba lo suo compagno lo conduceva in sacrestia, e si vestiva per celebrare la santa Messa.
[And having reached the year 1608 and the eighty-seventh of his age, he was spurred on with greater spirit than ever, even though he had lost much of the vigour of his usual life, having always been, in the whole of his life, a man of great labours; but in this last year, even though he was not able, he forced himself so much that he gave work to any young man whatever. The Father provost, for fear that some mishap might befall him, had a lay brother sleep in his very room, and also to serve him in what he himself could not do; nor did he ever fail to rise in the night, at the latest at the hour of Matins, and he said the office in his room, and afterwards made a good stretch of mental prayer, and when it was dawn his companion led him into the sacristy, and he vested to celebrate holy Mass.]
[8] On the 10th of November 1608, E la matina 10 di novembre del istesso anno 1608, la vigilia del glorioso san Martino, svegliatosi piu per tempo del solito chiamo il compagno e vestitosi dimando al detto fratello si havea a fare cosa alcuna per servitio de la casa; et havendoli detto di si: "Andate, disse, et ogni mezz' hora venite da me si pure mi bisognasse qualche cosa." Il fratello cosi esequi, et essendo piu volte venuto, era dal Padre licentiato, ma con ordine che ritornasse conforme l'havea detto. E piu per tempo del solito volse calare in sacrestia per dir Messa mostrando haver gran fretta quella matina ancor che il compagno li dicesse che era troppo a bon hora, non per questo volse restare et vestitosi di paramenti sacri, while he begins Mass, prendendo il calice in mano se avio per andare all' altare ove soleva esso celebrare.
[And on the morning of the 10th of November of the same year 1608, the vigil of the glorious St. Martin, having woken earlier than usual, he called his companion, and having dressed he asked the said brother whether he had anything to do in the service of the house; and when he had told him yes, "Go," he said, "and every half hour come to me, in case I should need something." The brother did so, and having come several times, he was dismissed by the Father, but with the order that he return as he had said. And earlier than usual he wished to go down into the sacristy to say Mass, showing that he was in great haste that morning; and although his companion told him that it was too early, he would not on that account hold back, and having vested in the sacred vestments, taking the chalice in his hand he set off to go to the altar where he was accustomed to celebrate.]
Et avistosi il compagno che lui caminava con gran fatica, ansi che non si poteva ben regere, li disse: "Padre, voi non potete, vedete che non facciamo qualche disordine questa matina." Et esso li rispose: "Iddio ci aiutera." Gionto al altare, et accomodato il calice sopra il corporale, et aperto il messale, como e solito, incomincio: "Introibo ad altare Dei." Il compagno compagnio cod., che s'accorse che non si regeva, non rispose altramente, ma esso di novo replico: "Introibo ad altare Dei", et in haver proferito queste parole la seconda volta si lascio andare per cadere, ma il compagno che stava accorto lo tenne nelle sue braccia senza farlo cadere, struck by apoplexy, e chiamando aiuto, subito giunsi io, che mi ritrovai appresso la cappella, et altri, e lo levammo da l'altare, e lo portammo dentro senza che lui mai piu potesse parlare; si che quel principio di Messa foro l'ultime parole, che nella sua vita proferi.
[And his companion, having noticed that he walked with great difficulty, indeed that he could not hold himself up well, said to him: "Father, you are not able; see that we do not cause some mishap this morning." And he answered him: "God will help us." Having reached the altar, and set the chalice upon the corporal, and opened the missal, as is customary, he began: "I will go in to the altar of God." His companion, who perceived that he could not hold himself up, did not answer otherwise; but he repeated once more: "I will go in to the altar of God," and on having uttered these words the second time he let himself go so as to fall; but his companion, who was on the watch, held him in his arms without letting him fall, and calling for help; at once I came, who happened to be near the chapel, and others, and we lifted him from the altar and carried him inside, without his ever being able to speak again; so that that beginning of the Mass was the last words that he uttered in his life.]
[9] Fu dalli Padri portato alla sua camera e lo spogliorno; e lo colcorno sopra il suo pagliariccio, e lui mostrava non volerci stare, ma volersi levare, e per cio cacciava le gambe fuor del letto, si che a fatica si quetava per un poco, ma poi di novo ritornava a far l'istesso, in tanto che li dimandorno si volesse andar in chiesa; et esso che intendeva bensi, ma non poteva parlare, fece segni con il capo di si, e dimandato si volesse andar a comunicarsi, di novo con piu spessi segni dimostro, che per questo non volesse star in letto. Et essendo venuto in quella camera il P. Preposito li disse che l'hariano portato il Viatico in camera; with the holy Viaticum ma esso mostrava non volersi quetare, che voleva esser portato in chiesa. Ma il P. Preposito li disse: "Padre mio, ricordateve che sempre havete obedito il vostro superiore; obedite ancora insino alla morte; vi volemo comunicare equa." Et havendo cio inteso si queto subito, e si comunico per Viatico con molto affetto et segni di divotione.
[He was carried by the Fathers to his room, and they undressed him; and they laid him upon his straw pallet, and he showed that he did not wish to stay there but wished to get up, and for that reason he kept thrusting his legs out of the bed, so that with difficulty he quieted down for a little; but then he went back again to doing the same thing, so much so that they asked him whether he wished to go into the church; and he, who understood well enough but could not speak, made signs with his head that he did; and asked whether he wished to go to receive Communion, again with more frequent signs he showed that it was for this that he would not stay in bed. And the Father provost, having come into that room, told him that they would bring the Viaticum to him in his room; but he showed that he would not be quieted, for he wished to be carried into the church. But the Father provost said to him: "My Father, remember that you have always obeyed your superior; obey still, even unto death; we wish to give you Communion here." And having understood this he quieted down at once, and received Communion as Viaticum with much affection and signs of devotion.]
Et havendoli dimandato si voleva il sacramento del estrema Untione, and fortified with extreme unction, fece segno di volerlo, e nel istesso tempo li fu portata. Et ancor che esso non potesse parlare, gia sentiva quanto se li diceva, e conosceva bene ogni cosa, e percio mostrava molta devotione. E quando li volsero ungere la mano sinistra ci accorgemmo che il braccio sinistro e la gamba erano molto offese, in modo che l'apoplesia aplopesia cod. non solo l'havea tolto la favella, ma anco mezzo la vita sinistra. Resto molto consolato per havere ricevuti li soliti sacramenti, ma molto travagliato dal male; ma con molta patienza tollero il male di quella giornata.
[And when they had asked him whether he wished the sacrament of extreme unction, he made a sign that he wished it, and at the same time it was brought to him. And although he could not speak, he nevertheless heard all that was said to him and knew everything well, and therefore showed much devotion. And when they went to anoint his left hand, we noticed that the left arm and the leg were badly affected, so that the apoplexy had taken from him not only his speech but also half of his body, the left side. He remained much consoled at having received the customary sacraments, but much afflicted by the illness; yet with much patience he bore the illness of that day.]
he renders his soul to God most peacefully. E gionto alle ventidue hore e poco piu, con molta fretta fummo chiamati con il suono de la campanella, che mostrava voler morire di prossimo; e gionti molti di noi lo ritrovammo con un grandissimo affanno, e con difficolta di rispirare, et era deventato tutto nero como un moro in modo che tutti restammo attoniti, e mentre se li facevano le solite racommandationi dell' anima, e da noi altri si cantavano salmi fra mezz' hora incomincio a deventare bianco como neve, e bello fuor di modo, che tutti restammo con gran meraviglia, e poco dopo con molta quiete esalo quell' anima benedetta.
