Humilitas the Abbess
Acta Sanctorum, May 22
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https://actasanctorum.org/may/day-22/humilitas-the-abbess.html
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ON ST. HUMILITAS THE ABBESS

OF THE VALLOMBROSAN ORDER AT FLORENCE.

YEAR MCCCX.

PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY.

On her cult, office, feast; the Life's authors, the translation of the body and of the arm.

Humilitas, Abbess of the Order of Vallombrosa, of Florence in Etruria (B.)

BY THE AUTHOR D. P.

Before from Florence we departed in the year
MDCLXII, it pleased on XIII February to the suburban
of S. Salvi monastery to go out, drawing
us thither the celebrated fame of SS. Humilitas
and Margaret, of whom there both the acts and
the bodies to be had were said. [In the S. Salvi monastery the body entire] Arriving, received us the Most Reverend
D. Catherine Angela Passerini; and, since another
then at hand a Priest there was not, by whose work in showing
to us the most entire of S. Humilitas body she might use,
the very temple's and shrine's keys to me she gave: who thither
with P. Henschen having entered, after the adored duly at the altar
greater God, having taken the surplice and stole, I came
to the altar lateral, under which this was read inscription.
D.O.M. To the Virgin God-bearer, S. Humilitas, B. Margaret
the disciple, the Nuns of the Vallombrosan Congregation,
D. Clement Bonentius of Padua, of the same
Congregation a Monk, of this monastery the Prior,
P. In the year MDCXXIII. [upon an altar made in the year 1623] I opened then the door of the ark, between the altar
and above it overhanging to it a tablet so placed, that beyond
the wall indeed of the church inward not it projected, outward
indeed, on an equal with the very altar height it stood,
as if above another altar from the part of the monastery, in an inner chapel
and domestic of the Nuns, of whom some with the Abbess
there stood for honor's sake, and several about the ark
candles had kindled. The ark, beautiful and elegant, crystal
were the sides all, so that most clearly could be discerned within
placed the body, in its Order's habit most decently
composed; but with the mouth somewhat gaping, in which inserted something
of cotton, which they said often to be renewed, and to devout
friends to be distributed, very many graces by it being a means to be obtained professing;
equally as through linen roses, which to the life made
on the sacred body several were strewn, and with us also were
shared.

[2] Beneath that ark, below the altar, were said to be had
the bones of B. Margaret, [The feast with the Office of the common,] of whom we shall treat XXVI August: the rest
nearly alone S. Humilitas regarded, hung about
the altar's tablet anathemata several, also silver, as
a monument of the received from heaven benefits. Her also
feast with the Octave by them to be done XXII May testified the Nuns,
and to be done the Office and Mass of the common not of Virgins
(for she was by matrimony bound the Saint, when by
the consent of her husband, her example following, the Canonical
first of S. Mark Religion, the Monastic then of Vallombrosa
Rule she professed) but anciently a Mass proper
in use to have been they said with this Collect, also in the Office
to be recited, in the name, not of the Priest Officiating, but of the Convent
assisting; Almighty everlasting God, who
the remitted offenses beatitude to thee confessing attributest,
by B. Humilitas's prayers hear the vows of the present family
thine; and the broken of sin the sting, with spiritual
us exultation pour over: that we who hitherto as sheep
lost were, by thy Son's blood restored, in the fatherland
may glory: who with thee lives and reigns. [anciently proper:] There followed, for
the Epistle a Lesson of the book Ecclesiasticus from Chapter XXVI. A woman
sensible and silent, there is no exchange for a learned soul.
Grace upon grace a woman holy and modest:
but every weight is not worthy of a continent
soul. As the sun rising to the world in the highest of God, so
of a good woman the beauty for the ornament of her house:
a lamp shining upon a candelabrum holy, and
the beauty of the face upon a stable age: columns golden
upon bases silver, and feet firm upon the soles
of a stable woman. Foundations eternal upon a rock
solid, and the commandments of God in the heart of a holy woman.
There followed the Gospel from Matthew XIII. Like is
the kingdom of heaven to a grain of mustard: which all now to
the common rite are reduced.

[3] Further from the Life Italian, which published in the year MDCXXXII
the very Rev. P. D. Ignatius Guiducci of Florence, a Monk
Vallombrosan and Abbot of S. Christina; [begun soon from her death to be celebrated] it appeared
by a most ancient custom, and soon from the death of the Saint
and it in the next year MCCCXI following the elevation of the body,
begun to be celebrated the feast aforesaid. Since book 3 chapter 6
are alleged Indulgences, by several Prelates, after the manner of that
age, granted to those visiting the church of S. John the Evangelist by
S. Humilitas built, both on the greater festivities
and Sundays through the year, and especially on the natal of that very
Saint, through four Briefs at Avignon expedited in the year MCCCXVII,
the first indeed XXV March, the rest in the month of April,
of John Pope XXII the Pontificate in the year I, subscribing
Isnardus Patriarch of Antioch, Raimund of Adrianople,
Peter of Nazareth, [with indulgences in the year 1317 granted] and Bartholomew of Ragusa
Archbishops, the Bishops indeed Benedict
of Suacinum, William of Como, Gutter of Jaén,
Peter of Cittanova, Gottifredus of Brachilum,
Aegidius of Adria, Peter of Narni, Bartholomew
of Cerne, Ferdinand of Cordova, William of Tartary,
John of Nepi, Hugo of Piacenza, Cojordanus
of Avignon, Peter of Corbavia, Guido
of Asti, John of Tectehum, and Aimo of Arbe.
These however from the first Brief, by below to be praised Hippolytus
Cerbonius, with some diversity of names and titles,
thus are expressed page 21 Isnardus Patriarch of Antioch.
Raimund of Adrianople. Bartholomew of Ragusa.
Peter of Nazareth Archbishop. Peter
of Civitas-nova. Godofridus of Brachilum. Bartholomew
of Suacinum. Bartholom. of Cerne. William
of Como. Hugo of Piacenza. John of Avignon.
Peter of Corbavia. Bartholomew of Brachalum.
Peter of Navarino. Peter in the Dominion of the Tartars.
Gutter of Jaén. Aegidius of Adrianople Bishop.
There is extant also among the very Nuns a Psalter monastic, [and with proper hymns,]
according to the Order of Vallombrosa printed
at Florence in the year MDLXVI, by the care of D. Lactantius Medolacus
of Bergamo, by the mandate of the Most Reverend Father and Lord D.
Constantius Minuccius de Prato-vetere of the same Order General
in small octavo, as they call it, to which at the end are sewn
certain Offices to the very Order proper, and after
the hymns of S. Stephen the Protomartyr, are found hymns
two and three orations of S. Humilitas, below to be given by
us which whether sometime they were in public use we are ignorant.

[4] Nor to the Florentines only known this festivity is, but
also to the people of Faenza, among whom S. Humilitas born, married, and
veiled, [also by the people of Faenza it is done,] and then enclosed years twelve, and finally foundress
of the monastery of S. Mary in Malta was. And when this
monastery, to the city's walls neighboring, too exposed seemed
to the military insolence, then raging; interceding with
Alexander VI Duke Valentino Caesar Borgia, given license
it was the same with the church to transfer it into the place,
in which before had stood the monastery of S. Perpetua and that under the name
of S. Humilitas, [where her arm] who in the same place the first of Religion
years had done, according to a Brief given in the year MDI, on the day XII July,
of the Pontificate in the year VIIII. We had gone ourselves, in the year MDCLXXVII
in November from Faenza passing, to the monastery, wholly
with new work from the foundations built: in whose quite elegant
church we saw of that very Diva an Altar, with the light of a lamp perpetually
burning illustrated, and with many anathemata round adorned;
but those who us led, asserted in the monastery to be had
of that very Saint the arm. Of this thing mindful I wrote to the Rector
of the Faenza College R. P. James Castelli, of the author and
the time of the translation thither of the arm, and of the miracles there at
the Saint's invocation wrought, to learn something hoping: but
he wrote back, the Nuns of Faenza to excuse themselves, for that burning
once the monastery the old all writings were consumed:
nor now anything is found except that very holy,
which they venerate, Relic.

[5] [The Latin Life from a Notarial Ms.,] Since indeed in the preface to the Reader professed
the same Guiducci, followed by him a Life by a coeval written,
and from the original transcribed by Episcopal authority,
this very one among the Nuns of S. Salvi we sought, and
kindly exhibited in the sacristy I transcribed myself,
together with an authentication of this kind. In God's name. Amen.
There is found in a certain book or chronicle,
composed of the life and works of the venerable and religious and of holy memory woman, Sister Humilitas,
formerly Abbess of the monastery of S. John the Evangelist
near Florence, of the order of Vallombrosa (at
which monastery the very Humilitas her spirit sent forth
to the heavens, and her in the church of the said monastery body
was by the faithful of Christ most devoutly entombed)
being that very book in the church of the said monastery, the life,
the passing, and miracles, which the divine piety of that very Saint
by the merits showed; as word for word
the tenor, from that very book transumed, in order here
appears. Which book was collated with the present copy, transumed from that very book, by me Philip
the underwritten Notary transuming, together with
Benedict and Marsoppus the Notaries underwritten, in
the presence of the Reverend man, D. Matthew Abbot of the monastery
of S. Laurence de S. Severino, Vicar of the Ven. P. D.
Francis by the Grace of God Bishop of Florence, for the tribunal
sitting in the church of S. Salvator of Florence.
And because they were found mutually to agree, the same
D. Vicar to this copy his and of the Curia of the said D.
Bishop authority interposed and a decree; under
the years of the Lord's Incarnation MCCCXXXII, in the Indiction
XV, on the day IX of the month of September, of the Pontificate of S.P.D.
John Pope XXII in the year XVII, present as witnesses
Ser-James Ser-Miniati, and Ser-Peter Paganuccii,
Notaries of the Episcopal Curia of Florence, and others
very many. This therefore Life when we had transcribed, exhibited
also to us for a collation to be made were other books of parchment
two more ancient (as it seemed) in which of this kind
an authentication was not present.

[6] The author himself a Monk Vallombrosan seems to profess,
when Sisters Most Dear he calls them; nay also of that very Monastery
the Prior or Confessor, when thus he begins, [it is not of the same who wrote of B. Margaret.] Ye compel
me of S. Humilitas the life, of your mother and mine,
in various volumes by various variously written,
into one volume, the prolixity omitted, to reduce, and
also those things which from the very relation veridical I learned. Wherefore on no
verisimilitude rests the conjecture of Guiducci, suggesting
the same to seem to be able, who B. Margaret's Life or rather
Revelations wrote, John the Presbyter of Faenza.
For he of that very B. Margaret the nephew, as he goes
after those things which in Latin he wrote, professes himself in the beginning a Notary;
after other things indeed which he wrote in Italian, much more expressly
himself he names the Rector of the church of S. Anthony of Faenza
and by Imperial authority a Notary. Alleges
then the aforesaid Guiducci two other Lives, anciently
written, one in Italian, the other in Latin, in a certain book
of various Saints of Faenza (which book indeed
we would wish wholly transcribed to have) but the authors he names not;
nor anywhere in the margin, where diligently his he indicates
fonts, anything has hither making, unless perhaps at the book I. [Other of her authors.]
Chapter 1 alleging John Zaratinus Castellinus in
his Notabilia, and John Baptist Azzurinus
in the Life of S. Humilitas: and then book 3 chapter 1 after others
several, who of her with praise made mention, as are Raphael
Volaterranus book 21 of the Anthropology, Jerome
the Vallombrosan below to be referred, Philip Ferrarius
in the Catalogue of the Saints of Italy at this day,
Peter Ricordati in the Monastic History, Arnold
Wion in the Wood of Life, Eudoxius Locatelli after the Life
of S. John Gualbert, Lucas Castellini in the book
on the certitude of the glory of the Saints: after these, I say, all
he praises last the written of D. Hippolytus Cerbonius
Abbot Vallombrosan Discourse, of the life and miracles
of that very Saint. Is this Discourse printed in Italian
in the year 1624, and to it is subjoined a prolix Poem of the bloody
tears of Humilitas, while meditating Christ's Passion.

[7] We have those writers all, except the two first named.
But as in those whom we have, nothing greatly
found Guiducci by which his he might augment writing: [The Life Italian more prolix by the author Guiducci,] so
neither from others much he seems to have been able to have, which not
he had in the aforementioned Life, unless perhaps later certain
miracles, and few notices, which into the Annotata from him
we transfer: who in his whole first book and the greater also part
of the second other did nothing, than what in the briefest words the Life
absolves, with more prolix to extend, and with similar of other
Saints especially Vallombrosan examples, and
of the Scriptures sentences to illustrate. This indeed least of all by him to be done
would have been, if to preserving the various volumes,
in which soon from the death of the Saint inscribed her Acts by various
variously were, care had been bestowed fitting, and
of the greatest to us use now to be about to be. For it happened to this Author
ours, what he to himself to come testified, who wrote:
--- Brief to be I labor,
      Obscure I become. ---
To this obscurity, as far as can be done, will meet the Annotata
ours: [The Saint's own discourses, in Latin dictated.] afterward we shall treat of the virtues of that very Saint
from Guiducci, having used for this especially discourses dictated by the very Saint:
if however the places by him in Italian rendered, we can
in the original phrase have in Latin expressed. For in Latin
all things dictated the Saint, divinely taught, for the use of her
Nuns of the same tongue sufficiently skilled; and therefore also
in Latin are for the same written of their Holy Mothers'
Lives. But the very Guiducci, that to this age's ignorance
he might provide, by which many even religious men a lesser have
of that sacred tongue use, than before so few centuries
had everywhere holy Virgins, not only those
which I said texts, but also discourses some entire and prayer
formulas by the Saint dictated in Italian rendered; in
which even thus read so great appears of the heavenly spirit's sweetness
and affluence, that desirable it is those all faithfully transcribed
sometime to come into the hands of those, who either of the Holy Fathers'
Library to augment, or of works unedited Spicilegia
to collect are busy.

[8] What of the entrusted to us Sparta enough is, that we do: wherefore
that care to others leaving, to those only monuments to be dug out
we attend, which to the history sacred pertain, and
to such we subjoin of things also afterward done the notice
from everywhere received: [The translation of the body from the place of S. John the Evangelist to S. Salvi's,] Thus from book 3 of Guiducci we shall take
and into Latin render, whatever he has of the Translation
of the body of S. Humilitas to the church and monastery of S.
Salvi, which before of men had been, and the head of a most pernicious
schism in the Order; and then indeed to regular observance
reduced, but four only Monks with
the nuns, on the occasion of building a citadel from their old monastery
excluded, and no certain seat at Florence having,
as done in the year MDXXIV. This indeed Translation,
of which among the passed over we treated V May, followed several
miracles, which similarly in Italian by Guiducci described
to Latinity we shall give. First however it pleases from Jerome
the Vallombrosan abovepraised Ms. little book to Lawrence
Medici, on the Vallombrosan Religion's Blessed,
to give the elogium of S. Humilitas, with which he before years more
than a hundred twenty his that little book closed, also
at XX May in two of the same Order Blessed, Orlando
and Albert, praised. It of this kind is, after the elogium
of B. Bertha the Abbess, published by us XXIV March.

