Blessed Angelo Agostini Mazzinghi: the Carmelite with flowers pouring from his mouth (d. 1438)

Blessed Angelus Augustine Mazzinghi was a Florentine Carmelite, theologian, professor, mystic, outstanding preacher, and several times prior. He instigated a reform effort within his order. His Carmelite brothers remained extremely discreet about his ecstasies, inner locutions and visions, and he himself never granted these special favor a greater importance than they deserved (inferior to his obedience to the Church, his superiors and the rule of his order as far as holiness of life is concerned). He was especially venerated by the Florentine population of his time, who affectionately called him the "Angiolino" (" little angel ").

Santa Maria del Carmine church in Florence, where Ange-Augustin Mazzinghi is buried / © CC BY-SA 3.0 / Emmanuel BRUNNER

Reasons to believe:

The life of Angelus Augustine Mazzinghi was written immediately after his death. Domenico Maria Manni published his biography in 1739 in Vita in ristretto del Beato Angelo di Agostino Mazzinghi carmelitano fiorentino.

The Florentines loved and venerated Angelus Augustine, even during his lifetime: they flocked to the convent of Santa Maria delle Selve, not only because of rumors about his supernatural charisms, but also because of his profound kindness to all and his captivating preaching skills.

Nicholas Calciuri of Sicily, a Carmelite of the same period, reported that "reliable witnesses" saw "roses and lilies coming out of his mouth one day when Angelus was preaching in Florence" which two angels then gathered and tied into a crown.

The Carmel, of which he is an illustrious son, is an authority on spiritual theology, religious psychology and mystical experiences: if there were the slightest doubt concerning the authenticity of his mystical experiences, Angelus Augustine would not have been recognized for his holiness and exemplary life.

Angelus Augustine was beatified after a rigorous investigative process which, by its very nature, does not accept any unverified facts.

Since the Bollandist Society (an association of scholars, philologists, and historians who since the early 17th century have studied hagiography and the cult of the saints in Christianity) was uncompromising on the subject of miracles and saintly lives, preferred to wait for further proof of Angelus Augustine's holiness before pushing for his beatification. However, they unofficially acknowledged his place among the saints.

Summary:

Blessed Angelus Augustine was born in Florence, Italy (Tuscany) around 1385 - his exact date of birth is unknown. He undoubtedly received a solid and lasting Christian education, since from his adolescence he planned to become a religious.

He entered the Florentine Carmelite monastery of Santa Maria delle Selve at the age of 28. His decision was a mature one. He could have continued to live an honest life in the world, but he wanted to make his life an offering to God by following in the footsteps of Jesus, Mary and the first apostles. It became clear to him that the Carmelite Order met these conditions.

The first years of his contemplative life made him an exemplary religious in every way. He was particularly keen to follow the Carmelite rule exactly, because, in his eyes, it was the expression of God's will. Moreover, the leaders of the order, as well as the Florentine religious, placed all their trust in him from 1419 onwards, when the future Blessed began to think about reforming his community. That year, he was appointed prior of the convent in Florence, even though he had only been a religious for six years.

According to witnesses, his deep humility made him hesitant to accept this appointment. Rumors began to circulate about the extraordinary mystical phenomena around his person. His brothers in religion remained extremely discreet about his ecstasies, inner locutions and other visions of Jesus and his Mother, at least until he was appointed prior of the convent in 1435 (until 1437).

In Florence, he was looked upon more as a perfect Carmelite and a remarkable priest than as a mystic or miracle-worker. Nevertheless, rumors were circulating, and the Florentine faithful were flocking to the convent in ever greater numbers. Visitors were not just attracted by these rumors but mostly by his profound kindness, hospitality, exemplary charity and powerful sermons. The Florentines nicknamed him "the little angel".

Since he was renowned as a magnificent theologian, his superiors never expressed concern about his mystic life and reported miracles. A reformer of his order and founder of hermitages for religious wishing to try an eremitical experience, he was appointed lecturer in theology in 1434, firmly establishing his doctrinal mastery.

One of his contemporaries, Nicola Calciuri from Sicily, collected an outstanding testimony from the Carmelites of Florence, which we must give every possible credit to, given Carmel's absolute prudence when it came to miraculous experiences: One day during Lent, while the Blessed was preaching in Florence, converting men and women from all walks of life, fresh and beautiful flowers consisting of "roses and lilies", poured out of his mouth, as if to show that the Holy Spirit was speaking through him. Among the witnesses, some saw "two angels" who gathered these flowers and made a "crown", which they placed on the Blessed's head.

His renewed focus on the Blessed Virgin Mary led many to deepen their faith and seek a closer relationship with her. As time passed, the Virgin Mary appeared to him more and more frequently. We do not know how many supernatural visions he had, but in any case there were enough of them for the friars of the convent, the leaders of the Carmelite Order and the clergy of Tuscany to be aware of them. Angelus Augustine never dissociated these prodigious graces from the Marian theology of the Catholic Church, placing visions and celestial messages within their right, secondary place in the Christian economy of salvation.

A process of beatification was opened by Archbishop Giuseppe Maria Martelli of Florence in 1758. Three years later, Pope Clement XIII beatified him.

Patrick Sbalchiero

Beyond reasons to believe:

Blessed Angelus Agostini Mazzinghi led a remarkable life, contributing greatly to the Church through his roles as a priest, mystic, reformer, professor, prior, and noted preacher. His death was mourned by many who recognized his immense contributions to the Church and valued his spiritual guidance.

Going further:

Domenico Maria Manni, Vita in ristretto del Beato Angelo di Agostino Mazzinghi carmelitano fiorentino promulgata dai padri del Carmine di Firenze in occasione della solenne festa fatta il dì 28.giugno 1761. in ringraziamento a Dio pel decreto ottenuto dalla santità di Clemente 13. sommo pontefice in conferma del culto prestato al detto Beato ab immemorabili, Stamperia Imperiale, 1761. Available online.

More information:

Louis Saggi, "Angelus Mazzinghi (1385?-1438), blessed, priest"
Père Marie-Joseph, "Ange-Augustin Mazzinghi (bienheureux)", Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie ecclésiastiques, vol. 3, Paris, 1924, col. 40-41.