ANTHONY BONFADINI, BL.

Franciscan preacher; b. Ferrara, Italy, c. 1402; d. Cotignola, Romagna, Dec. 1, 1482. He left a noble family to become a franciscan at the friary of the Holy Spirit, Ferrara, in 1439. Having obtained a doctorate in theology, he became a renowned preacher in Italy and a missionary in the Holy Land. On his return he preached at Cotignola, where he died at a pilgrim's hospice. Mariano of Florence praised his kindness and peacemaking spirit. One miracle was attributed to him during his lifetime, several others after his death. He protected Cotignola from calamities in 1630, 1688, and 1696. His body was transferred (1495) into the church of the Observant friary founded by Bl. Angelo Carletti di Chivasso. A tomb (1631) and a special chapel were erected (1666). The diocesan process was held at Faenza (1894), and Leo XIII confirmed his cult (1901). The recognition of his intact body took place in 1902.

Feast: Dec. 1 (Diocese of Faenza and among Franciscans).

Bibliography: l. n. cittadella, Vita del beato Antonio Bonfadini da Ferrara (Ferrara 1838). l. oliger, Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie ecclésiastiques, ed. a. baudrillart (Paris 1912–) 3:763. w. forster, Lexikon für Theologie und Kirche, ed. j. hofer and k. rahner, 10 v. (2d, new ed. Freiburg 1957–65); suppl., Das Zweite Vatikanische Konzil: Dokumente und kommentare, ed. h. s. brechter, pt. 1 (1966)² 1:672. a. butler, The Lives of the Saints, ed. h. thurston and d. attwater, 4 v. (New York 1956) 4:460–461.

[j. cambell]