FEBRUARY 4
Feast of SAINT ANDREW CORSINI
Bishop and Confessor of our Order
Duplex
The feast of St. Andrew of Corsini was formerly inscribed on the General Roman Calendar for February 4th . Since the calandar changes, his feast day is no longer celebrated by the entire Church, but is listed as January 6th in the Roman Martyrology, and an optional memorial in his honor may be celebrated on January 9th according to the current proper Discalced Carmelite calendar.
O God, who in thy Church dost ever shew forth fresh examples of holiness: grant, we pray thee, that thy people may so follow in the footsteps of thy blessed Confessor and Bishop Andrew; that they may likewise attain unto his recompence. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son Who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit one God, forever and ever. Amen.
V. The Lord loved him, and adorned him.
R. He clothed him with a robe of glory.
Antiphon on Magnificat O holy Priest and Bishop, * thou worker of so many mighty works, and good shepherd to Christ's flock, pray for us unto the Lord our God.
V. The Lord guided the righteous in right paths.
R. And shewed him the kingdom of God.
Antiphon on Benedictus Well done, good and faithful servant: * thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things, saith the Lord.
This Andrew was born at Florence, of the noble family of Corsini. His birth was a special answer to prayer, and his parents vowed him to the Blessed Virgin. God foreshewed even before his birth what he was to be. While his mother was great with child she dreamt that she brought forth a wolf, which ran to the Carmelite Church and was changed into a lamb as soon as it reached the porch. The boy was brought up in godliness and learning becoming his rank, but turned to bad courses ; whereupon his mother often rebuked him. Nevertheless, when he knew how his parents had vowed him to the Maiden Mother of God, the love of God touched his heart, and the vision of his mother moving him, he betook himself to the Institute of the Carmelites. In that place the devil exercised him with many and divers temptations, but could not break him off from his determination to profess as a friar. He was soon after sent to Paris, where he finished his studies at the University, and took his degree; after which he returned to his own country, and was set over the houses of his order in Tuscany.
R. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
V. Thanks be to God.
R. I have found David my servant, with my holy oil have I anointed him. * My hand shall hold him fast.
V. The enemy shall not be able to do him violence ; the son of wickedness shall not hurt him.
R. My hand shall hold him fast.
The Bishop of Fiesole being dead, the Church in that place chose Andrew Corsini for his successor. He held himself altogether unworthy of that office, and for a long time lay hidden and unknown, till he was betrayed by the voice of a child marvellously speaking, and found outside the city. Then, lest he should seem to resist the Will of God, he took the Bishoprick. Being dignified with this office, he set himself to a more perfect exercise of the virtue of lowliness, whereof he was already a diligent practiser. He was eminent in watchfulness over the flock committed to his charge, joining thereto great tenderness and liberality towards the poor. He continued instant in prayer and watching. Thus was he so adorned with these and many other virtues, and even with the gift of prophecy, that the fame of his holy life was in the mouths of all men.
R. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
V. Thanks be to God.
R. I have found David my servant, with my holy oil have I anointed him. * My hand shall hold him fast.
V. The enemy shall not be able to do him violence ; the son of wickedness shall not hurt him.
R. My hand shall hold him fast.
Urban V, moved by the fame of his godly conversation, sent him as his Legate to quiet disturbances at Bologna. He endured much in the discharge of this duty, calming with great wisdom the angry passions of the citizens, who had broken out into civil war, and when peace was restored, he returned home. Shortly after, he received from the Blessed Virgin a warning of his approaching death, and being worn out with his unceasing toil and the rigour of his voluntary mortifications, he passed to the kingdom of heaven, in the year of our Lord 1373, and the 71st of his own age. His name became illustrious for many and great miracles, and Urban VIII enrolled him in the number of the Saints. His body resteth at Florence in the Church of his Order, and is looked on with great reverence by the citizens, to whom, even in these days, he hath more than once shewn himself a protector.
R. This is he who wrought mighty deeds and valiant in the sight of God, and all the earth is filled with his doctrine: * May his intercession avail for the sins of all the people.
V. He was a man who despised the life of the world and attained unto the kingdom of heaven.
R. May his intercession avail for the sins of all the people.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R. May his intercession avail for the sins of all the people.
From the Life of Saint Andrew, by Bishop Francesco Venturi
The good and faithful servant whom the Lord places over his household
ANDREW was chosen to rule the church of Fiesole by the evident call of God. He so dedicated himself to the worship of God, looked after the salvation of souls with such vigilance, faithfully persevered in the task entrusted to him with such holiness of life, that in all justice he can be for the pastors of the Church a perfect exemplar of what a bishop should be.
Though he was, already advanced in age, and afflicted by various illnesses, he increased rather than abated the rigors by ,which he was accustomed to control his senses. The holy bishop was moved by such kindness and pity towards the needy and afflicted that the very thought of them moved him to tears. It is well known that no poor person left his presence uncomforted. He often sat at the door of his residenceand personally distributed bread to the needy. But this holy man’s kindness was not restricted to this place; it spread far and wide. He showed himself especially generous with those whom he knew to be in straitened conditions, and yet could not approach him personally because of age, circumstances or social standing. His was a spontaneous open-handedness which foresaw needs; to some he even gave large quantities of grain. His goodness was not reserved for those of his own diocese but overflowed to the citizens of Florence and other places. To all these people he distributed not only alms, but also clothing.
The holy bishop expended large sums of money for the construction and restoration of churches. He restored much of the cathedral, which was close to complete ruin, and embellished the facade with cut stone. He had residences built for the canons. He restored and enlarged the bishop’s house, where he himself took up residence, so that he might furnish an apt and appropriate dwelling for his successors.
Among his own Carmelite brethren, he showed himself to be a splendid father of his household, providing inspired leadership in the living of religious life. As bishop he provided for the christian lifestyle of the members of his household. He was constantly vigilant and attentive in safeguarding Church patrimony. At home he was frugal, but generous and even extravagant in what concerned the worship of God and help to the needy.
The holy bishop dedicated much time to settling quarrels among the citizens of Florence. Privately he eliminated hatred by means of friendly conversations; publicly he preached Christian charity and civic harmony. Since he preached well and was held in veneration because of his fame for holiness, many came to hear him, not only from nearby villages but from Florence itself.
This wise leader knew how to temper the rigor of a judge with the gentleness of a pastor. He never tired, year after year, of decreeing that priests reside in their parishes. In the first place, most priests were ignorant of the doctrine of the Church, and of their proper duties. Understandably, they were of no benefit to the people; on the contrary, because of their ignorance they were a negative factor, especially in the case of those who by their scandalous lives gave bad example. Consequently, on his canonical visitations of the diocese, the saintly bishop was obliged to examine his clergy as to their knowledge of doctrine. Those whom he found to be little suited for Church offices and for working for the salvation of souls —and their number was great— he removed from their benefices, which he granted to others who were more suited.
We are aware that much of what we have said has frequently been practiced by other pastors of the Church. Some might say that these things are not especially worthy of recall. However, we are of the opinion that whatever the saints have said or done for the increase of divine worship and the good of the people should be proclaimed.
Taken from the current O.Carm Proper of Saints for the Feast of Saint Andrew Corsini.