Bienheureuse Matthia Nazzarei
Abbesse (13ème
s.)
Sœur bénédictine
puis clarisse, abbesse pendant 40 ans du couvent Sainte-Madeleine des Clarisses
à Matelica dans les Marches en Italie.
Béatifiée en 1756.
À Matelica dans les Marches, vers 1300, la bienheureuse Matthia
Nazzarei, abbesse du couvent des Clarisses de ce lieu.
Martyrologe
romain
Mattia Nazzarei
1253-1320
Mattia serait née vers 1253 à Matelica (Marches, Italie CE), fille
unique du comte Gualtiero et de Sibilia Nazzarei (ou Nazzareni).
A dix-huit ans, renonçant à toutes les propositions d’héritage et de
mariage, elle alla se présenter à l’abbesse des Clarisses, qui lui suggéra
d’attendre un peu, que son père acceptât ce changement d’orientation.
Mattia pénétra dans l’église des Clarisses, se tailla les cheveux et
s’enfila une vieille bure pour se consacrer totalement à Dieu. Son père, qui
venait la chercher et la vit dans cet état, n’osa plus la contrarier.
Difficile, devant une telle résolution, de refuser à la jeune fille d’entrer
dans le monastère.
En 1271, par-devant notaire, elle renonça à tout son héritage familial,
le partageant entre le monastère et les pauvres.
En 1279, elle y fut élue abbesse, et le resta quarante ans.
Elle était si sensible aux événements douloureux des autres, qu’on
l’appela mère de la charité.
Mattia mourut en 1320, le 28 décembre, comme elle l’avait anoncé,. A sa
mort, tout le couvent fut envahi d’un céleste parfum et enveloppé d’une grande
lumière. Tous les habitants de l’endroit purent le constater.
Depuis 1758, un liquide mystérieux et parfumé s’est dégagé de son corps
à chaque fois qu’on procéda à une reconnaissance de ses reliques.
On aurait rouvert le procès de canonisation en 1893.
Le Martyrologe la mentionne au
28 décembre.
Blessed Matthia dei
Nazzarei
Also known as
- Mattia
- Matthias Nazarei
- 30 December
- 28 December on some calendars
- 7 November on some calendars
Profile
Born to the
nobility, the only child of Count Gualtiero Nazarei and his wife Sibilla, from her youth Matthia preferred a simple life and
rejected all the pomp of court life. When her father threatened her with an arranged marriage, she fled to the convent
of Santa Maddalena at Metalica, Italy and became a Benedictine nun. Served as abbess
of the house for 40 years. The convent
later adopted the rule of the Poor Clares, and so Matthia is often listed as a Poor Clare. In 1758 the house was re-named Beata Matthias in her
honour.
Born
- 28 December 1319 in Matelica, Macerata, Italy of natural causes
- re-interred near the high altar of her convent chapel
- body moved in 1536, found incorrupt and sweating
- body moved in 1756 in order to repair the chapel, and found incorrupt
Blessed Matthia Nazzarei
(Beata Matthis Nazzarei)
Feast Day – December 27
The family of the Nazzarei was one of the
wealthiest and most distinguished of Matelica in the Italian province of the
March. Matthia, however, esteemed virtue and nobility of soul more than all
worldly nobility, and resolved, for love of Christ, to consecrate herself to
His service in the state of virginity. When, therefore, her father planned to
marry her to a young noblemen, Matthia firmly refused, declaring she was
already espoused to the heavenly Bridegroom. Her father endeavored to force her
into the marriage, but she fled from home to a convent of the Poor Clares where
he aunt was the abbess. When her aunt hesitated to receive the fugitive,
Matthia cut off her hair, and, laying aside her expensive garments, put on the
first old habit she found.
Thus attired, she met her father in the reception
room of the convent, when the enraged man appeared with the determination of
bringing her back by force. Matthia dealt so gently and yet so convincingly
with her father that he willingly gave his consent to her entrance into the
convent.
After receiving the habit, Matthia showed such zeal
and such perfection in virtue, not only during the year of probation, but
afterwards as well, that when the abbess died a few years later, the sisters
unanimously chose Matthia as her successor, despite her youthful years. The
bishop of Camerino gladly gave his approval to their choice.
