Anthony of Amandola, Blessed

ANTHONY OF AMANDOLA, Blessed. - Augustinian preacher, born to the peasant Sempliciano Migliorati (Megliorati, Meliorati) on 17 January 1355 near Amandola (Ascoli Piceno), died there on 25 January 1450. Educated by the Benedictines of S. Anastasio, left an orphan by his parents he entered, at the age of 18, the convent of the Hermits of St. Augustine, situated at the foot of the Marabione hill. He spent 12 years there, then moved to the convent of Tolentino, where for another 12 years he carried on an active apostolate, and for his imitation of the virtues of the Saint of Tolentino he deserved the title of "the new St. Nicholas." He then preached for 3 years in Apulia. Having returned to his homeland, he was until his late death prior of the Augustinians of Amandola, whose hermitage he transformed into a large convent.

He worked many miracles in life, especially on the occasion of public calamities, and after death (155 between 1455 and 1652, listed in the Sommario di Beatificazione); wherefore the commune of Amandola proclaimed him on 2 March 1460 "defender of this land." Clement XIII on 11 July 1759 confirmed the cult paid to him "ab immemorabili"; his feast falls on 28 January. By a brief of 20 April 1890 Leo XIII granted a plenary indulgence to the numerous visitors of the Sanctuary that preserves his body.