[9] There was also another, a Nun of Faenza, whose name
Humilitas: [Elogium from Jerome the Vallombrosan.] to her no less was familiarity with
S. John the Evangelist, and is read once with the Virgin
glorious Mary to S. Bernard of Clairvaux to have been: of
which most holy John when often she meditated, very often
in dreams or through a vision to her to appear he deigned.
Hence easily to anyone can be clear, how great both of mind
and of body was in her purity; since to him familiar
she was, who while he lived besides the mother of Jesus Mary
in that virtue before the rest flourished. She therefore when
the monastery of Nuns, which de Malta is called
(for it is distant not much from the city of Faenza) with
Nuns certain most holy she inhabited, and of God
almighty the worship to herself now more grateful and perpetual
into her mind had induced, sparing of food, of tongue modest, chaste,
quiet, opportune, and with patience incredible endowed,
of all toward herself the favor and charity, by which very much
she herself overflowed, transferring, through a vision by S. John
the Evangelist, the city of Florence to approach is admonished;
there a place for her of a monastery to be built to be. Which
thing to the other Nuns relating, soon into sadness and
tears turned to exhort, that the commands of Jesus, and of D. Benedict
the institutes, and of the Father John, in God's service and
honor to keep and to augment diligently and chastely with zeal
and labor they should care. [where how she passed from Faenza to Florence,] Thence certain seniors a little
of the way with tears having followed, and a charity's kiss
to and fro given; at length they to the monastery, she
indeed with two to Florence hastened: and there not
only her mind, but her foot fixed; and by a well living
norm and by best of life institutes, very soon to religious
of every kind and to peoples pleasing and acceptable made
she was. And when with many she abounded miracles, and by the prayers
also of John the Evangelist most holy to a lifeless
corpse life she had restored, of her to be seen for the sake from everywhere
a concourse is made. At last in a short while
a temple wonderful at Florence, outside the gate which
of Faenza is called, in S. John the Evangelist's honor
was dedicated, and to it of Nuns a house added: in
which that to God pleasing Humilitas an ample and to God pleasing
family, by her best admonitions and examples, to the Lord
Jesus and his Evangelist educated; always with
her own that very Lord Jesus in Psalms praising and
hymns and canticles spiritual. At last loosed from the bonds
of the body thither hastened, where with Jesus and his Apostle
and the other Saints in perpetual and happy age
she enjoys. Thus far Jerome, from another verisimilarly more ancient
compendium of the Life, in which of her marriage and husband
nothing written was read; whence it happened him to err
in the title, and a Virgin to call her, and her virginity
more expressly to commend, than to the Queen of virgins and her
adoptive Virgin John so familiar to have been he understood:
but that lest it should offend, a word one or another at the beginning I have changed.

THE LIFE

By the Author a Monk of her Order and a familiar.

From a Notarial transcript of the year 1332.

Humilitas, Abbess of the Order of Vallombrosa, of Florence in Etruria (B.)

BHL Number: 4045

FROM THE MS.

PROLOGUE.

[1] Ye compel me, Sisters most dear, [Prolixly by others written and to himself known in few to write proposes the author.] S. Humilitas's
life, of your Mother and mine, in various volumes
by various variously written, into one volume
the prolixity omitted to reduce; and also what from
the very relation veridical I learned to put; since me, as ye assert,
the same setting forth many ye believe to know, which her
set forth veridically the sanctity. But me, although to obey
you withdrew the life's defect, the smallness of intellect,
the temporal conflict, and of its detractors the bleating;
yet compelled the of your sanctity affection, by which (as ye know)
we are bound intimately of your coming from the first.
Take therefore avidly: imitate a mother so
holy. Take collected by your prayers, what
anxious charity of you in all things subject under certain chapters
lucidly transmits; and if anything of her imitation
rough should appear, of the age I pray behold the brevity,
of the body the vileness, of death the necessity, of the heavenly
fatherland the amenity, of Christ the roughness, and all things
for certain by the facility prevenient sweetness will distill.

CHAPTER I.

Her first adolescence, marriage, religious Life, the transit to the Vallombrosan Order.

[2] Rosanensis, from the sacred Religion's baptism called
Humilitas, in the province of Romandiola in the city
of Faenza of a much noble born stock, of her father
namely Elimons, [b] and her mother Richilda [c], from the very of infancy years to divine intent on services, to prayers
continual, and to alms great giving herself, to the Lord continually
she commended herself; [From childhood given to piety,] after Christ wholly herself
submitting to the Christ-bearer, whom from then in all her
deeds she set and by setting took as chief with all
her efforts as patroness. And that in the hall of so great a King
and so great a Queen to her with easy effort might lie open the access,
B. John the Evangelist her there as procurator
she instituted, to obtain whatever she would with him going before
not fearing with him, who gave and consequently
with her who received, at the cross by weeping
most bitterly, into a mother sweetly and a foster-child. Rosanensis
therefore having spurned, fair very in aspect, sweet in address,
in the composition of her manners incredibly gracious in the relation
of all, [against vanity of dress,] while on a day with adornment most light, because
of most rich parents the only one, after the manner of her country herself she showed;
suddenly to herself she returned, into a chamber she entered, to prayer
herself she gave, what she felt she kept silent, except that all vanity
laid aside herself wholly ineffably she transformed.
Which her parents considering, cruelly grieved;
and from of her life's disposition as to the of adornments
laying down, [to alms she attends,] the of base things assuming, and of contemporaries
visiting, all hope, which from of her exaltation
in the world they had had, they lost; and only,
lest secretly she should enter a monastery, they attended.

[3] She began meanwhile whatever she could secretly and publicly
to the poor to disburse: the chamber-maids wearied very much
this to her parents to announce. Which they themselves to know
dissembled, [a monastery in vain she seeks,] and that to them she should obey to her wish in all things
enjoined. To some Abbesses of her affection
of a monastery she disclosed; each consented, but how
to be extracted from her parents' custody she could none discerns, for that
the assent divine providence not yet gave.
When Frederick the Emperor Faenza [d] after a long
siege had obtained, and into the city entered
he was, an uncle [e] of him, having heard of this beauty's
fame, [she refuses to marry a Prince man.] with a blind love is taken: messengers several he directs,
none her sees. Who when himself thus to be able nothing
he discerns, to her parents at last as a wife the young man her
asks. That she Christ wished, no other, asked
the girl answered: which the young man perceiving, with an intolerable
labor himself above lifts, to inquire her further
he leaves, and that there be no such girl in this life publicly
announced. And although these things she herself perceived, not less
however about her custody, until the aforesaid was present
at Faenza, she watched.

[4] Elimons also her begetter, a short time
elapsed, from this age wicked with an end good is snatched: and
Rosanensis to Ugolottus [f] a noble man of the city of Faenza
in matrimony is joined. Which for a nine-year-period in delights great
passing, of life's change to preach she ceases not:
but a derisory thing he reckoning, [To a citizen of Faenza married, in the year after the ninth,] that he would not do in
perpetuity to himself he said. She indeed on continuous days for a great
time to prayer gave herself, and what he denies from
God she asks; and into a grave infirmity, while by right he persisted,
the most dear man quickly fell. Hither thither physicians are called,
by all is judged him it behoves chastely to live:
but if not, into a languor fetid and incurable
him quickly about to fall, and in a short time by a death most cruel
about to die. Began he himself chastely thenceforth to live
to say, and his kinsmen and his wife's,
that her they should induce to this, lest he perish, to ask.
Which when Rosanensis perceived, to God hearing her praises
devout she gave, and thenceforth as with a brother as long as
he lived and faithfully she dwelt. The aforesaid indeed husband of her,
before he her left, several from her sons and
[g] daughters begot.

[5] Considering the prudent Lady that her she could
desire to fulfill; [together with him she becomes a Religious.] she began him on the pretext of health
bodily incessantly to encourage, and to religion's
entrance with all her strength to animate. To whom he, with much
grief and weeping cruel demonstrating assented: among
the Sisters of the Monastery of S. Perpetua [h] near Faenza
holily living under a rule, given to him all things which
she had, to enter he permitted; and he himself among the external Brothers
of the same place humbly entered. Then to Rosanensis
the name is changed, and that she be called thenceforth Sister
Humilitas is published. The twenty-fourth year
Rosanensis had completed, while these things she does: and from that very
day her once spouse her with bodily eye never
saw. Suddenly she began into a woman another to be transformed,
all the base things of the monastery with her hands to work,
and by religion so to be formed, that not from the world, but
that from the desert she came to none was doubt: of silence,
of prayer, of solitude, of obedience toward the sound equally and
the infirm, of abstinence and of arduous other works
to them beholding now an example.

[6] On a day the Sisters, since she was unlettered, her
called, and that she should read at the second table, as is the custom
of the Nuns, jokingly as I esteem enjoined. [unskilled in letters she wonderfully reads,] She
indeed her head bent, and that she might obey the book took: which
to the place fit coming she opened, with this voice beginning,
Despise not the works of God, for all are true and just
they are: upon which so arduous things, with eyes to heaven always
raised, she said, that the whole Convent running
to the spectacle and admiration wonderful she excited:
and when to her the sign of termination made was, by saying,
But thou, as it befitted, by the Holy Spirit taught
most excellently she terminated. What moreover she read, no one ever
in the aforesaid codex before or after at all found: and
from then the Convent, given to her a teacher, herself the letters,
which also she learned, to learn procured.

[7] While at a certain time with a canker a certain grievously
in the kidneys she was hurt, holding (as she esteemed) because
a physician she would not, a healer deputed by the Abbess;
lest by the stench be burdened the Convent, to prayer herself
she gave: from which rising forthwith healed she was. [and more wonderfully is cured of the canker.] And then
the Sister, who to her by the Abbess as a healer given was,
after the wonted manner to cure her wishing, her thus healed
found, as if no there a hurt ever had been: of which
very much wondering, the cause from her she sought: which faithfully
taken, the whole deed in order with devotion
the greatest to the Sisters she published.

[8] Began Sister Humilitas, the rest omitted, to prayer
to give herself; which that fully she could, with all her strength the desert
to seek, although on account of the strict custody by human
help [that to attain] in every way she despaired. Which
affection while longer she had stood in, of contemplation divine
on a day herself she gave: what she felt, she kept silent, except that from
the monastery herself on the Sabbath day next about to go out she foretold,
and what she demanded herself infallibly about to have to the whole
Convent she disclosed. Which considering the height of the walls,
of the gate and of the Brothers of it and external custody,
fantastical to be as it were said esteeming, [desirous of solitude she is led out by an Angel,] of her
words as of impossible things took no heed. Supervening
indeed the night aforesaid, a voice a certain sounded:
Sister Humilitas, rise: and me follow, it said.
About to obey, to the bed of a certain Sister very poor
first she came, her tunic worn almost wholly
she took, the better which she had to her she left;
and with her hand a Psalter holding, with the sign of the Cross herself
fortifying, upon the wall in an instant placed she was.
While indeed thus she was, and of the descent anxiously thought;
some one her invisibly, as before, snatched, and upon
the wall the aforesaid book left, the gates being firm, by the keys
of the Brothers, them in her presence opened; and forth outside
the whole place unharmed her sweetly placed.
To a certain [i] river there situated she came, upon
which as if passing with dry feet she walked. [the river crossed,]
Suddenly to herself she returned: where she was, as from
sleep awaking, she saw; and to God thanks rendered to the place of the Sisters of the Order
she hastened.

[9] To the place indeed already aforesaid Sister Humilitas
when she came, all into admiration the Sisters
she induced; and on account of her beauty of the peril of straying,
among others the Abbess, [she betakes herself to the monastery of the Poor Clares,] very much doubted.
Yet nothing the Abbess showing, together with her Convent,
kindly very much her she received, and with herself quickly
brought in. Who when of her intention they heard,
with edification great edified, and of the exit of so
strait a custody not a little wondering; for a certain
Soldier [l] Nicholas by name, a strict of her kinsman,
because with her to be she would not, they sent; and into his
hands her, with many devout poured tears, they sent back.
He indeed sweetly the cause heard her home
led, [thence into the house of a kinsman,] and into a certain beautiful chamber, with
himself holding the key, with necessaries magnificently furnished
brought in. There the time which she was upon the bare pavement
she lay; and with most strait silence, with continual
prayers giving herself, besides bread and water for food
other nothing she took.

[10] A Religious a certain of S. Apollinaris [m] of the city
of Faenza, to whom on account of a horrible infirmity a foot
was to be amputated, [who causes a cell to be built for her near the church of S. Apollinaris:] by the skilled counsel, having heard her fame
thither to be carried himself made, and to her himself humbly commended.
She indeed with piety moved, his foot with the sign
of the Cross touched. Who forthwith cured, to his own the deed
publishing with his feet most glad returned.
Which Lord Nicholas aforesaid attending, delay
all set aside, to her petitions to her a cell (at the Parish-priest's
I think instance) near his church to be made procured.
Near the church of S. Apollinaris in the city already
said that cell they built, small very, with
a little window into the church corresponding, by which she could see
and receive of the Holy Mother Church the Sacraments;
and also another outside, whence she might receive alms,
and freely satisfy those approaching, as she asked.
For the entrance a day is fixed; [into which by the Abbot of Crispino brought,] the whole city thither runs together,
and that the Saint they may see by all is acclaimed.
The Abbot de Crispino, to whom is subject the place, thither proceeded:
of the sacred Religion, received her obedience, to her the habit
gave: to succor in necessaries for herself and a handmaid to her
promised: that Christ poor she might follow poor,
thanks rendered, all things she refused: and signed with the sign
of the Cross, behind the oratory a certain [n] plank for
lying for herself to be given she asked. Nor other she had as long as
she lived there, nor with herself by any chance to be brought in suffered.

[11] Years twelve in the cell aforesaid she stood, with bread
only and water, [a most harsh life she leads for 12 years,] decocted herbs bitter within on the solemnities,
always she used: and to so great abstinence
she came, that on any day with three ounces of bread her
little body she sustained: nor with herself, all the time
which she was in the cell, in a double refreshment, or of foods
use, otherwise than as said, by any chance dispensed
[o]. Her body upon the bare with horsehair, or the hide
of a swine, with the bristles cut turned to the flesh, always in every case,
manner, and time clothed she stood, with a cowl most vile,
no interposed skins or any garments.

She used sometimes in place of a hair-shirt a garment woolen
most rough, when by some chance it became fitting: wearied
indeed upon her knees, upon the aforesaid plank herself she placed;
to the wall, weighed with sleep, her head she put psalming,
thus sleep she took, or by thinking something of
divine things.

[12] On a day a weasel a certain with a little bell
[p] at its neck into the cell entered: as given as a companion
divinely dearly she takes it: [she enjoys the weasel's company:] while she gave herself to prayer at her
feet itself it places: of the meats to it given studiously as long as
she was in the cell, it tasted not: nor with other food ever
except, with which the holy Mother to whom divinely given as a companion
it was, by its estimation in the little cell to use it saw.
A time great thus passed, when certain Ladies
in cells, near her Lady's cell, to be it beheld;
upon the window it ascended, its Lady as if
deriding it beheld, the little bell there it laid down, and as if
bidding farewell never it appeared [q]. Her husband therefore,
her absence to bear not being able; all things which with
her he had given to the monastery dearly [r] dismissed, license of being associated
with her instantly asked. Which obtained, [the husband also to the Vallombrosans passes.] in the aforesaid
monastery of S. Apollinaris, to the yoke of holy obedience himself
he bound, and after the Prelate, his once spouse as a Superior
he took: always her Lady he called, and although
never her he saw (as is said) her admonitions
in no case ever he omitted: who living for three years,
with a holy end this life laborious sweetly
terminated [s].

ANNOTATIONS.















p. Pelteolum, soon below Sonalium, commonly Sonaglio from sounding, is called a Tintinnabulum orbicular, a Nola. Of the prior name what may be the etymon not easily I shall say, I suspect it to be a diminutive from the Teutonic Bel, a nola.

q. Guiducci says, that when thence about to depart the Saint was, it leaped down from the window, and by which it had come going away nowhere any more was seen: by which seems to be signified to have been, another to her company thenceforth to be had.

r. Care, that is, willingly, from charity.

s. Adds Guiducci with changed name the said Dom Lewis, and as a witness alleges a little tablet of Greek form, by Cimabue, as they say, painted, which his is said to bear effigy, in the old habit Vallombrosan with a diadem, and has superwritten saint Lewis: whom also his Confessor was wont to say, after S. Francis, a little before, that is in the year 1226, to those above translated, none more humble than him to himself to have been known. To have died moreover to me it seems about the year 1256, before to the saint was added her second Angel: of which she in Sermon 4 thus speaks: This Angel by God to me was given after thirty years of my age, while I entered into the thoughts of a greater seriousness: for when to me given to be guarded sheep were truly, I had not a rod nor the power of its strength. What now moreover these sheep, or these flocks? whether those which to her now a Recluse through some vision the Lord showed, premonishing that of several the rule she to be set over sometime was? So I esteem, unless thou wilt that already then of Faenza some women began by her in spirit to be instructed, from whom then about the year 1266 coalesced the monastery, of which soon.