The youthful abbess looked upon herself not as the
first in rank but rather as the lowliest among her sisters. She always picked
out the lowliest tasks for herself. She was a shining example of all the
religious virtues. She so loved to obey others that she made obedience pleasant
to her subjects and never experienced any opposition from her sisters. A true
daughter of St Clare, she loved poverty and observed it faithfully. She turned
over the rich inheritance she received from her father to the poor and to pious
projects, not retaining even the smallest part of it for herself.
To preserve her virtue from every shadow of
impurity, she was very austere with herself throughout life, observing fasts
and practicing rigorous corporal penance. She gained strength to persevere on
the way of perfection by her habit of uninterrupted prayer.
Almighty God granted her the gifts of prophecy and
of miracles, and the sick and the oppressed came from far and near to seek
counsel and assistance from her.
Matthia lived thus for more than forty years until
the day of her death, which she had foretold. On that day she gathered the
sisters about her, fervently admonished them to persevere in chastity, poverty,
and obedience, and in holy charity.
On the feast of the Holy Innocents in the year
1300, she gave her pure soul back to God. At her grave many crippled people
received the health of their limbs again, the blind received their sight and
the deaf their hearing. Pope Clement XIII and Pope Pius VI approved the annual
celebration of her feast.
In 1536 the body was exhumed to be examined. Not
only was the body incorrupt, but was found to be sweating profusely. In 1756
repairs were being made to the chapel, and the body was again examined. This
time the saints body was still incorrupt, but also giving off a sweet,
indiscribable fragrance. In 1758 a "blood-fluid" was seen coming from
the saint's body, especially the hands and feet.
from The
Franciscan Book of Saints, edited by Marion Habig, OFM
December 28
Blessed Mattia Nazarei
1253-1320
Mattia Nazarei was born on March 1, 1253 in Matelica, a charming small town of region Marche. In the same year, on August 11, Saint Clare died in Assisi, just few kilometres from Matelica. The name "Mattia" means in Hebrew: "given by God", and it was a perfect choice, a prediction of Her shining life. Mattia's parents were Guarniero Gentile and Sibilla Ottoni, they both belonged to noble, rich and religious families. After a merry childhood, her parents sought to force her into a marriage with a rich and noble young man, Pietro dei Conti Gualtiero, but Mattia firmly refused, because she had already answered to Christ's call.
She asked
leave to enter a Poor Clares' convent, where her aunt was abbess but,
unfortunately, the abbess was afraid of her father's reaction and tried to
dissuade Mattia from taking hurried decisions. The young girl decided to follow
St.Clare's and St.Agnes' courageous examples, bravely defying her family: she
cut her hair and wore an old habit, praying Christ to help her, then she presented
herself to the Community, declaring that she wanted to lead the religious life.
Her father
had to resign himself to it and Mattia officially consecrated herself to Our
Lord on August 10, 1271, the eve of St. Clare's feast. Even during Her
novitiate, Her model behaviour won her sister's favour and they always tried to
follow Her bright example. She unceasingly prayed, night and day, and always
asked for the most menial tasks, in spite of her noble birth.
At the age
of 26, she was appointed abbess of the convent and occupied this position until
her death. She handled with skill her burden of responsibilities, gaining a
great glory. Not only did the spiritual life of her sisters improve during her
abbacy, but also their physical comfort, because Mattia was an intelligent and
practical woman. Collecting offerings, she rebuilt the church and enlarged the
convent, that was too small for holding the growing number of young girls that
were carried away by Mattia's example and asked to join the Second Order of St.
Francis. She was nicknamed "Mother of Charity", because her charity,
love and compassion, especially toward the afflicted and miserable, knew no
bounds. Her prayers and advice saved many souls from dangers. She made a secret
pact with God, so she imposed upon herself voluntary penances, in exchange for
the conversion of some inveterate sinners. Even behind the convent's grating,
she spread her light, and all the people who could talk with her, always
retained an indelible memory of this edifying experience.
Blessed
Mattia died on December 28, 1320, and was declared Blessed by Clement XIII in
1765. Since then, new miracles occurred, therefore her case is under
examination in Rome. Few hours before dying, she serenely predicted her death
to her sisters: she gave them her blessing, urging them to observe Chastity,
Obedience and Charity and exhorting them to love each other, because "God
is love". Mattia promised to her sorrowful sisters: "I'm not going to
abandon this convent, I'll always watch over it!".
