Feast of St. Antoninus of Florence

St. Antoninus of Florence, OP.  Archbishop of Florence (AD1446-1459)

Today, 10 May, is the traditional feast day of the great 15th-century Archbishop of Florence and Dominican, St. Antoninus of Florence (+1459).  This too-little-known saint is buried in the convent of San Marco in Florence, Italy.  This blogger's family has a particular devotion to St. Antoninus, as we are the guardians of a first class relic of the saint.

His details, in brief, are to be found here: Catholic Saints Info: St. Antoninus of Florence

Here is another account of his life: Nashville Dominicans: St. Antoninus of Florence

Here is a more lengthy account of his life: EWTN: St. Antoninus of Florence, a theologian for our times

As a bishop of the last 500 years, he has an entry on Catholic Hierarchy.org: Catholic Hierarchy: St. Antoninus

Here is a link to the Dominican Convent of San Marco in Florence, where St. Antoninus is buried: Museo di San Marco, Firenze

...and a page about his tomb, specifically.  This blogger had the privilege of seeing him in the fall of 2002: Relic of St. Antoninus of Florence

Here is a short biography of the great saint from the Old Catholic Encyclopedia, with link to follow:

"Saint Antoninus Archbishop of Florence, born at Florence, 1 March, 1389; died 2 May, 1459; known also by his baptismal name Antoninus (Anthony), which is found in his autographs, in some manuscripts, in printed editions of his works, and in the Bull of canonization, but which has been finally rejected for the diminutive form given him by his affectionate fellow-citizens. His parents, Niccolò and Thomasina Pierozzi, were in high standing, Niccolò beinga notary of the Florentine Republic. 

At the age of fifteen (1404) Antoninus applied to Blessed John Dominic, the great Italian religious reformer of the period, then at the Convent of Santa Maria Novella in Florence, for admission to the Dominican Order. It was not until a year later that he was accepted, and he was the first to receive the habit for the Convent of Fiesole about to be constructed by Blessed John Dominic. With Fra Angelico and Fra Bartolommeo, the one to become famous as a painter, the other as a miniaturist, he was sent to Cortona to make his novitiate under Blessed Lawrence of Ripafratta. 

Upon the completion of his year in the novitiate, he returned to Fiesole, where he remained until 1409, when with his brethren, all faithful adherents of Pope Gregory XII, he was constrained by the Florentines, who had refused obedience, to take shelter in the Convent of Foligno. A few years later he began his career as a zealous promoter of the reforms inaugurated by Blessed John Dominic. 

In 1414 he was vicar of the convent of Foligno, then in turn sub-prior and prior of the convent of Cortona, and later prior of the convents of Rome (Minerva), Naples (Saint Peter Martyr), Gaeta, Sienna,and Fiesole (several times). From 1433 to 1446 he was vicar of the Tuscan Congregation formed by Blessed John Dominic of convents embracing a more rigorous discipline. During this period he established (1436) the famous convent of Saint Mark in Florence, where he formed a remarkable community from the brethren of the convent of Fiesole. It was at this time also that he built with the munificent aid of Cosimo de' Medici, the adjoining church, at the consecration of which Pope Eugene IV assisted (Epiphany, 1441). As a theologian he took part in the Council of Florence (1439) and gave hospitality in Saint Mark's to the Dominican theologians called to the council by Eugene IV.

Despite all the efforts of Saint Antoninus to escape ecclesiastical dignities, he was forced by Eugene IV, who had personal knowledge of his saintly character and administrative ability, to accept the Archbishopric of Florence. He was consecrated in the convent of Fiesole, 13 March, 1446, and immediately took possession of the see over which he ruled until his death. 

As he had laboured in the past for the upbuilding of the religious life throughout his Order, so he henceforth laboured for it in his diocese, devoting himself to the visitation of parishes and religious communities, the remedy ofabuses, the strengthening of discipline, the preaching of the Gospel, the amelioration of the condition of the poor, and the writing of books for clergy and laity. These labours were interrupted several times that he might act as ambassador for the Florentine Republic. Ill health prevented him from taking part in an embassy to the emperor in 1451, but in 1455 and again in 1458 he was at the head of embassies sent by the government to the Supreme Pontiff. 

He was called by Eugene IV to assist him in his dying hours. He was frequently consulted by Nicholas V on questions of Church and State, and was charged by Pius II to undertake, with several cardinals, the reform of the Roman Court. When his death occurred, 2 May, 1459, Pius II gave instructions for the funeral, and presided at it eight days later. He was canonized by Adrian VI, 31 May, 1523...."

The full article is available at: Old Catholic Encyclopedia: St. Antoninus of Florence

Live well.