Thomas of Celano OFM | |
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| Born | c. 1185 Celano,L'Aquila,Italy |
| Died | 4 October 1260 (aged 75)[citation needed] Val de'Varri,Rieti, Italy |
| Resting place | San Francesco di Tagliacozzo |
Thomas of CelanoOFM (Italian:Tommaso da Celano; c. 1185 – c. 1265[1][2]) was anItalianfriar of theFranciscans (Order of Friars Minor) as well as a poet and the author of threehagiographies aboutFrancis of Assisi.
Thomas was born sometime between 1185 and 1190, into the noble family of theConti dei Marsi at Celano in the Province of the Abruzzi. He received a sound liberal arts education, possibly at the Benedictine monastery of Saint John the Baptist near Celano. His familiarity with monastic tradition suggests that he may have studied atMonte Cassino, Rome or Bologna.[3]
He joined the Franciscan order probably in 1215. In 1221, he was present at the Pentecost Chapter at the Portiuncula, and then accompaniedCaesar of Speyer on his mission to Germany. The following year he became custos of the convents at Mayence, Worms, Speyer, and Cologne, and soon after, Caesar of Speyer, on his return to Italy, made him his vicar in the government of the German province. Before September 1223, Thomas returned to Italy, and lived there in close contact with Francis.[4]
Thomas's authorship of the three works on Francis of Assisi is well-established. Many researchers of the early history of the Franciscan order believe thatBrother Leo, andRufinus of Assisi, associates of Francis, were the source of the material for theVita Secunda.[5]
Thomas also wroteFregit victor virtualis andSanctitatis nova signa in honor of Francis.Life of St. Clare of Assisi, on the early life ofSaint Clare of Assisi, and the hymn "Dies Irae" are also traditionally attributed to him, but the authorship of both works is in fact uncertain.
In 1260 he settled down to his last post, as spiritual director to a convent of Clarisses inTagliacozzo, where he died some time between 1260 and 1270.
He was at first buried in the church of S. Giovanni Val dei Varri, attached to his monastery, but his body is now reburied in the church of S. Francesco at Tagliacozzo.
The process for beatification was initiated in Avezzano; theCongregation for the Causes of Saints declared the process valid and allowed for the opening of the so-called "Roman Phase" on 27 November 1991. The initiation of the process prior to this date granted him the titleServant of God.
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