AGNELLO da Pisa, blessed. - A Franciscan and disciple of s. Francesco, born in Pisa about 1104, died in Oxford on 13 March 1232. Having entered the Franciscan Order, he was sent by s. Francesco around 1217 to France, where he was Custodian of Paris when he was charged with founding the English Franciscan province. He went there in 1224 together with eight other brethren, being then a deacon; but later he was ordained a priest. The mission was fully successful, and in a short time the English province became renowned for virtue and learning. Having founded a School at Oxford, which was to bring such glory to the Order, he invited Roberto Grossatesta, Chancellor of the University, to teach theology there. As provincial he attended the General Chapter held at Assisi in 1230. Two years later he died a holy death, surrounded by general esteem. Leone XIII confirmed his cult in 1892. His feast is celebrated on 13 March.
Agnello da Pisa, Blessed
BIBL.: C. Mariotti, Il b. Agnello da Pisa, Roma 1895; Tommaso de Eccleston, De adventis Fratrum Minorum in Anglion, ed. J. S. Brewer, in Monumenta Franciscana, I, Londra 1858, p. 3 ff., republished in Analecta Franciscana, I, Quaracchi 1885, p. 217 ff. and again by A. G. Little, Parigi 1909.
Cite this article
“AGNELLO DA PISA, BEATO.” Enciclopedia Cattolica, vol. I (1948), p. 295. Azione Romana digital edition, https://azioneromana.com/article/agnello-da-pisa-beato.