The rule of penance of the seraphicall father S. Francis: approued and confirmed by Leo the X. for religious persons of the 3. order of S. Francis : together with a declaration of each point of the Rule, profitable not only to the religous of this order, but also to all religious women / by Br. Angelus Francis, friar minour.

THE NINTEENTH CHAPTER. Containing a briefe catalogue of the principall holy persons that haue beene in this order, since it came to be a perfect religious state.

ALthough there haue beene from the beginning of this holy order many that did liue in

a claustrall manner, the order it selfe euery day encreasing more and more, & yeelding abūdāce of holy persons, who haue professed this holy rule, yet it neuer came to its full perfection, that is, to compleat and perfect state of re∣ligion, vntill the time of blessed Angeline, (a diminitiue frō An∣gela for distinction sake, other wise she was also called Angela) who from being Countesse of Ciuitella became religious of this order. For hauing gathered to∣gether many noble yong woemen of the same minde with her selfe, shee built a monasterie, and de∣dicated it to S. Anne in the yeare 1397. and entring therein with her associats, hauing first made the three vowes of obedience, pouerty, and chastitie she did with sanctitie perseuer to the

end of her life in fasting, prayer, and other exercises of pennance. By her example many other ga∣thering their meanes together in short time did build eight mona∣steries in diuerse parts of Italy, and did liue vnder the habit and rule of the third order, which manner of life was approued and confirmed by the Popes Martin. 5 Eugenius 4. Not long after by their example many men did also build conuents liuing vnder the same habit and rule, with the three vowes of religion as they had done. This holy woman died on the day that Christ was borne, as our Sauiour appearing on S. Thomas his day had declared vnto her; and lies buried in the said monastery of S. Anne where she is worshipped with great re∣uerence of the people.

Amongst the disciples of this holy woman were many reli∣gious persons famous for san∣ctitie, Iacobellus principally notes three: to wit, blessed Onuphria, sometimes countesse of Aprutia, and B. Francis of Burgaria, of the house of the Earles of Marsican, and blessed Ioane of Fulginea, much renowned for pietie, vertue, re∣gular obseruance, and perfection of life, who afterward went to Florence, and there built the mo∣nasterie of S. Onuphrius, ending their daies in great sanctitie.

Blessed Margaret Dominicke was also one of them that tooke the habit from S. Angeline, and be∣came a perfect follower of her vertues, for she much excelled in prayer, humilitie, and contēpt of her selfe, and did serue euery one as if she had beene their subiect,

and with a sincere heart and can∣dide mind did reuerence all her sisters; her puritie was rather an∣gelicall than humane, and her obedience such that without the consent of her superiour she would doe or resolue nothing, shewing no lesse respect also to her ghostly Father. She tamed her flesh with abstinence, fastings, and haircloath, as being most zealous of her vowes; being full of charitie, she did helpe any of her sisters that were in necessitie, and willingly performe their wills. In the end the monasterie of S. Anne being ouer filled with religions, the citizens of Fulginea did build another vnder the title of S. Anne, and this holy woman was made Abbesse therof, where she instructed her sisters in the best manner, and by her friends

enlarged the monastery, which she most religiously gouerned, vntill she was called to Spoletum, where she began also another monasterie, vnder the title of S. Catharine. Which done she was brought home to herformer mo∣nasterie, where she appeared more feruent, excercising her selfe in the workes of holy prayer, pennance, and mortification, whence after the death of B. S. Angeline she was called to suc∣ceede in her place, and therein began to shine with miracles, and there died with incredible patiēce in her infirmitie, her body was placed in a shrine neere to the altar in the said monasterie of S. Anne, which was long times after found whole, and entire, yeelding a most fragrant odour, and shining with miracles.

Blessed Lucida was one of the companions of S. Magaret, famous for regular obseruance and rare vertues. She was much delighted in the memorie of Christs Pas∣sion, and thereby merited to feele the dolour of the wounds of our Sauiour in her hands.

Blessed Sanctia Martinez was endowed with great humilitie and perfection of life. For after she had builded at her owne charges the monasterie of S. Elizabeth at Arenali in the yeare 1440. and laid a good foundation for the reuenues thereof became her selfe religious of this order, being of such examplar life, that all did striue to imitate her humi∣litie, being such that although she was borne of nobler parents, yet was she not ashamed to carry water vpon her shoulders through

the market place. And no lesse addicted she her selfe to austeritie and pennance, and so died with great opinion of sanctitie.

