Today, August 17, is the memorial of Blessed Angelo Agostino Mazzinghi.
Carmelite provincial and reformer.
Angelo Agostino was born in 1385 in Florence, Italy.
He became a Carmelite in 1413 and was ordained priest. He served successively as superior of the Order’s monasteries in Le Selve, Frascati, and his native Florence.
He was the first member of the reform at the convent of Santa Maria delle Salve. Subsequently he became the Carmelite provincial of Tuscany. His deep personal sanctity and burning piety left a lasting mark upon the religious houses he governed. His humility and devotion to the Holy Eucharist and the Blessed Mother inspired many.
In the accounts of the Carmelite Nicholas Calciuri, witnesses verified seeing flowers– roses and lilies–pouring from the mouth of Father Angelo Agostino while he was preaching. Two angels suddenly appeared, and wove the flowers into a crown for the holy Carmelite.
After completing his term as Tuscan provincial, he devoted the rest of his life to the ongoing reform of the Carmelite Order.
He saw the spiritual dangers that arose when friars live isolated from their fellow religious. He thus insisted that no Carmelite could accept any office that required living outside their religious community. He believed that the vow of poverty should be strictly interpreted and observed.
He died of natural causes at age 53 in 1438. He was beatified in 1761 by Pope Clement XIII.