[And when it had come to the twenty-second hour and a little more, we were called in great haste by the sound of the little bell, since he was showing that he was about to die; and many of us having arrived, we found him in very great distress and with difficulty in breathing, and he had become all black like a Moor, so that we all remained astonished; and while the customary commendations of the soul were being made for him, and psalms were being sung by the rest of us, within half an hour he began to become white as snow, and beautiful beyond measure, so that we all remained in great wonder; and shortly afterwards, with much quiet, he breathed forth that blessed soul.]
[10] The funeral rites having been celebrated the next morning, La sequente matina, che fu il giorno di san Martino, di martedi lunedi cod., a manifest error. condussemo in chiesa il suo corpo, e si disse il solito officio di morti con la Messa sollenne; et ivi concorsero molte gente per la devotione massime di suoi confitenti, e nullo si poteva contenere dale lacrime. E si fecero le esequie in chiesa et anco sotto essa nel cimiterio, e fatta anco la benedictione de la sepultura dentro la terra cavata, e mentre si voleva ponere in quella il suo corpo involto con un lenzuolo, that the devotion of very many might be satisfied conforme solemo sepelire li nostri, Donna Isabella Gonsaga Principessa di Stingliano [Daughter of Vespasiano, duke of Sabbioneta, wife of Luigi Carafa della Marra, prince of Ostiliano (of Stigliano). You have a good many letters of St. Andrew to them published, Lettere, vol. II, passim. Their letters to Andrew are preserved in the Mus. S. Martini, cod. 389, Padiglione, p. 225; cf. p. 180. Both gave testimony in the Neapolitan process.] cara figliola del B. vecchio piangendo con infinite lacrime, et il principe suo marito pregorno il P. Preposito a non volerlo sepelire quella matina, ma indugiare insino alla sera; non solo questi signori ma anco molti Padri lo pregorno del istesso, in modo che si contento a non farlo sepelire all' hora, e contentatosi il P. Preposito si lascio dentro il cataletto come da la chiesa nel cimiterio era stato portato nel mezzo di esso, the body is not at once committed to the earth. e tutti noi ci partimmo. In tutta quella giornata ci fu infinita quantita di gente per la gran devotione che li haveano, e beato si teneva quello che a bagiarli le mani o li piedi potevano giongere.
[The following morning, which was the day of St. Martin, a Tuesday, we brought his body into the church, and the customary office of the dead was said with the solemn Mass; and many people flocked there out of devotion, above all his penitents, and no one could restrain himself from tears. And the funeral rites were performed in the church and also beneath it in the cemetery, and the blessing of the grave was also made within the dug earth; and while they were about to lay in it his body wrapped in a sheet, as we are accustomed to bury our own, Donna Isabella Gonzaga, Princess of Stigliano, a dear spiritual daughter of the blessed old man, weeping with endless tears, and the prince her husband begged the Father provost not to bury him that morning but to wait until evening; not only these noble persons but also many Fathers begged him for the same, so that he consented not to have him buried at that time; and the Father provost having consented, he was left inside the bier, just as he had been carried from the church into the cemetery, in the middle of it, and all of us departed. Throughout that whole day there was an endless number of people because of the great devotion they had for him, and that person counted himself blessed who could manage to kiss his hands or his feet.]
[11] In a coffin for receiving the body Parse bene alli Padri di far fare una cassa cascia cod. di tavole de le solite a farci per li corpi morti, e ponerlo dentro quella, giudicando fare male a sepelirlo dentro la nuda terra, e percio si fece una cassa molto grande. La sera a due hore di notte li Padri lo volsero sepelire e per la molta gente non si poteva attendere a farla discostare, pure venne la cassa, e preso il corpo dal cataletto non vi fu mezzo a potercelo fare entrare, it is found to be too short. non ostante che la detta cassa fusse molto piu grande del corpo. Et essendosi contrastato un bon pezzo in questo, fu presa risolutione a non sepelirlo ne anco quella sera, e mandata via tutta quella gente, si lascio in quel istesso luogo la notte [The testimony of Brother Domenico of Florence, who made that coffin, see in the process
[It seemed good to the Fathers to have a coffin made of planks, of the kind usually made for dead bodies, and to place him inside it, judging that it would be wrong to bury him in the bare earth; and therefore a very large coffin was made. In the evening, at two hours after nightfall, the Fathers wished to bury him, and because of the great crowd it was impossible to manage to make it draw back; still the coffin came, and when the body had been taken from the bier there was no means of making it go in, notwithstanding that the said coffin was much larger than the body. And after there had been a long struggle over this, the resolution was taken not to bury him that evening either; and all those people having been sent away, he was left in that same place for the night
archiepiscopal process of the year 1611, Mus. S. Martini, cod. 652, fol. 56v ff.]. E questa risolutione fu presa, che si vedeva quel corpo bello, e senza nullo male odore di putrefactione.
And this resolution was taken because that body was seen to be beautiful, and without any foul odour of putrefaction.[12] [His hair and little pieces of his very flesh having been torn away by indiscreet piety, living blood issues forth.] La sequente matina del mercordi martedi cod., a manifest error. li Padri si accorsero che la sera avante, con lo rumore e con la moltitudine de la gente, alcuni per devotione li haveano con forficine tagliato capelli dal suo capo et in alcuni luochi haveano anco tagliato con piccoli tagli la carne del capo, e da quelle tagliature ne uscivano goccie di sangue robicondo e bello con non poca meraviglia, como apunto si fusse stato di corpo vivo; e premendo la carne ne uscivano dell' altre. Venne in casa il solito medico Geronimo di Tomaso His testimony in the Neapolitan process of the year 1614, fols. 158–159v. per medicare altri infermi, et havendo inteso questo particulare dimostro esser cosa impossibile; e vuolse in ogni modo vedere quel corpo; e visto esser vero quanto li veniva referito, con una forficina l'intacco un poco poco su la fronte, Several physicians confirm the fact by experiment. da dove per alhora non ne usci sangue; e volendosi certificar meglio, o pure con arte, non essendoci chi celo dovea proibire, volendo havere una particella del suo corpo per devotione particulare, dal cranio sopra la testa ne taglio un pezzetto de la cute; e da quella ferita ne uscirno alcune lacrimette di sangue assai minute.
[The following morning, Wednesday, the Fathers noticed that the evening before, amid the noise and the multitude of people, some out of devotion had cut hair from his head with little scissors, and in some places had also cut the flesh of the head with small cuts, and from those cuts there issued drops of blood, ruddy and beautiful, to no small wonder, exactly as if it had been from a living body; and when the flesh was pressed, others issued from it. The regular physician, Geronimo di Tomaso, came to the house to treat other sick persons, and having heard of this particular he declared it to be an impossible thing; and he wished by all means to see that body; and having seen that what was reported to him was true, he nicked it ever so slightly on the forehead with a little pair of scissors, from where for the time being no blood came out; and wishing to make himself more certain, or else by design, since there was no one there to forbid it him, wishing to have a small particle of his body for his particular devotion, he cut a little piece of the skin from the cranium on top of the head; and from that wound there came forth some little tears of blood, very small.]
Referi io stesso tutto questo con il medico Giulio Azolino [Giulio Azzolino, otherwise Iasolino, a physician of some renown, professor in the University of Naples, wrote books on medicine. He died in the year 1620. C. Minieri Riccio, Memorie storiche degli scrittori nati nel regno di Napoli (Naples, 1844), p. 164. On the things narrated here by Valerio he gave testimony in the Neapolitan process of the year 1614, fols. 94–96.], il quale ne resto molto ammirato; e mi disse volerlo videre; e ci venne l'istesso giorno dopo pranzo, e secretamente calammo a bascio al cimiterio il P. Preposito, il detto medico con un suo prattico, un fratello laico, et io, et havendo visto quanto l'havea referito, e vidde le ferite fattali dall' altro medico, che mentre si premevano ne uscivano lacrimuccie di sangue rubicondo come rubini, con le forficine l'intacco un poco poco la orecchia destra da la parte superiore, e alhora ne usci una piccola goccia gioccia cod. di sangue del che ancor esso ne resto grandemente meravigliato.
