Bianconi, Giacomo, Blessed

BIANCONI, GIACOMO, blessed. - Born on 7 March 1220 at Bevagna, where he died on 22 Aug. 1301; he entered the Dominicans in 1236 at Spoleto and studied at Perugia. He founded the convent in his native town, of which he was prior; through the most rigorous penance he prepared himself for the apostolate, exercised especially against the Nicolaitans, whose leader he converted in a public debate at Bevagna. He was also prior at Spoleto and Pisa. He possessed a prophetic spirit and was acclaimed as a wonder-worker even during his lifetime. After three translations (1401, 1555, 1539), his body was placed beneath the high altar of the Dominican church (S. Giorgio) at Bevagna. His immemorial cult was confirmed by Clement X on 18 May 1672. He wrote: Speculum humilitatis Christi and Speculum peccatorum, in which he speaks of the life of Our Lord and of the Last Judgment.