Joachim Piccolomini
Encyclopedia
Joachim Piccolomini also known as Joachim of Siena, or, in Italian
, Giovacchino Piccolomini, was an Italian
Servite tertiary
from Siena
.
. A pious youth, he was especially noted for his devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. His greatest childhood pleasure was to pray the Ave Maria
before an image of the Blessed Lady of Sorrows. He was also known from an early age to exhibit extreme sensitivity to the plight of the poor. He gave them his own clothes, and spent his pocket money on almsgiving. One day when Joachim urged his father to increase his aid to the distressed, his father argued that prudence
ought to moderate his liberality. Otherwise, he would reduce his whole family to poverty
. Joachim is said to have replied, "You have taught me that an alms is given to Jesus Christ, in the persons of the poor: can we refuse him any thing? And what is the advantage of riches, but that they be employed in purchasing treasures in heaven?" Hearing these sentiments, his father wept for joy.
Joachim joined the Servites as a lay-brother
at the age of fourteen, becoming a spiritual student of Saint Philip Benizi. By all reports, he was a perfect model of virtue; it was not unusual to find him at midnight, praying, while the rest of the house slept, and on Saturdays, Joachim abstained from all food in honor of the Seven Dolours of the Virgin. His fervor grew, yet instilled in him an extraordinary humility
. Joachim was urged by his brothers to study and be ordained
a priest
, but he felt he was unworthy, and wanted nothing grander than to be an altar server
. It would appear that his whole life was an attempt to hide himself from the eyes of others and live in obscurity. In fact, he had become so well-respected and widely known for his sanctity that he requested that he be transferred to Arezzo
. The move aroused such a stir of complaints in Siena that he was ordered to return.
One account of Joachim's hagiography
has the Blessed Virgin appearing to him at important times in his life, such as in his adolescence
, when she urged him to join the Servites. The second time, she appeared with two crowns in her hands; one of rubies
to reward him for his compassion in her sorrows, and the other of pearl
s, in recompense for his virginity
, which he had vowed in her honor.
Shortly before his death, the account continues, she once more appeared. Joachim begged her that he would die on the same day on which Jesus Christ had died
. The Virgin immediately gratified him, saying, "It is well, prepare thyself; for to-morrow, Good Friday, thou shalt die suddenly as thou desirest—to-morrow thou shalt be with me in heaven." So, during the singing of the Passion
according to Saint John
, at the words "Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, His Mother" , Joachim fell into his last struggles of death, and at the words "He bowed down his head and expired" , Joachim died. The whole church was filled with an extraordinary light and a sweet-smelling perfume
.
by Pope Paul V
on 21 March 1609. He is commonly depicted as a Servite holding a book and a flower, and is venerated especially in Arezzo and Siena.
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
, Giovacchino Piccolomini, was an Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
Servite tertiary
Third order
The term Third Order designates persons who live according to the Third Rule of a Roman Catholic religious order, an Anglican religious order, or a Lutheran religious order. Their members, known as Tertiaries, are generally lay members of religious orders, i.e...
from Siena
Siena
Siena is a city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the province of Siena.The historic centre of Siena has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. It is one of the nation's most visited tourist attractions, with over 163,000 international arrivals in 2008...
.
Life
Joachim Piccolomini was born into a noble family of Siena, ItalyPiccolomini
Piccolomini is the name of an Italian noble family, which was prominent in Siena from the beginning of the 13th century onwards. In 1220, Engelberto d'Ugo Piccolomini received the fief of Montertari in Val d'Orcia from the emperor Frederick II as a reward for services rendered...
. A pious youth, he was especially noted for his devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. His greatest childhood pleasure was to pray the Ave Maria
Hail Mary
The Angelic Salutation, Hail Mary, or Ave Maria is a traditional biblical Catholic prayer asking for the intercession of the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus. The Hail Mary is used within the Catholic Church, and it forms the basis of the Rosary...
before an image of the Blessed Lady of Sorrows. He was also known from an early age to exhibit extreme sensitivity to the plight of the poor. He gave them his own clothes, and spent his pocket money on almsgiving. One day when Joachim urged his father to increase his aid to the distressed, his father argued that prudence
Prudence
Prudence is the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason. It is classically considered to be a virtue, and in particular one of the four Cardinal virtues .The word comes from Old French prudence , from Latin...
ought to moderate his liberality. Otherwise, he would reduce his whole family to poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
. Joachim is said to have replied, "You have taught me that an alms is given to Jesus Christ, in the persons of the poor: can we refuse him any thing? And what is the advantage of riches, but that they be employed in purchasing treasures in heaven?" Hearing these sentiments, his father wept for joy.
