Lorenzo da Ripafratta (1373 - 27 September 1456) was an

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance language *** Regional Ita ...

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...

professed religious from the

Order of Preachers The Order of Preachers ( la, Ordo Praedicatorum) abbreviated OP, also known as the Dominicans, is a Catholic mendicant order of Pontifical Right for men founded in Toulouse, France, by the Spanish priest, saint and mystic Dominic of Cal ...

. He was born to nobles in

Pisa Pisa ( , or ) is a city and ''comune'' in Tuscany, central Italy, straddling the Arno just before it empties into the Ligurian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Pisa. Although Pisa is known worldwide for its leaning tower, the cit ...

and served as a novice master in Cortona in the latter half of his career while distinguishing himself in aiding the ill during times of the plague in both

Pistoia Pistoia (, is a city and ''comune'' in the Italian region of Tuscany, the capital of a province of the same name, located about west and north of Florence and is crossed by the Ombrone Pistoiese, a tributary of the River Arno. It is a typi ...

and

Fabriano Fabriano is a town and ''comune'' of Ancona province in the Italian region of the Marche, at above sea level. It lies in the Esino valley upstream and southwest of Jesi; and east-northeast of Fossato di Vico and east of Gubbio (both in Umb ...

. He was beatified on 4 April 1851 when

Pope Pius IX Pope Pius IX ( it, Pio IX, ''Pio Nono''; born Giovanni Maria Mastai Ferretti; 13 May 1792 – 7 February 1878) was head of the Catholic Church from 1846 to 1878, the longest verified papal reign. He was notable for convoking the First Vatican ...

approved that there existed an enduring and local 'cultus' - or popular devotion - to the late friar.

Life

Lorenzo da Ripafratta was born in 1373 in Ripafratta,

, to nobles tasked with guarding the town's outer defenses. He assumed residence at the Santa Caterina

convent A convent is a community of monks, nuns, religious brothers or, sisters or priests. Alternatively, ''convent'' means the building used by the community. The word is particularly used in the Catholic Church, Lutheran churches, and the Anglican ...

in Pisa in 1396 after joining the

and receiving their habit. He served as the novice master in Cortona from 1402 (until relocation to

later) and would there oversee the spiritual formation of the likes of

Guido di Pietro Fra Angelico (born Guido di Pietro; February 18, 1455) was an Italian painter of the Early Renaissance, described by Vasari in his ''Lives of the Artists'' as having "a rare and perfect talent".Giorgio Vasari, ''Lives of the Artists''. Pengui ...

and

Antoninus of Florence Antoninus of Florence (1 March 13892 May 1459), was an Italian Dominican friar, who ruled as an archbishop of Florence. He is venerated as a saint by the Catholic Church. Life He was born Antonio Pierozzi (also called de Forciglioni) on 1 Marc ...

. He distinguished himself in aiding the victims of the plague in both Pistoia and

. Lorenzo became known for his harsh methods of personal penance and underwent long fasts and vigils. Lorenzo was also called to help in the reform movement of the order that

Giovanni Dominici Giovanni Dominici ( 1355 – 10 June 1419) was an Italian Catholic prelate and Dominican who became a cardinal. His ideas had a profound influence on the art of Fra Angelico who entered the order through him. But he once encountered difficulties ...

began and led. He moved to the convent of San Domenico in Pistoia after being made its vicar-general. He continued to maintain correspondence with Antoninus as he felt that being the

Archbishop of Florence The Archdiocese of Florence ( la, Archidioecesis Florentina) is a metropolitan see of the Catholic Church in Italy.

was a difficult task and that Antoninus would need to hear from friends. In the later decades of his life he suffered pain in one of his legs and endured it with remarkable resilience as a penitential sign. He died on 27 September 1456.

Beatification

The late friar was beatified on 4 April 1851 after

confirmed that the late religious had a spontaneous and enduring local 'cultus' - otherwise noted as longstanding veneration - that still existed as a testament to the late friar's reputation for holiness.

References

External links

The Order of Preachers, Independent
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ripafratta, Lorenzo da 1373 births 1456 deaths 14th-century venerated Christians 14th-century Italian Christian monks 15th-century venerated Christians 15th-century Italian Christian monks Beatifications by Pope Pius IX Dominican beatified people Italian Dominicans Italian beatified people Members of the Dominican Order People from Pisa Venerated Catholics Venerated Dominicans