Saints celebrated on the 28th of June
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| A page of one of Fortunatus Hueber's Saints' books, "Stammenbuch..." (1693) |
John (Johannes) Parens is remembered on June 28 and on also on January 1. He was a Franciscan Minorite. The Bollandists* mention him in the Art. Mart.* on this day as B. Incognitus, i.e. "Blessed Anonymous". This name sprung up because of a sarcophagus that was discovered in the convent of Saint Francis in the village of Ornano (S. Maria de Ornano) in Corsica, which used to be visited devoutly by the inhabitants.
Antonius Terrinca states that this "Blessed Unknown" or "Blessed Anonymous" resting in the sarcophagus is none other than John Parens. Blessed John Parens, as he is called in Hub. Men.*, is listed there on January 1. Terrinca relates further that, because of a decree of Pope Urban VIII that seemed to have been misunderstood, the relics of our John, which had at times also been kept in a wooden reliquary for veneration, were taken to the sacristy and withdrawn from the public eye. This, Terrinca says, would not have been necessary if by then, as was the case, John Parens had enjoyed immemorial veneration. Sadly, after the mortal remains had been "demoted" in error, it was difficult to revive the original heartfelt devotion shown to him by the faithful.
As for John Parens himself, Hub. Men.* explains that he was born in Florence and had held a high civil position in Civita-Castellana, which he then left to become a Minorite. He was the first Provincial whom Saint Francis sent to Spain, and after the latter's death John became General of the Order. He died in Corsica in A.D. 1250.
By the way, the Hub. Men.* also lists an Incognitus de Ornano on March 18, with the addition that the devout faithful who pray at his place of rest state that this grave contains the relics of Saint Franciscus Surrigius. (v. 334.)
(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, Volume 3, Augsburg, 1869, p. 374)
*A hagiography source used by the authors
Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations
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