Andrew Corsini

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Saint Andrew (Andrea) Corsini (1302—January 6, 1373) was an Italian Carmelite and bishop of Fiesole.

Biography

He was born in Florence, in 1302, as member of the illustrious Corsini family. Wild and dissolute in youth, he was startled by the words of his mother about what had happened to her before his birth, and, becoming a Carmelite monk in his native city, began a life of great mortification. He studied at Paris and Avignon.

On his return, Andrew became the "Apostle of Florence". He was regarded as a prophet and a thaumaturgus. After being called to the post of bishop of Fiesole, which he did not want, he fled. He was discovered by a child at the charterhouse at Enna, and was subsequently compelled to accept the honour.

He redoubled his austerities as a bishop, was lavish in his care of the poor, and was sought for everywhere as a peacemaker, notably at Bologna, whither he was sent as papal legate to heal the breach between the nobility and the people.

After twelve years in the episcopacy, he died in 1373 at the age of seventy-one.

Veneration

In 1373, while he had been celebrating the midnight Mass of Christmas, the Blessed Virgin appeared to him and told him he would leave this world on the feast of the Epiphany, to meet God. It came to pass, and he died on that day

Miracles were so multiplied at his death that Pope Eugene IV permitted a public cult immediately; but it was only in 1629 that Pope Urban VIII canonized him. His feast is kept on February 4.

In the early eighteenth century, Pope Clement XII, born Lorenzo Corsini, erected in the Roman Basilica of St. John Lateran a magnificent chapel dedicated to his 14th century kinsman.

See also

• Discalced Carmelites
• Carmelite Rule of St. Albert
• Book of the First Monks
• Constitutions of the Carmelite Order
• Carmelite Rite

Sources

• Attwater, Donald and Catherine Rachel John. The Penguin Dictionary of Saints. 3rd edition. New York: Penguin Books, 1993. ISBN 0-140-51312-4.
• Lives of the Saints: Andrew Corsini
• Catholic Forum: Andrew Corsini

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