MARCELINO, Evangelista. – Franciscan preacher (born Lorenzo Gerbi), so named by St. Marcello of Pistoia, born there on 2 Nov. 1530, died in Rome in a reputation for holiness at the Aracoeli on 3 Jan. 1592. A distinguished theologian, he was an effective expositor of the Bible to the people («ecclesiastica»).
He taught in Paris, Pistoia, L’Aquila, Padua, Rome, Florence and perhaps also in Milan. He declined the sees of Volterra (1560) and Cortona (1566) and a cardinalate. He preached for about 38 years (1553–93) and from 1577 also to the Jews of Rome. Among the best preachers of the 16th century, he was a friend of Panigarola, of Sts. Philip Neri, Charles Borromeo and Felix of Cantalice. From 1572–73 to 1592 he held with great success the office of preacher in Rome, in the morning in the basilica of St. Peter and in the evening at the Aracoeli, as well as in other churches, e.g. S. Lorenzo in Damaso. Many of his sermons were printed, others remained in manuscript.
Besides expositions of the Apocalypse and of Job, the following enjoyed wide circulation: *Della Metamorfosi, cioè trasformazione del virtuoso* (4 vols., Florence 1582–83); *Lettoni sopra l’Epistola agli Ebrei* (ibid. 1583); *Lettoni diciannove sopra tutti* (ibid. 1586); *Lettoni sopra Tobia* (Rome 1587); *Lettoni sopra Daniele profeta*... (Venice 1588).