ON BL. ANTHONY THE HUNGARIAN OF THE THIRD ORDER OF S. FRANCIS AT FOLIGNO IN UMBRIA.
A.D. MCCCXCVIII
CommentaryAnthony the Hungarian of the Third Order of S. Francis, at Foligno in Umbria (Bl.)
BY D. P.
Louis Iacobillus, in the book on the Saints and Blessed of Foligno, around year MDCXXVIII published, about to write of this B. Anthony, prefaces an ample description of that place, where now in the said city the Hospital of the Holy Spirit is. There S. Vincent Bishop of the said city, he says, built an oratory, In the place where formerly the oratory of the Holy Trinity, in honor of the Most Holy Trinity, apt for the solitary life which he loved: S. Florentius then having added a monastery, in which holding the institute of the Benedictine Order monks long stayed, under the new title of S. Sylvester Curasserius, with traces of the old appellation remaining above the door of the church inside and out, namely a twin image of the most holy Trinity, and that sufficiently old: but is understood S. Sylvester the Pope, whose feast on the last day of the year most solemnly there is held, and to whom, or rather to the monastery sacred to him, then the monastery of S. Sylvester Curazzarius, the surname is given from care to the sick incurables, as if late brought, accustomed to be expended there. That this work of charity there is so ancient, although it is not proved; I would prefer however to receive that reason of the name which is offered, than from this that Curasero is derived from the Italian Curazza (but this word also among the Franks the cuirass denotes, whence cuirassed or cataphract knights are called Cuirassiers by the French, by the Italians Corazzari) I would prefer, I say, first to believe, than without other proof, anyone who there lived to establish a S. Sylvester Loricatus there, in the likeness of S. Dominic Loricatus, S. William the Hermit, and others, who used a cuirass over the bare for clothing for the cause of penance.
[2] But with the monks still standing there, says Iacobillus, the place, which outside the walls of the city first stood (as still the relics of the old gate and towers show) of the same walls, in year MCCLXXX more widely extended, and finally the hospital of the Holy Spirit, was enclosed; two hundred years later, after it had been united to the Monastery of S. Mary of Stroracus of the Cassinensian Congregation near Osimo. But when the same monks held another of Holy-Cross at Live-Rock town of the Foligno district, them sent there by Pope Clement V about year MCCCXI, and the monastery itself was united to the Roman hospital of the Holy Spirit, and thence is called the Hospital of the Holy Spirit, or also of the laborers; because in the ministry of the sick they labor, brought there from Rome the Brothers: although Pope Sixtus IV in year MCCCCLXXIV, understanding other to be hospitals at Foligno, where this kind of charity was exercised; ordered all revenues to be expended on nourishing infants exposed or otherwise abandoned. Meanwhile, when the prior form of Hospital was observed there, came there this of whom we treat B. Anthony, whose body, B. Anthony is venerated, above the major altar inside a chest decently placed, religiously is honored. The Life then of the Blessed subjoins the said author, of what kind almost from tradition could be had: which then with the more prolix description of the place omitted in year MDCXLVII to be reprinted he took care in volume I on the Lives of Saints and Blessed of Umbria. From the prior work a Latin epitome made R. P. Luke Wadding, and inserted into his Annals of the Minors vol. 4: and hence transcribed it Arthur du Monstier, in Notes on the Franciscan Martyrology, prefacing this his eulogy: At Foligno in Umbria of B. Anthony the Hungarian, Confessor, Tertiary, of admirable piety, humility and charity a man.
[3] The epitome in Wadding is this. Died in this year MCCCXCVIII, on III Ides of May B. Anthony the Hungarian, follower of the third institute of S. Francis, of unknown however city and lineage. in year 1368 there died, He came into the sacred city for pilgrimage and to gain the great Indulgence of the Jubilee in year MCCCL. where he stayed for some years, in visiting the thresholds of the Saints and works of piety exercising wholly intent. With more opportune garment and life kind to serve God, the third Order of S. Francis habit he received, and the laws he observed. Then his Legislator's tomb to venerate, where after votive pilgrimages he had stayed, and the celebrated Portiuncula Indulgence's merits to obtain, to Assisi he set out. Thence returning to Foligno in year MCCCLXXI he fell into illness: and led to the hospital of the Holy Spirit, the manifold he experienced charity of the ministers. Recovered health, he resolved, what he had received works of mercy, toward others to exercise, and to the services of the sick and poor his work all and life to place. Nothing was more meek than he, nothing more kindly, nothing toward neighbor more beneficent. The sick he was caring for, nourishing, comforting: exposed infants most tenderly he was warming, piously educating, instructing: poor men and pilgrim Christians he attended with services. and lived 17 years piously. Of abstinence and penance was admirable, of assiduous prayer, and of profound humility; made a model of all virtues. So great he obtained opinion among the people, that to him all turned afflicted for counsel, troubled for remedy, tempted for suffrage. At length full of years and merits, purged by long infirmity, which most patiently he tolerated, with the duties of the Christian man preceded, and received the holy Church's Sacraments, piously fell asleep at Foligno. The body honorably, with running together the whole people, in a certain little chapel of the church of the said Hospital was placed, and with perpetual reverence of the people celebrated, with God to very many through his intercession doing well. Lastly in year MDCVIII transferred to the major altar of the temple, transferred to the major altar in year 1608. above which in a noble case whole and unharmed to all is exposed for veneration.
[4] Scarcely more than these things has, although in many words, Iacobillus; only adds, that in the said Hospital remained the Blessed from a vow conceived if he should recover: then the author of the latest translation he names P. Fr. Melchior de Valle-Tullensi, a Frenchman, then Prior there; and noble he calls the chest, in which his body rests. We grieve indeed, that when in year MDCLX with him we tarried, of some days Guests, occupied in carefully scrutinizing all his charters and books, so that whatever was lacking to us to be copied he himself would take care, which also liberally he did; we grieve, I say, that to him did not occur the thought of leading also us to the said Hospital, that holy body to inspect and venerate. This very thing however not so much to his oblivion, as to our hastening I would impute, who were accelerating the journey, that at least the Lord's Nativity we might at Rome celebrate.