[I myself reported all this to the physician Giulio Azolino, who was much amazed at it; and he told me he wished to see it; and he came there the same day after dinner, and we went down secretly to the cemetery below, the Father provost, the said physician with one of his assistants, a lay brother, and I; and having seen what I had reported to him, he also saw the wounds made by the other physician, from which, when they were pressed, there issued little tears of blood ruddy as rubies; with the little scissors he nicked the right ear ever so slightly on its upper part, and then there issued a small drop of blood, at which he too remained greatly astonished.]
E partiti tutti noi, fu serrato il cimiterio con chiave, como anco era stato per il passato, ne in quello ci calo nullo altro salvo che la sera a ventidue hore incirca, con l'occasione di alcune signore [Maria Gesualda, marchioness of Vico, and her daughter Isabella Caracciolo, duchess of Acquaro, who, moved by the novelty of the thing, had the matter set down in an authentic instrument. An apograph of that instrument, likewise authentic, we have seen in the Museo S. Martini, cod. 513–514, fols. 83–84. For the testimony of Isabella Caracciolo, then aged 53, see the Neapolitan process of the year 1614, fol. 296.] molto devote de la nostra religione, le quali desiderando di vederlo, ci calorno e con esse il P. Preposito, et altri Padri; e gionti al cataletto ritrovorno il lenzuolo e il cuscino tutti tinti di sangue, che da quel piccolo taglio che Azolino l'havea fatto all' orecchia gocciolava giocciolava cod.. Et essendosi preso un baciletto di vetro fu posto accomodato sotto l'orecchia per racogliere il sangue, che tutta via gocciolava, e in poche hore fu pieno quel scatellino, che non era molto grande; e ne fu preso un altro magiore accioche distillando tutta la notte si potesse conservare il sangue.
[And when all of us had left, the cemetery was locked with a key, as it had been in the past as well, nor did anyone else go down into it, except in the evening at about the twenty-second hour, on the occasion of certain ladies very devoted to our religious order, who, desiring to see him, went down there, and with them the Father provost and other Fathers; and on reaching the bier they found the sheet and the cushion all stained with blood, which was dripping from that small cut which Azolino had made in his ear. And a little glass basin having been taken, it was placed and fitted under the ear to collect the blood, which was still dripping, and in a few hours that little vessel, which was not very large, was full; and another larger one was taken, so that, as it dripped all night, the blood might be preserved.]
[13] The blood caught in a small vessel La notte all' hora del matutino de la sequente matina, che fu il giovedi, et il terzo giorno dopo la sua morte, andammo a vedere e ritrovammo che era scorso in quel altro bacilletto piu di due onze di sangue, e giudicammo esser necessario levar il corpo dal cimiterio per esser in luogo troppo publico, e sopravenendo il giorno li secolari havessero fatto rumore, e concorso di gente tanta, che non fusse stato possibile ritenerlo. E percio lo levammo a quel hora dal cimiterio como stava con l'istesso cataletto, e lo portammo in una stanza che era al piano de la chiesa e dietro la cappella di San Pietro e Paolo serrata a chiave, per dimostrare al popolo che gia l'havessemo sepelito.
[In the night, at the hour of Matins of the following morning, which was Thursday and the third day after his death, we went to look, and found that more than two ounces of blood had run into that other little basin; and we judged it necessary to remove the body from the cemetery, since it was in too public a place, and when day came on the lay people would have made a commotion and such a concourse of people that it would not have been possible to keep him. And therefore at that hour we removed him from the cemetery as he lay, with the same bier, and carried him into a room which was on the level of the church and behind the chapel of Saints Peter and Paul, locked with a key, so as to show the people that we had already buried him.]
Mentre lo portavamo ci avidimo che si stagno quella ferita, e fece una tenera crusta in modo che si fusse stata premuta sarebbe uscito piu sangue massime che tutta l'orecchia era devenuta nera per il molto sangue che ci era concorso, et era anco gonfia; ma niuno di noi ardi a toccarla, si che stillo sangue che ci era concorso, et era anco gonfia; ma niuno di noi ardi a toccarla, si che stillo sangue questa piccola ferita lo spatio di hore deceotto in circa, ne mai si stagno, salvo che nel portare che si fece dal cimiterio a questa stanza. E fu questo di molta meraviglia alli piu principali medici de la citta, si dell' uscita del sangue, si anche che in quelli giorni spirava un gran vento di tramontana, et il luogo sotto la chiesa da per se freddo haveria bastato a stagnare ogni gran ferita.
[While we were carrying him we noticed that that wound had stanched and had formed a tender crust, such that if it had been pressed more blood would have come out, especially since the whole ear had become black from the great quantity of blood that had flowed to it, and was also swollen; but none of us dared to touch it; so that this small wound dripped blood for the space of about eighteen hours, and never stanched except during the carrying that was made from the cemetery to this room. And this was a matter of much wonder to the most eminent physicians of the city, both on account of the flowing of the blood and also because in those days a great north wind was blowing, and the place beneath the church, cold of itself, would have sufficed to stanch any great wound.]
Fu anche da l'istessi giudicato di gran consideratione che un corpo morto di quatro giorni, e con le interiore, non solo non dava male odore, ne orrore, ma piutosto devotione; le braccia e le mani si piegavano con quella facilita che si farebbe a un corpo vivo, e li occhi intatti e luminosi, e di questo restorno magiormente ammirati li medici fisici e chirurgici. L'istessa sera ci avidimo che da la ferita che l'havea fatta il medico Geronimo di Tomaso il mercordi matino, ne uscivano molte lacrime di sangue e gia erano passato trenta hore che l'havea fatta.
[It was also judged by the same men a matter of great weight that a body four days dead, and with its entrails in it, not only gave off no foul odour nor horror, but rather devotion; the arms and the hands bent with the same ease as would be the case with a living body, and the eyes were intact and bright; and at this the physicians and surgeons were the more amazed. The same evening we noticed that from the wound which the physician Geronimo di Tomaso had made in him on Wednesday morning many tears of blood were issuing, and already thirty hours had passed since he had made it.]
Il giorno sequente, vennardi, li Padri hebbero infinite rechieste de persone di molte qualita che lo volsero vedere, e si ben si negava, non si poteva far cosi con tutti, fu presa risolutione di sepelirlo privatamente la sera a due hore di notte, e quando lo volsemo pigliare per calarlo al cimiterio ci accorsimo che da quella piccola ferita, che li fece nella fronte l'istesso Geronimo di Tomaso, ne era uscito tanto sangue, che havea rigato tutto il fronte e la testa, per esser stata inclinata, et havea fatto una notabile macchia al cuscino, in modo che da tutte tre le ferite che amorevolmente li furono fatte dopo morte ne usci copia di sangue. Et esso poco prima che morisse disse a un fratello queste formate parole: "Io mentre so stato vivo, fui ferito in tre luochi; e dopo morte ancora saro ferito in tre luochi." Il che e stato testificato da quel fratello con giuramento [The testimony of Br. Bernardino Graselli is read in the archiepiscopal process, 13 June 1611, Mus. S. Martini, cod. 652, fol. 55.]. Fu racolto parte del sangue, e si mise in una carrafina, la quale fu conservata dal P. Preposito.
[The following day, Friday, the Fathers had endless requests from persons of many ranks who wished to see him, and although it was refused, it could not be done so with everyone; the resolution was taken to bury him privately in the evening at two hours after nightfall; and when we went to take him up to carry him down to the cemetery, we noticed that from that small wound which the same Geronimo di Tomaso had made in his forehead so much blood had issued that it had streaked the whole forehead and the head, because the head had been inclined, and had made a notable stain on the cushion; so that from all three of the wounds lovingly made in him after death an abundance of blood issued. And he, shortly before he died, said to a brother these formal words: "While I have been alive I was wounded in three places; and after death too I shall be wounded in three places." This has been testified on oath by that brother. Part of the blood was collected and put into a little flask, which was kept by the Father provost.]
