AGAZZARI, FILIPPO DEGLI

AGAZZARI, FILIPPO degli. — Sienese Augustinian, of the noble A. family, born in 1339, died on 30 October 1422. Having overcome his parents’ opposition, at the age of fifteen (1353) he donned the habit of the Hermits of St Augustine at the convent of Lecceto near Siena, where he was guided by the bl. Nicola Tini dei Marescotti. A reprimand from the prior general, Fr. Gregorio da Rimini, during a visit to Lecceto (1357), brought him back to fervor. From 1398 until his death, he was prior.

Of edifying and most industrious life, he transcribed many books for the benefit of his fellow religious. He is commonly called Blessed. Of his many writings, there remain Gli Assempri (“Examples”), preserved in two autograph manuscripts in the municipal library of Siena (1st ed. by F. C. Carpellini, Siena 1864). They comprise 62 tales, written in the lively speech of the people of Siena, whose customs they reflect, with a sober and dramatic touch. Their purpose is to correct the prevailing vices of that time, particularly gambling and usury among men (almost all the usurers in the Assempri die in despair), and vanity and “makeup” among women. The marvelous predominates in them, at times terrifying, familiar to the living popular faith of the fourteenth century; the devil plays a major role as tempter and executioner.