(A.D. 1640.)
[Roman Martyrology. Authority: the Bull of her Canonization.]
S. Hyacintha was the daughter of Mark Anthony Mariscotti, Count of
Vignanello, and of Octavia Orsini; she was born in 1588, and received in
baptism the name of Clarissa, which she exchanged for that of Hyacintha
on entering the cloister.
In her earliest childhood she was remarkable for her piety, but as she
grew older she became giddy and frivolous. In her 17th year she was, one
day, playing with the rope of a well at Vignanello, when she slipped
over the edge, and hung, entangled in the rope, which held her some
minutes suspended above the horrible pit, till a servant, observing her
peril, from the castle window, ran to her assistance, and rescued her.
The shock of this accident seemed for a while to steady her. She shortly
after fell in love, and a marriage was projected, but when, through
family circumstances, it was broken off, Clarissa would hear of nothing
but of taking the veil, and burying her broken heart in a convent. Her
father refused at first, but yielding at length to her sentimental
vehemence, which he mistook for real vocation, allowed her to take the
veil in the convent of S. Bernardine at Viterbo.
In the convent her heart soon healed, and she became an annoyance to
the whole sisterhood by her vanity and frivolity. After ten years, she
fell ill, and sent for her confessor. He, knowing her character, and
wearied with her shallowness, sharply rebuked her with, "Beware,
Hyacintha, heaven is no place for giddy-pates!" His words startled her,
and she cried out, "Am I then lost for ever."
"No," he answered, "not if you seek pardon for your sins of the just and
merciful God, with sincere resolution of amendment, and cease to be a
scandal and worry to the poor sisters of this house, by your emptiness
and light talk, and worldly ways." Bursting into a flood of tears, she
promised amendment, sent for all the sisters, and humbly asked their
pardon, and prayers. Then she cast herself at her confessor's feet, and
made a sincere confession. She now completely changed her life; she
would not wear shoes, and only put on the meanest dress. She strove
manfully to overcome the purposelessness of her life and the feebleness
of her will; and as she gradually mastered herself and her vanity, there
broke on that soul, so long entangled in a fog of petty cares and
pleasures, the burning sun of the love of Jesus, filling her with
reality, earnestness, and devotion. In after years her character was
completely the reverse of what it had been, was full of dignity and
meekness, and above all, had a _purpose_ in it. In a time of want, she
founded two institutions, one for the secret relief of decayed
gentlefolks, suffering, but too proud to ask alms, or display their
misery; the other a hospital for old people. Both societies, known under
the name of the Oblates of S. Mary, exist to this day at Viterbo.
The mercy of God rewarded this poor servant, and she was given singular
privileges, a remarkable gift of prayer, and a discernment of spirits,
that is, she could read the troubles of hearts. She died in the year
1640, calling on the sacred names of Jesus and Mary, in the 55th year
of her age.
She was beatified by Benedict XIII., in 1726, and canonized by Pius
VII., on May 24th, 1807.
This is one of those instances of the love and fore-thought of the
Church in holding up to every class of mind and sort of temptation, an
example of salvation in it. We have seen her fearlessness in exhibiting
S. James the hermit to the fallen religious, here she shows to the
thoughtless and giddy female mind, that for it Jesus thirsts in spite of
its emptiness, and that for it there is sanctity if it will try to seek
it.
[Illustration: Virgin in Crescent, after Albert Durer.]
January 31.
S.S. CYRUS, JOHN, ATHANASIA AND OTHERS, _MM. in Egypt_ A.D. 250.
S. GEMINIAN, _B. of Modena, in Italy_.
S. JULIUS _P._, AND JULIAN _D._, _at Novara, in Italy, beginning
of 5th cent._
S. MARCELLA, _W., at Rome_, A.D. 410.
S. PATROCLUS, _B.M. in France_.
S. GAUD, _B., of Evreux in Normandy, circ._ A.D. 531.
S. AIDAN OR MAIDOC, _B., of Ferns, in Ireland, beginning of
7th cent._
S. ADAMNAN, _P., of Coldingham, end of 7th cent._
S. ULPHIA, _V., at Amiens, 8th cent._
S. ATHANASIUS, _B., of Methone in the Peloponesus, 9th cent._
S. EUSEBIUS, _Monk of S. Gall in Switzerland_, A.D. 884.
S. MARTIN, _P., of Soure near Coimbra, in Portugal_, A.D. 1147.
S. SERAPION, _M., among the Moors_, A.D. 1240.
S. PETER NOLASCO, _C., in Spain_, A.D. 1256.