ANDREW CACCIOLI, BL.

Franciscan, early companion of St. Francis; b. Spello, near Assisi, Italy, 1194; d. there, June 3, 1254. These dates (Acta sanctorum, 1869, June 1:356–362) are to be preferred to those (1181–1264) suggested by wadding (Scriptores Ordinis Minorum 1256, n. 50 and 1264, n. 11). The name Caccioli is puzzling as it can scarcely have been a family name, for at that time it was not usual to use surnames, especially in the case of mendicants. In 1223, after the death of his parents and sister, Andrew (Italian: Andrea) received the habit at the hands of francis of assisi. He was thus one of his early companions, and we are informed that he was the first priest to join the group (inter quos fuit primus sacerdos ). He received permission in writing from Francis to win souls for Christ by preaching, and in 1226 he was present at the founder's death. His interpretation of the rule, which he shared with many of the saint's early companions, twice earned for him imprisonment under elias of cortona. On the first occasion he was set free by gregory ix on the intercession of anthony of padua and the second time by john of parma; thus, there seem to be no grounds for asserting that he died in prison. He was present at the general chapter held at Soria in Spain in 1233. His remains lie under the altar of the chapel dedicated to his honor in the church of Saint Andrew the Apostle in Spello and his cult was confirmed by Pope clement xii in 1738.

Feast: June 9 (formerly June 3).

Bibliography: Acta sanctorum June 1:356–362. Martyrologium Franciscanum, ed. arturus a monasterio, rev. i. beschin and j. palazzolo (Rome 1939). Il beato Andrea Caccioli da Spello, ed. e. menestÒ (Spoleto 1997). o. bonmann, Lexikon für Theologie und Kirche, 10 v. (2d, new ed. Freiburg 1957–65) 1:514. Acta Ordinis Fratrum Minorum 69 (1950) 129. a. butler, The Lives of the Saints 2: 466–467.

[t. c. crowley]