CIONI, GIOVANNI BATTISTA, Venerable. — First member of the Clerics Regular of the Mother of God, born in Lucca on 11 November 1556, in the Cioni family palace, the third son of the noble couple Francesco and Maddalena Bertolini; died there on 31 March 1623.
From childhood he was most devout toward the Most Holy Eucharist. While attending the church of S. Romano of the Dominicans with his cousin C. Franciotti, he had as his confessor Fr. Benedetto Onesti, who, together with his confrères the Venerable Fr. Paolino and Fr. Francesco Bernardini, instructed the youth. There he met St. Giovanni Leonardi (q.v.) and became his first companion when the latter founded (1574) the Congregation, later the Order, of the Mother of God (q.v.). Ordained priest in 1585, he moved with Leonardi and his companions from the house and church of S. Maria della Rosa to that of S. Maria Corteforlandini; he served as rector of the church and then as superior of the house. Most humble, he several times refused the office of superior general. When a small congregation of priests was formed in Pescia through the efforts of St. Giovanni Leonardi and the Venerable Antonio Paqui, he, though remaining in Lucca, directed it for more than fifteen years. He assisted the two bishops of Lucca, Guidiccioni, in the care of the diocese (and directed the seminary of S. Michele). He is buried in S. Maria Corteforlandini.
The cause for his beatification was opened in 1701, and the process for declaring his heroic virtues has now been completed.