[14] on the eighth day after his death Il lunedi sequente a tardo, essendo a punto l'ottava del felice transito del nostro beato Padre, venne in casa il medico Pietro Vechione [Lecturer in the University of Naples. He too, in the year 1614, being then 48 years of age, confirmed the whole matter on his oath in the Neapolitan process (fol. 144v).] acompagnato da molti suoi prattici [Fabio d'Anso, Francesco Nola and six or eight others. The testimony of Pietro Vecchione, loc. cit.], e dimando di vedere il sangue. Et havendo presa la carrafina il P. Preposito la porto a farla vedere, ove anco eramo molti di noi altri; et havendo in mano la carrafina il detto medico disse subito: "Non vedete che bolle?" it was seen to boil. Et havendola mirata tutti noi conobimo bene che era vero, e che la soperficie del sangue stava pieno de impolle in modo che quando piegavamo alquanto la detta carrafina le impolle restavano attaccate al vetro di essa, e di novo se ne generavano delle altre. E si e mantenuto cosi liquido, robicondo, e bello ancor che siano passati molti anni. Fu sepelito la detta sera da pochi di noi altri, e fu messo dentro una cassa quadra fatta a posta con una serratura, e si fabrico in una tomba sopra terra rustica, e li dentro fu posta la cassa che fu di legno di castagne con il corpo dentro.
[The following Monday, late, it being exactly the octave of the happy passing of our blessed Father, the physician Pietro Vechione came to the house accompanied by many of his assistants, and asked to see the blood. And the Father provost, having taken the little flask, brought it to show it, where many of the rest of us were also present; and the said physician, having the little flask in his hand, said at once: "Do you not see that it is boiling?" And having looked at it, all of us recognised well that it was true, and that the surface of the blood was full of bubbles, so that when we tilted the said little flask somewhat the bubbles remained stuck to its glass, and others were formed anew. And it has remained thus liquid, ruddy and beautiful, although many years have passed. He was buried that same evening by a few of the rest of us, and was placed inside a square coffin made on purpose with a lock, and a tomb was built above ground of rough work, and inside it was placed the coffin, which was of chestnut wood, with the body inside.]
[15] In the year 1610, by the Provost General, the body is from the cemetery L'anno del 1610 ritrovandosi in Napoli per la visita il P. Don Giovan Antonio Angrisano [He made his profession in the year 1577; provost general in the year 1607; bishop of Sorrento in the year 1612; died in the year 1641. Vezzosi, op. cit., vol. I, p. 40.], Preposito Generale de la religione, volse in ogni modo vedere questo beato corpo, per la molta devotione, che li havea; et il primo d'ottobre di questo anno, transferred into the church. dui anni dopo che fu sepelito (como si e detto) nel cimiterio sotto la chiesa,
[In the year 1610, Fr. Don Giovan Antonio Angrisano, Provost General of the order, being in Naples for the visitation, wished by all means to see this blessed body, because of the great devotion he had for him; and on the first of October of this year, two years after he had been buried (as has been said) in the cemetery beneath the church,
discese esso e quattro altri di noi soli di notte secretamente et si sfabrico la tomba, et cavammo la cassa la quale fu aperta da me; et ancor che si ritrovasse il corpo alquanto sfatto e parte de la sua carne, e massime il ventre con le interiora, convertite in un liquore sodo e di color nero, e non havea niente di male odore, ne ci viddimo vermi, ne altri simili animali, e piu tosto havea un odore aromatico et non dispiacevole. Le veste erano marcite alquanto per causa del detto liquore. Lo levammo da quella cassa, che era fatta di tavole di castagne e percio anco gran causa di humidita perche furone molto verde e non secche. Et levatoli quelle veste cosi marcite e consumate, fu da noi stessi posto in un altra cassa piu asciutta e secca seccha cod. di legno di chiuppo; et per ordine del istesso P. Generale fu trasferito dal cimiterio alla chiesa et alla cappella ove esso soleva dir la Messa ogni giorno, et ove fu assalito dall' apoplesia aplopesia cod., ove fu fatto una fossa in terra, et ivi dentro ci fu posta la cassa con il suo corpo; e di sopra una lapide di marmo bianco a piano del pavimento de la cappella.
[he went down, with four others of us only, by night and secretly, and the tomb was unbuilt, and we took out the coffin, which was opened by me; and although the body was found somewhat decomposed, and part of its flesh, and especially the belly with the entrails, turned into a thick liquid of black colour, yet it had nothing of a foul odour, nor did we see worms there nor other such creatures; rather it had an aromatic and not unpleasant odour. The garments had rotted somewhat because of the said liquid. We took him out of that coffin, which was made of chestnut planks and therefore also a great cause of damp, because they were very green and not dry. And having removed from him those garments so rotted and wasted, he was placed by ourselves in another coffin, drier and more seasoned, of poplar wood; and by order of the same Father General he was transferred from the cemetery to the church, and to the chapel where he used to say Mass every day and where he was seized by the apoplexy; there a grave was made in the ground, and the coffin with his body was placed inside it; and above it a slab of white marble level with the pavement of the chapel.]
[16] To the painted image of Andrew Mentre questo benedetto Padre viveva, certe persone sue devote lo fecero ritrare da un valente pittore [Besides the image taken from the very corpse of the departed Andrew, Bagatta (op. cit., p. 121; cf. Bolvito, book I, chap. XXIX) relates that an image of him was also painted while he was alive, first at Piacenza, without Andrew's knowledge, at the procuring of Count Prospero Tedeschi; then at Naples, by order of his superiors, so that Ranuccio Farnese might be gratified. Giovanni Vincenzo Picicello and Ippolita Carafa testify in the Neapolitan process (Summary, fols. 150 and 150v) that they saw his image, even while Andrew was alive, in the house of Giovanni Battista Rota, in that of Giulio Caracciolo, duke of Celenza, and in that of Beatrice della Tofa.], e dopo la sua morte li Padri procurorno haverne una copia di quel ritratto, e lo posero dentro una cappella nel dormitorio, ove stavano anco li ritratti di quattro Padri nostri primi fundatori de la religione e di altri Padri vecchi e di degna memoria.
[While this blessed Father was living, certain persons devoted to him had his portrait made by an able painter, and after his death the Fathers contrived to obtain a copy of that portrait, and placed it inside a chapel in the dormitory, where there were also the portraits of four of our Fathers, the first founders of the order, and of other old Fathers of worthy memory.]
Il mese di agosto del anno 1609 venne in San Paolo il P. Fra Bernardo di Somma, Fr. Bernardo di Somma, O.F.M. frate di San Francesco di Minori dell' Osservanza, eccellente predicatore, e fratello carnale del nostro P. D. Ludovico di Tomaso e del sopra nominato Geronimo di Tomaso medico fisico, e disse a noi, como il primo giorno di questo mese d'agosto venendo egli in Napoli da Genova con le galere de la Signoria, a tre hore di notte nella spiaggia romana furono assaliti da una crudel tempesta la quale duro insino alle deceotto hore del giorno sequente, from the danger of shipwreck, e quando che nel magior pericolo stavano esso con molta devotione si racomando a questo benedetto Padre, invocandolo a intercedere per essi alla santissima Madre di Dio. freed by invoking Bl. Andrew, E fatto questo, evidentemente si vidde cessare la tempesta e tranquillare il mare, e percio esso porto una tabella per voto dicendo volerla ponere in ogni modo sotto il suo ritratto. has the first votive Non volsero acconsentirli li Padri, tablet hung up in the year 1609. ma esso con tante ragioni defendi la sua pia devotione, che alla fine lo sodisfecero per stare questa cappella non in publico, ma nel supremo dormitorio de la nostra casa, et in luogo ove ordinariamente li secolari non ci pratticano, e percio non era visto salvo che da noi altri. Fu questa la prima tabella, et il primo voto che fusse stato affisso alla sua effigie Cf. Cagiano, Successi maravigliosi, p. 15..
