Jacobus de Varagine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blessed Jacobus de Varagine |
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Jacobus de Varagine with the Golden Legend in his hand, fresco by Ottaviano Nelli, chapel of Trinci Palace, Foligno, Italy
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| Born | c. 1230 Varagine, Republic of Genoa (present-day Varazze, Italy) |
| Died | 13 or 16 July 1298 or 1299 Genoa, Republic of Genoa (present-day Italy) |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 1816, Genoa by Pius VII |
Jacopo De Fazio, also known as the blessed Jacobus de Varagine (or Voragine in Latin), was an Italian writer and archbishop of Genoa. He was born around 1230 and passed away on July 13 or 16, 1298 or 1299. He is most famous for writing Legenda Aurea, which means Golden Legend. This book is a collection of stories about the lives of important saints from the Middle Ages. It became one of the most popular religious books of its time.
Life of Jacobus de Varagine
Jacobus was born in a town called Varagine, located on the coast of Liguria in Italy. In 1244, he joined the Dominican Order, which is a group of Catholic priests and brothers. He became a leader (called a prior) in different cities like Como, Bologna, and Asti.
Jacobus was a very good preacher and traveled across Italy sharing his sermons. He also taught in the schools run by his order. From 1267 to 1286, he was the head of the Dominican province of Lombardy. He also represented his region at important church meetings.
In 1292, Pope Nicholas IV wanted Jacobus to become the archbishop of Genoa. Jacobus traveled to Rome, but the Pope sadly passed away shortly after. However, the cardinals decided to go ahead with the plan to honor the city of Genoa. Jacobus became the archbishop and was known for being a good leader. He worked hard to bring peace to Genoa, which was often divided by conflicts between different groups like the Guelfs and Ghibellines.
He died in 1298 or 1299 and was buried in a Dominican church in Genoa. In 1816, Pope Pius VII officially recognized him as "Blessed."
His Famous Writings
Jacobus de Varagine wrote several important books. He even listed his own works in his book, Chronicon januense. He said he wrote many things both as a Dominican and as an archbishop.
The Golden Legend
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The Golden Legend is Jacobus's most famous work. It's a collection of stories about the lives of many important saints in the medieval church. The book is divided into sections that follow the church year, from Advent to Christmas, and then through Easter and Pentecost.
These stories are full of amazing legends and often include tales of miracles. The book was incredibly popular and was translated into many languages. It was one of the first books to be printed after the invention of the printing press. Many editions were published in Latin, French, English, German, and other languages during the early years of printing.
Other Works
Jacobus also wrote other books that were quite popular. His collected sermons, called Aurei, were almost as famous as the Golden Legend. He also wrote a book called Mariale, which had about 160 talks about the Virgin Mary.
He also wrote a history of Genoa called Chronicon januense. This book tells the story of the city from its mythical beginnings to his own time as archbishop. It covers the city's growth, its crusading adventures, and the lives of its bishops and archbishops.
Jacobus de Varagine also had interesting ideas about the Virgin Mary. He saw her as a "mediator" between God and people. He believed that all good things flow from Christ to humanity through Mary, like a "neck" connecting the head to the body. This idea was later shared by other important religious thinkers.
See also
In Spanish: Santiago de la Vorágine para niños
