ON B. MARINA THE VIRGIN, OF THE ORDER OF CANONS REGULAR OF S. AUGUSTINE, FOUNDRESS OF THE MONASTERY OF S. MATTHEW AT SPOLETO IN UMBRIA.
A.D. 1300
HISTORICAL COLLECTION.
From Ludovico Jacobilli's On the Saints of Umbria, and from Manuscript monuments.
Marina, foundress of the monastery of S. Martin, of the Order of S. Augustine at Spoleto in Italy (B.)
AUTHOR. D. P.
Blessed Marina, formerly surnamed Vallarina, daughter of Silvester Petrocianus the Spoletan, from her earliest age betook herself to the monastery of S. Mary surnamed "a Stella," From the monastery of S. Mary "a Stella" which in the year 1254 had founded Bartholomew Bishop of Spoleto, under the Order of the Hermits of S. Augustine; and "a Stella" (of the Star) he had wished it to be surnamed, which in a well of the place he had seen most resplendent. To the Nuns of his Convent imposed was the care of educating exposed and bastard infants, in a contiguous and for this end erected orphanage; to which a chapel adhered, and beside it the aforesaid well, square, and converted into a common sepulchre of the innocents, baptism received having died.
[2] In that monastery when for some years had lived the Blessed one, to others for an example of all virtue and observance; having crossed over to found the new monastery of S. Matthew, desirous of a more austere and more perfect life, together with other Nuns six, she betook herself to the hospital of S. Matthew in the same city, which was of the Tertiaries of S. Francis; and there she founded a monastery under the title of the same S. Matthew, and of the same Eremitical Order of S. Augustine, about the year 1265. But when to Spoleto had come the Canons Regular of the Lateran, of the same S. Augustine the Rule professing, having received a dwelling near the church of S. Syrus; the Nuns of both monasteries "a Stella" and S. Matthew said to be ruled they undertook, She there takes the Canonical habit in the year 1302. and by the help of these they obtained the Abbey of S. Julian in Monte-Luco, and the church of S. Ansanus within the city. But they, desiring of those, under whose discipline they lived, also the Order and Habit to hold under the same Constitutions; the Rochet, or if you prefer the linen Surplice to call it they assumed in the year 1302; except six, who retaining the old habit, betook themselves in the year 1306 to the hospice of the Hermits of Monte-Luco, dedicated to S. Angelo within the city; and a beginning gave to the new of S. Angelo convent, under the Eremitical observance.
[3] B. Marina lived furthermore in that which she had erected S. Matthew's monastery, and having died about 1300, years about thirty, a most exact observer of the new profession, and intent on prayers, fastings and penances; whence to the whole city famed made, most holily she died about the year 1300, on the day June 18. But there saw the Nuns who stood by the dying one, a most splendid sun ray descending upon the body of the one expiring; and through her merits God worked many miracles: on account of which the said Nuns the body of her to be buried took care in a place from others separated, in 1471 she is translated with the body incorrupt: in a marble tomb honorably laid; which in the year 1471 uncovered and found was entire and incorrupt, and with new miracles began to shine. Thus far Ludovico Jacobilli, in tome 1 pag. 645 of the year 1647; the Manuscripts of Severus Minervius, John Baptist Bracceschi, and Seraphinus of Seraphinis being alleged in the margin. Before which what worthy I judged the process and Instrument of the Translation made in the year 1548; and letters having been given to Spoleto I obtained from the original authentically transcribed in the year 1691, through our there P. Ventura of Baldinellis, that which follows.
[4] John of Orlandis of Piscia, Doctor of Both Laws, of the Most Reverend in Christ Father and Lord our, which the Vicar General of the Bishop of Spoleto, Fabius Vigilis, by the grace of God and of the Apostolic See Bishop of Spoleto, in spiritual and temporal things Vicar general; to You venerable and beloved to us in Christ Abbess and Nuns of the Venerable monastery of S. Matthew of Spoleto, of the Order of S. Augustine, of the Lateran Congregation, greeting in the Lord everlasting and the consolation of the Holy Spirit.
[5] Marvelous is God, who by the omnipotence of his power infinite miracles daily has worked in the world, on account of the noted sanctity of Marina, many also in several of his Saints day by day to work does not disdain. Among whom most recently the same omnipotent God in B. Marina, formerly a Nun of your venerable monastery, by the holiness of her life, the working of miracles, to shine forth did not disdain. For when Marina aforesaid, from her entering age, in S. Mary's "a Stella" first, and then in S. Matthew's, by the same with some other Nuns from the foundations erected monastery, in this Spoletan city, service to God worthy rendered, and a life by religion and holiness conspicuous lived; in her death by miracles openly shone forth; and from the year one thousand four hundred seventy-first until this day for Blessed held and reputed was, and the miraculous integrity, just as today she is held and reputed; and her body until this day entire and incorrupt to have been conserved, is public and notorious; and by the Spoletan people in the greatest is held veneration; and although hitherto her body, from the day of her death until this day, on account of her holiness, in a place apart from the burial of the other Nuns was deposited; and the aforesaid deposit, on account of its antiquity to restore there is need; nor that You without our special license wish to do; therefore to Us you have caused to be supplicated, that in the foregoing about an opportune remedy to consult we would deign.
