Besozzi, Giampietro

BESOZZI, GIAMPIETRO. - Ascetical writer, b. in Milan of a noble family in 1503, d. there in the odour of sanctity in 1584. He belonged to the roll of the city's notaries and practised law. He became a Barnabite, while his wife entered the Angeliche of St. Paul. In 1546 he was appointed to the government of his Congregation, an office renewed to him several times. He was a close friend of St. Charles Borromeo and a much-sought counsellor of eminent persons. He defended his Order from accusations and calumnies, favoured by St. Pius V and by St. Ignatius of Loyola. He oversaw the publication of the Constitutions of his Order, for which he had laboured much.

The B. is the author of several spiritual works, among them: Discorsi intorno alla vita di s. Paolo Apostolo confermati etc. (Milan 1573; revised and corrected edition with the addition of new discourses, Brescia 1576); Discorsi intorno alla vita della beata M. Maddalena et le sue meravigliose virtù et gratie (Venice 1575); Lettere spirituali sopra alcune feste et sacri tempi dell'anno (dedicated to St. Charles, Milan 1578).