Blessed Davanzato

His particular devotion to Saint Francis led him to take the habit of the Third Order w hile still very young. Appointed to the p arish of Barberino, he gave himself entirely to the salvation of the souls entrusted to him, preaching and teaching tirelessly the love of God and the contempt for earthly things. He lived in a humble house where he spent all the time he did not devote to the faithful in prayer. This fervor in prayer, the recollection he showed during the sacrifice of the Mass, clearly proved that he knew how to put into practice the holy teachings he gave.

His charity grew greater every day; he visited the sick not only in his parish but also in neighboring parishes; poor pilgrims found a refuge with him, he offered them his own bed while he himself slept on the bare ground. He devoted all the income of his church to the poor. He was often seen, at the hour of noon, distributing to them the meal that had been prepared for him, reserving for himself only water and bread, which was, moreover, his habitual food.

God, in return, showered him with His favors, as proven by the numerous miracles he performed during his life. A young man whom he had raised in the school of his high virtues served as his companion; he would charge him with distributing his wine and butter to the poor, and although he did so often, the barrel of wine was always full and the butter did not diminish; Fat her Davanzato was not surprised by this and remembered these words of the Lord: "Give, and it will be given to you."

The neighboring priests who came to celebrate the office in his church sometimes stayed to dine with him. One day, when he had sent his companion to draw water from a nearby fountain, his guests were surprised to see this water change into wine; they threw themselves at his knees, and, recognizing in him the chosen one of the Lord, asked for his prayers.

Having reached an advanced age, he often saw the heavens open before him. A few months before his death, he heard the singing of angels. One day, while he was in his church with his companion, reading the litanies of the saints, he suddenly stopped, his eyes fixed on the sky in a holy ecstasy: "I hear them, my son," he cried out; and, as the other heard nothing, he took his hand and asked him if he heard it now, and the young man heard a celestial harmony that filled the resonant nave of the church; but, when he had let go of Father Davanzato's hand, he heard nothi ng more. Howev er, the holy religious fervently desired that his soul might finally be freed from its bodily prison to fly toward the heavenly homeland. He felt, at the approach of his final illness, that his prayers were about to be answered. Surrounded by his sorrowful faithful, he gave them his blessing: "My heart is ready, Lord," he said with his gaze turned toward heaven, "I commend my soul into your hands," and, upon finishing these last words, he expired on July 7, 1295. At that moment, the angels made songs of joy heard, and divine music resounded in the astonished ears of those present.

The gift of miracles was preserved for him after his death. A young water carrier, who had been seriously injured after falling from his mule, was carried to the tomb of Father Davanzato and miraculously healed. Several other sick people were also spontaneously healed by touching his relics. His feast is celebrated every ye ar in Barberino with great pomp. An altar in his church is specially dedicated to him, and on certain days of the year his relics are exposed there, which still perform striking miracles.

Seraphic Palm.

Aline: Avanzato and Neavanzato.

LIVES OF THE SAINTS. — VOLUME VII.