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vita includes the prayers to bless his water, so that readers could make more
if they ran out.^214 These prayers are filled with biblical images, like those in
the blessing of baptismal water at Easter. There is also a blessing of Saint
Ranieri’s bread, which could be taken to the sick. But it was the water that
worked the greatest miracles. It gave the saint his nickname, ‘‘Saint Ranieri
of the Water’’ (S. Raynerius de Aqua). One paralytic cured by use of Saint
Ranieri Water donated his crutches to the church and became a shrine cus-
todian. He rang the bells for daily Mass, and afterward people could find
him on duty, dispensing Saint Ranieri Water to those who needed it.^215 The
devout took Ranieri Water away for anointing and drinking. Sometimes it
miraculously became wine. The hagiographer Benincasa of Pisa recorded
two such miracles: once it became a light white; on the other, a fine rose ́.^216
Creating aSpecialRelationship
In 1240 , Donna Orvetana obtained a cure for her crippled son, Belbruno,
by laying him on top of the sarcophagus of Saint Ambrogio of Massa.^217 We
find full body contact with saints throughout central and north Italy.^218 One
petitioner at the shrine of Saint Benvenuta Bojani in Forlı`made a prostration
on top of the tomb and promised a Mass if she were cured.^219 At Cortona,
Nuta, wife of Acorsuccio of Lucignano, placed her three-month-old son,
Angiolo, on the altar containing relics of Saint Margherita. His older brother
had accidentally suffocated the boy by tossing a pile of bedclothes on him
while rushing to get his weapons for a street fight. Contact with the saint
revived the infant.^220 At Saint Margherita of Citta`di Castello’s shrine—
which like many others was raised on pillars—the sick regularly slept under
the arca, hoping for cures.^221 Whole families kept vigil together. Tofania di
Giovanni of Vicenza had given birth to a paralyzed infant. She took him to
the shrine of Saint Giovanni Cacciaforte for the vigil on the Purification of
the Virgin. She spent the night in prayer with her husband and her sister-in-
law. Her child was well in the morning.^222
When immediate relief was not forthcoming, devotees extended contact
with the tomb for a night or even several nights. On 21 December 1269 , one
week after the death of Saint Armanno Pungilupo, Gisla di Lendenaria, wife
of Stefano of Villanova, spent the night in vigil at his tomb. At dawn, when
- Ibid., 7. 82 – 85 , pp. 363 – 64.
- Ibid., 13. 133 ,p. 372 ; the shrine record includes numerous examples of Saint Ranieri Water, e.g.,
ibid., 9 – 10. 95 – 111 , pp. 366 – 68. - Ibid., 11. 116 – 20 ,p. 369 (esp. 11. 118 ,p. 369 ).
217 .Processus Ambrosii Massani, 73 ,p. 601. - For examples at just one shrine, seeSummarium Processus... B. Simonis, 2. 3 ,p. 121 ; 2. 4 ,p. 121 ;
- 18 ,p. 128.
- Corrado of Cividale,Vita Devotissimae Benevenutae, 14. 112 ,p. 180.
- Giunta Bevegnati,Legenda... Margaritae de Cortona, 11. 7. 38 ,p. 454.
- E.g, ibid., 12. 12 ,p. 320.
222 .Inquisitio de vita Joannis Cazefronte, 253.