St. Andrew Corsini

 

Saint Andrew was born in Florence in 1301 of the illustrious Corsini family. A short time before the birth of Saint Andrew, his mother experienced a strange dream, in which she had given birth to a wolf which became a lamb upon entering a Carmelite church. After a dissolute youthful life Andrew repented, when one day in 1318 his desolate mother told him of her dream where she gave birth to a wolf,  which then ran into a church and was changed into a lamb.  Andrew lived his early life as a wolf of sorts—he lived in 14th century Italy and spent his time with troublesome friends pursuing vice and extravagance. His mother never stopped praying for him, however, and told him that he had been dedicated to the service of God through the intercession of Mary. 


 He rose and went to the altar in the church where his parents had offered to God the child they hoped to obtain from His mercy; there he prayed to the Blessed Virgin with tears, then went to beg his admission to the Carmelite Order.

The rebukes from his parents shamed him, and gave him a desire to live up to their expectations. He went to pray in a Carmelite monastery, and was so moved by grace that he decided to enter that order. His friends tried to convince him to leave and rejoin them, but he stayed.

He began a life of great mortification. Ordained a priest in 1328, he studied in Paris and Avignon, and on his return became the Apostle of Florence, and Prior of his convent there. In 1360 he was consecrated Bishop of Fiesole, near Florence, and gained a great reputation as a peacemaker between rival political factions and for his love of the poor. He was also named papal nuncio to Bologna, where he pacified dissenting factions and won the hearts of the nobility with whom he was associating. He wrought many miracles of healing and conversion during his lifetime.

At the age of 71, while he was celebrating the midnight Mass of Christmas, the Blessed Virgin appeared to him and told him he would leave this world on the feast of the Epiphany, to meet the beloved Master he had served so faithfully. In effect, he died on that day in 1373, in the thirteenth year of his episcopacy. Miracles were so multiplied thereafter that Pope Eugenius IV permitted a public cult immediately. The city of Florence has always invoked him with confidence and happy results. He was canonized in 1629.

He is often represented holding his crosier, with a wolf and a lamb at his feet, or hovering over a battlefield on a cloud or a white steed - this in memory of his miraculous intervention in a battle the Florentine people won by his assistance.  (sorry but I couldn't find this image)