CHAPTER II.

Monasteries near Faenza and Florence she builds and rules as Abbess: with miracles also after death illustrious.

[13] Began [a] Bishops, Abbots, and other Clerics
religious [to ask] her, that she would construct
a monastery [b] in the city; among whom was the Rev. Man
D. Plebanus, [c] Abbot Major of the Order of Vallombrosa.
To whom solidly believing, from the cell she went out: near Faenza,
in a place which Malta is called, in honor of the God-bearer [d]
under the rule of B. Benedict a monastery she constructed; [Having founded the Maltese monastery near Faenza,] in
which (under the aforesaid Father's obedience living and the Rule
aforesaid) of the same Father's and his successors'
hands herself and the place, perpetually she subjected. Began
the fame of her sanctity hither thither to run: of magnates
very many to her dominion their daughters and kinswomen to deliver,
whom to keep the Rule already said to the letter she taught;
although she herself of the life, which she had held in the cell,
by any chance nothing changed. On a day when a certain
sister she had received, and notably that less well
the office of Superiorship in a certain monastery she had had
she had attended, her basely sinning she found; and
what is worse, secretly rebuked often by her, to amendment
to attend she cared not. [A delinquent Sister she chastises and corrects,] Which the mother attending,
publicly in the Chapter her she rebuked, and by the discreet ones'
counsel as resisting impudently to prison
she committed: who also of foods anything to take utterly
refused. For several days while in such a state she had remained,
to the prison the Abbess proceeded, her arms crossed her knees
she bends, that to her health she would attend her sweetly she besought.
Then she at her feet herself prostrated;
and her crime confessed, penance voluntarily did;
and thenceforth holily living, that well she had been
rebuked, to all she disclosed.

[14] On a day a Sister a certain of hers, grievously
infirm, after the wonted manner she visited: a sin such
naming between herself and her secretly, [others to integrally confessing by their sins revealed she induces:] which for shame
to none ever she had confessed, she disclosed; and that
she should confess sweetly she animated; and let her know for certain that
on the feria VI next coming, and at the sixth hour, she is from this
age about to go out; and of that very sin with others to God an account
about to render, she announced. From which she confused into
herself returned, before the standing-by Convent that true it was
publicly said, and to the Priest confessed with many tears,
at the hour of the day aforesaid the heavenly penetrated. To a certain her
Chaplain, going on a morning a certain to celebrate, to meet
she went; and as if dissembling, whither he tended she asked.
To whom whither he was going answering, secretly very devoutly
she said, Confess first, my Son, such a sin which
thou hast committed: and then securely to approach fear not.
Then he confused with many shameful tears
first in order all things, which only God to know
he believed, to her said; and diligently confessed, thenceforth
such he committed not.

[15] When a little fish a certain to her had been offered, to the cellaress
she enjoined that to be prepared she would cause: and from it to the whole
Convent in the morning she would give. She indeed considering, that
scarcely for two and ill it would suffice, diligently with peppered
liquid prepared it, and to the Abbess alone upon the table
set it. Which she considering, before the whole Convent
the dish angry took, and on the pavement
with the fish threw. Wonderful to be said? not so sweetly
placed on the table, as cast down it was: for as if it were
nailed and wooden it persisted, thus on the ground brought
the whole Convent saw. Then the server from the ground [the disobedient by a miracle she rebukes,]
raised it, and of it, as before she had ordered, to the Sisters all
ministered. On a day suddenly to a certain of the Sisters,
while was the holy Mother at Faenza, to flow into
a basin blood so from her nostrils began, that of all despaired of a remedy of health by the physicians' report, to the end
last, [a sick woman she heals,] as to all was clear, she drew near.
Which when the pious nurse perceived, the highest physician
sweetly after her custom calling, upon her the sign of the Cross
she put, and forthwith her strength resumed most fully
cured she was. When on account of the abundance of snows after the manner of the country
of the houses threatened a ruin, [the snow she scatters,] nor could for themselves
in any way provide, her the Brothers external and
the convent approach, and that for themselves and theirs she would provide in
such tribulation humbly ask. Then she, having comforted
them, to prayer herself gave: and suddenly driven away the variety
of weather, a sun warm very appeared, and the snows destroyed
all that variety rested.

[16] [wearied divinely a horse she receives,] When to Rome for certain arduous affairs on foot she went,
and on a rougher way for weariness
altogether she failed; some one with a horse most gentle
appeared, upon it her placed, and even to the lodging
sweetly with her talking led: where she set down
bidding farewell, [and bread for her suitable.] who he was hither even said not,
or how he withdrew from the companions as well Ladies
as Brothers no one saw. While indeed in the aforesaid place
the companions ate, and she of bread so rough to take
nothing could; that all should eat commanding, from
the table she rose, and into the way until they should eat
solitary much to prayer herself gave (for to her the custom
was, that as often as at any time to a place some
she descended, forthwith upon her knees lying
to prayer she gave herself, until to others to attend it behoved)
suddenly some one appeared, bread most white
to her gave, and that from it she should be refreshed kindly commanded
and departed. To whom while gladly she obeyed, the Brothers
and Sisters who had eaten were present, [two Recluses she consoles,] and wondering
very much, the matter heard, giving to God praises, the journey which
to go they had begun completed. While indeed in the aforesaid journey
to the cell of two Recluses she had descended,
soon as her they saw, to cry they began, This is the Lady,
who to us in sleep appeared, and how in the way
of God we ought to go us instructed. Whence to be lodged
with them they compelled, and from her, as in a vision they had seen, a great
of the night part most devoutly they received. On a night,
while in her monastery at the Matutinal she was present, [the thirst of a sick Sister she relieves.]
suddenly a sign she made, and that to her wine should be carried and
water with gentleness she commanded. Which brought, into
the infirmary to a certain infirm woman grievously she sent;
and who by thirst weighed to sleep could not, to God and the Mother
holy thanks rendered the drink took, and then
sweetly rested.

[17] Although to her B. John the Evangelist several times had appeared,
and his to be built place had enjoined; [Bidden at Florence to build the monastery of S. John the Evangelist.] on a certain
night to her he appeared, and that not at Venice as she had disposed,
but that she should do it at Florence, commanded; promising that
of that which at Faenza she had done, and what at Florence
she was about to do, the care he would bear spiritual, and on the journey
of the ways the perils she would pass, fully of peril without
a mark. Then with the sign of the Cross herself fortifying, certain Sisters
she called secretly: the deed to them disclosed; and nothing from
the monastery taking, to the Prioress [f] the Convent commended;
and with those whom [g] she had named with bare feet,
amid of wars perils, with all her society
unharmed, the Evangelist going before she hastened. When
long to have B. the Evangelist John's relics she had desired,
nor whence she could by any chance have she esteemed,
she came to Florence going to the parish [h] of Otto: where
she is received by the Parish-priest and Clerics gratefully; [his Relics on the way she receives,] and if she would
to see his Relics, to her he says he to show desiringly.
Who gladly the promise receiving, with reverence
the greatest beholds. By which moved the Parish-priest already
said, a certain little case with the manna of the Evangelist John
which he found, with his Relics to her freely [i]
gave: which with inestimable joy to Florence
she carried, and in due time in his honor of wondrous beauty
a church she fabricated.

[18] By the Florentine therefore Prelates and subjects, religious
and lay, joyfully she is received; and a lodging hired,
outside the city in the square of S. Ambrose, [and after a two-year period she enters new buildings.] honorably
she is placed: where having seen her sanctity, in so great veneration
she is held, that as a Saint inestimably she is published.
While thus at Florence a two-year period as it were she had stood,
the place where now is [the monastery] by the Florentines [k] is bought:
to which she forthwith, with some Ladies
noble of the city of Florence, and those whom with herself
from Faenza she had led, as she could quickly herself she enclosed; and under
the Rule which she had assumed, as it sounds, simply to God
to serve as a soldier she instructed them.

[19] While on a day, as to act she was wont, in the bed
of the river [l] Munio, near the place of theirs situated, pebbles
for the place's building she collected and upon a little ass
placed, [a dead man she resuscitates.] and home it leading led;
to two women, the son of a certain Florentine carrying
and grievously weeping, meeting and with piety
moved, the cause of so great mourning sweetly she inquired. To
whom while they said, on the pretext of infirmity prolonged
by the command of his very parents to them to have led, and so
on the way to have died; many words omitted, at her feet
they prostrate themselves, and that to them she would resuscitate the aforesaid boy
with sobs the greatest her they ask. Then the of kindness
mother in her arms him takes, before the altar of B. John
the Evangelist, then being in a certain little house
near the way, upon a footstool [m] him she placed, and
devoutly before the standing-by to prayer herself gave. By which wearied
longer she rises, the son takes, [to a certain man imminent death she foretells,] and unharmed to them gave; commanding her own that as long as she lived to none they should say,
and that to collecting the stones quickly with her they should go.
A Noble a certain Soldier de Rubeis of the city of Florence,
of the people of S. Felicitas, by name Bernard, on a day
her visited; and himself, although a secular, very
devoutly to her prayers commended. Whom she kindly
receiving, that to his soul he should attend persuaded,
that on the Thursday day next coming from this age he was
about to go out, and before God of his account of acts to render.
He therefore, although sound and most illustrious he was,
these things heard was terrified; and to his own returning, on the day aforesaid
(as he set forth) expired.

[19] The Mother therefore holy, once in aspect most beautiful,
in the way of God and of the world most prudent, of penance by the path
from day to day more avid, in calling sinners
sweet-flowing, in corrections as it was expedient wine pouring
and oil most sagacious, of all manners in the composition
most adorned, in charity most perfect, of her age
(if I mistake not) in the year [n] eightieth or beyond, into a great
languor on the day of B. Lucy [o] came: in which from
the fervor of penance to be done (which always even by a nod,
while she could not speak, she showed) all standing by
to serving the Most High incredibly she kindled.
On the day therefore twenty-second of May MCCCX, [she herself dies in the year 1310:] on the feria
VI, at the hour about VI, before her standing-by holy college,
weeping sharply and equally psalming, the heavenly she penetrated.
On the day indeed Sunday, in the church which in honor of S.
John the Evangelist she had built, near her altar
on the left [p] side, with honor the greatest of Prelates secular
and religious, and of Clerics others, before
a people's multitude copious, with devotion wonderful buried
she was.

[20] Began meanwhile the stone [q] superplaced on the tomb
to emit oil apparently. Which another [r] of the Sisters
attending, lest it should be an illusion, [and the sepulcher sweating oil,] began to wipe often often
and prudently. Which while something divine to be she beheld,
as it was, she said to all approaching. Made the wiping
all by experience truly it appeared, and on that account of her
translation to the Florentines indeed care it gave. From the side
right of the altar in the same church a solemn altar [s] by the devotion
of the faithful is erected, on which on the day VI June MCCCXI,
present the Venerable Fathers and Lords, Antony
[t] Bishop of Florence, Rogerius Abbot of Vallombrosa,
Azzo Abbot of Florence, Gratia of Septimum
[u] Abbot, and with other many Prelates and
subjects Religious and secular, [the body is raised in the year 1311,] and also various
Clerics, and of the Florentine People an admirable multitude,
the body from the place, where it was entombed upon the bare
earth, entire is extracted; to the people to be seen, until
are celebrated the Masses' solemnities, it is granted:
which finished, adorned wonderfully, into the place for her
made (as we said) with honor great, as it befitted, it is buried.

[21] The Rev. man D. Albert, Abbot de [x] Razzolo,
with a grave of a foot languor detained, himself to her with devotion the greatest
commended: [there are wrought miracles.] and that to him health she would restore, humbly
he besought. The prayer indeed scarcely finished, most well
freed he was; and this [a witness] of her translation being,
publicly he announced. A woman a certain, fifteen
as it were years of her eyes' light deprived, the place of the Saint
visiting, of her things avidly asked: a certain Sister a little jar
[y] a certain, on the Saint's table superplaced long
before her, to her gave: which to her eyes most devoutly
putting, suddenly cured most well, to her country
she cared. To a certain Sister of that very Monastery grievously languishing
D. by name, on a certain morning neither fully waking nor
well sleeping, she appeared; and that from her bed she should rise
and into the church should go, about to hear the second Mass as
she herself did, she commanded, and equally departed. To whom quickly
she obeying from her bed rose, and to hear the Mass
sound and cheerful, many to God and her holy Mother rendering
thanks, hastened. A young girl a certain of the same
place a Sister, by name Frances [z], while in extremities
she labored, suddenly, standing-by the whole holy Convent her,
Wait for me, Wait for me, to cry began. Who
while by the standing-by, what it was, asked was; the holy
Mother Abbess by nods to be she said: and so
made very clear, to her whom she had called suddenly flew away.

[22] If beyond what ye wished, Sisters holy, your
I have neglected petitions to obey, grant I pray pardon
to one erring, [The author's Epilogue.] although can none to one awaiting quickly
to succor: by a certain confidence however myself I drew back to
several things, the treatise less I rendered to single things. Your
I have known prudence not to be hidden, and to so arduous a work
to be able to follow up (as I said) you me to discern not endowed.
By your, I pray, prayers may I be able, her of
whom I wrote, although improvidently, with Christ in
the fatherland to see again; who rejoices perfectly in him, whom while
in religion long she lived, as at present weeping
most abundantly, by nails on the cross she saw always dead,
and afterward by a lance most cruelly for our crimes
pierced. And who this reads; I beseech, let it not be irksome
by correcting to revise, where he beholds what is written
in anything corrupt: for grateful it will be in so holy

ANNOTATIONS.















p. The altar greater to have been writes Guiducci, which was in the middle of the church.

q. This stone to have been carved the same says.

r. Perhaps the handmaid of the Sisters, for writes the same author, that the Sisters from above from the Choir looking down it first noted, and sent the handmaid serving them in the church, that she should wipe the stone; who when then the same often of her own accord she had done, again that this she should do admonished, with indignation she answered, that they should attend to their prayers, nor God's works scrutinize more curiously; nonetheless the same handmaid often resumed the care of wiping the stone, the matter silently considering, until also the church's minister a Cleric it noted, and to the Abbess indicated: who before she gave faith to the words, another of greater with herself faith person delegated to explore the truth of the miracle, then indeed ordered the stone with a carpet to be strewn for reverence's cause. A few days after came thither from the monastery of the Vallombrosans of S. Pancras of Florence a Monk, the miracle by himself about to know. Who the stone to be wet beholding, raised his eyes, doubting lest from above perhaps moisture had slipped down. To him indeed assisting the handmaid aforesaid, offered the linen drawn from her head, and ordered him to wipe the stone; which he did, and again saw bursting forth of oil most pure drops, and what he had seen returned to his own with stupor narrated. Finally when matrons some of Florence thither had come, and the carpet removed the same had noted; several by their relation they moved, that they themselves the matter prodigious and of spiritual solace full to behold should wish.

s. Upon this altar, says Guiducci, in an elegant tablet and well adorned was represented she herself, and the picture surrounded little tablets fourteen, certain chief of her works referring: which indeed picture in that altar stood, as long as there were the Monks, that is for years 240. Now in S. Salvi devoutly is kept. But it is wont, says the same book 1 chapter 26, to be painted with a little skin lambskin above the veil: because such she was wont to wear when she was at Florence Abbess, and the same little skin still in honor is had.

t. Antony Ursus, Bishop of Florence, from the year 1309 to 1321.

u. Septimum, an Abbey of the Order Cistercian, of the diocese of Siena.

x. Razzolum, an Abbey of the Order Vallombrosan, under the name of S. Paul, among the Apennine ridges.

y. This little jar even to the present day among the Monks in S. Salvi venerably is kept, says Guiducci.

z. The same suggests the name, by its sole first letter written.