Blessed Pyrona of flāders did enter into the monasterie of the third order in Gāt, that there she might serue God more purely, and more freely giue her selfe to workes of pennance. She had the gift of compunction so copiously, that her eies were as a red cloth. She was very obedient to her supe∣riours, flourished in true pouertie, and did much labour to conserue her chastitie and keepe her mind and body free from all spot. After she had liued thus a long time with great sanctitie she got leaue of her Abbesse to goe and liue in an hermitage within the Church yard of S. Nicholas, neere to the towne, where she did shine with

admirable sanctitie, austeritie of life, patience, and miracles, and knew the secret thoughts of the mindes of those that came to her, and oftentimes made them knowne. She died in the yeare 1472.

Blessed Mary Ruiz of Alcarazio despiseing all nuptiall rites tooke the habit of this order, and by her example did draw many o∣thers to her, and together with them by the authoritie of Pope Innocent the 8. did liue after a re∣ligious manner, changeing her house into a monasterie in the yeare 1486. And liuing vnder the obedience of the Prouinciall of the Friar Minors, with abun∣dance of merits and vertues, most religiously died hauing before foretold the time of her death.

About the same time liued

Blessed Beatrix Hermosilla who together with her Ant did study to perfection, nothing esteeming the world and pompe therof, whatsoeuer they could get, they did distribute to the poore, and by their labours with helpe of the citizens did erect the mona∣sterie of S. Elizabeth in Castile, where with other virgins and woemen they made profession of this third order, and with great sanctitie of life liued and died therein, in the yeare 1485. Her bones were taken vp 47. yeares after, being fresh, and yeelding a very sweet sent, and being translated to a more conuenient place very many miracles were wrought before them, which gaue occasion to the people to shew great deuotion vnto them.

B. Aldonza Lopetia of noble

race, by the helpe of the cittizens of Arenali in the yeare 1490. be∣gan the monasterie of our lady, after wards through the sanctitie of the holy woeman called the monasterie of Aldonza, for that she was the first Abbesse of this house, who had the spirit of pro∣phecie, working miracles both in her life and after her death.

Blessed Vraca Roderiguez of Vlmes of most noble parentage, and exceeding rich, entring into a a Church where she heard the words of our Sauiour, si vis per∣fectus esse, vade & vende omnia quae habes, & da pauperibus, tooke them as said to her selfe, and so be∣stowed much part of her meanes vpon religious houses, builded an hospitall, conuerting her owne house into a monasterie, and gi∣uing all the rest to the poore. Af∣terward

she with fiue of her neeces, and three other gentle∣woemen entred into this order about the yeare 1491. None was more chast than she, none more vigilant. She exceld all the rest in patience, meekenesse, mercie, hu∣militie, and dayly labours, and at last replenished with merits, and sanctitie died, & lies buried in the monasterie she had erected.

About the same time liued Blessed Agnes à ferro who some∣time did attend on the Queene of Aragonia, but afterward being weary of the world, and despi∣seing the vaine honours thereof, became religious of this third or∣der, liuing in great pouertie, hu∣militie, and sanctitie.

In the yeare 1500. Blessed Anne of Areualo was famous for sanctitie in the monasterie of S. Elizabeth, of the third order of S.

Francis, where she liued for a hun∣dred yeares in exceeding great humilitie, patience, abstinence, prayer, and charitie.

About the same yeare liued Blessed Clare of Fulginea famous for pietie, and deuotion, being very zealous of regular obser∣uance, and often deseruing to be comforted in apparitions by the seraphicall Father S. Francis.

About the yeare 1515. florished Blessed Catharine Ruiz, whose charitie in assisting the sicke si∣sters was admirable, spending all that euer she could get for them, yea begging for them, and there∣by became famous for sanctitie.

Blessed Anna Sanchez was one of her companions, whose deuo∣tion and continuall prayer was much to be admired, yet she was of an excellent prudence for go∣uernement,

and therfore was sent to be mother or Abbesse in the Cloyster of S. Clement from whence after she had beene there 20. yeares with great labours and toiles, leauing the most fragrant odour of her sweet conuersation she returned to her former place, where broken and wearied with pennances, fastings, and continuall prayers, she died with great san∣ctitie, the cell and bed wherein she died, did for sometime after shine with a great light to the great admiration of those that be∣held it.

About the same time also liued in Placentia Blessed Baptista fa∣mous in her life for many vertues, and after her death for many mi∣racles, especially for that her body remaining entire doth yeeld a most sweet and pleasing smell.

