Bienheureux François
Venimbeni de Fabriano
Franciscain (+ 1322)
Remarquable prédicateur
de la parole de Dieu, disciple de saint
Bonaventure il fonda la première bibliothèque franciscaine à Fabriano
dans les Marches.
SOURCE : http://nominis.cef.fr/contenus/saint/10847/Bienheureux-Francois-Venimbeni-de-Fabriano.html
Giuseppe
Cades (Italian, Rome 1750–1799 Rome), Blessed Francis Venimbeni Celebrating
Mass for souls in Purgatory, circa 1770, Pen and brown ink, brush and brown
wash, over black chalk, 50.9 x 28.1, The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Also
known as
Francis Venimbeni
Francesco…
Profile
Born to a wealthy family,
the son of Compagno Venimbeni, a physician, and Margaret di Federico. Studied humanities
and philosophy,
then joined the Franciscans in 1267,
at age 16; he spent part of his novitiate studying under the companions
of Saint Francis
of Assisi. Friar. Priest who
offered his Masses for
souls in Purgatory. Missionary in
the region of his house. A man of endless prayer and
work, he insisted that this brother friars stay
strictly orthodox in their preaching and teaching,
and to insure they had the proper background, used his family money to purchase
an extensive library for
them. Wrote on
matters of theology and philosophy,
but only time scraps of his work have survived.
Born
2
September 1251 in Fabriano, Ancona, Italy
22
April 1322 of
natural causes
1 April 1775 by Pope Pius
VI (cultus
confirmation)
Additional
Information
Saints
of the Day, by Katherine Rabenstein
books
Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
other
sites in english
Franciscan Book of Saints, by Marion Habig, OFM
images
sitios
en español
Martirologio Romano, 2001 edición
fonti
in italiano
MLA
Citation
‘Blessed Francis of
Fabriano‘. CatholicSaints.Info. 22 April 2024. Web. 9 September 2026.
<https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-francis-of-fabriano/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-francis-of-fabriano/
Blessed Francis Venimbene, OFM (AC)
(also known as Francis of Fabriano)
Born at Fabriano, Italy, in 1251; died c. 1322; cultus confirmed in 1775.
Francis, the son of a doctor, joined the Franciscans in 1267. He was a disciple
of Saint Bonaventure. He founded the first Franciscan library and wrote a
defense of the Portiuncula indulgence (Attwater2, Benedictines).
SOURCE : http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0422.shtml
Bl. Francis of Fabriano
Priest of
the Order
of Friars Minor; b. 2 Sept., 1251; d. 22 April, 1322. His birth and
childhood were remarkable for evident signs of future sanctity.
He was also gifted with rare talents. Having successfully completed
the study of humanities and of philosophy,
he asked for admission at a neighboring Franciscan convent,
in 1267. Under the guidance of able masters he made rapid progress
in religious perfection. Subsequently he applied himself to the study
of theology,
and devoted the remainder of his life to missionary labours in his native town
and vicinity. As missionary Blessed Francis has become a shining
example to the preachers of the Seraphic Order. He was a man of prayer and
untiring study. In accordance with the words of the rule, "Ut sint
examinate et casta eorum eloquia", he was deeply convinced that the friars must
announce to the faithful only well-grounded and authentic doctrine,
in unambiguous and carefully sifted language. Ever mindful of this
principle, Francis logically took
a further step which has signalized him as a far-sighted and truly progressive
member of his order. As a consequence of the extensive proportions theological studies
had assumed since the time of St. Francis, the humble collections of biblical and patristic works,
which were found in the early Franciscan communities,
no longer met the demands of the student and preacher. Hence, Francis,
heedless of any disapproving voice, promptly purchased with his father's money
a handsome library,
the first on an extended scale established in the order. He loved to
call it the "best workshop in the convent", and its catalogue,
mentioned by Wadding,
contains numerous works of the Fathers, the masters of theology, biblical commentators, philosophers,
mathematicians, and preachers, which shows that Francis was indeed,
in this respect, quite abreast of his time. No wonder, then that we find all
his biographers in accord with Mark
of Lisbon, who styles him a "most learned man and
renowned preacher". Of the writings of Francis Venimbeni little has
been published. His "Chronica Marchiæ et Fabriani", his "De
veritate et excellentiâ Indulgentiæ S. Mariæde Portiuncula", and the
"Opusculum de serie et gestis Ministrorum Generalium", all
three probably forming one extensive chronicle, have unfortunately
disappeared, save a few precious fragments bearing on the most
salient questions of early Franciscan history.
