Jacopone da Todi

Iacopone da Todi, originally Iacobus de Benedictis, (* 1230-1236 in Todi in the Duchy of Spoleto, † December 25, 1306 in Collazzone), exercised the profession of a lawyer, to the sudden accidental death of his young wife changed his life; he gave up his profession and lived as a poor penitent in the streets of his hometown. At least, it is told in a biography that emerged, however, until much later. His dramatic symbolic actions are Iacobo have registered the nickname " Iacopone " ( roughly "crazy Jacob " ): So it once asked an acquaintance, he may bring him some chickens from the market "back home". Iacopone this then stowed in the family tomb of the man, because there, in the grave, we were all in reality at home. After ten years of a life as a penitent fool he joined the mendicant orders of the Franciscans.

In the " poverty dispute ," an altercation within the Order to the commitment to poverty, to Iacopone put a radical of absolute poverty in the sense of Saint Francis of Assisi and therefore slid into conflict with Pope Boniface VIII, who excommunicated him and imprisoned ( 1298 -1303 ). After the Pope's death but the sentence was lifted, so that Iacopone reconciled with the Church could die surrounded by his confreres.

Iacopone was in the Middle Ages as an important religious poet. It is significant that he wrote mainly in Italian and Umbrian vernacular and was not limited to the Latin language of the learned. In his poetry he thought deeply into the sufferings of Christ. However, the traditionally returned to Iacopone " Stabat Mater", a famous and ornate Latin hymn is no longer him, but his Franciscan Friar Bonaventura attributed to the rule ( see, eg, rest, history of Western mysticism ). In addition to the Passion and suffering of the subject (God's ) love is at the center of his poetry.

Iacopone is patron saint of Todi.