BENFATTI, GIACOMO, Blessed. — Bishop of Mantua; born there around the middle of the 13th century and died there on 19 November 1338. Having become a Dominican, he had as his master and friend Nicolò Boccasini, later Master General of the Dominicans and Pope Benedict XI. Elected by the clergy and people of Mantua, he was confirmed as bishop of that diocese by John XXII, whom he governed for ten years, admired and venerated for his learning and holiness. Buried in the church of his Order, he was immediately acclaimed a saint, but after a few years he was forgotten. In 1483, when his tomb had to be moved due to restorations, his body was found incorrupt. The event drew a large crowd and revived the dormant cult. After various translations, in 1813 he was placed in the cathedral of Mantua, where he is still venerated. His cult was approved by Pius IX on 22 September 1859.
BENFATTI, GIACOMO, BEATO
BIBL.: G. M. Piò, Delle Vite degli huomini illustri di s. Domenico, Bologna 1620, cols. 321-22; A. Touron, Histoire des Hommes, II, Paris 1745; A. Sordi, Memoria storico-critica sul Negoce dei B., vescovo di Mantova, Mantova 1847; Sacra Ritual Congr. Mantuana, Rome 1859; D. Mortier, Histoire des maîtres généraux de l'ordre des Frères Prêcheurs, IV, Paris 1909, pp. 567-68; I. Taurisano, Catalogus Hagiographicus O. P., Rome 1918, p. 28.