[In the month of August of the year 1609 there came to San Paolo Fr. Bernardo di Somma, a friar of St. Francis of the Minors of the Observance, an excellent preacher, and own brother of our Fr. Don Ludovico di Tomaso and of the above-named Geronimo di Tomaso, physician, and he told us how on the first day of this month of August, as he was coming to Naples from Genoa with the galleys of the Signoria, at three hours after nightfall, off the Roman shore, they were assailed by a cruel tempest which lasted until the eighteenth hour of the following day; and when they were in the greatest danger he with much devotion commended himself to this blessed Father, invoking him to intercede for them with the most holy Mother of God. And this done, the tempest was plainly seen to cease and the sea to grow calm; and therefore he brought a tablet as an ex-voto, saying that he wished by all means to place it under his portrait. The Fathers would not consent to him, but he defended his pious devotion with so many reasons that at last they satisfied him, since this chapel was not in public but in the topmost dormitory of our house, and in a place where lay people do not ordinarily go, and therefore it was not seen except by the rest of us. This was the first tablet and the first ex-voto that had been fixed to his likeness.]
[17] On the recurring anniversary of his death, Dimoro questo ritratto nella detta cappella insino all' anno 1612 corrected from 1611?, fra il qual tempo li fratelli per loro divotione ogni anniversario solevano ornare di paramenti quella cappella, ci accendevano la lampada, et anco candele all' altare ove sta una bella ancona de la Nativita di nostro Signore. E l'anno 1610 [I should believe this written in error for 1611; cf. Cagiano, pp. 22–23, and the instrument which we publish below, p. 622.] ci portorno sopra l'altare la carrafina del sangue sopradetta, the blood boils again. la quale si conservava dal P. Preposito [From May 1610 to May 1612 the provost of San Paolo was Fr. Marcello Sorgente. See his testimony in the Neapolitan process, fols. 102v–104v.]. E venuta l'hora che mori questo benedetto Padre, lo viddimo molti di noi bollire di novo como havea fatto quel altra volta con fare un giretto di spuma, e di questo ne fu fatta fede da molti di noi che lo viddimo sensatamente.
[This portrait remained in the said chapel until the year 1612, during which time the brothers out of their devotion were accustomed every anniversary to adorn that chapel with hangings, and they lit the lamp there, and also candles at the altar, where there is a beautiful altarpiece of the Nativity of our Lord. And in the year 1610 they brought onto the altar there the little flask of blood mentioned above, which was kept by the Father provost. And when the hour came at which this blessed Father died, many of us saw it boil again as it had done that other time, forming a little ring of foam; and attestation of this was made by many of us who saw it with our own senses.]
L'anno poi del 1612 essendo Preposito di questa casa di San Paolo il P. Don Andrea Pescara Castaldo [Younger brother of Giovanni Battista Castaldo, whose book on the Life of Bl. Andrew we have often cited; he made his religious profession at Naples in the year 1585, Andrew Avellino being provost. From the year 1615 to 1621 he governed the whole Congregation of Clerks Regular; he died in the year 1629. Vezzosi, vol. I, pp. 242–43.], As the devotion of the faithful grew, perche fra questo tempo ci erano stati portati molti altri voti cosi di tavole, como anco di argento, fece portare il detto ritratto in chiesa, in quella cappella ove stava sepolto esso Padre, et ivi lo fece apiccare con li voti como sopra stava; e fece cosi perche era assai il concorso de le gente che di continuo facevano orationi al suo sepolcro, et anco ci haveano portati molti voti, il giorno particulare del suo anniversario Cf. Cagiano, pp. 28–30., intanto che il sequente anno del 1613 furono costretti a far festa perche la citta e li eletti ci volsero venire solennemente e portare in dono al B. Andrea un calice di argento, et ogn' un di essi una torcia di cera bianca con l'effigie del Beato. E questo fu il primo anno che incomincio tal devotione la fidelissima citta di Napoli Cf. Cagiano, pp. 37–42..
[Then in the year 1612, Fr. Don Andrea Pescara Castaldo being provost of this house of San Paolo, because during this time many other ex-votos had been brought there, both of panels and also of silver, he had the said portrait carried into the church, into that chapel where the Father himself lay buried, and there he had it hung up with the ex-votos, as it had been above; and he did so because the concourse of the people who continually made prayers at his tomb was great, and they had also brought many ex-votos there on the particular day of his anniversary; so much so that the following year, 1613, they were obliged to hold a feast, because the city and the elected representatives wished to come there solemnly and bring as a gift to Bl. Andrew a silver chalice, and each one of them a torch of white wax with the likeness of the Blessed. And this was the first year in which the most faithful city of Naples began such a devotion.]
[18] certain envious persons contrive La quale devotione apporto gran molestia a persone emoli, ne mancorno di fare quanto fusse possibile per impedirla; et al ultimo fecero grandi manifatture che almeno donassero altra cosa, e non il calice; ma il tutto fu invano. Il sequente anno del 1614 sequito l'istessa festa, ma con assai magior concorso di gente, e con piu devotione Cf. ibid., pp. 46–50. e l'anno appresso del 1615, prima che venisse il giorno del anniversario e proprio a 15 d'ottobre Mons. that the apostolic Nuncio should order to be removed Diodato Gentile, vescovo di Caserta, e Nuntio in Napoli, venne in persona nella nostra chiesa di San Paolo, e fattosi chiamare il superiore, non essendo in casa il P. Preposito, li fece ordine da parte del Sommo Pontefice Paul V. che facesse levare il sopradetto quadro del Beato Andrea, the images of Andrew o vero che lo facesse coprire in modo che non si potesse scoprire e vedere dal popolo.
[This devotion brought great vexation to rival persons, nor did they fail to do whatever was possible to hinder it; and at last they made great contrivances so that the city might at least give some other thing, and not the chalice; but it was all in vain. The following year, 1614, the same feast followed, but with a much greater concourse of people and with more devotion; and the year after, 1615, before the day of the anniversary came, and precisely on the 15th of October, Mgr. Diodato Gentile, bishop of Caserta and Nuncio at Naples, came in person into our church of San Paolo, and having had the superior called, the Father provost not being at home, he gave him an order on behalf of the Supreme Pontiff that he should have the above-mentioned picture of Blessed Andrew removed, or else that he should have it covered in such a way that it could not be uncovered and seen by the people.]
Et accostatosi all' orecchia mia mi disse: "Ricordativi che havete emoli." Et io li sugiunsi sugunse cod.: "Nullo sa meglio la causa che V. S. Illma", volendo io intendere la causa di sor Giulia di Marco [Giulia de Marco, who, under a counterfeit show of sanctity, had enticed many into a lustful sect, had long been suspect to Andrew Avellino; after his death the Fathers of San Paolo vehemently accused her before the ecclesiastical judges, and drew upon themselves no little ill-will from it. They nevertheless won the case; for in the year 1614 the wretched woman, condemned by the sacred tribunal of the Inquisition, was compelled to a public retraction of her errors. Silos, Historiarum Clericorum Regularium, vol. II, pp. 336–39.] (de la quale si dira appresso). Ordino anco che si levasse il ritratto del B. Caetano che stava in un altra cappella, then those of Bl. Cajetan. e cerco con diligenza per la chiesa si ci erano ritratti d'altri Padri nostri; dal che si puo giudicare che le querele fatte in Roma erano state assai magiori de la verita, ma non ce ne ritrovo, perche mai ci erano stati altri di questi dui. Fece ancor ordine che si levasse l'epitaffio del B. Caetano che sta nel entrar la porta del nostro monistero perche oltra al "B." ci sta anco "miraculis clarus".