Besides several treatises of a philosophical, ascetical,
and didactic character, he wrote an "Ars Prædicantium", numerous
"Sermons", and a beautiful elegy on the death of St.
Bonaventure. Despite his literary pursuits and manifold
missionary occupations Francis found
ample time for ascetical practices and works of an
all-embracing charity. God testified
to the sanctity of
His servant by many signs and miracles. His
cult was approved by Pius
VI in 1775.
Sources
The biography of Blessed
Francis was written by his nephew, DOMINIC FESSI, and other contemporary
writers. WADDING has collected and utilized their accounts for his Annals.
PULIGNANI, Miscell. Francesc., X, 69 sq. enumerates the more recent
biographers of F., and recommends especially two books by LUIGI TASSO: Discorso
laudatorio del B. Francesco Venimbeni da Fabriano (Fabriano, 1881),
and Vita del B. Francesco da Fabriano dell' ordine dei Minori (Fabriano,
1893). The latter contains a brief treatise by Francis, and his elegy on St.
Bonaventure. Extracts from his Chronicle have been edited by
PULIGNANI, op. cit., 69-72. Cf. DE CLARY, L Aureole Seraph., tr. Lives
of the Saints and Blessed of the three Orders of St. Francis (Taunton,
1882) II, 171-175; WADDING, Annales (Rome, 1731), III, 244, 245, IV,
276-278, 400, VI, 377-385; IDEM, Scriptores (Rome, 1659), 115;
SBARALEA, Supplementum (Rome, 1806), 252; Acta SS. (Venice,
1734-), April, III, 88-94.
Plassmann, Thomas.
"Bl. Francis of Fabriano." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 6. New
York: Robert Appleton Company, 1909. 23 Apr. 2017
<http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06230a.htm>.
Transcription. This
article was transcribed for New Advent by Dana Howard. For an increase in
Faith.
Ecclesiastical
approbation. Nihil Obstat. September 1, 1909. Remy Lafort,
Censor. Imprimatur. +John M. Farley, Archbishop of New York.
Copyright © 2020 by Kevin
Knight. Dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
SOURCE : http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06230a.htm
Blessed Francis of
Fabriano
(Beato Francesco di Fabriano)
Feast Day – April 21
Francis was born in the
year 1251 in the city of Fabriano. His father was a physician in that city and
highly esteemed not only because of his medical ability but still more because
of his love for the poor and afflicted and his sincere piety. Daily he recited
the Divine Office as the priests do. To the great joy of his parents, Francis
gave evidence of the finest talents, an alert understanding, and a meek and
devout temperament.
As a boy Blessed Francis
of Fabriano had a very serious illness which brought him to death’s door. Then
the pious mother vowed to make a pilgrimage to the grave of St Francis of
Assisi, and at once the illness took a turn for the better.
In Assisi the venerable
Brother Angelo, one of the first associates of St Francis, saw the lovely boy
and foretold to the mother that he would later be his companion in the order.
In consequence Francis won the love of his parents more and more.
The boy’s desire for
learning and his great progress were especially pleasing to his father. At the
age of ten years Francis already understood the Latin language. When he had
reached his seventeenth year, he experienced a strong impulse to consecrate
himself to God in the Order of St Francis, and his pious parents gave their
consent.
