202 LaCitadeSancta
the candle remained lighted in spite of the wind.^142 The miracles that fol-
lowed were more substantial, including healings, restoration of sight to the
blind, liberation of a paralytic, exorcism, and rescue from drowning. At Or-
inga’s shrine the miracles seem to have come during waves of devotion every
other year.^143 Great cults were made of little miracles. A poor woman’s
chicken had gone off its food. She invoked Gerardo of Cagnoli, and it re-
gained its appetite.^144 And devotees, even pious ones, did expect results from
their saints. When Sibyllina Biscossi got no results from her prayers to Saint
Dominic to restore her eyesight, she berated the saint: ‘‘Give me back those
prayers and praises I offered to you for no purpose!’’^145 The saint got the
message and restored Sibyllina’s sight posthaste.
Saints did not demand special holiness before granting help. A toper in a
Sienese tavern bit his wineglass and swallowed a shard. Invoking Saint Am-
brogio Sansedoni, he escaped unharmed and became a devotee.^146 Cerubino
de’ Francheri had a Mass said in honor of Saint Ambrogio before fighting a
duel with Salimbergo de’ Roselli of Arezzo. During the fight, he was downed
and invoked the saint’s help. Salimbergo suddenly backed off, claiming later
that he had seen the saint next to his adversary.^147 Dueling was a mortal sin,
but Ambrogio was from an aristocratic family himself and understood the
temptations of young knights. Saints saved their most impressive miracles for
fellow citizens. Twenty knights from Gubbio were captured by Saracens in
the Holy Land and thrown into a dark dungeon. They invoked their city’s
patron, Saint Ubaldo. He appeared in a flash of light: ‘‘ ‘Peace be to you, I
am Ubaldo, the bishop of Gubbio, whom you have called upon.’ Breaking
their fetters, he led them from the prison.’’ They got home safely and re-
corded the miracle at his shrine.^148
The saints who specialized in particular problems built up the most con-
stant followings. The ex-knight of Siena, Saint Galgano, was partial to help-
ing his fellow knights, especially when jailed or punished by their lords.^149
Considering her own difficult life, it is no surprise that Saint Margherita of
Cortona helped mistreated children, once resuscitating a baby beaten to
death by her abusive father.^150 Three such resuscitations triggered her formal
canonization process. Ranieri, the citizen of maritime Pisa, specialized in
142 .Legenda Beatae Christianae, 71 , pp. 250 – 51.
143. See ibid., pp. 250 – 58 , for the years 1310 – 45.
144. Bartolomeo Albizzi,Legenda Sancti Gerardi, 6. 108 ,p. 430.
145. Tomasso of Bossolasco,Vita [B. Sibyllinae], 1. 3 ,p. 68 : ‘‘Resititue mihi orationes meas et laudes
aliaque quae tibi obtuli frusta!’’
146. Recupero of Arezzo,Summarium Virtutum, 247 ,p. 238.
147. Gisberto of Alessandria et al.,Vita [B. Ambrosii Senensis], 10. 102 ,AS 9 (Mar.iii), 198.
148. Giordano of Citta`di Castello,Vita Beati Ubaldi Eugubini Episcopi, 29. 1 – 4 , pp. 111 – 12 : ‘‘ ‘Pax vobis,
ego sum Ubaldus quem invocastis eugubinus episcopus’ et confractis vinculis omnes de custodia eiecit.’’
149 .De Vita et Actibus Galgani, 5 – 7 ,p. 74. The other patron of Siena, Saint Ansano, seems to have
been known for similar liberations; see Siena, Biblioteca Comunale degli Intronati,msF.viii. 12 (earlyxiv
cent.), fols. 580 v– 581 r.
150. Giunta Bevegnati,Legenda... Margaritae de Cortona, 11. 7. 46 ,p. 466.