Jacopone da Todi

Jacopone da Todi , 1230?-1306, Italian religious poet, whose name was originally Jacopo Benedetti. After the sudden death of his wife, he renounced (c.1268) his career as an advocate, gave his goods to the poor, and after 10 years of penance became a Franciscan tertiary. Jacopone was excommunicated and imprisoned (1298) for signing a manifesto against Pope Boniface VIII. After his release, he retired to a hermitage. He wrote many ardent, mystical poems and is probably the author of the hymn Stabat Mater Dolorosa. The spiritual value of poverty is frequently the theme of his poetry.

Bibliography: See E. Underhill, Jacopone da Todi, Poet and Mystic (with selections, 1919); H. White, A Watch in the Night (1933).

Jacopone da Todi ( Jacopo Benedetti) (c.1230–1306), Franciscan poet. He became a Franciscan lay-brother c.1278. In 1294 he and some others were given permission by Celestine V to live in a separate community, observing the rule of the Order in its original strictness. This decision was reversed in 1298 and Jacopone as one of the Spirituals was imprisoned until 1303. He wrote exquisite and deeply devotional poems (Laude) in Latin and the Umbrian dialect. They have traditionally, but probably mistakenly, been thought to include the Stabat Mater. Feast day (local), 25 Dec.

Jacopone da Todi (c.1230–1306). Franciscan poet. A lawyer of a somewhat worldly life, he was converted after the death of his wife. He became a Franciscan laybrother in 1278, joining the ‘Spirituals’ who sought to live according to the original rigour of the rule. He is famed for his deeply emotional devotional poems (Laude), in Latin and the Umbrian dialect, which became very popular (amongst them, probably, the Stabat Mater).