BLESSED JOHN COLOMBINI. – A Sienese, born in 1304; a wealthy merchant and prominent citizen, he married Biagia Cerretani (1342); invited by her to read the life of St Mary of Egypt (1355), he was inspired by God to charity until (c. 1364) he gave all his possessions to the hospital of S. Maria della Scala and to the nuns of S. Bonda in Siena, reserving for himself the use of a house and a sum for his wife. He then devoted himself to an intense life of penance and apostolate, gathering disciples who called themselves Jesuits (v.) but who annoyed the rulers, who exiled him (1357 or 1363); he then visited Arezzo, Città di Castello, Pisa, Lucca, Pistoia, Florence, but was soon recalled by his homeland, which was repentant and alarmed by the plague, interpreted as a punishment for his unjust exile. He was not spared the accusation of heresy, but he obtained the approval of Urban V (Corneto, 4 June 1367). On his return to Siena he fell ill at Acquapendente and died at S. Salvatore on 31 July 1367. His cult was in a certain way recognized by Gregory XIII, who included him in the Roman Martyrology, and by Paul V, who granted the Office and Mass for him to Siena and the Jesuits.
A life of him by Pietro Petroni is lost; uncertain attribution of lauds, except one: *Dilettoso Gesù Cristo chi ben t’ama*; 114 certain letters full of compunction for himself, understanding for others, contempt for earthly goods, trust in divine aid, and above all rich in ardent and sweetest desire for Jesus, which he ceaselessly sought to communicate to others.