CHAPTER III.

A supplement of the miracles in her life and after
her death wrought.

[23] On a day while in the monastery aforesaid is not
found except a single bread, and the hour of refreshing
now passed; the venerable Abbess addressed
the Cellaress, [With a single bread the whole convent she refreshes.] saying; Why do the Sisters not eat? But
she, Because this bread a sufficiency is not had: except
indeed one only bread, no other we find. The Abbess
indeed, confiding in the omnipotence of her creator,
who from nothing all things founded and created, who also
is all in all; soon as she heard these things, ordered
the table after the wonted manner to be prepared, and the single bread
forthwith to be brought. Taking moreover it the Abbess,
her eyes raised to heaven said; The Lord who fed
five thousand men of five barley loaves,
thee may multiply: and the Cross's sign made
she broke it, saying to the Cellaress, that to each of those reclining
his fragment she should set, and the Lord will multiply
it in their mouth. The Cellaress moreover these things hearing
and firmly believing, to each one one conferred. The Sisters
indeed, who thirteen were, ate to the full in
the greatest joy, and there remained more fragments
than those which set aside had been.

[24] At a certain time while on the lips of the Abbess a certain
tumor had arisen, so that it permitted not
her to eat; the Nuns said, Lady,
it behoves to be sent for a physician that freed thou mayest be. [she is healed miraculously,] The Abbess
indeed, herself unwilling answering, said: His medicine
I wish, who me freed from the canker. The following indeed day
freed she was. At another also time, when the army
of the people of Bologna was at the city of Faenza, the Abbess
foretold to the Nuns, that the people of Bologna on the day
following ought to come, and to enter the monastery, and
to plunder the sheep and oxen and all things which to them should please:
and therefore she enjoined them, that all things well they should lay up,
lest they could be lost. On the day therefore which the Abbess
had foretold, the people of Bologna went to the monastery, [she foretells the plundering of the monastery,]
taking away all things which were in the monastery,
except the garments of the Nuns which continually
they used. Them indeed, for the reverence of the Venerable
Abbess, in no wise harming, they returned to their camp.

[25] It happened at another time, that the Abbess by divine
revelation foresaw a dearth to come in the year
next future; and she called the Cellaress, asking
her of the other crops which she had, [and the dearth of provisions] from grain
even to spelt: and enjoined her not to dare of the said
crops to give to the animals, but all to preserve
thenceforth even to the year coming. And when
this the Cellaress to the other Sisters had announced,
they said to one another: Believed perhaps our Lady
us from so great abundance, in which we are, into want
to come: far be this from us. But approaching
the time with dearth the greatest and famine, the grain
or other corn, which the Abbess had caused to be preserved,
so profited the monastery, that nothing of the dearth
they felt, but in that time large alms
they made. [b] Which the Nuns seeing, the Lord they praised,
whom with the Abbess truly to dwell they saw.

[26] A certain Lady the world leaving, entered
the monastery aforesaid with all her goods
her. And when after some time she had confessed
to a Priest, the Abbess called her, [she reveals a sin by one ill confessed concealed.] asking whether
well she had confessed. But she, Indeed Lady. And the Abbess,
Not to me so it seems, because I see thee troubled
a face to have. Then she, A certain sin I have,
which never to anyone I dared to confess. The Abbess
said to her, Never canst thou be saved, unless thou confess
the sin, which by stealth thou hidest. She moreover considering
of her crime the enormity, said herself to have not dared
to anyone to confess. Then the Abbess, Wilt thou it confess
to a Priest, if with my own mouth I shall say it to him? Then she,
knowing her crime to all to be hidden and to no one
open, said to her; How can ye know those things which
never to anyone I have confessed? The Abbess answered:
Well I know, well I know. But she consenting, said that she should do
whatever she would. Calling moreover the Priest
the Abbess, said to him the sin of her Sister, which to no one
ever she had confessed. And when the Priest this
to the Sister announced, she was astonished much, and for too great fear
confessed to him the sin. The Priest moreover absolved
her, praising God of the sanctity of the Venerable
Abbess.

[27] While in the summer time of the month of August, the Abbess
a fever continual suffered, and nothing other
than ice asked, and they said that the time of ice
then was not present; the Abbess said, [ice to be found she causes in summer,] that to
the well they should go. Who when to the well on a certain morning
had gone, in the bucket congealed water in the manner of a [c] cutting-board they found; and taking the ice, they brought it
to the Abbess, all together being astonished.

[28] A custom this was of the Abbess, that when she saw
against God anyone mortally to sin, immediately with face troubled
she looked at the sinner; and her color lost as if
half-alive she became. Once while Christ's passion, [with bloody tears she weeps Christ's passion,]
which always in her breast she bore, bitterly she bewept;
with a little cloth, which for the too great tears with herself she carried,
after the wonted manner she began to wipe her eyes. On which looking,
she saw the tears into blood wholly to be
converted. And when this she had seen, for the too great humility
she hid the little cloth, lest it should be seen [d] by another.

[29] At another also time, while the Abbess remained
in the cloister of the monastery already said, having with herself
under a compendium, namely a book on the Angels, and the soul,
and of many discourses very good, which book
is in that very [e] monastery; and when the Abbess to be written caused
the same book; going through the cloister two
Nuns and equally toward the Abbess looking,
they saw upon the shoulders of the Abbess a dove
most white, [to her dictating the book seems to speak into her ear a dove,] with feet golden and beak golden, holding
its beak in the ear of her, until to be written she caused the book
aforesaid. The Nuns finally related to the Abbess,
what with their own they had seen eyes. But she, saying
to them, So it is what ye say: yet what ye have seen to no one
ever to relate presume. On a day while to be written
she caused in the cloister aforesaid, elsewhere strongly through all
the house it rained, [nor does the rain harm.] upon the back indeed and shoulders of them
no drop rained: this indeed truly was clear to all
in the cloister dwelling.

[30] Once came to her a certain woman, carrying with herself
a certain her niece, suffering the disease
of scrofula: [she heals scrofula,] who when she had come to her, she cast herself
at the feet of the Abbess, and that her niece from the aforesaid
infirmity she would cure humbly she besought her. The Abbess
indeed, pious and humble, ignorant of her infirmity,
her throat touched, the Cross's sign making, and
she blessed her. Soon moreover the woman looking, saw
her niece healed, giving thanks to God and to holy
John the Evangelist.

[31] On the third indeed day after her death, while a certain
monk Presbyter his arm was pained, nor for six
months and less the Mass to celebrate could, [an arm ill affected,] he came to
the tomb of the Abbess; and himself to her commending and into prayer
giving, immediately freed himself he felt, giving thanks
to God and B. Humilitas. On the same moreover day when a certain
woman an infirmity from a five-year period had suffered;
and as it were every day neither to speak, nor to eat, nor her mouth
to open could, when it she had; nor ever had profited
medicine any; she came to the most pure body
of B. Humilitas, and touching the same's body to pray
she began. Who home withdrawing, bettered herself she felt:
and after a few days herself she found totally freed, giving thanks
to God and B. Humilitas. [two grievously infirm,] On the aforesaid indeed day
a woman a certain, most devoted of B. Humilitas, who long
a hidden infirmity had suffered, came to the monument,
where now buried was the body most holy.
And when grieved and wept the woman upon it, praying
with tears, a consolation immense she felt, beginning
to say this prayer, as was revealed to her;
O most holy Humilitas, full thou wast of patience and
charity, by Christ's love and the mother's grace, always I pray
thee to pray for me the King heavenly, that my may spare
crimes by thy holy merits [f]. Which prayer she said
well forty times, before from the monument she rose,
for the joy which she had. Who from prayer
rising, soon healed herself she felt, and thanks to God
rendered and to B. Humilitas.

[32] [likewise two others,] At a certain time a woman a certain, while she suffered
an infirmity most grievous, once in the greatest pain
sleeping, a voice heard saying to her, Recommend
thyself to S. Humilitas: for by her merits know thou health
to obtain. And when awakened she had been, herself reverently
and most devoutly recommending to the same, soon freed
herself she felt. Another woman labored in extremities,
and said to her own, Why send ye for physicians? Do ye not
see the day of death to be imminent? Her begetter moreover
this hearing, forthwith to B. Humilitas came, and
with affection too great his daughter to the same recommended:
and when home he returned, a Sister a certain of the already said
place, carrying with herself the veil of the holy Abbess,
the aforesaid visited infirm woman: and binding with it the head
of the same infirm woman, soon she convalesced, and after a few
days totally healed she was.

[33] When a certain woman, coming to the already said
monastery, [an injured hand,] had asked most devoutly of the things of the Abbess; she received a little of the cloths which the Abbess on her
back had worn, and withdrew to Volterra: for there was there
a certain man, into whose hand glass incautiously had entered,
who for the too great pain quiet and peace in no wise
to find could. And when the woman of the infirm grieving
man the hand had touched with the cloths aforesaid, immediately freed he was,
giving thanks to God and B. Humilitas. Another woman a son
a certain had, [and a boy ruptured.] who ruptured and swollen in his bladder
was: and when the parents the only son saw so
perniciously infirmed to be, much they grieved. The man
moreover with angry mind saying to his own wife,
said, Ill hast thou kept our son. Soon the mother recommended
him to B. Humilitas, and rising in
the morning saw her son most fully healed.

[34] Another also woman grieving her arms, when to labor
she could not except with immense pain, asked and
came to the tomb of the venerable Abbess, [likewise two women.] and humbly
herself to her and devoutly recommended: and when she had recommended,
soon herself healed she felt, giving thanks to God
and Blessed Humilitas. A certain Nun of that very monastery,
while five years full she had been of pains
in all her body, nor without grave pain to walk could,
recommended herself to the Abbess holy; seeing that
no medicine to her profited. And when from prayer
she rose, so herself freed she felt, that no pain in
her remained, and she praised God and B. Humilitas.

The Notarial Attestation.

[36] And I Benedict of Mag. Martinus, by Imperial authority
Judge and Notary of Florence, and now
of the R. P. D. Francis by the Grace of God Bishop of Florence the Notary,
the original book, the said chronicle containing,
saw and read, and it with the copy present
transumed by the underwritten Philip Notary
and by the underwritten Marsoppius Notary subscribed,
in the presence of the abovewritten D. Matthew Vicar
of D. Bishop of Florence, diligently with those very Notaries
collated: and because mutually they agreed, by that very
D. Vicar's mandate, his and the Curia's of D. Bishop authority
and decree to this copy interposing,
here me as a witness with the wonted sign I subscribed, in the church
of S. Salvator of Florence, present as witnesses
Ser-James Ser-Miniati, Ser-Peter Paganuccii, Notaries
of the Episcopal Curia, on the day year, indiction, and Pontificate,
above in the beginning written. I Marsoppus of D.
Guidalotti Pintaccii de Signa, by Imperial authority
Judge &c. And I Philip son of the late Benincasa de
Florence, by Imperial authority &c.

ANNOTATIONS.




While thou bewailest most sacred of the beloved Jesus the stigmata,
For tears thou givest blood, which all waters thy face.


O most holy Humilitas, full thou wast of patience and charity, on account of the love of my Lord Jesus Christ, and of the mother most holy Virgin Mary, I pray thee always, that thou adore for me the King of heaven, that of thy holy merits to me he may remit my sins. Amen.

ANALECTA

On the virtues, writings, translations and miracles of S. Humilitas.

From the Life in Italian published by Ignatius Guiducci.

Humilitas, Abbess of the Order of Vallombrosa, of Florence in Etruria (B.)

FROM THE ITALIAN OF GUIDUCCI.

CHAPTER I.

On the Spirit by which instructed she wrote, and the two Angel Guardians of her, and S. John the Evangelist her Patron.

[1] It was a thing altogether admirable, to see B. Humilitas,
who never letters had learned, [Unlearned she dictates Latin treatises most learned,] not
only reading at the table, as is said in the Life; but
also discoursing and speaking in the Latin tongue,
as if much in it of study she had put; dictating discourses
and treatises most beautiful of things spiritual,
in which appears profound doctrine, with most apt expressed
words, even about the more sublime of sacred Theology
mysteries, with a description lucid of the glory immense
of the Blessed. To find in them is excellent discourses
upon the Incarnation divine, the nobility and offices
of the Angels, the praises of the God-bearer and of John
the Evangelist, of S. James and of the Angel Guardians.
To be pondered moreover here especially is, [with words by the Holy Spirit suggested,] that words
of her not so much from herself proceeded, as from heaven by
the Holy Spirit dictated: this indeed, God so ordaining,
in various of her Sermons places she herself indicated. Namely
in sermon III, whose words, and the rest after these similar places
I shall exhibit from the Italian version again by me into Latin rendered: for
the original texts often asked and long since promised, which
variously hindered friends not yet to transcribe could, to await
it is not allowed, delay not bearing the press. In sermon therefore
the third thus she says: I wonder and fear and blush at those things,
which I dare to write and dictate: because them not I have read
in other books, nor to human science to be learned
ever myself I applied; but only God's spirit in me
speaks, who fills me with those words which I ought
to say. [as she herself in various places confesses.] In the second moreover: Known to you be it, she says,
the words divine which I speak, not to be mine, but to come
from the Father and most high God, who gives to each one as more
to him it pleases. He me teaches to interrogate and to answer,
and with me meanwhile speaks in the hidden: I moreover to you exteriorly in public speak. He me teaches
in the silence of the spirit, and I with a clear voice pronounce
to you those divine words which I hear. Beware therefore lest
in vain ye receive, what my tongue brings forth, moved by
the Holy Spirit. And elsewhere: I go to the Lord, that
he may bid me this work to do; and immediately the spirit of my Jesus
teaches me. From then and always of every matter secure I am,
that I speak not as one ignorant: but I understand whatever
I see, and fully instructed I am of that which I think.
Finally in Sermon VIII thus she has: Since
thou my master art royal, most sweet and pleasant: thou
speakest with me cheering me, and by speaking thou kindlest
the desire of loving Christ. Thou me teachest
to speak and to know the truth. When to me near thou art,
thou makest that I unworthy thy handmaid should speak and bring forth
with my mouth those words, which are not mine.

[2] From what is said clearly it appears, that what dictated Humilitas,
all from the same was the spirit, who similar things
in this same century XIV was about to work in another equally
beloved his spouse S. Catherine of Siena, [as afterward did S. Catherine of Siena.] in years XXXVII
after her death about to be born; who to her Confessor
(as is in book 1 of the Life num. 84) thus declared: Hold ye
for a conclusion most true, my Father, that nothing
which pertains to the way of salvation, taught me ever
any man or woman, but precisely the Lord himself
and Master, the Spouse precious and super-most-sweet
of my soul, the Lord Jesus Christ, either through his
inspiration, or through a clear apparition speaking
to me, just as I now speak with you. The same also
demonstrated the divine miracles, which the dictating Humilitas
illustrated, and are referred above in her Life
num. 29. From those moreover thus dictated sermons
we know, [From them we know,] that besides the assigned to her from her nativity
guardian Angel; afterward, with the care of souls
to her subjected, she received also, for their more conveniently
rule, an Angel another, just as
in such a case to be done is wont teach the Theologians. For
in Sermon IV thus she speaks.

