Agnellus of Pisa
Encyclopedia
Blessed Agnellus of Pisa was a Friar Minor and founder of the English
Franciscan Province. He was born in 1195 at Pisa
,of the prominent family, Angenelli. This similarity to the upbringing of St.Francis makes it no surprise that Agnellus was approached by St. Francis himself and asked to join the Seraphic Order. He lived a life of holiness, his purity, wholesomeness and devotion to improving the world around him had great impact on the world around him. Agnellus understood the value in learning and though not extremely learned himself, Agnellus sought to further the education of the monks and friars around him. This was how the founding of Oxford, in England, came about. His kind heart made him a friend and confidant to rules and diplomats. Agnellus died abruptly on May 7, 1236 and remains buried at the school he put his utmost efforts towards, at Oxford
.
In his early youth, Agnellus was personally received into the Seraphic Order by St. Francis of Assisi, during the latter's sojourn in Pisa
. After being sent to Paris
by St.Francis, where he became Custos, Agnellus build a convent in the city. He then returned to Italy, was present at the Chapter of Mats, and thence was sent by St. Francis
to establish the Franciscans in England. He and his party landed with nine other friars , who were graciously sent from France under the orders of the monks at Fecamp, Dover
on September 10, 1224. It was not easy for these brave monks, the winter of 1224 was extremely harsh, and any food they ate had to be boiled to unfreeze. However, they did not let the conditions get their spirits down. The monks traveled on through the cold, always cheerful and believing they were filled with the Holy Spirit of God. Finally, months after the first cold winter, the monks found a place to shelter in. There arrival was honored by Pope Honorious III. When the monks arrived, the Archbishop of Canterbury was expecting them with open arms. Everywhere the monks went they were treated with respect and honor. Agnellus and his followers soon became known for their humble manner, extreme prudence, and desire for no material items but what was necessary to survive. Throughout his life, Agnellus would never allow expansion to the monks quarters, or to the university other than what was absolutely necessary. This was an example and a mannerism that continued on at Oxford long after Agnellus's death. Yet, despite his extreme frugality, Agnellus had a gentle way about him. It was this gentleness that made it possible for Agnellus to negotiate a truce with King Henry III
.The English Franciscan Order secured a house there and subsequently played a large role in the establishment of the University of Oxford
soon after. Catholic Online.
Agnellus established a school for the friars at Oxford
, which helped in the development of the theology school at the university. He was a not himself a scholarly man, but understood the importance of learning and knowledge. Therefore, Agnellus had great influence in affairs of the state. King Henry III
befriended the saint out of admiration for Agnellus's wholesome, pure, ambitious attitude towards life. This resulted in Agnellus becoming heavily involved in efforts to avoid a civil war between the King and the Earl Marshal
, who had aligned himself for war with the Welsh
. Shortly afterwards, Agnellus contracted a fatal illness, and the only account in existence is a brief one recorded by Thomas of Eccleston
, a friar minor. Eccleston wrote that after Agnellus's death, his body was immaculate maintained and perfectly preserved. In honor of his great influence in the establishment of the university and his understanding of the importance of learning, Agnellus's body is held at Oxford in veneration.
His cult was confirmed by Leo XIII in 1882, and his feast day is kept on May 7 in Italy. The English Franciscan provinces celebrate his memory on 10 September.New Advent
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
Franciscan Province. He was born in 1195 at Pisa
Pisa
Pisa is a city in Tuscany, Central Italy, on the right bank of the mouth of the River Arno on the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Pisa...
,of the prominent family, Angenelli. This similarity to the upbringing of St.Francis makes it no surprise that Agnellus was approached by St. Francis himself and asked to join the Seraphic Order. He lived a life of holiness, his purity, wholesomeness and devotion to improving the world around him had great impact on the world around him. Agnellus understood the value in learning and though not extremely learned himself, Agnellus sought to further the education of the monks and friars around him. This was how the founding of Oxford, in England, came about. His kind heart made him a friend and confidant to rules and diplomats. Agnellus died abruptly on May 7, 1236 and remains buried at the school he put his utmost efforts towards, at Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
.
