Evangelista and Peregrinus were two friends from 13th-century Verona who entered the Augustinian Order together following a heavenly vision. Renowned for their humility and miracles, they died shortly after one another as foretold by divine signs. Their cult, centered on their holy friendship, was officially approved in 1837.
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OF THE ORDER OF HERMIT FRIARS OF SAINT AUGUSTINE (13th century).
Youth and common vocation
Evangelist and Peregrine, two childhood friends in Verona, decide to enter the Order of the Hermits of Saint Augustine together after a shared vision.
Two young men from the city of Verona offered their fellow citizens in the 13th century the touching spectacle of a friendship all the more solid for being founded on virtue. They were named Ev angelist an Évangéliste Thirteenth-century Augustinian religious known for his holy friendship with Peregrine. d Pe regrine, Pérégrin Companion of Evangelista, who entered the Augustinians of Verona with him. were born at the same time, and the same sentiments of piety animated them both. It was while attending the same school that they became acquainted and bound themselves together in the most intimate manner. When they had completed their studies, they thought of choosing a state of life. They determined upon the religious profession, and gave preference to the Order of the Hermi ts of Saint Augustine, following a Ordre des ermites de Saint-Augustin Mendicant religious order to which both saints belonged. vision with which they had been favored.
Religious life and heavenly favors
Fervent novices at the convent of Verona, they benefited from visions of the Virgin and Saint Anne, while performing miracles of healing.
Having entered and been admitted into the Augustinian convent which was located outside the walls of Verona, the two friends proved to be fervent novices and spared neither fasts nor prayers to triumph over their passions and defeat the enemy of salvation. Their custom was to pray often in the open air, on their knees, and with their eyes raised to heaven. The prior of the convent having asked them why they prayed in this way, they humbly replied that they saw in th at place the Sainte Vierge Object of the blessed one's meditation and devotion. Blessed Virgin with her divine Son sainte Anne Mother of the Virgin Mary. and Saint Anne, just as they had appeared to them when they had made the resolution to enter the Order of Saint Augustine.
These heavenly favors did not in any way alter their humility. They found their happiness in fulfilling the lowest tasks of the house, and in rendering to their brothers all the services they could. God was pleased to grant the healing of several sick people to the prayers of his servants.
The Passing of the Two Friends
Evangelist dies after an angel's announcement, followed shortly by Peregrinus, who was warned by an apparition of his deceased friend.
While they both walked with an equal step in the paths of perfection, an angel came to announce to Evangelist that God was about to call him to the heavenly homeland. At the appointed moment, this good religious knelt down and peacefully rendered his soul to his Creator.
Peregrinus, afflicted by the death of his friend, urgently asked the Lord to reunite him with Evangelist in glory. The latter appeared to him during his rest, all radiant with light; he made it known to him that his passing was near and that his end would be happy. Peregrinus gave thanks to God for this consoling assurance that he received, and a few hours later he passed gently from earth to heaven.
Cult and official recognition
Their bodies were transferred to the church of Saint Euphemia in Verona; their cult was officially approved by Pope Gregory XVI in 1837.
The two friends were placed in the same tomb, and several miracles, performed through their intercession, encouraged the faithful to honor them with a public cult. The Augustinian religious, having been forced by the effects of the wars to leave their first convent and to settle within the city of Verona, brought the bodies of the two blessed ones there and placed them at an altar dedicated to them in the church of Saint Euphemia, Sainte-Euphémie Church in Verona where the bodies of the two blesseds rest. which they served. This cult has been preserved to this day, and Pope Gregor y XVI approv Grégoire XVI Pope who established the liturgical feast of the blessed. ed it by his decree of November 17, 1837.
Christian friendship as a model
The author contrasts the virtuous friendship of the two saints with worldly friendships based on human and changing motives.
The friendship that united the blessed Evangelist and Peregrinus should serve as a model for Christians. Virtue had formed their bond, and it helped them to encourage one another in the ways of religious perfection. Alas! The friendships of the world are very different! They have as their only bond human motives and often an inclination toward the same passions. One hears in society nothing but complaints against the inconstancy, perfidy, and ingratitude of the friends of the age. Should one be surprised by this? The reason is quite natural; they cannot esteem one another, which is why they part so easily.
Documentary sources
The account is based on the works of the Bollandists and the Vatican Hagiology by Cornaro.
Drawn from their life, which is found in the collect ion of the B Bollandistes A society of Jesuit scholars who publish the Acta Sanctorum. ollandists, volume VI of July, and from the Vatican Hagiologie du Vatican Work by Cornaro cited as a source. Hagiology, by Cornaro; Gudenard, Lille ed.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Childhood friendship and shared studies in Verona
- Vision of the Blessed Virgin, the Child Jesus, and Saint Anne
- Entry into the Order of Saint Augustine outside the walls of Verona
- Life of prayer, humility, and community service
- Announcement of Evangelist's death by an angel
- Apparition of Evangelist to Peregrine to announce his imminent death
- Translation of the bodies to the church of Saint Euphemia in Verona
- Approval of the cult by Gregory XVI on November 17, 1837
Miracles
- Healing of several sick people through their prayers
- Vision of the Blessed Virgin, her Son, and Saint Anne
- Angelic announcement of death
- Posthumous apparition of Evangelist to Peregrine