AGOSTINO DETTO NOVELLO, BEATO

**Augustine Novello, Blessed** – Born in Tarano in Sabina, died 19 May 1909. He completed his legal studies in Bologna. Rising to great renown, he was appointed by King Manfred to serve as prefect of his Curia. After Manfred’s defeat by Charles I of Anjou, Augustine fled to Sicily, where he entered the Augustinian Order. Concealing his learning, he sought to be numbered among the lay brothers. Upon learning that hermitages of the Order flourished in Tuscany, he requested a transfer there, where he led a humble and secluded life. Through a brief writing in defense of the convent of Rosia (Siena), he was recognized by the jurist Giacomo Pagliarresi, who recommended him to the superiors. Brought to Rome by the Blessed Clement of Sant’Elpidio, the Order’s prior general, he was raised to the priesthood and became his advisor in revising the Order’s constitutions. Nicholas IV chose him as his confessor and appointed him

**Augustine Novello, Blessed** – Detail of the political fresco by Simone Martini (1st half of the 14th century) – Siena, Church of Sant’Agostino.

pontifical penitentiary. At the General Chapter in Milan in 1298, he was elected prior general and confirmed by Boniface VIII. He did not, however, complete the triennium of office; summoned to a new Chapter in Naples in 1300, he resigned the generalship, refusing reelection. He then withdrew to the hermitage of Sant Leonardo near Siena, where he lived in great penance and charity toward the sick, drafting the constitutions for the friars of the hospital of Santa Maria della Scala. He was renowned for many miracles, and public cult was confirmed for him by Clement XIII on 1 July 1759. His relics are preserved in the church of Sant’Agostino in Siena.

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