Carino of Balsamo

Blessed Carino Pietro of Balsamo (died 1293), sometimes called St. Acerinus,[1] was the murderer of Saint Peter of Verona (Saint Peter Martyr) who later repented his actions and became a Dominican lay brother. He is venerated as a beatus by the Catholic Church.[2]

Blessed Carino of Balsamo
Domenichino, The Murder of Saint Peter Martyr.
BornCinisello Balsamo
Died1293
Forlì
Venerated inRoman Catholic Church
FeastApril 28

Life

Prior to his entering the Dominican Order, Carino, was, according to Catholic tradition, a cruel man without scruples who had been hired by Milanese Cathars to kill Peter, a prominent Catholic inquisitor. Carino was a native of Cinisello Balsamo. The murder took place on April 6, 1252, when Peter was returning from Como to Milan. Carino's accomplice was named Manfredo Clitoro, of Giussano.[1] The two assassins followed Peter as far as Barlassina, murdering him and mortally wounding Peter's companion Domenico at a lonely spot.[1]

Carino split Peter’s head open, and mortally wounded Domenico. When he found that Peter was still breathing, he stabbed him with a dagger.[1]

Carino fled to a Dominican monastery at Forlì, and confessed his crime to Giacomo Salomoni of Venice, also venerated as a beatus.[2] Carino performed penances and become a lay brother there.[2] Manfredo subsequently fled from the authorities and may have found refuge amongst the Waldenses in the Alps.[1]

Veneration

After his death, Carino was venerated by the people of Forlì.[2]

The regulation of Carino's cult by the papacy began in 1822, but the death of Pius VII delayed the process, and the paperwork was misplaced.[2] Carino is buried at the Cathedral of Forlì, and in 1934, Cinisello Balsamo obtained Carino's head, a translation at which Blessed Alfredo Ildefonso Schuster participated.[2] Carino's feast day is celebrated on April 28, the day of this translation.[2]

  • The murder of Peter Martyr, by Giorgio Vasari
  • The murder of Peter Martyr, by Gentile da Fabriano
  • The murder of Peter Martyr, by Ridolfo del Ghirlandaio

Further reading
  • Donald Prudlo, "The Assassin-Saint: The Life and Cult of Carino of Balsamo", The Catholic Historical Review, Volume 94, Number 1, January 2008, pp. 1–21.

References
  1. Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages (Macmillan, 1887), 215.
  2. "Beato Carino Pietro da Balsamo". Santi e Beati. October 12, 2002. Retrieved August 29, 2008.
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