[3] Indeed all the Angels heavenly I love, but two
especially are the delights of my joy, who day and night
me comfort, [two guardian Angels to her to have been given:] and communicate inestimable
gifts of their riches. My Lord them to me
as guardians assigned, that me they defend from all
molestation, which divine mandate most diligently
they have hitherto executed, because by their strength most well
I am comforted. Both they me sustain on the right and
on the left, nor fall can I except through sloth
mine: so that if myself firmly near them I shall have held,
never to harm me can my enemies. Through the grace
of S. John the Evangelist, both this and that I know
by his proper each name to call. The first is from
the choir of the Angels, of those who are given to men in
their life for guardianship; and his name is Sapiel, [one Sapiel called,] which
denotes the divine wisdom. As often as that name
I hear pronounced, suddenly is cheered to me the heart. This
moreover was with me from that moment, in which into this life
I entered. I confess indeed that him often
I have offended with so many my defects; but he, as
wholly benign, every fault to me remitted, nay
also always to me with the Lord Jesus was a diligent
advocate. The other is called Emmanuel, from the order
of the Cherubim; [the other Emmanuel a Cherub,] and to me was given after the year
of age the thirtieth, when I entered into the thoughts
of great affairs: since by God
committed to me was the guardianship of sheep, although I had not
a pastoral rod, nor strength or vigor sufficient
for so great a work. He his own wings spread,
and me aided in my labors and undertakings: and, as
he is benign, consoled me, partaker me making
of his most opulent treasures. And again
elsewhere, that is, in Sermon XII, Manifest to you be it that
these two Angels are proper, the first, and best, for
help and aid to me with God to be borne, declaring
to me many things of the divine secrets.

[4] To these two Angels most obedient she always was;
and to the same to be honored she composed that beautiful
Treatise on the Court of Paradise, where these things are read. [in whose honor she dictates a treatise on the Court of Paradise.]
I have immense glory in my heart, certified
of the nobility and greatness of my Angels:
but when I think of their beauty,
I feel myself to go into ecstasy, and as if outside myself to be rapt
for the excess of joy; because two lovers I have so
perfect, who always assist in God's presence, and
meanwhile a great support to me are. They are like two
rocks impregnable; and in them all security
laid up I have: and so great is their fortitude, that
I fear not with whatever enemies to be engaged.
They are quite wise, and so industrious, that in every
kind of virtue me they instruct. So solicitously moreover and
so promptly to me they provide, that before it is necessary,
them to me to be present I find: and they are two
solid columns, for sustaining my weakness.

[5] To this so powerful society she commended herself in
her necessities, just as in Sermon XI she declares, saying:
And ye my Angels strong, walk about all ways
mine, and diligently watch lest the enemies be able to approach
the doors of my heart. Bring forth before me
the sword of your defense, and constrain my mouth
so well, that closed it remain to every word vain and
idle, nor thence to go out such can when it will. Sharpen
my tongue with a razor, [and to them she commends each of her body's senses.] for extirpating whatever
vices and virtues to be planted. On my eyes impose
two seals of love, that no of this world thing together
with the Beloved to behold they be able: hold nonetheless the same
open and vigilant, that they be not impeded through somnolence
to recite the divine Offices, nor the mind aggravate
when it ought to attend to God's praises. Keep
my ears open to the name of Jesus: and effect that
to them penetrate cannot a word other any, which
to the soul a deadly poison may be. Bind my feet
with the chain of love, lest they be able to move themselves through the way of sin:
but let all my steps be to the honor of Christ, and
of his glorious mother. Constrain my hands with your
blessed wings, always prompt and ready for divine
services. Remove the smell from all vanity, that
my soul only may feel the odor of the heavenly flowers.
Guard all my bodily senses, that may be delighted
the spiritual, and the soul may quietly repose
with its Beloved. Make that the ways of divine love in me
so be fortified, that when shall run into them rivers
of vain delights they cannot pass through, for they would draw
the soul to submersion. Angels
mine most dear, behold I am deposited into your guardianship,
and commended to you by my most sweet Jesus; I ask
you in his name, that always solicitously ye guard
me. I commend myself to you, O most benign Angels
mine: pray the Word eternal, that he would to himself draw
my heart, nor permit ever that elsewhere it wander.
Finally in Sermon II about the end she says: O Emmanuel,
O Sapiel, who are my Angels guardians, I pray you, most sweet ones
that with all your strength ye render to me
aid so efficacious, that when ye shall have led me to the presence
of the great Queen, I may be able to contemplate and enjoy
the mother with her beloved, and from the maternal bosom between
my arms to receive that glorious little infant.

[6] [To these she adds other Patrons,] Long it would be all the other places to enumerate, in
which her beloved those Angels she praises, and to them thanks
she gives. Enough it is to know two to have been, to whose tutelage
she had joined also to herself the protection special of S. John
the Evangelist, S. James the Greater, and S. John the Baptist,
whom she named the three most solid of her life columns:
whence also she said in Sermon XI: Make my Lord, that
those my holy Advocates me animate, that without thy
offense through the right ways myself I may bear to thy presence.
Command them that even to death they be my guardians, and
then offer to thee my soul, wholly cheerful and
joyful. Nor with these content, but as she was most loving
of her Spouse, so she venerated all his servants;
from whom for herself besides Protectors she had chosen S.
Catherine the Virgin and Martyr, the Archangel
Gabriel, S. Cecilia, S. Joseph, and especially
the most glorious Mother of God, just as below shall appear.
What to S. John the Evangelist pertains, [especially S. John the Evangelist.] began
to him more devoutly to be affected Humilitas already from her boyhood
her: but growing the years grew also the devotion, while
she with new and new from him favors daily was heaped,
a father him having and a master in the way of the spirit,
as expressly she says in a certain Sermon: S. John
the Evangelist my master is and doctor, without whom
no doctrine I will to learn. He, after Christ
and his blessed Mother, is my glory,
my hope, my refuge, my counsel and the joy
of my soul.

[7] In Sermon indeed XI she declares with these words his love
toward herself: O Evangelist, bearer of sweet loves:
thou from heaven to thy beloved ones beautiful many gifts
sendest. [and her toward him love she explains.] Remember me poor and a beggar, if yet
me still thou recognizest. As of me care thou hadst when
I was rich, so do not abandon me in more urgent
necessities. For if for the love of the Sultan of the Saracens
into these lands I had come, just as I came for the love
of thee, for his urbanity solicitous of me care he would have.
Recall a little, O John of continual largesses,
with which me thou heapedst with things most precious and
incomparable: recall of those sweet legations,
which to me thou sentest, that more me into thy
love thou mightest inflame. Indeed with all my heart I love
thee: and although I be a vile and of price no leaf,
thou indeed a lily white and odoriferous; do not now
forget that to me sometime thy great liberality
thou hast exhibited. Remember a little of that most beautiful
little knife, which thou thyself fashionedst with strokes of love,
not of scourging, [mindful of the benefits from him received:] with which to me the heart thou hast transfixed;
and love renewing, with the same knife again me
thou hast pervaded; and to thyself so strongly hast fixed it, that thence to be torn away
it cannot or be taken sweet love thine. O most beloved
John, thou me hast bound with a chain golden and hast betrothed
with a ring. Since therefore commended I am to thy guardianship,
O spouse mine most sweet, do not me abandon.
I beseech that thou recall that thou hast married me by thy love,
and hast dowered me with spousal gifts, and so many other things precious and beautiful, together with that line of precious
gems. I could also of other many thy gifts
speak, but the time is of finishing, lest in whom the mind little
sound is, thorns they gather and roses scatter.
I confess besides that ill I have used thy gifts,
nor thee have loved as I ought; but pure my love
made is worse, and less nay ill ordered:
but thou in loving merciful art. I beseech therefore
that we renew our friendship, so that my soul be recreated
in thy love, [and of his praises she dictates 2 Sermons.] and produce that best which I desire
fruit, that it may be able to work to thy glory.
From which and other words undoubtedly we can understand,
how singularly she was affected to this great Saint;
in whose honor two also Sermons she dictated,
in which distinctly and with great affection she declares,
how great toward him a reverence to her was divinely instilled,
how great in him placed she had confidence, how great
of his familiarity and liberality she used.

CHAPTER II.

The devotion of the Saint toward the God-bearer: her Praises how and with what fruit by her dictated.

[8] Much more tender was S. Humilitas's devotion toward the most blessed Mother of God. It is established indeed
that never she began an action any, but
she implored her aid; [To the God-bearer wont always to flee,] and the praise of Mary in all
her sermons was mingled. If any to her happened
adversity or a necessity whatever weighed, implored
her help immediately she was comforted. In her fixed
she had all her thoughts, now her virginal
birth considering, and the laborious offices
to her little son's education bestowed; now of the most bitter passion
the sword meditating, now the supreme over all things
created power to her granted contemplating. Therefore
not wonderful was, that of this toward her love by the regard
the Queen of the heavens so many graces to her made, and often
to her herself to be seen personally presented, just as
in her Sermons is read. [many good things to her ascribes,] For in III she confesses
and clearly recognizes, that the Queen of the Heavens a guide
to her and a companion is through the path of Paradise, which in Sermon
VIII with these words she explains. The Queen of the heavens the mast and
the sail is in the little ship of our soul, and by her mercy
easily it she leads, showing the way safe,
and the brevity of the journey, and that quickly about to come
it is to the port. There shall meet the same the Angels, who its treasure
shall represent to the Lord; who as
most liberal, for one talent shall render a hundred, besides
a vast abundance of inestimable riches. And
in Sermon XII: Ye know, Brothers, that not only in
a vision, but even in colloquy familiar and domestic,
to all our interrogations and petitions
from the very mouth of Mary the Virgin given were most grateful
answers. Then in Sermon IX, Let it not to me be imputed,
she says, to glory what my tongue speaks, because
they are not words mine, nor I of them have power;
but render the praise to the Queen, because from her goodness
all things are derived.

[9] In Sermon also IV of her praises thus she discourses:
The supreme Deity came from the imperial heaven into earth,
and humbly entered the little vessel of one girl, [and her humility,]
whom in beauty to himself like he rendered, because she was
the mother of simplicity, whose purity so great is, that to shine
her it makes among all Virgins as a gem
most pure. She is the Queen of humility, who
wisely penetrated to the bottom of this virtue. She
is our Lady, who with her most humble eyes such
darted glances, that sufficiently powerful they were for the highest
God from his heavenly throne to be led down into
the lands. A little moreover lower she subjoins: So flowery
is her virginity, that those conversing with her she makes
chaste. And in Sermon VI: O root holy, who to us
brought forth a branch, by which our life is governed! O Virgin
glorious, whose festivity always solemnly is renewed
in heaven! So great and so divine is the beauty
of her, [her beauty,] that the Angels and Saints cannot be satiated her beholding. Her ringlets are filled with gold, with which her head
most holy is covered; nor can be explained the beauty
or splendor, with which that head irradiates all things.
Her eyes, most honest and amorous, kindle
in the heart a flame divine. Her smile and mouth, while
she speaks, always bring some new and precious
gift: but with her words she cheers those hearing,
purifying and adorning the mind. The Angels desire
to hear her, and in her voice are delighted the Saints.
From her mouth and nostrils breathes a fragrance of so sweet
an odor, that in all it renews the desire again
her to see and to salute. Her lips more ruddy
are and more odoriferous than roses new.
The whole heavenly court adores that breast divine which
suckled the eternal King, and the body, which is the most sacred
altar. While to her speak the Angels and Saints,
they lift to themselves their crowns royal from their head, [her majesty exceedingly she praises.] and repeat
that gracious salutation, which once on earth to the same
said the Archangel Gabriel: and together all
await a benediction from those most holy hands,
in which laid up is all power: then
they wish service and reverence to exhibit to this blessed
Queen, who is the Empress of the Angels and
of all the Court divine. Her crown of stars twelve,
through a figure designated in the Apostles, and with the encaustic
of solar splendor depicted, which infused into her the highest
King's beauty, when from this life she ascended to
the nuptials above all the heavens, and was placed at the right
of God, sitting upon the Cherubim. This is the joy
of the court all heavenly &c.

[10] In these and similar discourses seems Humilitas
an end none to find: to whose toward her affection
corresponding the most liberal Virgin, [She is bidden by her to weave for the little Jesus a pallium,] among other favors
this to her specially conferred, that sometime to her meditating
of her childbirth divine she appeared, commanding
that her single mysteries attentively she would contemplate,
that them to others she could herself manifest. She commanded besides,
that her little Jesus she should clothe with a pallium, with gems
inwoven, and of a triple color's variety conspicuous.
And when she humbly answered, O my Lady
most sweet, impossible to me appears the of heaven and earth
maker, whom scarcely the Angels themselves to touch dare,
with a garment material to cover; especially since neither gems
any I possess, nor of the colors required the kinds
I know. Answered moreover the Most Holy, that nothing by it she should be anguished,
about to be present indeed at her command soon the Evangelist
John, who would teach what to be done it would be needful.
He moreover to her immediately explained, the garment that not
ought to be material; but wholly of things spiritual
inwoven, namely of a dilated heart, [which of what kind it ought to be teaches S. John the Evangelist.] a spirit humbled,
an ardent mind, a sweetness of love inexplicable,
sighs fervent, copious tears, contemplation
penetrative. From these, as from so many golden filaments
and gems, the inwoven garment she should offer to the infant;
the colors moreover three required he named, red,
flesh-colored and white: of which by the first to be denoted he said
Christ's divinity, by the second the humanity of the same,
by the third the virginity and merits of the mother Mary. With this
indeed garment not only to be covered the son and mother, but
the whole also heavenly court.

[11] Thus instructed Humilitas, [She herself dictates the Praises of B. Mary,] just as in the Hymn of
her is sung,
A book she composes by the spirit dictating,
Full of praises of the Virgin Mary,
Which if anyone reads grace he gains
      By his prayers.
But recite most frequently those Praises the Monks
of S. Salvi, for they are full of mysteries of the Incarnation
divine, and the singular of the God-bearer prerogatives contain,
and as much the son's as the mother's name most frequently
they repeat. In the beginning moreover of that very treatise, [praying for those about to recite them,] which
only those Praises contains, of this kind a prayer is found:
O holy Virgin Mary, Queen of heaven, hear
my prayers and my oration. I ask moreover from thee mercy
for all those, who shall read this book in
thy honor, or to be read shall hear, or devoutly to the same shall be affected.
Give them a great reward and gift precious,
of thee, I say, and of Jesus Christ the love. In the hour
of death be present for their defense, freeing
their souls from the mouth of the dragon. Thou indeed, Jesus, in
the kingdom heavenly grant them health and glory. Amen.
Another then little prayer she composed, the said Praises
to be premised, in this manner: O Virgin most pure,
enlighten our hearts with the light of the Holy Spirit, that we may be able
to hear the doctrine, and to learn, and in that manner
to recite that to thee for praise it may turn and to us infirm for
medicine. She explains then, [and explaining whence she received the same,] so willing him by whose inspiring
she was acting, how the aforesaid Praises not
are of her composition, saying: O most dear Brothers and Sisters most pious, with great devotion let us be affected toward
these Praises of Mary the Virgin, which are not taken from a book
any, nor from doctrine human received. The Masters of them to be written were Jesus
Christ and the Virgin Mary, who are the summit and perfection
of all virtue, to them be glory. A woman a certain
them dictated, and another wrote: and the Holy Spirit the same
inspired to a certain sinner.

[12] Narrates afterward she herself S. Humilitas, how
the aforesaid Praises on the Vigil of the Assumption of our Lady
to her were revealed; [in their use endowed with singular graces.] and them reciting with a singular
a certain grace deigned she was, but with what she indicates not:
only she says, A sinner a certain (such herself she named
the most humble Saint) asked a certain grace, for
which my Lady mediatrix interceded, and immediately
she obtained. O how fortunate a gift, immense,
wonderful, lovable, and wholly sweet and precious
this was! She gave to her a grace exceedingly notable,
a light a certain divine, by which she knew to use the occasion
of praising her and herself to her commending, whence her heart
not a little was cheered. Here showed our Lady
her true humility, because she loves sinners
and to them most merciful is, since indeed
so clemently she acted with that sinner. O most dear
Brothers, let us recite often and attentively let us meditate those
Praises. I say to you in truth, that by that reasoning from
Mary the Virgin we shall obtain many spiritual gifts:
for that in them we praise the most lofty Lady,
who to our souls brings an efficacious medicine.
She the heart cheers, the mind enlightens, peace composes
between the spirit and the sense, far drives away thoughts
evil and dangerous temptations, and of her love
partakers us makes. For while of Mary the Virgin
the odor we perceive, makes she that the mind forget
of things temporal, and teaches Christ and things spiritual
to love; makes the world and all things earthly to despise,
and the heavenly to seek with the greatest desire
them to find. Wherefore let us prepare our heart,
and let us be fed with the fruit of these divine Praises
of Mary the Virgin, who our light is and the star
matutinal.