[And drawing close to my ear he said to me: "Remember that you have rivals." And I added to him: "No one knows the cause better than Your Most Illustrious Lordship," meaning the case of Sister Giulia di Marco (of whom more will be said later). He also ordered that the portrait of Bl. Cajetan, which was in another chapel, be removed, and he searched diligently through the church whether there were portraits there of other Fathers of ours; from which it can be judged that the complaints made in Rome had been much greater than the truth; but he found none there, because there had never been any others than these two. He further gave order that the epitaph of Bl. Cajetan, which is at the entrance of the door of our monastery, be removed, because besides the "B." there is also "renowned for miracles" on it.]
Si fece opera con il detto prelato che si contentasse a differire il levare l'epitaffio insino che s'avisasse al nostro P. Generale. E per quello che toccava al quadro del'uno e de l'altro l'haveriamo obedito prontamente; e fra una notte e un giorno si fece accomodare un' effigie grande di naturale in un quadro de una Madonna con altri santi e con il nostro beato ingenocchiato alla Vergine Maria che dimostrava intercedere; ma senza raggi, e senza inscrittione de beato, e fu posto questo quadro nel istesso luogo ove soleva stare il piccolo e questo compari assai megliore, e piu honorato per esser la sua figura tutta intiera, e molto piu bello, e il quadro have una nobile cornice indorata Cf. Cagiano, pp. 51–54.. Si fece fare anco un disegno
[Efforts were made with the said prelate that he would consent to defer the removal of the epitaph until our Father General should be informed. And as regards the picture of the one and of the other, we would obey him promptly; and within a night and a day a large life-size likeness was arranged in a picture of a Madonna with other saints, and with our blessed one kneeling to the Virgin Mary and showing that he was interceding; but without rays and without the inscription "blessed"; and this picture was placed in the same spot where the small one used to be, and this one appeared much better, and more honoured because his figure was entirely whole, and much more beautiful, and the picture has a noble gilded frame. A design was also had made
in carta di questo altro quadro, e lo mandammo al P. Generale, al quale si dono aviso di quanto era succeduto con Mons. Nuntio; et accio non havessero ritrovata nova calumnia con questo altro quadro, il P. Generale raguaglio il Papa che noi altri piu tosto rafrenavamo la devotione del popolo, che la sollecitassimo; e per questo mostro il Pontefice esser sodisfatto de la modestia de li Padri nostri, e disse molte parole amorevole al P. Generale.
[on paper of this other picture, and we sent it to the Father General, to whom notice was given of what had happened with Mgr. the Nuncio; and so that they might not find a new calumny with this other picture, the Father General informed the Pope that the rest of us were rather restraining the devotion of the people than stirring it up; and for this the Pontiff showed himself satisfied with the modesty of our Fathers, and spoke many kind words to the Father General.]
[19] But on the advice of the Holy Office L'ambasciadore de la Signoria di Venetia, e quello di Savoia, con li loro Cardinali aderenti andorno a dolersi con il Papa del ordine fatto alla nostra chiesa di San Paolo di Napoli, a levare l'effigie del B. Caetano Vicentino et a far anco ordine che si levi un epitaffio suo. Ordino il Pontefice che la Congregatione del Santo Officio considerasse le ragioni che apportavano per la beatitudine e per li miracoli del B. Caetano; e che lo referissero alla solita Congregatione avante a esso Pontefice. La Congregatione comise l'informatione al Cardinale Pietro Aldobrandino al quale si produssero scritture autentiche como per tutto lo stato di Signori Venetiani et anco fuora, per lo spatio di anni settanta, era stato in opinione comune di santita, et havea fatto molti miracoli.
[The ambassador of the Signoria of Venice, and that of Savoy, with the Cardinals who adhered to them, went to complain to the Pope of the order given to our church of San Paolo at Naples to remove the likeness of Bl. Cajetan of Vicenza, and also of the order given that an epitaph of his be removed. The Pontiff ordered that the Congregation of the Holy Office should consider the reasons they put forward for the blessedness and the miracles of Bl. Cajetan, and that they should report on it to the usual Congregation before the Pontiff himself. The Congregation committed the inquiry to Cardinal Pietro Aldobrandini, to whom authentic writings were produced showing how, throughout the whole state of the Venetian Lords and also outside it, for the space of seventy years, he had been held in the common opinion of sanctity and had worked many miracles.]
Fece la relatione il sudetto Cardinale in Congregatione avante al Papa, il quale quando intese che per lo spatio di settanta anni era stato sempre in questa opinione di santo, the supreme pontiff fece un gran ribuffo al secretario de la Congregatione dicendoli: "Chi te have ordinato mai che se impedischi la devotione di quelli che per cosi lungo tempo sono stati tenuti per beati? Si e detto per certi moderni, e di poco tempo morti"; e ordino che scrivesse al Nuntio in Napoli, ordered the image of Bl. Cajetan to be restored che abstineat Cf. Silos, vol. II, p. 360.. Et questa determinatione fu fatta in Congregatione avante al Papa (como si e detto) e fu mese di novembre del istesso anno 1615.
[The above-mentioned Cardinal made his report in the Congregation before the Pope, who, when he heard that for the space of seventy years he had always been held in this opinion of a saint, gave a great rebuke to the secretary of the Congregation, saying to him: "Who ever ordered you to hinder the devotion toward those who for so long a time have been held as blessed? It was said with regard to certain modern persons, dead only a short time"; and he ordered that he should write to the Nuncio at Naples that he abstain. And this determination was made in the Congregation before the Pope (as has been said), and it was in the month of November of the same year 1615.]
Et essendo stato dimandato al secretario del Santo Officio una fede di questa determinatione, disse non poterla fare per non esser solito a farsi tali fedi in questo sacro tribunale, ma si bene disse che in ogni tempo che per qualsivoglia persona per l'avenire vi fusse dato molestia in questo particulare li Padri habino ricorso al Santo Officio con racordarli che nel detto mese di novembre di questo anno fu dal Papa nella Congregatione determinato, como potranno vedere nel libro delle conclusioni d'essa Congregatione, assicurando che mai piu si havera fastidio di questo fatto. Onde si vede chiaramente che Iddio favorisce li suoi servi, poiche li Padri senza autorita di superiori haveano esposto il quadro con l'effigie del B. Caetano, e cosi anco li haveano fatto l'epitaffio, et essendosi fatta istanza da emoli (como disse Mons. Nuntio) quando fece l'ordine che si levasse l'uno e l'altro, hora hara cod. ci stanno per ordine del Sommo Pontefice, e mentre stimorno farci danno, ci fu fatto cosi gran utile; e cosi fa Iddio benedetto et altre tanto ci succedi al particulare del B. Andrea, como hora diremo.
[And when the secretary of the Holy Office had been asked for a certificate of this determination, he said that he could not make it, since it was not customary for such certificates to be made in this sacred tribunal; but he did indeed say that at any time when, in the future, trouble should be given by any person whatever in this particular, the Fathers should have recourse to the Holy Office, reminding it that in the said month of November of this year it was determined by the Pope in the Congregation, as they would be able to see in the book of the conclusions of that Congregation; assuring them that never again would there be trouble over this matter. Whence it is clearly seen that God favours his servants; for the Fathers, without the authority of superiors, had displayed the picture with the likeness of Bl. Cajetan, and had likewise made the epitaph for him; and petition having been made by rivals (as Mgr. the Nuncio said) when he gave the order that the one and the other be removed, now they stand there by order of the Supreme Pontiff; and while they thought to do us harm, so great a benefit was done us. And so does blessed God; and just as much befell us in the particular matter of Bl. Andrew, as we shall now relate.]
