Andrew Franchi, Bl.
ANDREW FRANCHI, BL.
Preacher and bishop; b. 1335, Pistoia, Italy; d. there May 26, 1401. He was born of the noble family of Franchi-Boccagni, took the dominican habit c. 1351 and graduated as doctor in theology at Rome. He was successively prior (1370–75) at Pistoia, Orvieto, and twice at Lucca, and was noted as a teacher, preacher, and spiritual director. Exceptionally austere, Franchi was devoted to Christ Crucified, the Madonna and Infant, and the Magi. As bishop of Pistoia from about 1380 to his resignation in 1400, he lived as a religious, preached, spent his income on the poor and on pious causes, converted many sinners, and healed factional strife. His body, buried in San Domenico, Pistoia, was found incorrupt in 1911. benedict xv (1921) and pius xi (1922) approved his cult.
Feast: May 26 (Pistoia); May 30 (Dominicans).
Bibliography: j. quÉtif and j. Échard, Scriptores Ordinis Praedicatorum, 5v. (Paris 1719–23); continued by r. coulon (Paris 1909—); repr. 2 v. in 4 (New York 1959) 1.2:717–718. Acta Apostolicae Sedis 13 (1921) 549; 14 (1922) 16–19. i. taurisano, Beato Andrea Franchi (Rome 1922).
[w. a. hinnebusch]