[13] To the same praises' efficacy to confirm
make two miracles, [A Religious a certain in a vision] which in an old codex together
with the same are found described. A Religious a certain
with so grave of spirit tribulation pressed, that to himself it seemed plainly abandoned by God; since greatly he made the exemplary
of this holy Abbess life, of her trusting
the merits to S. Salvi monastery himself betook, where
he had heard to live enclosed girls virgins of best name.
But before to of any of them the sight
or address he came, willed God by another reasoning to declare
to him the great of them purity. He represented
indeed to him a table, with royal magnificence and with dishes
altogether heavenly furnished, at which reclined all
those, and reclined also he himself. Incredible
was of so divine refreshment the sweetness: tempered however
it a grief some from the sight of three Nuns,
who from the already said table enclosed, far
thence as if sick lay on the ground. [proposing to transcribe them,] The vision finished
remained to the good man a compassionate grief, joined
with a desire of the poor little ones to aid; and prayer made
he resolved the aforesaid prayers, by their Abbess
composed, to transcribe; first indeed that he himself
solace spiritual might find, by which from that tribulation
he might be freed; then indeed that those three Sisters
them reading and rereading better might become,
and to the common with their companions degree of sanctity
might come. Wishing therefore as soon as possible to the work to apply
his hand, and to this by those three exceedingly
desiring it stimulated, again he was rapt in mind;
and saw the same three with most white covered garment, to whom
meeting a matron of aspect venerable, suddenly
led them to the others' company; who together
all began the said Religious to strike and
to scourge, imploring for the pain's sense the help
of the holy Foundress. [he is freed from a grave tribulation.] Then to himself restored altogether
serene to himself his mind to be he found, by this alone
that he had proposed through the writing of the said Praises,
the devotion to propagate so grateful to the Queen
of the Angels.

[14] Another certain Religious, of salvation to be obtained
most desirous, had chosen in a place some deserted to himself and his
Creator solitary to live. [the same experienced another] This to bear least of all being able
the demon, whatever he could of temptations engines
against him turned so furiously, that he almost now hands
gave. He resisted nonetheless and variously himself defended:
and when among other means on a certain day also
the aforesaid Praises he had begun to recite, a victory swift
over the enemy from the God-bearer he gained, interceding
the merits of that very Saint. Overcome moreover the infernal
enemy, and of the gained confusion impatient, on a day
about the hour of Tierce in a horrible and gigantic appearance appeared
in the chamber's door, and the whole from the foundations
shook, [the same into Italian he turns] and so disappeared. He indeed the devout Religious
from that day to our Saint most devout remained;
and that to more might attain, of so profitable prayers
the fruit, them from the Latin tongue into the vulgar
translated, and at their end thus wrote: Therefore most dear
Brothers, frequently and devoutly let us recite these praises
of the most blessed Virgin: and whoever a tribulation
any or an infirmity of spirit suffers, with prayers of this kind
let him recur to the heavenly Empress;
because the same attentively reciting, easily her he will move to
granting to himself the desired health, and the former
of his mind quiet, just as that very Saint in
the beginning of these praises affirms.

CHAPTER III.

The translation of the body to the monastery of S. Salvi, and another twofold to her proper altar: the ancient cult of the Saint proved, and the Processes are begun.

[15] Feared the Republic Florentine war and a siege
of its city by the army of Clement
Pope VII, [In the place of the destroyed old monastery] joined with the forces of Charles V the Emperor.
Wishing therefore itself to fortify, and as far as it could impregnable
to render, it ordered to be destroyed buildings many
to the walls near, lest to the enemy a refuge they should afford. Among
these were the house of the daughters of S. Humilitas, of which a part
from the foundations was demolished, a part lower by half made,
still shows traces of the old dormitory. There
also is found that well, where in the summer time ice
to be found caused the Saint, as in her Life is read
num. 27, and today is called the Well of S. Humilitas; [there is kept the Saint's well]
near which of a certain courtyard indications are discerned, in which
place D. John Brancadori of Fermo, of the citadel there
built the Prefect, to be painted caused the Saint, to whom
most devout he was, on a bed lying in that state, in
which the aforesaid ice by praying she obtained. Took care
the same that the very well clean and entire be kept, [against fevers famous.] for that
to it from all the neighborhood round about it is sought
with great confidence of obtaining health especially
from fevers, which confidence confirms the very success
in several the water thence taken drinking. Of the church
indeed of S. John the Evangelist other nothing survives,
than a part of the frontispiece with certain pilasters of white
marble, and a small trace of its gable, which
wholly of marble white and black elegantly composed
and polished had been constructed.

[16] Destroyed moreover the monastery, from that which
I said cause was, in the year MDXXIX on the day XXIV September, [It was destroyed in the year 1529]
with not a small besides damage in the estates, houses
and fields neighboring to the monastery equally pertaining,
in years CCLVII after into the place's possession
her daughters had brought S. Humilitas. On the day XXIV
of the month aforesaid, the same were brought into the urban
S. Catherine monastery: where scarcely for months two
they stood, when to them on the day XXIV November it was announced,
that they must go out within two days. [and the monks transferred into the city] Was this
announcement so much sadder to those good Mothers, by how much
less hope there was quickly of obtaining the promised to them, when
should be destroyed the place of S. John, a habitation at S. Anthony's;
nor was it possible in that confusion of things,
a lodging fit to find by which themselves they might receive. But
this difficulty removed D. Raphael late Francis
de Hieronymis, for the following year named
Confalonerius, a man upright and just. He effected indeed, [to S. Anthony's:] that
the promised and desired habitation be vacated by the soldiers
there residing; so that to immigrate thither they could
on XVIII December; and there they remained even
until in the year MDXXIV translated they were to the monastery
of S. Salvi where now they live, in this which follows manner.

[17] Wished the Most Illustrious Alexander de Medici,
the first Duke of Florence, to build a citadel with fortifications, [and this place to a new citadel attributed,]
within which it was necessary also to be comprehended
the greater part of the place occupied by the monastery of S. Anthony:
whence for the Rectors of the city necessary it was of
a habitation other for our Nuns to provide.
And so the matter conferred with the Most Reverend of Vallombrosa
General, decreed it was, that he himself their spiritual
Father should grant them the monastery of S. Salvi:
which to them compassionating willingly he assented, and consenting
Clement Pope VII, by the same Duke Alexander
was to execution mandated. [in the year 1524 they migrate to S. Salvi.] Hither therefore entered
those Reverend Mothers on XIV August, the Most Reverend
General P. John Mary Cunigiani them
receiving at the principal gate of the monastery, and with a liberal
gift it resigning with all to it pertaining,
gardens, vineyards, fields, silver and the furniture of the church.
The donation accepted the Abbess then
D. Dianora, daughter of D. Peter-Paul Machiavelli,
of great prudence a matron: who amid the disturbances and tumults
those, the subject to her Monks with great
quiet governed, under the direction of D. Blasius, of the same
to the rule spiritual set over.

[18] The body of that very of God handmaid (which from the year
MCCCXI even to the year MDXXIX had rested under the altar, [While thither also the body of the Saint is translated,]
to her honor erected, in years CCXVII) on the day XXVI
September, together with the body of B. Margaret, translated
was to S. Catherine's, thence indeed to S. Anthony's,
and at last to S. Salvi's; in which last translation
a case happened memorable. The bearer who from the church
of S. Catherine to the church of S. Anthony had translated the casket
wooden, of the sacred pledges guardian with iron grated,
and long about ells three, professed publicly
that of it no weight he had felt: wherefore
the same five years after for a benefit to himself asked to be indulged,
that again to translate the sacred casket he might. A heavier casket made the cloths, [no weight of the ark otherwise heavy is felt by the bearer.] in the ark enclosed and
stuffing the holy bodies with much cotton lest shaken
and jolted they should suffer anything. A Dalmatic
likewise Diaconal cast over covered the bier, after the manner
of that time; the journey moreover was of two miles;
he swore however even then no to himself weight to have been seen,
just as is referred in the Act Notarial
of Mag. Bernard Mochi, under the day XVI December
of the year MDCX. Afterward for the variety of occasions the aforesaid
ark placed was in various places of that very church, [it first is placed in the sacristy;]
always however with as great as most it could reverence,
by the will of the very Nuns. And
first placed it is in the sacristy of the monastery, upon a most beautiful
altar for that cause erected: then in the choir
upper, on this which to describe I undertake occasion.

[19] In the year MDLVII on the day XIII September the banks transgressed
the Arno, in such manner had inundated all
the S. Salvi plain, that the aforesaid casket it covered
wholly an ell entire higher the water: nor however when within two days
after thence was extracted the casket, [and in the year 1557 by the overflowing Arno nothing having suffered,] even one little drop thither itself
to have penetrated was found: and so unharmed remained whatever
within placed was, so that even its whiteness
kept the byssus silken, itself enwrapping the bodies, and with gold
inscribed having letters golden: by which on this side
indeed Saint Humilitas, on that the year MDXXX was expressed:
when however similar cloths quickly are wont by the encaustic
that to be consumed, by which to them the gold is applied. Therefore
that byssus by the Nuns reverently is kept; and
for the relief of the infirm sought, is sent into places
various, with frequent of the obtained health fruit. Lest
however to the same peril again should be subject the holy bodies,
it pleased into that which I said choir the ark to be translated, [in the year 1562 it is translated to its proper altar:] where
it remained even to XXI May of the year MDLXII. Then it
was carried to a new altar, in the sacristy of the church exceedingly
beautifully adorned, under a tabernacle skillfully sculpted
of marble white, by the hand of Benedict of Rovezzano
a sculptor most known. The same ark in the year MDCXXIV
on the day XXXI March placed was in the church, upon an altar
which to those entering on the right meets, the work caring for
already from XXII May of the preceding year D. Clement
Bonenti of Padua a Monk Vallombrosan. [which in the year 1624 is renewed,] To the translation
this to be made assented the Most Illustrious D. Alexander
Martii Medici, Archbishop of Florence: and opened
was the casket before witnesses seven, and D. Zenobius
Benveri a Notary of Florence: who all found
and saw the body entire excepting only the arms,
of which one before had been granted to the Nuns
of S. Humilitas of Faenza, [and is found the body incorrupt cut off only the arms.] the whole to themselves body
demanding; the other with those very monks. of S. Salvi
in a most beautiful crystal enclosed is kept. Is moreover
worthy of note, that so white remained the skin
of the Saint, in the whole of three hundred and what runs over years
time, that of a living one the appearance almost it bears; nor less that the military fury it escaped, so nothing having suffered from
the ruins and burnings by which more than once overwhelmed
the casket was, than from the inundations of the river. Much
also of cotton was found about the bodies sacred,
and they were covered with cloth red, and above this spread
was the aforesaid byssus, and another wholly streaked with gold.

[20] A new then made was a casket, comely no less
than precious, [for this a new casket is fabricated] whose sides crystal so lay open
to the sight, that to dust entrance none they left.
In this placed was S. Humilitas, with face upward
turned, so that besides the countenance and feet is discerned nothing:
the rest indeed of the body covers a cowl monastic
according to the norm of the Order Vallombrosan. The bones of B. Margaret
loosened, placed are at the feet of her Mistress,
in that plainly manner in which they had been found in the casket old.
Done were moreover these things on the day XXX April MDCXXIV, [and the translation is made 4 May,]
before the aforesaid Notary. Afterward on the day IV May finished
the Vespers, the aforesaid new casket was placed upon
the new altar of S. Humilitas, to which twice in the week
a plenary Indulgence granted Gregory XV,
under a Mass there to be celebrated for that very monastery's
deceased Nuns. It stood thus exposed the holy
Relic for two days, that is even to the morning of the day VI: so great
moreover was the concourse of the people, [with the greatest concourse on the 25th.] as well from the city as
from all the neighborhood round about, as great as no one in any solemnity
himself to have seen remembered, so that narrow seemed
the ways public which lead to the monastery; that
which more wonderful was, because no had preceded publication
of this thing future, but it was cared for that as most secretly
all things should be done.

[21] Moved that frequency the abovepraised of the citadel Prefect
D. John Brancadori, that on the same day to
S. Salvi to be brought he caused six hundred little mortars, which
from the common of the bombardiers munition, without
the monastery's expense, often discharged, [the same the day after came the Grand Duke with his.] increased the gladness
was and the applause popular. On the same day twice thither among several
other illustrious persons came the Illustrious D. Alphonsus
Giglioli, Nuncio Apostolic with the Grand Duke
of Etruria: came also the Most Eminent D. Charles
the Cardinal de Medici, of the Vallombrosan Congregation
the Protector, but on account of the throng of the people
he could not with his carriage to pass. On this account
to come on another day deferred the Most Serene Ferdinand
II, the Grand of Etruria Duke, with his brothers and
sisters his, the same's grandmother D. Christina of Lorraine,
and mother D. Mary Magdalene of Austria; the Duke
likewise and Duchess of Mantua, Prince Lawrence de
Medici and the Princess of Urbino, with all the court retinue.
Therefore on the day VI May this holy Relic processionally
was led within the cloister, so placed
before the grate, which exteriorly and interiorly the altar in place
of a wall separates, that by the people in the church placed equally
as by the Nuns inside constituted it could be discerned, neither
however themselves mutually to see.

[22] Was wont our Congregation Vallombrosan
in some monasteries to celebrate a Mass, [The old Office of the Saint in the Breviaries of the Order,] and the Office
to recite in honor of this Saint, and there is had
noted a Mass with Antiphons and Hymns and
Orations proper, printed in various little books or
psalters, according to the use of the Vallombrosan Order.
That which also can be gathered from four Briefs
Pontifical, truly notable, through which are granted Indulgences
to those visiting the church of S. John the Evangelist.
Besides Alexander Pope VI, in the year MDI of his Pontificate
the IX, granted the faculty to the Anziani of Faenza,
at the intercession of Valentino Duke Caesar
Borgia, that for the monastery of S. Mary Novella (which,
because to the very of the city ditches it adhered, had been in the war time
leveled) another to erect within the city
under the title of S. Humilitas. In the Calendar also
of the Psalter Vallombrosan, at XXII May, a rubric is noted
of Humilitas the Abbess: and in the Office Marian
according to the use of the same Congregation, in
the Litanies after the Psalms Penitential, [and other indications of a feast anciently celebrated] is read S. Humilitas
pray for us. Which all an undoubted
testimony afford of a feast anciently celebrated. Nay
even among the ephemerides of the monastery, in which is contained
what on each day was spent and received
even to the year MCCCC, are found noted expenses,
made by the Monks for the feast day of S. Humilitas.

[23] But after destroyed was the church of S. John,
since there lacked the convenience of visiting the altar and
the body of this handmaid of God, which within the monastery
was detained to no one external discernible; had cooled that observance,
except among the Nuns
of each monastery the Florentine and the Faentine. Of
this therefore mournful the Fathers, and wishing the defect to repair,
the affair commended to the Order's Procurator in
the Curia D. Virginius Moscardi; [for which to be examined named a Commissary in the year 1621] who soon to be informed
caused D. Francis Penia Auditor of the Rota,
and to him offered the most ancient memorials of the life,
sanctity and miracles of the great this of God handmaid. But
before the cause was led into the Rota each from
the living departed in the year MDCXI. Some then years after,
Virginius's successor D. Thomas Davanzati, the same
for end supplicated the Congregation of Rites, and
Commissorial obtained to be directed to the Most Illustrious Lords
the Bishop of Faenza and the Archbishop
of Florence; by which to them was commanded, that in his each
diocese with the daughters of that very Saint information
they should take, of the life, miracles, devotion and concourse
popular, and other things pertaining to proving
to her Sanctity the ancient cult of Humilitas. Signed were those letters on the day XX April of the year MDCXXIV:
and afterward on the day XXIX May D. Alexander Martii de
Medici Archbishop of Florence to S. Salvi for that cause
came, in the company of three his Canons,
and the Cross-bearer and Train-bearer and Chancellor.

