Matthew Carreri | |
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 Engraving byJuan Bernabé Palomino | |
| Religious, priest and stigmatic | |
| Born | ca. 1420 Mantua,Italy |
| Died | 5 October 1470 Vigevano,Province of Pavia, Italy |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church (Dominican Order) |
| Beatified | 2 December 1625,Old Saint Peter's Basilica,Papal States byPope Urban VIII |
| Feast | 7 October |
Matthew Carreri, (Italian:Matteo Carreri; ca 1420 – 5 October 1470) was aDominicanfriar noted for the "austerity of his life."[1] He was the spiritual instructor ofStephana de Quinzanis, and like her, an allegedstigmatic.
He was bornGiovanni Francesco Carreri in the city ofMantua some time around 1420.[2] He took the nameMatthew when he entered theDominican Order. His later success as a preacher was inarguable, attributable to the significant time he spent in spiritual exercises and meditation between preaching.[3]
One of the major events in Carreri's life was his capture by aTurkishcorsair, while on a voyage fromGenoa toPisa.[4] When asked to explain their purpose for being on board the ship, Carreri spoke up so forcefully and convincingly, that the captain set him and the two friars accompanying him free. The friar then saw that the pirates were still keeping a woman and her daughter captive, planning to sell them into slavery in Algeria. He proposed to the captain that they keep him in their place. So shocked was the pirate captain by Carreri's willingness to sacrifice himself, that he freed all five captives.[3]
Carreri was a very close associate of a notedDominican tertiary,Stephana de Quinzanis, in her youth. He was responsible for hercatechesis, and predicted that she would be his "spiritual heiress." The meaning of this statement was illuminated when Stephana also began to experience pains similar to Carreri's, which, according to those concerned, were the result of his devotion to thePassion of Christ.[3]
Carreri'shagiography states that on 5 October 1470 he asked his superior for permission to die, and upon receiving this, he died.[3]
In 1482,Pope Sixtus IV authorized the solemn transfer of Matthew'srelics and allowed formal liturgical celebration of Blessed Matthew Carreri'scultus.[3]
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