When Mattia
died, a large ray of light wrapped up her body, floodlighting the whole
convent. She exhaled a scent of surpassing sweetness, filling the air all
around. The rumor quickly spread to the town and her fellow-citizens ran to
gaze at her for the last time, to touch her saint body and to cut small pieces
from her habit.
Soon
miracles occurred, for many people in ill health were cured. Against the public
opinion, the nuns buried her in a private place, but people insisted on a more
worthy tomb, that they could freely visit and where they could express their
devotion to her. The sisters repented that they had interred her aside, and
asked permission to exhume her. Mattia was exhumed eighteen days after her
death, but her body was found to be incorrupt and exhaled a delicious odor. A
learned physician, Mastro Bartolo, closely observed and touched Mattia's body,
then he cut her skin, intending to embalm her. He stopped immediately, because
a great deal of live blood came out from her veins. He said: "This is a miracle!
A dead body can't give out blood in this way, all the more because it has been
buried for so many days!". Consequently, Mattia's body was put inside a
beautiful urn, placed in the "cornu epistolae" of the high altar, at
a safe distance from the floor and sheltered by a grating (FIRST TRANSFER).
During the
centuries, the rumour spread beyond the borders of the town, and a growing
number of pilgrims came to visit the Blessed's body from every part of the
country. In 1536, to find a better and more comfortable placing inside the
convent's church, Mattia's urn was moved from her original place. (SECOND
TRANSFER).
On December
22, 1758, it was moved again and placed under Saint Cecilia's altar, the
present right side altar of the Church. (THIRD TRANSFER).
In 1765,
when Mattia was declared Blessed, the altar's name was changed into
"Blessed Mattia's altar". Her incorrupt body has always been in her
church since January 15, 1320, with the exception of few days, from October 6
until December 31, 1811, when Napoleon's soldiery sacrilegiously stole her
Blessed body and carried it to Macerata. In this occasion, it was exposed to
the weather, so dampness and other damaging elements started a process of
deterioration. Therefore, in 1973, F.Antonio Ricciardi, O.F.M.Conv., dealt with
the delicate work of disinfection and preservation of the Blessed's body,
putting an end to that destructive process, and avoiding further damages to Her
flesh and Her bones. Finally, Bl. Mattia's body was put inside a new and more
beautiful urn.
In 1536,
during the "second transfer", a reddish sweat began to pour from
Mattia's body, and the Poor Clares tried in vain to wipe it with linen towels.
Nowadays, her body and her relics still give out this liquid and, in 1972, the
forensic scientists of the University of Camerino attested that it is blood.
In 1756,
437 years after her death, the coffin was opened for some juridical
examinations and a sweet scent came from her still incorrupt body. In 1758,
during the third transfer, the blood sweat poured again from Mattia's body, and
it soaked a lot of towels.
During the
following years, her body was examined more than once, but always in the
presence of ecclesiastical authorities and forensic scientists: the blood sweat
appeared again, soaking towels, pieces of cloth, her wimple and her habit.
These precious towels, drenched with her blood and cut in small pieces, are
still distributed as relics, and sometimes the reddish liquid poured out from
the dried bloodstains.
SOURCE : http://stevenwood.com/reflections/franciscan/1228-43.htm
Blessed Matthia dei Nazzarei, Abbess (AC)
Born in Metalica, March of Ancona, Italy; died 1213;
cultus confirmed in 1756. Matthia received the Benedictine veil at the convent
of Santa Maddalena at Metalica, of which she became abbess- -a position that
she held for 40 years. At a later date the convent adopted the rule of the Poor
Clares, and for this reason Blessed Matthia is often called a Poor Clare. She
was very strong- willed and, by various accounts, is said to continue to
manifest herself in her shrines (Benedictines, Encyclopedia).
Beata Mattia Nazarei (Nazzareni)
Badessa clarissa
Matelica, Macerata, 1 marzo 1253 - 28 dicembre 1320
La beata
Mattia dei nobili de Nazareni di Matelica, ricusato il matrimonio si ritirò in
monastero e professò la regola di santa Chiara. Per la sua grande prudenza e
per le sue elette virtù fu per 40 anni Madre Abbadessa, diventando il modello e
la madre buona delle sue consorelle. Il suo digiuno fu quasi per perpetuo.
