What is it about?
Roberto Caracciolo (d. 1495) was a highly respected Franciscan preacher favored by popes. In his twenties, he preached at important events, including the canonization of Bernardino da Siena. This study explores his view of Francis of Assisi's stigmata as a miracle and his defense of its authenticity, highlighting the profound reverence held for both Francis of Assisi and the miracle in his era.
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Why is it important?
Focusing on the preacher Roberto Caracciolo’s sermon on the stigmatization of Francis of Assisi, this article reveals how medieval people understood stigmata as a miraculous sign of faith and a bold assertion of Francis’s unparalleled intercessory power as a saint. Caracciolo’s portrayal elevates Francis to a status just below Christ, reshaping the hierarchy of sanctity and reinforcing his singular role in late medieval devotion.
Perspectives
The article highlights how Roberto Caracciolo’s sermon not only reflects medieval beliefs about the stigmata as a miraculous sign but also reveals lingering doubts about this extraordinary phenomenon. Over 200 years after Francis of Assisi’s stigmatization was first reported, Roberto felt compelled to address and eradicate skepticism. His efforts show a persistent tension between faith and the need for proof, underscoring the lasting complexity of medieval perceptions of miracles.
Carolyn Muessig
University of Calgary
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Roberto Caracciolo’s Sermon on the Miracle of the Stigmatization of Francis of Assisi, October 2024, Brill,
DOI: 10.1163/9789004713246_003.
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