CARCANO, MICHELE. - Born in Milan in 1427, died in Lodi on 20 March 1484. While still a boy, he was an assiduous listener together with his father Donato (ducal councillor) to St. Bernardino of Siena, when the latter was preaching in Milan. Attracted by the Saint, having already completed the trivium and quadrivium, in the flower of his years he entered among the Friars Minor in the convent of S. Croce in Como, where he soon distinguished himself for virtue and theological learning. A preacher at the age of 24, he travelled through Italy and Palestine (1440-84), evangelizing with the effectiveness of his extraordinary eloquence. Milan, Mantua, Brescia, Bergamo, Padua, Venice, Piacenza, Bologna, Siena, Florence, Trent, Rome and other cities admired him as a reborn St. Paul, as testified, along with others, by the blessed Bernardino da Feltre. Even the vastest cathedrals were not enough to contain the immense crowd that flocked to hear him, so that he was often forced to preach in the public squares. He had from God the gift of persuading and moving his listeners to tears. Thus he caused Christian and civil life to flourish anew everywhere, and in 1462 he induced the city of Perugia to erect the first Monte di Pietà with pledges at low interest; an example followed later, through his own efforts, by Bologna and Padua. In Milan, Como and Piacenza he persuaded those citizens to concentrate into a single one their many hospitals, which were no longer sufficient for the multitude of the suffering. Venice and Crema erected hospitals at his persuasion. Created nuncio of the Crusade by Pius II and by Sixtus IV, he preached in the Duchy of Milan and in that of Venice.
As Provincial of the Milanese Observance, he brought renewal to the Minorite cloisters, to the monasteries of the Poor Clares and to the Third Order; in Milan he promoted the erection of the «Pio consorzio della carità».
His apostolic frankness cost him exile from Milan twice (1472-75), and once recalled he continued his restorative work also at the ducal court, and he was a comfort to the dispossessed duchess Bona of Savoy, as he had already been spiritual director of the duchess Bianca Maria Visconti.
He died while preaching in Lodi; venerated as blessed, graces and miracles were obtained at his tomb. His name is found in the Martyrologium franciscanum (Rome 1938, p. 140) under 20 March. The writers of his time and the contemporary records of the Communes and States of Italy bear witness to his wonderful activity. The cause for the confirmation of his cult is in progress.
Bibliography5 works
Paolo Maria Sevesi