FRANCESCO da Zumpano. — Augustinian hermit of Calabria, reformer of his Order, born in Zumpano c. 1455, died at Soverato in November 1519, hence also called F. da Soverato.
Desiring to restore the Hermits of St Augustine to strict observance of the Rule, in 1515 he obtained the approval of Cardinal Egidio da Viterbo, General of the Order, with the faculty to establish a new Congregation within the Order itself and under obedience to the General. He founded the convents of Agripliano, Campo d’Arato, Castelvetere and Soverato. Many miracles are attributed to him, including resurrections of the dead, healings of the sick, and the multiplication of loaves. He was called “blessed” by the people, but the canonical process was never completed.
BIBL.: I. Pamphilo, Cvntica Ord. fratrum Erem. S. Aug., Rome 1581, p. 99; T. De Herrera, Alphabeticum Augustinianum, I, Madrid 1644, p. 226; F. Tessio, Encomiasticon Augustinianum, Brussels 1644, p. 216; A. Lubin, Orbis Augustinianus, Paris 1672, pp. 484-485; L. Torelli, Secoli agostiniani, VIII, Bologna 1866, pp. 57-59; M. Arpé, Panthéon Augustinianum, Genoa 1709, pp. 260-63.