ON B. VITALIS OF BASTIA, HERMIT OF THE THIRD ORDER OF S. FRANCIS, IN THE ASSISI DIOCESE OF UMBRIA.
YEAR MCCCCXCI.
HISTORICAL SYLLOGE.
Of his life, miracles, translation, and cult.
Vitalis, Hermit of the Third Order of S. Francis, at Assisi in Italy (B.)
Col. 475AG. H.
Bastia, a place in the territory and diocese of Assisi, toward the city of Perugia, was the fatherland of B. Vitalis, who from this drew his cognomen. But at Assisi having taken up the habit and rule of the third order of S. Francis, Fatherland. with all things left which he possessed, in the year one thousand four hundred seventieth withdrew to a hermitage, a thousand paces from Assisi distant, where near the Church of B. Mary, called of Viola, in a certain little chapel a solitary life for over twenty years he led, Life holily passed. in harsh penance and the highest perfection. His conversation was with God in prayer and contemplation: his exercises were in fasts, in body's chastisements, and in mortifications of his senses. Furthermore from when as Hermit to the said place he migrated, never is said to have kindled fire or light. A rigid follower of poverty, he wore a tunic and habit pieced together from cheap and rude cloth, and with bare always feet he walked. Wine or relish or anything seasoned with salt he did not taste. Lest he be conquered by sleep, he was wont his prominent hair with wood placed above to interweave, and by other ways to repel slumber. pious death in the year 1491. So filled with merits and virtues, he died on the day XXXI of May of the year MCCCCXCI; and to the people venerable, bright with miracles, and on a recently made stone sepulchre placed, and in his little chapel buried: where afterwards in his honor a Church was built, since by God with many and various miracles his sanctity was declared.
[2] Miracles. Of which a few from very many to the notice of posterity have come, are these: A certain Scholastic memory and speech had lost, who when his sacred relics he had visited, both recovered. A boy deceased, by parents to his sepulchre brought, and to his intercessions commended, to life was recalled. A certain Tudertine, condemned to death, when of B. Vitalis he had implored the patronage, with prison and chains divinely opened he fled. Finally for very many years possessed by demons, and torn, at his tomb were cured. Wherefore by such great operation of miracles excited the citizens, his body they elevated, translation of the body made in the year 1509. which from the church in solitary place built, with solemn pomp to the Cathedral church was translated, on the day XXII of September, in the year above one thousand and five hundred ninth, and deposited in a little chapel in the very servant of God's honor dedicated, which the Chapel of S. Vitalis is called. His image, both in the prior church, and in the Cathedral to public veneration exposed is seen. The day however of his birth in the city and diocese of Assisi under the rite of double is celebrated XXXI of May, Ecclesiastical Office. and the feast of the translated body XXII of September. On the very feast in his honor is instituted through the city a solemn procession, where besides is a noble and numerous Confraternity, S. Vitalis named.
[3] Writers about him Arturus du Monstier in the Franciscan Martyrology reported him on the day XXV of November. We in this relation have followed especially Ludovicus Jacobillus, who at Foligno a place quite neighboring the Lives of the Saints and Blessed of Umbria wrote. On the same day XXXI of May, reported him Ferrarius in the Catalogue of Saints of Italy, and in another general Catalogue. Wadding the same celebrates in his Annals at the year 1491 no. 42, who the body into the city translated asserts in the year 1599. But since Jacobillus that translation had reported in the first volume at the year 1510, in the Additions and Corrections to the third volume joined, where also he mentions Wadding, he ascribes it to the year 1509; an easy however error could have happened in the cipher in Wadding, a parochial church to him dedicated. that be written the year 1599. Besides Jacobillus adds, from the Index of castles and villas of the County of Assisi, that there is a village under the title of S. Vitalis with a church dedicated to him, in which are numbered one hundred and fifteen families. Other authors, who treat of B. Vitalis, are cited very many by said Jacobillus and Arturus, to whom we send the reader.