[20] and Andrew's anniversary day to be celebrated with the customary solemnity Non giudicorno li Padri far bene a impedire la devotione de la citta e del popolo per la festa del anniversario che questo anno si dovea fare, ancor che le manifatture fatte fussero state per impedire la festa e il concorso de la gente. Ma la cosa ando al roverso, perche ci concorse magior moltitudine di gente questo anno, che l'anni passati, e fu celebrata con magior devotione che mai, e ci venne tutta la nobilta de la citta, et anco senza nulla manifattura de li Padri alcune persone, li quali dissero haver ricevuto gratie da questo Beato, la vigilia e la sera stessa de la festa fecero luminarij in diverse parte de la citta, il che fu causa di rinovare le querele in Roma con imputare alli Padri che il tutto si faceva per loro manifatture. Il Pontefice rimise questo negotio alla Congregatione del Santo Officio, et il tutto fece per favorire la religione nostra.
[The Fathers did not judge it right to hinder the devotion of the city and of the people toward the feast of the anniversary which was to be held this year, even though the contrivances made had been aimed at hindering the feast and the concourse of the people. But the thing went the opposite way, for a greater multitude of people flocked there this year than in past years, and it was celebrated with greater devotion than ever, and all the nobility of the city came there; and also, without any contrivance on the part of the Fathers, certain persons who said they had received graces from this Blessed made illuminations in various parts of the city on the vigil and on the very evening of the feast, which was the cause of renewing the complaints in Rome, imputing to the Fathers that the whole thing was being done by their contrivance. The Pontiff referred this business to the Congregation of the Holy Office, and he did it all in order to favour our order.]
Se informorno dal P. Generale li Cardinali de la detta Congregatione tutti, e anco il Papa; et fattasi la Congregatione da Cardinali il giorno 19 di ottobre, il mercordi, et il sequente giovedi rifattasi avante al Papa conforme e il solito de la Congregatione, permitted. fu decretato che li Padri faccino la solita festa, e che si dichi la Messa sollenne del giorno corrente; che si facci la predica in lode del P. D. Andrea Avellino, e che non s'impedisca punto la devotione del popolo. Et essendo andato il nostro P. Generale a bagiar li piedi del Papa, e a renderli gratie infinite, con parole humanissime li disse che havea ordinato tutto questo con multo suo gusto, mostrando in questo particulare havere assai bona volunta, et l'istesso dissero anco molti Cardinali et il Cardinale Antonio Zapata disse al P. Generale: "Io fra poco tempo ho da esser in Napoli, e mi voglio ritrovare a questa festa."
[All the Cardinals of the said Congregation, and also the Pope, informed themselves from the Father General; and the Congregation having been held by the Cardinals on the 19th day of October, the Wednesday, and having been held again on the following Thursday before the Pope, according to the custom of the Congregation, it was decreed that the Fathers should hold the customary feast, and that the solemn Mass of the current day should be said; that the sermon should be preached in praise of Fr. Don Andrea Avellino; and that the devotion of the people should not be hindered in the least. And when our Father General had gone to kiss the Pope's feet and to render him infinite thanks, he told him with most kindly words that he had ordered all this with much pleasure of his own, showing in this particular a very good will; and many Cardinals said the same, and Cardinal Antonio Zapata said to the Father General: "In a short time I am to be in Naples, and I wish to be present at this feast."]
Et il Cardinale Garsia Mellino scrive al Cardinale Detio Carafa, arcivescovo di Napoli, una lettera avisandoli tutto il concluso et ordinato dal Pontefice in questa Congregatione sotto la data de li 21 d'ottobre del 1616, e questa lettera si conserva nel arcivo de la nostra casa di San Paolo di Napoli con altre scritture per questo istesso particulare Published in Cagiano, pp. 67–70.. E Iddio ha permesso che ci fussero stati fatti tanti mali officij, accio la festa ci facesse da hora innante con l'autorita apostolica.
[And Cardinal Garcia Millino writes to Cardinal Decio Carafa, archbishop of Naples, a letter informing him of all that was concluded and ordered by the Pontiff in this Congregation, under the date of the 21st of October 1616; and this letter is preserved in the archive of our house of San Paolo at Naples with other writings on this same particular. And God permitted so many ill offices to have been done us so that the feast might be held there from now on with apostolic authority.]
[21] [That this was carried out in this year 1616 with an incredible throng and devotion of the people.] E questo anno si fece con magior divotione e consolatione de la citta Cagiano, pp. 70–73., e ci fu un concorso grandissimo di gente ancor che fusse giorno feriale. Il sudetto Cardinale Zapata venne in chiesa dui giorni prima, e resto attonito de la moltitudine di voti, che hanno repieno quasi tutta quella parte de la chiesa ove sta sepelito il suo beato corpo. Il giorno stesso de la festa ci fu il Cardinale Carafa arcivescovo, et il Cardinale Sforza, e Mons. Nuntio del Papa e molti Prelati. Infiniti religiosi ci dissero Messe, e tutte persone eminente. Il concorso de la le cod. gente fu grandissimo insino alle due hore di notte, et essendoci venuto il Principe di Stigliano, il quale era stato suo confitente di molti anni, e vedendo il gran concorso e la molta devotione, disse a noi altri: "O, che mi ricordo; il B. Andrea mentre era vivo e lo volevamo in alcuno modo honorare, lui non voleva; e una volta mi disse: "Non mi honorate hora che son vivo, perche mi honorareti quando saro morto." Et ecco che e pur vero." E cosi testifico questo signore.
[And this year it was held with greater devotion and consolation of the city, and there was a very great concourse of people, even though it was a weekday. The above-mentioned Cardinal Zapata came to the church two days before, and was astonished at the multitude of ex-votos, which have filled almost the whole of that part of the church where his blessed body lies buried. On the very day of the feast there were present Cardinal Carafa the archbishop, and Cardinal Sforza, and Mgr. the Pope's Nuncio, and many Prelates. Countless religious said Masses there, and all of them eminent persons. The concourse of people was very great until two hours after nightfall; and the Prince of Stigliano, who had been his penitent for many years, having come there and seeing the great concourse and the great devotion, said to the rest of us: "Oh, what I remember! Bl. Andrew, while he was alive and we wished to honour him in any way, would not have it; and once he said to me: 'Do not honour me now that I am alive, because you will honour me when I am dead.' And behold, it is indeed true." And so this lord testified.]
In questo solo giorno ci furono offerti voti di argento piu di mille e cinque cento docati, oltre infinita cera, tabelle, et altri ornamenti d'altare, e per il suo sepolcro [After 4 1/2 lines struck through, there is announced: "Breve raguaglio delli Processi compilati in Napoli et in altre citta per la canonizatione del detto B. Andrea Avellino nostro." [A brief account of the Processes compiled in Naples and in other cities for the canonization of our said Bl. Andrea Avellino.] This heading is followed by 7 blank pages; then chapter 47 of the work, etc. But at the end of the whole codex three leaves are bound in which, repeating the same heading, contain, as I judge, a kind of first draft of this passage. We omit it as of little use.].
[On this one day there were offered ex-votos of silver worth more than one thousand five hundred ducats, besides endless wax, tablets and other ornaments of the altar, and for his tomb.]
II. TESTIMONIES TO THE MIRACLE OF THE BOILING BLOOD
Andrew Avellino, confessor, at Naples. (S.)
From the Neapolitan codex 691 of the Museo di San Martino, fols. 63 and 96. Cf. Prel. Comm. no. 9.
