ON ST. VENTURA, PRIEST AND MARTYR,
IN THE TERRITORY OF CITTÀ DI CASTELLO IN UMBRIA.
About 1250, as is reported.
SYLLOGE.
Ventura, priest and martyr in the territory of Città di Castello in Umbria (St.)
J. S.
Tifernum Tiberinum, so called for distinction from the other Tifernum called Metaurense, was by the ancients the name of that city of Umbria The place and the day on which the Saint is venerated: which today is everywhere called Civitas Castelli, commonly Civita or Citta di Castello. It is situated not far from the Apennine mountain in Cisapennine Umbria near the borders of Etruria, about two Italian miles from the Tiber, and is the head of the county of the same name. Among the other Saints of this city Jacobilli in the Lives of the Saints of Umbria, tome 2, page 220, recounts St. Ventura, priest, whom he asserts to be venerated in its territory on the first Sunday of September: but in the margin he notes the VII day of September, on which the first Sunday sometimes falls; and he says that he died or was slain on that day. About the mentioned day and place of the cult Angelo Conti, a Capuchin, agrees, who wrote an Italian Little Work about the Saints, Blessed, relics and bishops of Città di Castello, and treats of St. Ventura, priest, on page 75. But the praised Angelo is altogether silent about the day of his death, so that it is likely that the day of his death lay hidden, because the Saint's slaying did not at once become known; and that it was added by Jacobilli from conjecture. Yet we treat of the Saint on this day, because this can nowhere be done more conveniently or more suitably.
[2] The name of St. Ventura I find in no Calendars; but his cult is certain and undoubted from the praised writers. a few things about his deeds and death: Nor have I at hand any manuscript monuments about St. Ventura, and therefore I am compelled only to relate and weigh those things which Angelo the Capuchin narrated, and which Jacobilli afterwards added to him. Both agree that St. Ventura was a priest and rector of the church of St. Bartholomew, which was situated in a certain wood of the territory of Città di Castello, near the village of Centoia. Jacobilli adds that that church was about two miles distant from Tifernum. Then that Ventura was a man greatly kindled with zeal for the divine glory both write; and from that he thus narrates the cause of his death. A certain muleteer was cutting wood in the neighboring wood, and with rash daring was blaspheming God. When the Saint freely rebuked him, the muleteer, impatient of correction, struck his head with an axe, and so brought upon him a happy death: for both call him a Martyr, and not undeservedly, since he seems to have been slain for a just reproof proceeding from the love of God. Jacobilli fixes his death about the year 1250, on what foundation I do not know, perhaps from conjecture alone: for Angelo the Capuchin is silent about the time.
[3] The Saint's body was buried by the sacrilegious murderer under a huge heap of stones, and there remained for some time unknown, his body first buried under stones, but afterwards found, as the mentioned writers agree, who also subjoin its wonderful finding in nearly this manner. A certain dove began with its beak to strike and set in motion the bell of the church of St. Bartholomew, in the manner in which it is tolled for a dead person. The people running up at the prodigious sound, the same dove flew from the church to the said heap of stones, and thence returned to the church at repeated turns. Hence the people began to seek whether anything lay hid under those stones, and so found the body of St. Ventura, which was honorably buried in the church of St. Bartholomew. So the praised writers narrate the finding of the body, praising the ancient tradition of the people and the manuscripts of the church of Città di Castello. But since it is not clear to me how ancient those writings are, and since the tradition of the people not rarely mixes false things with true, I should not dare to assert that the mentioned prodigies about the dove are certain enough; but about the body found and buried in the church of St. Bartholomew there is not the same reason for doubting: for that burial is confirmed by what follows.
[4] and placed in the church of St. Bartholomew, which is now called St. Ventura's, Further, the body of St. Ventura was not only buried in the church of St. Bartholomew: but was also placed in a monument raised from the ground near the altar at the Gospel horn, and that it remained there down to his own times Angelo the Capuchin testifies, observing that the church too, the name of St. Bartholomew being changed, afterwards began to be called St. Ventura's; but he does not explain whether the body was placed in that raised monument soon after the finding, or rather was afterwards elevated and placed there. Jacobilli indeed narrates that St. Ventura's body was buried in that place as soon as it was found; but perhaps from conjecture alone, because he knew that the body was so placed there in his own time: but that could also have been done by an elevation made afterwards: yet about that I should not dare to determine anything, since I nowhere find that it was made. This can be said more certainly, that the Saint is venerated there on the first Sunday of September, and that on that day there is a great concourse of people to his church.
[5] he is a patron against hernia. But the patronage of St. Ventura is chiefly implored against hernia, from which evil his clients everywhere affirm that they are freed, say his biographers. The same relate that one of those who carried the Saint's body after its finding labored under a hernia, and was then freed from it, after he had commended himself to the Saint. Hence an ancient custom has arisen of carrying infants to the church of St. Ventura on his feast day, and of placing them upon the Saint's tomb, that they may be fortified beforehand by his patronage against hernia, or be freed from it, if they be affected with that evil. More about this Saint has not come to our knowledge.