Saintly Saturday - St. Jacapone da Todi

    Jacomo (or James), was born into the noble Benedetti family around the year 1230 in Todi, Italy. He diligently studied law and became a competent lawyer. However, his success was not without pride and vanity. At this time, his wife Vanna, a pious woman, was disturbed by her husband’s worldliness and undertook atonement for Jacomo’s sins through prayer and penance.           In 1268, Jacomo convinced Vanna to accompany him to a tournament, where she took her place in one of the stands with other noble women. Unexpectedly, the stand collapsed. When Vanna’s body was found, it was discovered that she wore a penitential girdle. Realizing that it was for him that she wore it, a deep impression was made on Jacomo and he was moved to a profound conversion.           Abandoning his previous life and dividing his possessions among the poor, Jacomo embraced extreme poverty and entered the Third Order Franciscans. He left to live in the streets and was clothed in rags, becoming the object of endless insults, humiliations, and cruelty. He was deemed Jacopone, meaning “Crazy Jim.” But these were patiently borne for Christ’s sake.          After ten years of this humiliating life, Jacopone sought admittance into the Order of Friars Minor. He was met at first with some reluctance due to his reputation, but was eventually accepted in 1278. Jacopone continued to live a penitential life, but declined ordination to the priesthood.           When he was 68, Jacopone was excommunicated for his involvement in a religious movement within the Franciscan Order. He was imprisoned and released five years later by Pope Boniface XI. Jacopone acknowledged his mistake and accepted his imprisonment with humility. Having returned to his brothers, Jacopone spent the last three years of his life growing more spiritual. He wept many tears and said “I weep because Love is not loved.”           On Christmas eve, 1306, knowing that his hour had come, Jacopone died peacefully after singing “Jesus, in Thee is all our trust, high hope of every heart.”

Blessed Jacopone da Todi, pray for us!