Christopher Maccassoli, Bl.
CHRISTOPHER MACCASSOLI, BL.
Franciscan; b. Milan, c. 1415–20; d. Vigevano, Italy, 1485. Born of a noble family, he joined the Franciscan Observants in 1435 and, after his ordination, was assigned to preaching. He was guardian of Abbiategrasso in 1477 and was transferred later to Vigevano, where he enlarged the friary and distinguished himself by his virtues. He was buried in the chapel of St. Bernardine in the Franciscan church. There a painting done in 1503 represents him with SS. Clare and Bernardine of Siena, before the Virgin and Child. aloysius gonzaga attested to his holiness. His remains were discovered in 1588; in 1638 his name was inserted in the Franciscan martyrology. In 1717 the above-mentioned painting was placed over the main altar of the Franciscan church. The relics were relocated in 1743, and in 1810 the reliquary and painting were transferred to the cathedral. The diocesan process for his beatification continued from 1877 to 1884, and in 1890 Leo XIII permitted an Office and Mass to be celebrated in his honor in the Diocese of Vigevano and among the franciscans.
Feast: March 11.
Bibliography: "Acta ordinis causae sanctorum ordinis nostri, " Acta Ordinis Minorum 9 (1890) 117–119. p. m. sevesi, B. Cristoforo Macassoli (Varese 1941). a. butler, The Lives of the Saints, ed. h. thurston and d. attwater, 4 v. (New York 1956) 1:563.
[j. cambell]