Si fa fede per noi infrascritti Chierici Regolari quali eramo di stansa in Napoli nella casa di S. Paolo, nell' anno 1611, qualmente a 10 di novembre del detto anno giorno dell' anniversario del Beato P. D. Andrea Avellino Chierico Regulare furno ad istanza delli fratelli studenti di detta casa esposte le carrafelle del sangue del detto Beato Padre, le quale se conservano dentro una cassetta sotto chiave del P. Preposito di detta casa il quale all' hora era il P. D. Marcello Sorgente Cf. above, p. 620, note 4. sopra la credensa posta nella cappella del corritoro, ove si conserva il ritratto di detto Beato Padre et d'altri nostri santi vecchij.
[Attestation is made by us the undersigned Clerks Regular, who were in residence at Naples in the house of San Paolo in the year 1611, that on the 10th of November of the said year, the day of the anniversary of the Blessed Fr. Don Andrea Avellino, Clerk Regular, at the instance of the student brothers of the said house, the little flasks of the blood of the said Blessed Father were displayed, which are kept inside a little box under the key of the Father provost of the said house, who at that time was Fr. Don Marcello Sorgente, upon the credence table set in the chapel of the corridor, where the portrait of the said Blessed Father and of others of our holy old men is kept.]
Et essendosi in detta cappella fatta longissima oratione fu osservato il detto sangue, il quale prima era duro, che in detto giorno comincio a liquefarsi in modo tale che la sera apparve quasi tutto liquido e di bellissimo colore et al rivoltare delli carrafellini si rivoltava et distillava; et l'istessa sera al tardi verso un hora di notte il detto sangue bulli et fe la schiuma tenendo il detto P. Preposito la carrafina nelle mani a vista di tutti noi; il che ci fu di grandissima consolatione et maraviglia. Et per esser la verita havemo fatta la presente sottoscritta da nostre proprie mani et sigillata del sigillo della religione. In Roma a di 21 di gennaro 1612.
[And a very long prayer having been made in the said chapel, the said blood was observed, which before had been hard, to begin on the said day to liquefy in such a way that in the evening it appeared almost entirely liquid and of a most beautiful colour, and on the turning of the little flasks it turned over and ran; and the same evening, late, toward one hour after nightfall, the said blood boiled and made foam, the said Father provost holding the little flask in his hands in the sight of all of us; which was to us of the greatest consolation and wonder. And because it is the truth we have made the present attestation, signed with our own hands and sealed with the seal of the order. At Rome, on the 21st day of January 1612.]
Io D. Luigi Surgente de Chci Regri fui presente
[I, Don Luigi Surgente, of the Clerks Regular, was present
et accetto quanto nella rescritta fede si contiene.
and accept what is contained in the above-written attestation.]
Io D. Benedetto Mandina de Chi Regri sono stato presente alla liquefattione et bollimento del sangue nel luogo et tempo che la fede racconta.
[I, Don Benedetto Mandina, of the Clerks Regular, was present at the liquefaction and boiling of the blood in the place and at the time that the attestation relates.]
Io Giovanni Fontana de Chri Regri fui presente et accetto quanto nella retroscritta fede si contiene.
[I, Giovanni Fontana, of the Clerks Regular, was present and accept what is contained in the attestation written overleaf.]
Io Felice Aquaviva de Chi Regi fui presente a quanto di sopra.
I, Felice Aquaviva, of the Clerks Regular, was present at what is above.Io Gio. Battista Caracciolo de C. R. affirmo ut supra.
I, Giovanni Battista Caracciolo, C.R., affirm as above.Io Andrea Capece de Chi Regri ho visto liquefare et bollire il sangue del Beato Andrea nel giorno et anno come di sopra.
[I, Andrea Capece, of the Clerks Regular, have seen the blood of Blessed Andrew liquefy and boil on the day and in the year as above.]
Io Gennaro Caracciolo de Chi Regri ho visto bollire et far schiuma al sangue ut supra.
I, Gennaro Caracciolo, of the Clerks Regular, have seen the blood boil and make foam, as above.Io Marco Antonio Sanseverino C. Regri ho visto la liquefassione et bullimento del sangue del Beato Andrea nel giorno et anno ut supra.
[I, Marco Antonio Sanseverino, C. Reg., have seen the liquefaction and boiling of the blood of Blessed Andrew on the day and in the year as above.]
Noi infrascritti Chierici Regolari per la presente facciamo fede a chiunque spettara vederla come nell' anno 1612 a di 10 novembre, giorno anniversario della morte del B. Andrea Avellino, ci trovammo presenti quando il sangue di detto Padre conservato in una carrafina di vetro fu posto nella cappella delle reliquie, et osservammo che di detto sangue poco ve n'era liquido et il resto tutto era duro e congelato. Et poi verso le ventidue hore avvertimmo che era piu liquefatto di prima, e cosi a poco a poco fino alle tre hore di notte vidimo che il sangue s'ando liquefacendo in maniera, che voltandosi sottosopra la carrafina il sangue correva tutto liquido, e lasciava il vetro netto affatto, eccetto che in una parte ve ne restava quanto un picciolo granello, a tempo che prima si vedeva attorno il vetro il detto sangue attaccato et indurito. Et in fede di cio habbiamo fatta la presente, e sottoscrittala di propria mano. In Napoli nella nostra casa di S. Paolo a di 8 marzo 1613.
[We the undersigned Clerks Regular by the present attest to whomever it shall concern to see it, that in the year 1612, on the 10th day of November, the anniversary day of the death of Bl. Andrea Avellino, we were present when the blood of the said Father, kept in a little glass flask, was placed in the chapel of the relics; and we observed that of the said blood little was liquid, and all the rest was hard and congealed. And then toward the twenty-second hour we noticed that it was more liquefied than before; and so, little by little, until three hours after nightfall, we saw that the blood went on liquefying in such a way that, when the little flask was turned upside down, the blood ran entirely liquid and left the glass wholly clean, except that in one part there remained about as much as a small grain, whereas before the said blood was seen stuck and hardened around the glass. And in witness of this we have made the present attestation and signed it with our own hand. At Naples, in our house of San Paolo, on the 8th day of March 1613.]
Io D. Benedetto Mandina de Chi Regri sono stato presente e veduto tutto il sopradetto, e di piu ho osservato il colore del sangue piu chiaro e vermiglio dell' ordinario, con alcune granelle come ampolle per modo di bullone.
[I, Don Benedetto Mandina, of the Clerks Regular, was present and saw all the above-said, and moreover I observed the colour of the blood brighter and more vermilion than usual, with some little grains like bubbles, in the manner of boiling.]
Io Gio. Anto Cagiano di Chier. Regi sono testimonio ut supra.
I, Giovanni Antonio Cagiano, of the Clerks Regular, am witness as above.Io Andrea Capece de Cherici Rri sono testimonio ut supra.
I, Andrea Capece, of the Clerks Regular, am witness as above.Io Francesco Albamonte de Chierici Regri sono testimonio ut supra.
I, Francesco Albamonte, of the Clerks Regular, am witness as above.Io D. Lorenzo Biffi osservai il sangue piu chiaro e piu vermiglio, et assai piu liquefatto di quello che due giorni avanti veduto l'havevo.
[I, Don Lorenzo Biffi, observed the blood brighter and more vermilion, and much more liquefied than I had seen it two days before.]
Tutti li soprascritti Padri e fratelli hanno fatto la soprascritta fede de mia licenza et firmato di propria mano, et in fede del vero ancor io ho firmato di mia mano. In San Paolo di Napoli a 8 di marzo 1613.
[All the above-written Fathers and brothers have made the above-written attestation with my leave and signed it with their own hand, and in witness of the truth I too have signed with my hand. At San Paolo of Naples, on the 8th of March 1613.]
Don Andrea Pescara Castaldo Prepo de Ch. Reg. in S. Paolo aff. ut supra.
Don Andrea Pescara Castaldo, Provost of the Clerks Regular at San Paolo, affirms as above.