BL. JOHN BAPTIST SPAGNULO, POET

BL. JOHN BAPTIST SPAGNULO, POET - 20 MARCH

BLESSED JOHN BAPTIST SPAGNULO, POET

Blessed John Baptist Spagnulo (Spagnoli, Baptista Mantuanus) was a Carmelite and Renaissance poet. He was born at Mantua, April 17, 1447, where he also died, March 22, 1516.

HE WAS TURNED OUT OF HIS FATHER'S HOUSE OWING TO SOME CALUMNY

The eldest son of Peter Spagnoli, a Spanish nobleman at the court of Mantua, Baptista studied grammar under Gregorio Tifernate, and philosophy at Pavia under Polo Bagelardi. The bad example of his schoolfellows led him into irregularities. He fell into the hands of usurers and, returning home, was turned out of his father’s house owing to some calumny.

HE ENTERED THE CARMELITE CONVENT

He went to Venice and later on to Ferrara where he carried out his resolution of entering the Carmelite convent which belonged to the then flourishing Reform of Mantua. In a letter addressed to his father (April 1, 1464), and in his first publication, “De Vita beata”, he gave an account of his previous life and of the motives which led him to the cloister.

HE WAS ORDAINED PRIEST

Baptista pursued his studies at Ferrara and Bologna where he was ordained priest, received his degrees, and delivered lectures in philosophy and divinity. The Duke of Mantua entrusted him with the education of his children, and the connection with the ducal family resulted in a number of poetical works, the “Trophaeum Gonzagae” and the “Fortuna Gonzagae”, on the various misfortunes of the young duke; “Contra amorem” containing good advice to Sigismondo Gonzaga, and other poems celebrating the latter’s elevation to dignities, even to the Roman purple.

HIS BEATIFICATION

Six times (each for two years with four years interval) Baptista was nominated vicar general of his congregation, and, in 1513, general of the whole order through the exertions of his former disciples, the duke and the cardinal. The chapter, however, resenting the intervention, restricted his powers. He held the office until his death, but, broken in health and energy, he exercised but little influence beyond consolidating the congregation of Albi, a French imitation of the Mantuan Reform. Baptista Mantuanus was beatified in 1890.

"CUI DABO?"

Chiefly known as one of the most prolific Renaissance poets he excelled in almost every form of Latin verse; Virgil, however, was his favourite model. A monument represents the two poets of Mantua with Poetry hesitating to whom she is to offer the crown: “Cui dabo?” Baptista exercised too little self restraint, however, to deserve it. He was bitterly attacked concerning the good taste of his earlier works printed without his knowledge, and also, but groundlessly, with reference to the legitimacy of his birth.

Source: Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Blessed John Baptist may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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