In the yeare 1519. liued B. Ma∣ria

Pennalosa in the monasterie of S. Elizabeth in Segouia, a woman of a very religious spirit, in humi∣litie, prayer, and charitie hardly to be equalised, who as it is com∣monly reported, in her life time did obtaine life for a yong man that was dead, for which and o∣ther things she is worshipped there with great deuotion.

About the same time B. Eli∣zabeth Pontia together with her two daughters, both also holy woemen began the monasterie of S. Anne in the prouince of Car∣thage, and by their example did draw many others to Religion. And as in their life they had the generall opinion of sanctitie, so after their death their Reliques haue deliuered many that had beene possessed, as also cured ma∣ny diseases.

Blessed Francisca of S. Anne in

the yeare 1525. was brought from the monasterie where she had made profession of the third or∣der, to the monasterie of the an∣nuntiation at Grinion, in the dio∣cesse of Toledo, that she might giue a beginning therto, and in∣struct others that were to come in regular discipline; and as she had beene abbesse of the former place, so was she abbesse of this with wōderfull fruit of soules; for she did excell in prudence, cha∣ritie, pietie, humilitie, affabilitie, modestie, abstinence, and mona∣sticall obseruance.

B. Lucie about the yeare 1530. did found the monasterie of S. Clare vnder the rule of the third order, and was very famous for perfection of life and miracles. Her body is had in great estima∣tion with the faithfull in those parts.

About this time liued Blessed S. Ioane of the holy Crosse, whose admirable life is set forth in out vulgar language, and therefore here omitted.

B. Francis liued in the same time of whom Gonzaga thus wri∣tes. This most vertuous and reli∣gious sister Francis was a child of the third order of saint Francis, who declining from the innume∣rable deceits of the fiend, did get a glorious victorie ouer sathan, and therefore was much feared by him.

B. Aldonza about the yeare 1566. was famous for sanctitie, and after hauing beene abbesse, when the sisters were to remoue, she prayed that she might die in the same place, which she obtai∣ned, and six yeares after her death her body was found whole and

entire, yeelding a fragrant odour, wherefore she was held in great veneration.

Blessed Marie Gonsalue in the yeare 1577. died with great opi∣niō of sanctitie, after she had foū∣ded a monasterie of this third or∣der, wherein she lead a life of great perfection, aswell in seruing the poore as in compassionating their miseries and wants, she did alwayes sleep without any bed vnder her, exactly obseruing the fasts of the whole yeare with ri∣gorous and bloudy disciplines.

Blessed Olalia Grinesia was fa∣mous for sanctitie about the yeare 1583. For entring into this order, and therein desiring the height of pennance, she was not contented with the ordinary austerities of her order, but inuented new fa∣stings all the lents and vigils, in

bread and water, and three times in the weeke did take bloudy dis∣ciplines; being much addicted to pouertie, and humilitie, she would willingly serue all, and continual∣ly did meditate on our lords Pas∣sion, and not without teares. La∣stly falling into a dropsy, now fourscore yeares old she died most blessedly. The sisters by her re∣liques did cure very many disea∣ses.

About the same time liued B. Clare Martineira whost abstinen∣ces, fastings, watchings, teares, haircloaths, rigorous disciplines, humble exercises, feruent prayers, mortificatiōs, pious workes, most great temptations, deuout act••ōs, celestiall visions, diuine fauours, frequent miracles both in her life and after her death are set downe by Daza.

And least I be ouer tedious in rehearsing so many holy persons, to omitte many others which may be seene in the martyrologe a∣mounting to two hundred & vp∣wards, I will conclude this chap∣ter with Blessed Innocentia, who liued in these our times, and died in the yeare 1624. This Blessed virgin of noble parents in Cicilie, from her infancy gaue her selfe to pietie, vertue, and temperance, obseruing the fasts very strictly, and despiseing the pompe and va∣nitie of this world, out of her great desire of perfection entred into this third order, giuing very good example of humilitie, pouertie, chastitie, and obedience. And by her continuall meditation she was so enflamed with the fire of di∣uine loue, especially when she communicated, that she was often

rapt into extasie. Her body rema∣ines as yet whole and entire gi∣uing a most sweet odour, which made Pope Vrbane the 8. that now sits in the seat of S. Peter to giue cōmand that inquirie should be made of her life, death, and mi∣racles for a future Canonization, which we deuoutly expect. And in the meane time goe forward to our intended purpose.