[24] Scarcely there had come the Prelate, when in the very porch
before the church, he saw a marble most ancient statue,
by which S. Humilitas to be represented it showed
with a lambskin upon the head a little skin, [he sees the old statue of the Saint,] with which always and
everywhere she is painted; and he said that there would be no need of other proof,
since that alone would suffice for the end intended.
He saw nonetheless many most ancient pictures, of which
some made were before three hundred years, and all
exhibited circumduced to the Saint's head a diadem.
Especially however to him pleased a tablet, in the sixth after the happy
transit year, [and the old pictures,] that is MCCCXVI painted, with a nun
at the feet praying (whom B. Margaret to be they wish)
surrounded by little areas fourteen, containing
as many of S. Humilitas miracles, and her in single
of them diademed. In the monastery besides shown
to the same were many writings and memorials ancient,
by a notarial hand authenticated, [and the writings] by which the Life
of the Saint is contained; a book likewise choral, in which noted
already of old composed; and other several things, which long it would be
to enumerate single ones. By all these fully to himself satisfied
testified the Archbishop, accruing besides
that writing by which were contained the miracles done
through the cotton, by which the body within the old ark
had been stuffed, and which after the day of the translation
aforesaid liberally had been distributed to the people. [and the body.]
He saw finally the body itself, still like a living one
after years CCCXXII, and of all a relation
made in writing he received.

[25] Followed after these the year MDCXXVII when
D. Everard Niccolini, of the Congregation Vallombrosan
President general, wishing the cause that to be promoted,
to D. Ignatius Guiducci, then his in the City
Procurator general, the matter commended: who having received
a relation of those things which at S. Salvi the Archbishop
had done, signed on the day XII November of the year MDCXXVII, [A relation is made to the Congregation of Rites in the year 1628]
informed the Most Eminent D. Cardinal Mellinus,
of this cause the Ponent. He finally in the year MDCXXVIII
on the day XXVI February, with great affection, of
her referred before the Sacred of Rites Congregation,
concluding that to the Vallombrosan Congregation
could be granted, what it asked, the faculty of a Mass and Office
of the of God handmaid Humilitas, as a Saint, to be made;
attentive the certitude of the authentic documents,
in which the chief place held the Life, in the year
MCCCXXX by the Vicar of the Bishop of Florence authenticated,
with the Bulls of Indulgences and the Brief original of Alexander
VI. He added to these most efficacious reasons, namely
that in the year the transit happy immediately following
D. the Bishop of Florence, present many Prelates
and Lords titled, under her name erected
and consecrated a most beautiful altar, and upon it
exceedingly honorably to be adored exposed the holy
body; that already of old her feast was celebrated, [and it is proved in various ways as a Saint, always venerated Humilitas,]
just as abundantly prove the Mass, Hymns, Antiphons,
and the rest by hand and by types expressed in S. Salvi; with
a daily commemoration there by the Nuns
wont to be used, according to their Psalter printed;
that the same Monks, and also the Faentine,
from immemorial were wont the feast to do, reciting
however all from the Common; and often through the year
in her honor a Sacred to be said to cause, with
great of the people devotion and frequency (as the sworn
on both sides testimonies, by the Archbishop of Florence collected,
taught) that the title of Saint immediately to her from death
given, and at the re-digging of the holy body; and that also it appears
in many psalters, martyrologies, calendars
and writers ancient. Nor lightly to be weighed
he esteemed, that she herself the Foundress was of the Monks
of the Order Vallombrosan, who therefore equally as S. John
Gualbert, of the Monks the Institutor, worthy was
of veneration public. Afterward he produced the relation
of D. the Archbishop of Florence, an eyewitness of so many images,
statues, votive tablets with rays,
a diadem, the title of Saint expressed for the space of years
three hundred: finally he recited the Summary
of the life and miracles, in the best order digested by D.
Pompey Serni, Auditor of the Most Eminent D. Cardinal
Pius.

[26] Such a Relation heard, and inspected and considered
the documents alleged, decreed the Congregation,
that there could by Apostolic authority be formed Processes for
proving, [There are ordered to be made processes for the Canonization.] that the Monks should celebrate the feast
reciting the Office of the Common, and causing to be celebrated
Masses, with the concourse and devotion of the people.
And so on the day X March of the year MDCXXVIII, our most Holy Lord Urban
Pope VIII the desired Apostolic Commission
kindly granted, and on the day of the same month XXVIII
were by the sacred Congregation expedited letters Remissorial
and Compulsorial to Florence and
Faenza, to this that by Apostolic authority, through
the Most Illustrious Lords of the dioceses said the Prelates,
be formed Processes, about to be valid in order to the Canonization,
whenever there should be one who could and would
the expenses necessary to make. Finished was moreover the Process
Florentine and to Rome sent in the year MDCXXIX
on XXX March, but the Faentine in the year MDCXXX on the day XXI
February.

CHAPTER IV.

The miracles after the Translation of S. Humilitas done, also by the use of the cotton to the body placed.

[27] There was in the monastery of S. John the Evangelist a young
Monk, [There are healed a Monk in her whole body tortured,] in her whole body so ill affected,
and so great now of old pains suffering, that to live
herself beyond measure it wearied. To her her mistress
her persuaded, that since every day were seen miracles
through the intercession of S. Humilitas in various men external done, she also with living faith to
the same should recur. Obeyed the counsel salutary the young girl,
and the Saint besought, that, who so many
had aided, also in her she would show the power of her benignity.
On the next night appeared to her S. Humilitas:
whom she seeing immediately began herself to her to commend,
and what she desired to ask. The Saint indeed kindly
answered: Nothing doubt, daughter, this indeed faith
thee has healed: go and hear devoutly the sacrifice of the Mass:
whatever indeed thou hast wished thou shalt obtain. [and a girl a fever suffering,] Obeyed she, the Mass
heard, and immediately wholly healed herself she found.
There also was being educated a girl a certain of Florence,
and with a most ardent fever now long was afflicted, when
recalling the ice by the Saint, to whom devout very she was,
once obtained in a similar infirmity, from the same a refreshment
some and help humbly she sought.
Appeared moreover she to her by night, with a bucket of ice
full, as if it to her offering, and soon disappeared:
the girl indeed in the morning awaking, and herself from the fever
free feeling, with great of mind consolation thanks
gave: and is found the aforesaid miracle depicted
in a tablet quite ancient, and is kept at S. Salvi, in which
is discerned the Saint, holding a bucket full of ice, and
the girl before her on knee bent.

[28] D. Gregory Tiglia-mochi, a monk Vallombrosan
and Confessor at S. Salvi, [in the year 1562 is cured a pain of the arm.] a year
now the fifth suffered a grave in his arm pain,
so that neither to move it, nor to use somewhat it
he could. He when in the year MDLXII on the day XXI May about to carry
was the body of the Saint, from the choir of the Nuns
to the altar of the Sacristy lower; immediately as he touched
the casket which so great contained Relics, of that pain
freed himself he felt, nor such anything any more he suffered. Such
moreover a miracle, together with three following, is found
in the acts registered by the hand of Mag. Bernard
Mochi, Notary public of Florence, under the day XVI December
of the year MDCX. In the year MDLXXXVII Sister Joanna, [1587 is freed a demoniac,]
called in the world Floretta, from the year of her age XIV bewitched had been, and hidden in her had remained a demon for
years XVIII, although now and then some of itself it gave indication.
But the aforesaid years elapsed, on the Vigil of the Assumption
Marian, it began evidently itself to manifest,
in various and pitiable manners the possessed afflicting; now
of sight, now of hearing or speech, now of senses all
her depriving, so that neither to move herself she could,
nor to be moved by others, made of weight unportable.
That matter not a small to the monastery disturbance
brought: wherefore often iterated by fastings and prayers
asked God and the very holy Mother was, for her freeing:
then the exorcisms of the Church for days six
upon her continued D. Alphonsus Porta, a Monk
Vallombrosan and Confessor of the place: on the last
moreover day, and the same Vigil of S. Bartholomew, carried about
processionally was the arm of S. Humilitas.
And when with hymns and psalms devoutly recited the aforesaid
Relic placed was upon the head of the infirm woman, [the Saint's arm applied,] went out the demon,
leaving her for an hour's space as if dead.
Horrible moreover was the noise and howl excited
by the going-out demon: and it not only
the Monks in the monastery, but even a frequent people,
who to the procession had run, heard: the infirm woman
indeed, immediately as to herself she returned, with bent knees and hands
joined the hymn Te Deum recited, and whole
XXXVIII years afterward unharmed lived.

[29] In the year MDXC D. Julia Galeotti, a Noble of Florence,
wife of Alexander Reineri, [in the same are healed a dying woman in the year 1590] of one year's space
sick lay to death. Often for her
to be cured gathered had been the College of Physicians:
but little to her to profit could they. At last she herself
vowed to S. Humilitas, and with much instance supplicated,
that to her house her venerable arm
be carried. Soon moreover as it on her head
she received, better she had, and shortly restored she was
to entire health. [and in the year 1607 a bedridden woman for a seven-year period.] In the year MDCVII seven years infirm
had lain D. Porcia Laudi, wife of D. Benedict
Ridolfi, a Noble of Florence, with a disease no less
grave than loathsome; for so the head sat, that
to raise it in no wise she could, nor except with
the greatest molestation to move; to which evil acceded a pain
in her whole body diffused. Unknown to the physicians a symptom
by no could art be relieved, and it was doubted whether it
not was to a sorcery to be ascribed. Recurred therefore
to the Saint the infirm woman, to her herself commending: and when
to her devoutly supplicating into her house was carried
her arm, better to herself to become she felt; and that more decently
she might receive so venerable a Relic, she herself
by herself rose from her bed (that which she had not been able for so many years
to do) and with her own hands prepared, and with flowers
adorned a little altar to which it was to be placed. Then
when it on her head was placed, made over it
the Cross's sign, with the admiration of those standing around all,
she was wholly healed of so grave a torment, nor ever
afterward, as long as she lived, a similar one she suffered. Present
to the miracle were D. Catherine de Pazzis,
wife of D. Bernard Zerzelli; D. Margaret Capponi,
wife of D. Francis Michelozzi; and D. Mary Capponi,
wife of the Captain Pecori: who a public to so admirable
an event testimony gave.

[30] When D. Clement Bonenti, a Monk
Vallombrosan and of the monastery of S. Salvi Rector, [The Rector of the monastery having suffered a swoon] was
in the sacristy, where already from the year MDLXII the body
of the Saint stood upon the altar; a sudden syncope
he suffered, which so prolonged and so vehement
was, that for certain it was believed him to be dead, and now
were present bearers the corpse about to carry, when he began into himself
to return. But known so dangerous a symptom,
since not yet to speak he could, his eyes he fixed
on the altar of the Saint; and himself to her with interior prayer commending,
he promised, that by her benefit to himself restored,
he would cause her body thence to be translated into the church
upon a new altar more decently to be adorned.
Scarcely such a decree in mind and vow he had formed, when
suddenly to his former he returned health: [he vows a new altar to be cared for,] and although otherwise
sometime he suffered of this kind swoons and vertigos
he had, afterward however nothing such he felt ever; and
therefore he doubted not his soundness to the Saint, as
by a miracle received, to refer. And so he began for a new
altar to be constructed to prepare all things: and behold
on a night a certain he sees the Saint, solicitously commending,
that no delay to the begun work he should interpose.
Obtained therefore from his Superiors a license a beginning
for the to-be-fabricated altar new he made, urging the completion
of the work, and often saying it perfected to be about to die
himself: which thus altogether happened. [and it finished he dies as he had foretold.] For a few he survived
months after the translated thither sacred body,
a weak thenceforth health always using; and having received
the Church's Sacraments fortified for the departure,
with great humility and devotion his spirit he rendered
to his Creator.

[31] The wife of Raphael Corsi the baker Archiepiscopal
of Florence, by an obstructing quinsy through her jaws nothing to swallow
could, nor a drop even: a vow moreover made
to S. Humilitas, [is healed a quinsy,] suddenly she convalesced. Catherine of Francis
de Mazzuola, a hand bearing enormously and foully swollen,
with a most grievous spasm, came to the altar
of S. Humilitas, and to her herself commending, the following day
found her hand to have subsided, [and of two women a hand maimed.] and healed herself to be. Catherine
of Angelo de Amerino, when in the year MDCXX from
devotion to Fiesole she had gone, falling to the ground so ill
affected a hand thence she bore, that the fingers contracting themselves
all, nor to open it she could, nor anything
with it to work. At length in the year MDCXXIV on the day XIII
May she came to S. Salvi: and when herself there with great
fervor she had commended to the Saint, faithfully she prayed that a string
her precatory be applied to the casket, in which the sacred
body rests: then the same she moved to the maimed
hand, and through each finger it she led. To the stupor
moreover of all it was, that the following night the loosened
nerves so themselves extended those fingers, as if no
evil ever in them had been: wherefore in thanks
giving she brought a hand silver, to the casket to be appended.

[32] There follows now a little list of healings, graciously
obtained through the use of that cotton, on which the sacred body
in the old ark was placed and on all sides stuffed, [By the use of the cotton to the body placed are cured, a spasm,]
lest to be shaken and jolted it could while it was translated.
D. Julius Caesar Guerini, Captain of the light cavalry
of the Most Serene Grand Duke, for days forty with great
pains a spasm had endured in one of his
legs, on the occasion of a leaden ball by a gun discharged:
but when the part affected with that cotton he touched, and the sign
of the Cross over it with the same he expressed, ceasing
the pain, shortly he convalesced: and he came to S. Salvi,
with great of mind joy a testimony to deposit
of his recovered health. In the same manner and the following day
suddenly himself healed felt Peter of Dominicus del Golpe, [a fever,]
from a most ardent fever by which he had been for whole three months
cruelly afflicted. Dianora, wife of Antony
Scacchi, [a nephritis,] days twenty-two had lain in bed full
of pains, which through the neck even to the kidneys led
there clung, with so great molestation, that neither to move herself
she could, even until the aforesaid cotton to herself she applied:
which done soon more lightly she ached, and quickly wholly healed
she was. Peter Laurence Becagli ten weeks
suffered a most cruel fever: [a fever,] to whom D. Marius Acciajuoli,
within a little paper sent of the aforesaid cotton:
and suddenly at its touch convalesced the sick man. But when
wholly healed something inordinately he had done, and thence into a fever
had relapsed; the same Noble and his Patron
the same little paper to him sent, [and its recurrence;] confident that the Saint,
to human fragility compassionating, again her to him
help would bestow: which also she did. For when of new
with the same cotton himself he had signed the sick man, a perfect he received
health on the day IV August in the year MDCXXIV.

[33] When Elisabeth, daughter of Baccius Scalandroni, had come
to visit the Saint's body, [a flux of blood from the nostrils,] still in the church
standing forth; there burst to her from the nostrils blood: neither flowing
ceasing for hours two, so weakened her head, that
to fail she began, no human profiting remedy.
She recurred therefore to the intercession of S. Humilitas,
and to her head placing something of the cotton aforesaid,
stopped suddenly that dangerous flux, and healed she was.
D. Dominicus Gigolus of Parma came to S. Salvi,
on that day on which thither came the Grand of Etruria Duke Ferdinand
II. [a despaired-of fever,] After some moreover days to Parma returned,
in bed he lay seized with a fever: and it daily
increasing, given up by the physicians he was. Recalling moreover
S. Humilitas, to her himself he commended. And when her
to himself he seemed in sleep to see, the day after he rose
sound, and gave to God and his handmaid thanks. Of the same
Dominicus a rustic certain woman for two months had borne
an abscess in her side, so malignant and solid, that
the surgeons could not it to maturity and a discharge
to make bring. [an abscess of the side,] The Lord therefore her sent to her a particle of the said cotton; with which when herself devoutly she had signed
the infirm woman, ruptured was the abscess, and healed was
the woman, to the very Saint and her patron thanks giving.