Francis entered the Franciscan
convent at Fabriano and there, under the excellent direction of Father Gratian,
later minister general of the entire order, Blessed Francis of Fabriano was
instructed in all the conventual virtues. In order to gain the Portiuncula
indulgence he went to Assisi, and there he heard from the trusted companion of
St Francis, Brother Leo, who was still living, how this popular indulgence had
been given and also how the Stigmata had been bestowed. Concerning both these
fats Francis later wrote a book, which still serves as evidence.
In theology Blessed
Francis of Fabriano acquired eminent knowledge, which he endeavored to use for
the benefit of his brethren as also for the conversion of sinners. He eagerly
gathered books that could serve the intellectual advancement and the
edification of the friars, and when his father made him a rather generous
legacy for procuring books, he founded a library for the convent of Fabriano to
the great future benefit of the order.
But Francis also
faithfully carried out the teaching and the example of the saints as he found
them laid down in the books. He lived so strictly that he partook of food only
once a day, frequently only bread and water. He slept only a few hours on a
hard bed; the remainder of the night was devoted to prayer and meditation. The
holy sacrifice of the Mass he celebrated with fervent devotion. Once when he
had said the Mass for the departed and at the end said:
“Requiescant in pace. May
they rest in peace!”
Many invisible voices
answered,
“Amen.”
It is supposed that these
were the holy angels or the released souls.
In the new convent at
Fabriano, which his fellow citizens built out of veneration for him, the day
and the hour of his death were pointed out to him. On his very deathbed he
miraculously cured a sick person. Then he departed blessedly in the Lord, with
a gentle smile on his lips, on April 22, 1322. His body, which is still
incorrupt, rests in the church of the Friars Minor at Fabriano. The celebration
of his feast was granted by Pope Pius VI.
from The Franciscan Book
of Saints, edited by Marion Habig, OFM
SOURCE : https://www.roman-catholic-saints.com/blessed-francis-of-fabriano.html
Beato Francesco da
Fabriano
Fabriano, 1251 -
Fabriano, 22 aprile 1322
Predicatore francescano
della famiglia Venimbeni, soprattutto in Umbria e nel Piceno. Nella sua città
eresse una chiesa e un convento con una notevole biblioteca.
Culto approvato nel 1775.
Martirologio Romano: A
Fabriano nelle Marche, beato Francesco Venimbeni, sacerdote dell’Ordine dei
Minori, insigne predicatore della parola di Dio.
Il Beato Francesco nacque
a Fabriano (Ancona) da Compagno Venimbene, medico, e Margherita di Federico.
Dopo aver compiuto gli studi di filosofia, all'età di 16 anni, entrò
nell'Ordine Francescano. Mentre era novizio a Fabriano, ebbe il permesso
di recarsi ad Assisi per lucrarvi l'indulgenza della Porziuncola. Qui incontrò
frate Leone, uno dei primi compagni di San Francesco, e ne lesse gli
"scritti". Per ben due volte, nel 1316 e nel 1318-21, fu
superiore del nuovo convento costruito dai confratelli a
Fabriano. L'eredità paterna gli permise di costruire una biblioteca dove
raccolse una copiosa quantità di manoscritti e in seguito a ciò divenne il
primo fondatore delle biblioteche in seno all'Ordine Francescano.
Tutta la sua vita fu
devoluta all'attenzione verso i poveri, gli emarginati e gli ammalati. Egli
stesso si prendeva cura dei bisognosi a cui forniva il sostegno materiale e
spirituale. Infaticabile era il suo zelo per le anime: trascorreva molte ore in
confessionale o nell'annunzio della parola di Dio. Vestiva una rozza tunica, si
flagellava con aspre discipline , dormiva poco per dedicare più tempo possibile
alla preghiera. Argomento della sua contemplazione erano i misteri della
Passione di Cristo, che lo commuovevano fino al pianto. Celebrava la santa
Messa con fervore ed era devotissimo delle anime del Purgatorio. Morì, come
aveva previsto il 22 aprile 1322, all'età di 61 anni. Il suo culto fu
riconosciuto da Pio VI il 1 aprile 1775.
Autore: Elisabetta
Nardi