Devotissima della passione di Gesù, fu chiamata al gaudio eterno il 28 dicembre
del 1320.
Martirologio
Romano: A Matelica nelle Marche, beata Mattia Nazzareni, badessa dell’Ordine
delle Clarisse.
Il primo
marzo 1253, dai coniugi Sibilla e Gualtiero della nobile famiglia Nazzareni di
Matelica (MC), nacque la piccola Mattia. Fin dai suoi primi anni il suo cuore
si orientò verso Dio, infatti, nonostante le aspirazioni paterne fossero di
maritarla con Piero dei Conti Gualtiero, la beata Mattia scelse di rinunciare
al matrimonio e al ricco patrimonio familiare per divenire figlia di Santa
Chiara. A diciotto anni entrò nel monastero di Santa Maria Maddalena e si
presentò alla Badessa pregandola di accettarla fra le Clarisse. La Badessa ,
temendo le ire del padre di Mattia, la convinse a far ritorno a casa, in attesa
del beneplacido paterno. Mattia non si persuase alle ragioni della Badessa e si
ritirò nell'oratorio a pregare. Trovata per caso, in un cantuccio una vecchia
tonaca la indossò, si recise le bionde trecce e prostratasi dinanzi
all'immagine del Crocifisso chiese aiuto al Signore. Quando arrivò nel
monastero il padre Gualtiero, rimase colpito dalla determinazione della figlia
e desistette dal proposito di riportarla a casa. Iniziò
così per Mattia il suo noviziato improntato alla preghiera, al digiuno e alla
dedicazione alle opere più umili del monastero, divenendo ben presto modello
per le religiose già osservanti della Santa Regola. Il 10 agosto 1271, davanti al
notaio fece la rinuncia del suo patrimonio donando parte ai poveri e parte al
monastero ed emise la Professione Solenne. Nel 1279, morta la Badessa, la
comunità all'unanimità elesse Suor Mattia, per la lodevole condotta, la pietà
ed lo zelo. Suor Mattia esercitò tale carica per quarant'anni consecutivi, cioè
fino alla sua morte. Durante il suo governo Suor Mattia condusse a termine due
imprese materiali, assai ardue se si pensa che la comunità viveva in estrema
povertà: la chiesa ed il monastero. La chiesa era troppo piccola ed il
monastero troppo angusto per accogliere le numerose giovani che, dietro
l'esempio e la fama di Mattia, chiedevano di vivere la Regola di Santa Chiara.
Suor Mattia era tanto sensibile alle sventure del prossimo da essere chiamata
"madre della carità" ed era sempre pronta a consolare gli afflitti
con parole che recavano pace e serenità. Dopo 48 anni di incessante preghiera ,
di penitenze e di dedizione al prossimo, Suor Mattia presagì il giorno e l'ora
della sua morte. Era il 28 dicembre 1320, la Beata aveva 67 anni. Era appena
spirata, quando Dio manifestava già con nuovi prodigi la gloria della sua sposa
fedele. Il corpo della beata emanò una fragranza di Paradiso, da inondare tutto
il monastero, avvolto in un fascio di luce da richiamare l'attenzione dei
concittadini che corsero a vedere lo straordinario fenomeno. Essi videro in
mezzo a tanto splendore una lucentissima stella, che con il suo raggio metteva
capo al corpo della Beata, come a testimoniare la sua santità. Il 27 luglio
1765 il papa Clemente XIII approvò il decreto di beatificazione.
I prodigi che la Beata andava operando le crearono una fama, che varcò i
confini di Matelica e causarono un continuo accorrere di fedeli. Questo
crescente afflusso di pellegrini lungo il corso dei secoli determinò tre
traslazioni del venerabile corpo, per meglio destinarle nella sua chiesa un
posto di privilegio. Ad ogni traslazione il corpo della Beata e le sue reliquie
emanarono un prodigioso Umore Sanguigno, fenomeno che si ripeté anche ad ogni
ricognizione cadaverica.
I panni macchiati dall'Umore Sanguigno, divisi in pezzetti , vengono ancora
oggi distribuiti fra i molti devoti della Beata come reliquie in segno di
protezione.
Autore: Elisabetta
Nardi
Voir
aussi : http://www.lavocecattolica.it/lavoce.an.it/indice%20religione/BEATA%20MATTIA%20NAZZAREI.htm