Joachim joined the Servites as a lay-brother
Third order
The term Third Order designates persons who live according to the Third Rule of a Roman Catholic religious order, an Anglican religious order, or a Lutheran religious order. Their members, known as Tertiaries, are generally lay members of religious orders, i.e...
at the age of fourteen, becoming a spiritual student of Saint Philip Benizi. By all reports, he was a perfect model of virtue; it was not unusual to find him at midnight, praying, while the rest of the house slept, and on Saturdays, Joachim abstained from all food in honor of the Seven Dolours of the Virgin. His fervor grew, yet instilled in him an extraordinary humility
Humility
Humility is the quality of being modest, and respectful. Humility, in various interpretations, is widely seen as a virtue in many religious and philosophical traditions, being connected with notions of transcendent unity with the universe or the divine, and of egolessness.-Term:The term "humility"...
. Joachim was urged by his brothers to study and be ordained
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
a priest
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
, but he felt he was unworthy, and wanted nothing grander than to be an altar server
Altar server
An altar server is a lay assistant to a member of the clergy during a Christian religious service. An altar server attends to supporting tasks at the altar such as fetching and carrying, ringing the altar bell and so on....
. It would appear that his whole life was an attempt to hide himself from the eyes of others and live in obscurity. In fact, he had become so well-respected and widely known for his sanctity that he requested that he be transferred to Arezzo
Arezzo
Arezzo is a city and comune in Central Italy, capital of the province of the same name, located in Tuscany. Arezzo is about 80 km southeast of Florence, at an elevation of 296 m above sea level. In 2011 the population was about 100,000....
. The move aroused such a stir of complaints in Siena that he was ordered to return.
Death
According to the legend Joachim reportedly died when he was unable to console an epileptic with words, so he begged God that he might take the illness upon himself. He died of epilepsy in 1305.One account of Joachim's hagiography
Hagiography
Hagiography is the study of saints.From the Greek and , it refers literally to writings on the subject of such holy people, and specifically to the biographies of saints and ecclesiastical leaders. The term hagiology, the study of hagiography, is also current in English, though less common...
has the Blessed Virgin appearing to him at important times in his life, such as in his adolescence
Adolescence
Adolescence is a transitional stage of physical and mental human development generally occurring between puberty and legal adulthood , but largely characterized as beginning and ending with the teenage stage...
, when she urged him to join the Servites. The second time, she appeared with two crowns in her hands; one of rubies
Ruby
A ruby is a pink to blood-red colored gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum . The red color is caused mainly by the presence of the element chromium. Its name comes from ruber, Latin for red. Other varieties of gem-quality corundum are called sapphires...
to reward him for his compassion in her sorrows, and the other of pearl
Pearl
A pearl is a hard object produced within the soft tissue of a living shelled mollusk. Just like the shell of a mollusk, a pearl is made up of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, which has been deposited in concentric layers. The ideal pearl is perfectly round and smooth, but many other...
s, in recompense for his virginity
Virginity
Virginity refers to the state of a person who has never engaged in sexual intercourse. There are cultural and religious traditions which place special value and significance on this state, especially in the case of unmarried females, associated with notions of personal purity, honor and worth...
, which he had vowed in her honor.
Shortly before his death, the account continues, she once more appeared. Joachim begged her that he would die on the same day on which Jesus Christ had died
Good Friday
Good Friday , is a religious holiday observed primarily by Christians commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. The holiday is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and may coincide with the Jewish observance of...
. The Virgin immediately gratified him, saying, "It is well, prepare thyself; for to-morrow, Good Friday, thou shalt die suddenly as thou desirest—to-morrow thou shalt be with me in heaven." So, during the singing of the Passion
Passion (Christianity)
The Passion is the Christian theological term used for the events and suffering – physical, spiritual, and mental – of Jesus in the hours before and including his trial and execution by crucifixion...
according to Saint John
John the Evangelist
Saint John the Evangelist is the conventional name for the author of the Gospel of John...
, at the words "Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, His Mother" , Joachim fell into his last struggles of death, and at the words "He bowed down his head and expired" , Joachim died. The whole church was filled with an extraordinary light and a sweet-smelling perfume
Perfume
Perfume is a mixture of fragrant essential oils and/or aroma compounds, fixatives, and solvents used to give the human body, animals, objects, and living spaces "a pleasant scent"...
.
Veneration
Blessed Joachim Piccolomini was beatifiedBeatification
Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
by Pope Paul V
Pope Paul V
-Theology:Paul met with Galileo Galilei in 1616 after Cardinal Bellarmine had, on his orders, warned Galileo not to hold or defend the heliocentric ideas of Copernicus. Whether there was also an order not to teach those ideas in any way has been a matter for controversy...
on 21 March 1609. He is commonly depicted as a Servite holding a book and a flower, and is venerated especially in Arezzo and Siena.