Jakov Varingez

Who they were

Giacomo Varinguer was born around 1400 in Zara (Zadar), in present-day Croatia, son of Leonardo and Beatrice Varinguez. He became a Franciscan friar, living first at the convent of San Pietro in Bari and later at Conversano and Cassano delle Murge, where he served as cook, gardener and questing friar, before settling at the convent of San Francesco in Bitetto.

There he sheltered Count Andrea Acquaviva, who was fleeing the king of Naples' assassins, and the grateful Acquaviva family had a road built connecting the convent to the town. Known for an intense contemplative life, he devoted himself to helping the poor during the plague of 1483 and repeated droughts. He died between 1485 and 1490 on 27 April; his body was found incorrupt twenty years later. He has been venerated as blessed since 1700.

The miracles

There was never a formal cause: he has been honoured as blessed since before the Church's formal processes began.

Why that counted as sanctity

Franciscan friar of Zara known for charity to the poor during plague and drought at Bitetto, where he sheltered a fugitive nobleman; venerated as blessed since 1700.

Connected on this site

• Giacomo Illirico Blessed
  “1400 – 27 April 1485 or 1496), also known as Giacomo Illirico, Giacomo of Bitetto or Jakov Varingez, was a Croatian friar of the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans).” — Wikipedia