John of Fermo (Di Fermo), Blessed (GIOVANNI DELLA VERNA (DI FERMO), BEATO)

Machine translation of the 1948–1954 Italian original. The original text is authoritative.

GIOVANNI della VERNA (di FERMO), blessed. - Preacher of the Friars Minor, born at Fermo in 1259. From childhood he loved solitude and penance. At the age of 13 he entered the Friars Minor; after his profession, he was sent to La Verna by s. Bonaventura. From that time onward his life was a succession of ecstasies and raptures. For three months he enjoyed the habitual presence of his guardian Angel. He had the gift of prophecy, of reading hearts, and of infused knowledge. He evangelized many cities of Tuscany and preached several times before the Pope, cardinals, and princes. He composed the preface Qui venerandum for the Mass of s. Francesco. He died at La Verna on 10 Aug. 1322. In 1880 Leone XIII approved his cult ab immemorabili.

BIBL.: Analecta Franc., III, Quaracchi 1817, pp. 286 and 439-47; IV, ibid. 1906, pp. 354-60, 281, 283, 513, 518, 519; Wadding, Annales, I-IX and XIV, passim; Acta SS. Augusti, II, Paris 1867, pp. 453-74; Aureola Serafica, III, pp. 155-59; P. E. da

Chitignano, Vita del b. G. della V., Prato 1883; L. Oliger, Il b. G. della V. (1239-1322), Arezzo 1913; Archiv. Franc. hist., 2 (1909), p. 634 and 638.