In his early youth, Agnellus was personally received into the Seraphic Order by St. Francis of Assisi, during the latter's sojourn in Pisa
Pisa
Pisa is a city in Tuscany, Central Italy, on the right bank of the mouth of the River Arno on the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Pisa...
. After being sent to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
by St.Francis, where he became Custos, Agnellus build a convent in the city. He then returned to Italy, was present at the Chapter of Mats, and thence was sent by St. Francis
Francis of Assisi
Saint Francis of Assisi was an Italian Catholic friar and preacher. He founded the men's Franciscan Order, the women’s Order of St. Clare, and the lay Third Order of Saint Francis. St...
to establish the Franciscans in England. He and his party landed with nine other friars , who were graciously sent from France under the orders of the monks at Fecamp, Dover
Dover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
on September 10, 1224. It was not easy for these brave monks, the winter of 1224 was extremely harsh, and any food they ate had to be boiled to unfreeze. However, they did not let the conditions get their spirits down. The monks traveled on through the cold, always cheerful and believing they were filled with the Holy Spirit of God. Finally, months after the first cold winter, the monks found a place to shelter in. There arrival was honored by Pope Honorious III. When the monks arrived, the Archbishop of Canterbury was expecting them with open arms. Everywhere the monks went they were treated with respect and honor. Agnellus and his followers soon became known for their humble manner, extreme prudence, and desire for no material items but what was necessary to survive. Throughout his life, Agnellus would never allow expansion to the monks quarters, or to the university other than what was absolutely necessary. This was an example and a mannerism that continued on at Oxford long after Agnellus's death. Yet, despite his extreme frugality, Agnellus had a gentle way about him. It was this gentleness that made it possible for Agnellus to negotiate a truce with King Henry III
Henry III of England
Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...
.The English Franciscan Order secured a house there and subsequently played a large role in the establishment of the University of Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
soon after. Catholic Online.
Agnellus established a school for the friars at Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, which helped in the development of the theology school at the university. He was a not himself a scholarly man, but understood the importance of learning and knowledge. Therefore, Agnellus had great influence in affairs of the state. King Henry III
Henry III
Henry III may refer to:*Henry III, Duke of Bavaria *Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor *Henry the Lion, Henry III of Saxony, *Henry III of England *Henry III, Count of Champagne, , also King Henry I of Navarre...
befriended the saint out of admiration for Agnellus's wholesome, pure, ambitious attitude towards life. This resulted in Agnellus becoming heavily involved in efforts to avoid a civil war between the King and the Earl Marshal
Earl Marshal
Earl Marshal is a hereditary royal officeholder and chivalric title under the sovereign of the United Kingdom used in England...
, who had aligned himself for war with the Welsh
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
. Shortly afterwards, Agnellus contracted a fatal illness, and the only account in existence is a brief one recorded by Thomas of Eccleston
Thomas of Eccleston
Thomas of Eccleston was a thirteenth century English Franciscan chronicler. He is known for De Adventu Fratrum Minorum in Angliam. It runs from 1224, when Franciscan friars first came to England, under Agnellus of Pisa, to about 1258...
, a friar minor. Eccleston wrote that after Agnellus's death, his body was immaculate maintained and perfectly preserved. In honor of his great influence in the establishment of the university and his understanding of the importance of learning, Agnellus's body is held at Oxford in veneration.
His cult was confirmed by Leo XIII in 1882, and his feast day is kept on May 7 in Italy. The English Franciscan provinces celebrate his memory on 10 September.New Advent
New Advent
New Advent is an online version of the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia.In 1993, Kevin Knight, then a 26-year-old resident of Denver, Colorado, was inspired, during the visit of Pope John Paul II to that city for World Youth Day, to launch a project to publish the 1913 edition of the encyclopedia on the...
.
External links
- Patron Saints: Agnellus of Pisa
- Agnellus of Pisa at the Catholic EncyclopediaCatholic EncyclopediaThe Catholic Encyclopedia, also referred to as the Old Catholic Encyclopedia and the Original Catholic Encyclopedia, is an English-language encyclopedia published in the United States. The first volume appeared in March 1907 and the last three volumes appeared in 1912, followed by a master index...