[6] We therefore, both your and the whole people of Spoleto's devotion to consult, permits her to be translated into a more decent place in 1648 and that in his Saints God most good and great's omnipotence to be recognized to shine forth, to provide willing; to You and to each of you, the sepulchre or deposit of B. Marina, just as otherwise was made, to destroy and a new in another decent place, with that veneration which is fitting and hitherto usual and customary, to build license and faculty by the tenor of these presents we grant and bestow; those doing the contrary notwithstanding whatsoever. In faith of which and testimony of all the foregoing, these presents through the undersigned Notary of our Curia and Chancellor to be written, with the great Episcopal seal of Spoleto, which in these similar things we use, by appension to be fortified we caused. Given and done at Spoleto, in the Episcopal Palace of our usual residence, under the year of the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ 1548, in the Indiction sixth, but on the 19th day of the month of May; in the presence there of discreet men Lords, D. Bernardinus Leoncillus of Spoleto, and Peter Macoschellus a Florentine Cleric, witnesses to all the foregoing called, had, and asked, in the Pontificate of our Holy Lord Paul by divine providence Pope III in the fourteenth year.
John of Piscia Vicar General by his own hand. Marianus Leoncillus Notary of the Episcopal Curia by mandate.
I Cassius Cupuccinus, Chancellor of the Episcopal Curia of Spoleto, because the abovesaid copy with its own proper original, with the Nuns of S. Matthew of Spoleto existing, and through another hand to me however faithful I extracted, and a collation having been made it agrees, in faith of the foregoing etc. Faith finally to it makes, Opicius, by divine mercy of the title of S. Martin in the Mountains Cardinal Pallavicinus, Bishop of Spoleto … July 17, 1691; just as testifies the undersigned John Maria of Nobilibus, Episcopal Notary by mandate.
[7] Another Instrument of the translation actually made hitherto could not be found, a silver chest is made for her in the year 1659. laid up perhaps under the sacred body itself when in the year 1659 Vallarinus Petruccianus a noble Spoletan, this blessed one of his family about to honor, ordered to be fabricated a silver case, which within the same marble sepulchre placed should contain the aforesaid body, just as in the subjoined image is to be seen. The same testifies the above-praised Jacobilli except that by a typographical error is read printed the year 1639 for 1659, just as above written was the year 1502 for 1302.
THE BODY OF B. MARINA FOUNDRESS OF THE MONASTERY OF S. MATTHEW OF SPOLETO.
[8] I was, in the year 1660 with Master Henschen going toward Rome, on the 20th day of December, by our Spoletan College's then Rector led to that pious spectacle, and in which we ourselves saw the Blessed one in the year 1660: and I saw the aforesaid venerable Body in its case placed, on the temple's right side as one enters, near the altar, within the wall with marble work elegant clothed just as then I related in my pocket-notes: about whose cult afterward a more distinct notice seeking (for neither to memory to trust anything would I dare, after an interval of forty years) from the aforesaid Bandinello thus I received: No solemn veneration of Marina is held by the peoples, no through the whole year's space her festivity is kept, nor Mass is made, but without a solemn cult of Mass and Office, nor Office is recited, not even by the Nuns themselves of S. Matthew. Only around her sepulchre very many votive offerings hang; and the body incorrupt, as a notable Relic, to all having a journey this way is shown.
[9] Because nevertheless the aforesaid all things abundantly prove the case, by the Urbanian Bull excepted into the prerogative of cult from immemorial, that is exceeding the notice of a hundred years ; there could that more solemn cult, which through Mass and Office is paid, the hope of obtaining which now remains slight. from Rome be hoped; were it not that there stood in the way the recent Decree of the sacred Congregation, in that which for B. Juliana Falconieri emanated, providing, that hereafter may not avail such proofs of Blessedness, anciently believed and received and by Bishops and the local Ordinaries approved, except in the same kind of cult; as I already said treating of S. Peter the Pisan, only thus far carried, nor without new Processes easily further to be carried. But why is omitted the exception and approbation of the miraculous graces, which to the Body of B. Marina are believed to be referred? These certainly ought not to be neglected, but in writings authentic legitimately to be consigned, and to the Ordinaries' examination to be subjected: because such diligence both more copious benefits would elicit from God, and a way would pave to a solemn Canonization sometime to be obtained through new Processes.