John Colombini, Bl.
JOHN COLOMBINI, BL.
Founder of the jesuati; b. Siena, c. 1304; d. Monte Amiata, Italy, July 31, 1367. John was a merchant, a member of the Sienese senate, and a magistrate. In 1342 he married Biagia Cerretani. After reading the biography of St. mary of egypt he began to lead an ascetic life. He provided for his wife, gave his goods to the poor, and dedicated himself to the care of the sick. Disciples gathered about him, and he obtained approbation of his congregation from urban v in 1367. He was buried in Siena. His cult spread locally, and gregory xiii beatified him. Colombini's writings included 114 Letters, reflecting affective spirituality, the Laudi spirituali, of which only the "Diletto Gesú Cristo chi ben t'ama" has been authenticated, and avita of Peter Petroni, now lost.
Feast: July 31.
Bibliography: a. bertoli, ed., Le lettere del b. G. Colombini (Lanciano 1925). Acta Sanctorum July 7:344–420. a. butler, The Lives of the Saints, ed. h. thurston and d. attwater, 4 v. (New York 1956) 3:228–230.
[m. g. mc neil]