Andrew Avellino, formerly called Lancelot, was born at Castro Nuovo, a small town in Sicily, in 1521. While still an infant he gave evident signs of future holiness. He left his father’s house to study the liberal arts, in the pursuit of which he passed so blamelessly through the slippery age of youth, as ever to keep before his eyes the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom. Of a comely appearance, he was so great a lover of holy purity that he was able to escape snares laid for his chastity by shameless women, and even to repel open attacks. After being made a cleric, he went to Naples to study law and there took his degree. Meanwhile he was promoted to the priesthood, after which he began to plead, but only in the ecclesiastical court and for private individuals, in accordance with the prescriptions of Canon Law. Once, however, when pleading a cause, a slight untruth escaped him, and happening soon after, in reading the Holy Scripture, to come upon these words: “The mouth that believes kills the soul, he conceived so great a sorrow and repentance for his fault, that he determined at once to abandon that kind of life. He therefore left the bar, and devoted himself entirely to the divine service and the sacred ministry. As he was eminent in priestly virtues, the Archbishop of Naples confided to him the direction of certain nuns. In discharging this office he incurred the hatred of some evil men, who attempted his life. He escaped their first assault but soon afterwards one of the assassins gave him three wounds in the face: an injury which he bore unmoved. Desirous of a more perfect life, he humbly begged to be admitted among the Regular Clerks, and on obtaining his request, he asked to be called by the name of Andrew, on account of his ardent love of the Cross.
Andrew earnestly devoted himself to the stricter manner of life he had embraced, and to the practice of the virtues, going so far as to bind himself thereto by two most difficult vows, viz; never to do his own will, and ever to advance in Christian perfection. He had the greatest respect for religious discipline, and zealously promoted it when he was superior. Whatever time remained over after the discharge of his duties and the prescriptions of the rule, he devoted to prayer and the salvation of souls. He was noted for his piety and prudence in hearing Confessions. He frequently visited the towns and villages near Naples, exercising the apostolic ministry with profit to souls. Our Lord was pleased to show by miracles how great was this holy man’s love of his neighbour. As he was once returning home late at night from hearing a sick man’s confession, a violent storm of wind and rain put out the light that was carried before him, but neither he nor his companions were wet by the pouring rain and moreover a wonderful light shining from his body enabled them to find their way through the darkness. His abstinence and patience were extraordinary, as also his humility and hatred of self. He bore the assassination of his nephew with unruffled tranquillity, withheld his family from seeking revenge, and even implored the judges to grant mercy and protection to the murderers.
He propagated the Order of the Regular Clerks in many places, and founded houses for them in Milan and Piacenza. The Cardinals Charles Borromeo and Paul of Arezzo a Regular Clerk, bore him great affection, and availed themselves of his assistance in the discharge of their pastoral office. The Virgin Mother of God he honoured with a very special love and worship. He was permitted to converse with the Angels and affirmed that when saying the Divine Office, he heard them singing with him as if in Choir. At length, after giving heroic examples of virtue, and becoming illustrious for his gift of prophecy by which he knew the secrets of hearts, and distant and future events, he was worn out with old age and broken down with labours. As he was at the foot of the Altar about to say Mass, he thrice repeated the words: “Introibo ad altare Dei” (I will go in to the altar of God) and fell down struck with apoplexy. After being strengthened by the Sacraments of the Church, he peacefully expired in the midst of his brethren on the 10th of November 1608. His body was buried at Naples in the church of Saint Paul and is honoured even to this day by as great a concourse of people as attended the interment. Finally, as he had been illustrious for miracles both in life and after death, he was beatified by Pope Urban VIII in 1624 and was canonised by Pope Clement XI in 1712.
Dom Prosper Guéranger:
In the sixteenth century, in reply to the reproach of exhaustion hurled against the Church, the Holy Ghost raised from her soil an abundant harvest of sanctity. Andrew was one of His most worthy cooperators in the work of holy reformation and supernatural renaissance which then took place. Eternal Wisdom had as usual suffered Satan to go before, for his own greater shame, cloaking his evil works under the grand names of renaissance and reform. It was nine years since Saint Cajetan had departed this world, leaving it strengthened by his labours and all embalmed with the fragrancee of his virtues. The former Bishop of Theate, his companion and collaborator in founding the first Regular Clerks, was now governing the Church under the name of Paul IV when in 1556 God bestowed upon the Theatines, in the person of our Saint, an heir to the supernatural gifts, the heroic sanctity and the zeal for the sanctuary, that had characterised their father. Andrew was the friend and support of the great Bishop of Milan, Saint Charles Borromeo, whose glory in Heaven he went to share on this day. His pious writings are still used in the Church. He himself formed some admirable disciples, such as Laurence Scupoli, author of the well-known work so prized by the Bishop of Geneva, the Spiritual Combat.
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How sweet and yet how strong were the ways of Eternal Wisdom in your regard, O blessed Andrew, when a slight fault into which you were surprised became the starting-point of your splendid sanctity! “The mouth that belies kills the soul. Seek not death in the error of your life, neither procure destruction by the works of your hands” (Wisdom i. 11, 12). You read these words of divine Wisdom and fully understood them. The aim of life then appeared to you very different in the light of the vows you were inspired to make, ever to turn away from yourself and ever to draw nearer to the Sovereign Good.
With holy Church in her Collect, we glorify our Lord for having disposed such admirable ascensions in your heart. This dai1y progress led you on from virtue to virtue, till you now behold the God of gods in Sion. Your heart and your flesh rejoiced in the living God. Your soul, absorbed in the love of His hallowed courts, fainted at the thought thereof. No wonder it was at the foot of God’s altar that your life failed you, and you entered on the passage to His blessed home. With what joy you were welcomed into the eternal choirs by those who had been on Earth your angelic associates in the divine praise!
Be not unmindful of the world’s homage. Deign to respond to the confidence of Naples and Sicily, which commend themselves to your powerful patronage. Bless the pious family of Regular Clerks Theatines, in union with Saint Cajetan your father and theirs. Obtain for us all a share in the blessings so largely bestowed on you. May the vain pleasures found in the tabernacles of sinners never seduce us, but may we prefer the humility of God’s house to all worldly pomp. If, like you, we love truth and mercy, our Lord will give to us, as He gave to you, grace and glory. Calling to mind the circumstances of your blessed end, Christians honour you as a protector against sudden and unprovided death: be our guardian at that last moment. Let the innocence of our life, or at least our repentance, prepare for us a happy exit, and may we, like you, breathe out our last sigh in hope and love (Psalm lxxxiii.).Also on this day according to the ROMAN MARTYROLOGY:
The birthday of the holy martyrs Tryphon and Respicius, and the virgin Nympha.
In the diocese of Agde, the holy martyrs Tiberius, Modestus and Florentia, who, after being subjected to various torments, consummated their martyrdom in the time of Diocletian.
At Antioch, the Saints Demetrius, bishop, Anian, deacon, Eustosius, and twenty other martyrs.
At Ravenna, St. Probus, a bishop, renowned for miracles.
At Orleans, St. Monitor, bishop and confessor.
In England, St. Justus, bishop, who was sent by Pope St. Gregory with Augustine, Mellitus and others to preach the Gospel in that country. There he went to his repose in the Lord, celebrated for sanctity.
At Melun, St. Leo, confessor.
At Iconium in Lycaonia, the holy women Tryphenna and Tryphosa, who profited by the preaching of the blessed Apostle St. Paul and the example of Thecla to make great progress in Christian perfection.
On the island of Paros, St. Theoctistes, virgin.
And in other places, many other holy martyrs, confessors and virgins.
Thanks be to God.