[34] Margaret of John Pagni, for hours forty
a cruel having suffered fever, [a continuous fever,] no rest to take
could: a vow therefore she made to S. Humilitas, her cotton
applied to herself, and in the morning following wholly sound
she was. Elisabeth of Agnulus Dini, for five months bore
her hand left so impeded, that it in no
way to use she could and her whole arm thence swelled.
She when on a day a certain had come on which the body
of the Saint to be beheld is presented, [a maimed hand.] and her arm to her
head had been placed, and to the hand then applied
cotton; immediately convalescing the arm returned
to its former uses, and she a silver arm
to the altar brought. Felix the innkeeper at Varlungo, [a swelling of the leg,] a leg
monstrously swollen having, had lain in bed
a whole week, because on her feet she could in no wise
stand. When moreover the following Sunday bearers
to be sought she had ordered, by whom to the Mass to be heard she might be carried
into the church; the offered to her of the cotton a particle
to the evil she applied, and immediately the leg subsided, and she
by herself to the church proceeded. Catherine of Nicholas Pagoletti, [a continuous fever,]
for three days continuous with a fever struggling,
with an inflation monstrous of her throat, which whole deformed her,
the same cotton applied, convalesced in that very
moment, and to the field's labor to be exercised proceeded.
Philip of Paul de Logoro, seized with a sudden
fever and a head's pain, [a pain,] so that in a chair he was to be carried
home, by a similar application immediately convalesced,
and to of his craft the exercise returned.

[35] Sister Thecla de Fortuna, a monk in S. Ambrose's
of Florence, [and a swelling of the head,] from a certain indisposition bearing
a head greatly inflated and her face whole, in a moment
healed she was, soon as she moved to herself that cotton.
D. Clement a Presbyter, son of Laurence a Pace, [a pain in the knee,] for days
several so great in his knee left a pain had sustained,
that to him impossible it was the ground with his foot to touch.
He signed moreover the part offended with that cotton,
and immediately came to S. Salvi to give thanks for the benefit.
A three-year-old little boy, of Andrew of Vetto and of Vita
his wife the son, by a surgeon's judgment of his eyes
one wholly had lost, with the other indeed he saw very little:
but to each the sight entire returned, [a darkening of the eye,] immediately as applied
to him the Saint's cotton was: and in turn a pair
of silver eyes the parents offered. Of Horatius
the barber the wife, [a pain of the head,] for several days having suffered a pain
of her head intolerable, by the same remedy cured suddenly
she was. To Michael of Antony Servalli had died his brother of heart-pain,
and he himself of the same infirmity was in peril; [of the heart,]
and now given up by the physicians he was with holy Oil anointed,
when for him a vow made was to B. Humilitas, and applied
the cotton; and immediately burst the abscess,
ceased the fever, and he himself a dark garment put on, and in it
in the habit to go he wished and to S. Humilitas thanks to give. Sister
Mary Angela Rucellai, [and of the eyes,] a Monk in Monticelli
of Florence, ill from her eyes having, and with cotton signed,
convalesced. When moreover afterward the said cotton
by a chance a certain to her fell out in the garden, a rain indeed
most dense upon it fell, found it was however
wrapped in its paper, so dry as if altogether not
it had rained, although with water and mud it had been covered. Bartholomew
of Laurence Allegri de Linto, ten days
to bed fixed by a fever, [an extreme fever,] with his stomach so overturned that
food altogether none it retained, the evil growing heavy,
of his life he foresaw to be imminent peril. Placed
therefore upon him was something of cotton, and of that cloth
with which the Saint's face had been covered: and immediately to be healed
beginning he began food to take, and the following day
a very small he felt fever, the day after indeed altogether
none.

[36] Andrew of Justus Montelatici, long weighed with an infirmity
of his stomach, [an infirmity of the stomach,] which at length into of life a peril verged;
applied to himself a little paper, in which was something of
the hairs and cotton of the Blessed, suddenly convalesced. Augustine
of Raphael del Brozzi for a longer time
many had borne wounds about his throat, [a wound in the throat,] with an intense and almost
intolerable pain, which to him had begun about XXIV June
in the year MDCXXIII, all his face foully corrupting
and destroying. Of the year moreover following on the day X May,
on a horse himself he caused to be carried to the body of S. Felicitas: where
his throat with the very cotton signing, suddenly the pain
all from the wounds he drove away, and on the day XXVII May a votive
anathema he brought to S. Salvi, because himself plainly healed he believed.
D. Ignatius, [a lethal fever,] a Monk Vallombrosan, for days
five with a fever most ardent with a most intense of head
and breast pain had labored, and was despaired
by the physicians, and therefore of preparing the funeral for the day following
it was thought. He remained moreover in the greatest straits
even to midnight, of all devoid of rest.
Meanwhile with the greatest affection he commended himself
to the Saint, and his prayer finished he fell asleep. In the morning indeed
awaked free from the fever and pain all himself he felt,
and soon his former strength recovered. Coming therefore on the day
following the physician D. Antony Medici, and in so good
a state his sick man finding, vehemently was astonished:
but understanding what had been done, a great
he conceived also himself veneration toward the Saint. He
indeed who infirm had been, immediately came to S. Salvi,
and on the altar of the said Saint a sacrifice to God eucharistic
offered, and there a silver anathema left.

[37] D. James Federighi, with pustules pestilent
so besprinkled, [petechiae,] that next about to die he was believed; signed
with that cloth with which the body of the Saint had been within
the casket covered, and in that very moment better to have
beginning, quickly wholly convalesced. The people whole of the Abbey
of S. Reparata de Marradio, in the year MDCXXX, the premised
fast, confession and communion, with an equal
had bound itself vow in honor of the Saint, that they might be freed
from an epidemic which then raged evil: [a pestilence,] and
although the Castle and neighboring places overran the malignant
plague, the place itself however so immune from it kept
was, that no one complained to himself a head to ache. Romulus
of Statius, grievously infirm and given up by the physicians lay
on account of a fever hectic which into a continuous turned
was: [a hectic,] but soon as he began himself to commend to the Saint,
he began also to have better, and quickly convalesced. A girl
for many years in bed lying so contracted, [a contraction,] that to move
herself she into no part could, with cotton touched and
immediately healed she was. The wife of Thomas Montelatici two
after childbirth months so impeded in her arm
that to use it she could not, nor help to bring a physician,
recurred to the help of the Saint to be implored; and suddenly better
having within eight days full she recovered health:
and in memory of the benefit a silver arm
she offered to the altar.

[38] Br. Laurence, a Lay-brother Vallombrosan,
under his horse into a ditch deep fell: [dismissed grave perils,] and himself commending
to the Saint, unharmed thence drawn out he was. A most bad
a certain purpose in mind had conceived Hippolytus
Potiti, for terminating an affair whence of his and
of several other families ruin was feared: nor
could persons God fearing, who as mediators themselves
offered, his fixed will to bend; until of his own accord
he himself to the help of the Saint to be implored himself turned,
and heard he experienced himself to be, the disturbances all in a short while
settled. Catherine of Antony del Pace, to an erysipelas her face
occupying a remedy none finding, [is healed an erysipelas,] dissipated
it, superplaced to herself the cotton often said. The son
of D. Julius Caesar Paganelli, a Noble of Faenza, and of his wife
D. Bartholomaea Barbavera, with most grievous oppressed
symptoms only not seemed dead,
and that to him happened often. [an epilepsy,] But when by a vow offered to the Saint
suddenly he convalesced, and was brought with an anathema
silver to the altar of her. With a similar success another a certain
noble matron of Faenza her son from a horse fallen
commended to the Saint, and sound received him. [a fever,] D. Julius
Rondanini, with a fever malignant seized, a Mass in
her honor to be said caused, and immediately free from
the fever he was.

[39] [a deafness,] A perfect deafness had incurred Sister Catherine,
she understood many graces through the intercession of S.
Humilitas to be obtained, on a certain evening to her herself she commended,
and the following day rose sharply hearing. [a pain of the arm,]
Sister Archangela, a Monk in S. Humilitas's of Faenza,
with a prolonged of her arm torment exercised, by the same
freed was, when herself she commended to the Saint. Sister Victoria
in the same monastery, with a most grievous seized
symptom was breathing out her soul, [a privation of the senses,] of motion of speech and of sense
devoid, nor of the last Sacraments capable.
Which last when her companions Monks especially
anguished, all bent on their knees began her to the most benign
their Mother to commend. Behold moreover a thing
stupendous! Returned into herself the sick woman, as if nothing of evil
she suffered, and her Confession performed and received
the Viaticum, the day whole as sound she did; the following indeed day
with the greatest devotion her spirit she rendered. Sister
Laura-Felix Vergimilii, a sharp in her arm torment
suffering, the same wiped with that cotton signing it, and
a silver arm offered in memory of the received
grace. To Sister Theodora Carrari in her eye a film had emerged,
which besides deformity in it also a blindness [a defect of the eye,]
caused: but commending herself to the Saint, by the same
freed she was.

[40] Sister Magdalene had been a whole month blind,
so that not except with others' hands to take food she could: [a blindness,]
invoked moreover the Saint immediately she recovered her sight. Another time
when from a pain of her breast she failed, signed with cotton
to herself she returned. Sister Cecilia Victoria, by the physicians
given up was on account of a malignant fever: [a fever,] but by a certain
her aunt that herself to S. Humilitas she should commend admonished,
when she had recited that devout prayer, which
begins, O most holy Humilitas, immediately she fell asleep,
and awaked was sound. To Sister Maura Dingofanti, [petechiae,]
with a pestilent fever with pustules laboring, after
the given Extreme Unction applied vesicatories
were by the surgeon, who the following morning without doubt extinct
herself about to find said: but because to the Saint herself
she commended, found her the same wholly sound.
Another time before the Saint's arm the same praying freed she was
from a grave torment, which in her arm so she suffered,
that neither to clothe herself nor anything else to work
she could. In the year MDCXXXI Camillus, son of Peter Francis
of Marradio, with a pestilence seized, [a pest,] with vomiting
and a fever excessive; and now given up by the physicians, for
that all in that place seized with that evil now had died;
a vow he made to S. Humilitas, and ceasing
soon the fever ceased the vomiting, and the anthrax pestiferous
burst.

[41] [an arthritis,] In the year MDCXXXII Antonia, daughter of Andrew Pampaloni,
for years seven with arthritis so was bound, that
never either to walk or even to stand on her feet
she could. She vowed therefore to S. Humilitas, for obtaining a freer
of her step faculty, the Vigil of her feast to do
fasting on bread and water. Behold moreover while in the evening in
her bed the wonted prayers to the Saint she offers, she heard a voice saying to her, Rise and walk. Obeyed she,
and began through the chamber to walk. There ran to
so great a novelty her mother and brother D. Jerome,
Rector of S. Stephen in Curtibus, and many neighbors,
and with admiration full thanks to God gave. There lasted
to her this health for days four, so that out even to
a certain her estate by a way difficult and arduous she
proceeded: after the fourth moreover day, when she wished
in the morning from her bed to go out, [a grave catarrh.] again herself she found in her feet
maimed, and so she remained thus, that only to walk with
a support thenceforth she could. To Silvagia Redini, the wife
of Silvius Annibal, a vehement catarrh a fever had brought,
with a pain of the head all rest taking away.
She asked moreover exceedingly instantly that there be brought to her
the veil of S. Humilitas, and with it signed immediately of fever
and pain she lacked.

HYMNS AND ORATIONS

From the Vallombrosan Offices, in the year 1566 at Florence printed.

Humilitas, Abbess of the Order of Vallombrosa, of Florence in Etruria (B.)

THE FIRST HYMN.

Praises lofty let the Nuns sing,
Melodies flaming the Monks devout,
On the feast sacred of the pious Mother our
      Humilitas.

The world thou spurnest, lofty Cherubic one,
Flying to Christ ardent Seraphic one:
Who thee clothed thy resigned self
      With his light once.

The Cherub great of the highest Hierarchy
Thee the spouse of Christ tends and governs;
When the Pastoral care thou tookest up
      An Angel strong.

A book thou composest by the Spirit dictating,
Full of praises of the Virgin Mary:
Which if anyone reads, grace he gains
      By thy prayers.

Day to day a word thou hast belched forth,
Drawn from the fountain of the highest Trinity;
When of the coming of our Redeemer
      The causes thou unfoldest.

Sculpted in thy heart with the chisel of charity
Thou hast Mary, the mother of thy Spouse;
By whose love wounded thou criest,
      Hail Queen.

Many treatises thou writest, holy Doctress,
Not knowing a book, an idiot knowing,
A white holding on thy shoulder dove
      The Holy Spirit.

A pallium thou weavest for Christ about to be born
Of triple color, the admonitions blessed
Mystically fulfilling of the Virgin Mary,
      Whom thou hast loved.

Thee betrothed with a ring supernal
Holy John, the eagle heavenly;
And he bestows gifts precious
      From Paradise.

When food thou takest, to thee are demonstrated
The stigmata of Christ, and the wine myrrhed,
The poor, the naked, and the imprisoned,
      Of bread lacking.

Glory to God be to the eternal Father,
And to Jesus Christ, to the holy Trinity,
To the Mother Mary, and to John the holy
      Evangelist. Amen.

ANOTHER HYMN.

A hymn let us sing of glory, a hymn of new victory,
      Of Humilitas the Lady holy by the gift of virtue.

In a strait cell thou art enclosed, for twice-six years thou art beaten,
      And after these from under the bushel thou shinest in the candelabrum.

A matron most noble, with all virtue endowed,
      On a mount holy a city thou irradiatest Florence.

By prayer's showers the canker thou drivest from the kidneys,
      And the lips swelling abhorring medicines.

John forewarned thee that thou come to Florence,
      And of the Ladies citizens compose a monastery.

With signs thou glitterest the greatest and with valid prodigies:
      A boy of ten dies, but alive through thee is restored.

While thou bewailest most sacred of the beloved Jesus the wounds,
      For tears thou givest blood, which all waters thy face.

With a single bread thou satisfiest the famished disciples:
      And many of bread fragments lays up the Dispensaress.

The hidden of the heart thou penetratest, sins many thou unsealest,
      One near to death rebuking, his decease foreseeing.

While with a fever thou burnest valid, bearing of August the heats;
      Thou hast desired ice, which taking thou feelest rest.

Who visit the Mausoleum, bear back a benefit;
      And of health the grace, who have faith the best.

Glory to thee Lord, who born art of the Virgin,
      With the Father and the holy Spirit, through the ages of ages.

Amen.

ANTIPHON.

O flower of chastity, of benignity, of mercy, and of charity,
B. Humilitas, intercede for thy daily devout ones,
asking thy suffrage.

ORATION.

O God who S. Humilitas to the heights of virtues and
of contemplations heavenly most excellently to lead
hast deigned: grant we beseech, that by her merits and prayers,
the earthly things left, always the heavenly we may meditate.
Through the Lord &c.

ANOTHER.

O God, who the glorious Humilitas, letters ignorant,
with so great of the Holy Spirit abundance hast filled,
that a book of the heavenly things and of the praises of the citizens supernal
in the Latin tongue she composed: grant us we beseech,
that by her prayers and merits of the same Holy Spirit
the grace we may be filled. Through the Lord &c.

ANOTHER.

O God, who of thy most beloved Spouse Humilitas's
holy body, for showing of her glorious mind
the integrity, unharmed and entire to preserve
hast deigned: grant propitious, that by her prayers and merits,
of our mind and body no of corruption
wounds we may suffer. Through the Lord.
