AVELLINO, ANDREW, ST.

Preacher and reformer; b. Castronuovo, Naples, 1521; d. Naples, Nov. 10, 1608. His parents, who were of the nobility, named him Lancelot at Baptism. He pursued his studies in various cities and in 1537 became a cleric. After ordination in 1545, he undertook the study of canon and civil law at Naples in 1547. In 1548 he made the spiritual exercises under the Jesuit James Laynez. This experience, as well as his remorse at the recollection of a lie he had told in pleading a legal case led to his determination to devote himself completely to the care of souls. He was badly beaten by men who resented his effort to reform a convent in Baiano, and was taken to the Theatine house of St. Paul in Naples where he recovered.

In 1556 he joined the Theatines and took the name Andrew. He evidenced qualities suitable for a spiritual director and promoter of ecclesiastical discipline, and in 1567 became superior of his community in Naples. At the request of Charles Borromeo he founded a Theatine house in Milan in 1570, and the next year went to Piacenza where he directed the diocesan seminary and a house of penitent women. Three times he acted as visitor of the Theatine houses in Lombardy. In 1582 he returned to Naples. In 1590 he officially visited the Theatine houses of the Roman and Neapolitan provinces, and successfully pleaded that he be excused from elevation to the hierarchy. An articulate and cultivated man, he left about 3,000 letters of spiritual direction, a little more than 1,000 of which were published in Naples (1731–32). Other works, including conferences, were published in Naples (1733–34). He was canonized in 1712. Naples and Sicily honor him as a patron.

Feast: Nov. 10.

Bibliography: Acta Sanctorum Nov. 4:609–622. g. m. magenis, Vita di S. Andrea Avellino (Venice 1714). a. palmieri, Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie ecclésiastiques, ed. a. baudrillart et al. (Paris 1912) 1635–37, bibliog.

[w. bangert]