LA MADONNA DELLA MISERICORDIA, IL BIGALLO, FIRENZE

THE MADONNA OF MERCY, THE BIGALLO ORPHANAGE, FLORENCE

GIANNOZZO PUCCI
 
 

HE Madonna of Mercy (Misericordia) was painted by the Bernardo Daddi school in 1342 in the building now dedicated to the Bigallo orphanage, and which had been the Misericordia Confraternity. Across from it the newer headquarters of the Misericordia still dispense medical care and run ambulances. The members of the Misericordia had laid the first stone of Florence's Cathedral seven hundred years ago. Every Maundy Thursday the Cardinal of Florence washes the feet of eleven Misericordia workers.

This fresco is one of the most important keys for unlocking the vocation and for deepening the meaning of Florence. The Madonna wears a crown like that of the Empress Matilda, with the saving Tau in blood, and it is she who protects the city with the weapons of the acts of mercy as Jesus had listed them in the Gospel, these acts being given in the medallions of her mantle that contain these words.

VENITE BE/NEDICTI PAT/RIS MEI PO/SSIDETE//
PARATUM/ VOBIS REGNUM A CONSTITU/TIONE MUNDI [Matt 25.24]

EXU/RUI & DEDIS/TIS MIHI MANDUC/ARE      SITI/VI ET DED/ISTI MIHI BIB/ERE//
HOSPES/ ERAM & COLLE/GISTIS ME [25]          NUD/US ERAM ET OPERUISTIS/ ME//
I was hungry and you gave me food                      I was thirsty and you gave me to drink
I was a stranger and you welcomed me                  I was naked and you clothed me
VISITO/ TEGHO
POTO/ COLLIGO
CIBO/ CONDO
REDIMO

INFI/RMUS ERA/M & VISITAST/IS ME //              IN CARCERE ERAM & VE/NISTIS AD ME//
NULLUS/ DE MISE/RICORDIA/ DEI DE/SPERE/T //   MISERI/CORDIE DEI/ MIRE SUNT//

I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me
No one despairs of God's mercy. God's mercies are marvellous.
 
 

OMNIS MISERICORDIA FACIAT LOCUM UNICUMQUE
SECUNDUM MERITUM OPERUM SUORUM
ET SECUNDUM INTELLECTUM PEREGRINATIONIS ILLIUS
ANNO D. MCCCXLII DIE 11. MENSIS SEPTEMBRIS

All mercy is done in this place
according the merits of their work
and according to the understanding of these pilgrims,
11 September 1342

T[AU] The last letter of the Hebrew Alphabet with which the saved are inscribed at Doomsday
 

[Scrittura sulla corona]
 
 

MISER/ICORDIA DEI/ PLENA EST/ TERRA

The earth is filled with God's mercy.

BEA/TI MISERIC/ORDES OMNI MISERICORDI/AM CONSEQU/ENTUR

Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy

MISERI/CORDIA [ET] VER/ITAS NON TE DE/SERANT CIRCUNDA EAS GUTTURI TUO

Mercy and truth shall not desert you when they are in your throat

EXU/RUI & DEDIS/TIS MIHI MANDUC/ARE

I was hungry and you gave me food

HOSPES/ ERAM & COLLE/GISTIS ME

I was a stranger and you welcomed me


NUD/US ERAM/ OPERUISTIS/ ME

I was naked and you clothed me


MISERI/CORDIE DEI/ MIRE SUNT

God's mercies are marvellous

[Top left, Caritas, mother nursing child]

[Top right, Faith? Which leaves the Madonna as representing Hope]

[Angel holding golden censor on chains.]
 
 

The city of Florence
 

OMNIS MISERICORDIA FACIET LOCUM UNICUMQUE
SECUNDUM MERITUM OPERUM SUORUM
ET SECUNDUM INTELLECTUM PEREGRINATIONIS ILLIUS
ANNO D. MCCCXLII DIE II MENSIS SEPTEMBRIS
 
 

ACCIOCHE CI AS
AMAESTRATO
CHE QVI. SIENO. S
DELLA LEGGE. D
E PAROLE DI DIO
NON ADORARE AL
NON RICEVERAI. IL
RICORDITI DIGVA
E TVTTI I DI UOM
HONORA IL PADRE
NON OCCIDERE &
NON DIRE CONTRA
NON DESIDERARE

NON DESIDERAR
DEL SVO. SERVO
I PRINCIPALI. AR
L'INCARNATIONE.
IL BATESIMO. LAP
LANDARE AL [C]ONFE
LANDARE IN VIE
DEL GIVDICIO
SONO XII. VED
POSTOLI CHE A

I SACRAMENTI
IL BATTESIMO.L
IL CORPO. DI CRIS
LVNTIONE. ISTRE
CHE SIDA. A CH
 

_____
[Scrittura d'oro o d'argento su porpora]

CHE DUNO FEDELE CRISTIANO SIA
DELLA . . . DE CRISTIANA VOGLIAMO
. . .  ISANTI .X. COMMANDAMENTI
. . . ACOLTI SVBBRE VITA D'ALL

TRO CHE SOLO I DIO
NOME DEL TVO I DIO IN VANO
RDARE IL DI DELLA DOMENICHA
. ANDATI DALLA CHIESA:
TUDE LA MADRE TVA

CHE DUNO FEDELE CRISTIANO SIA
DELL . . . DE CRISTIANA VOGLIAMO
           ISANTI .X. COMMANDAMENTI
. . . ACOLTI SVBBRE VITA D'ALL

TRO CHE SOLO I DIO
NOME DEL TVO DIO IN VANO
RDARE IL DI DELLA DOMENICHA
. ANDATI DALLA CHIESA:
TUDE LA MADRE TVA
ON ADVLTERARE: NON FARE FVRTO:
IL PROSSIMO TVO. FALSA TESTIMONAS

LA CASA DEL PROSSIMO TVO.
E LA MOGLIE DEL PROSSIMO TVO
NEVERVNA ALTRA SVA COSA:
TICVLI DELL. .   SONO SETTE
OUERO LA NATIVITA DI CRISTO:
ASS[ENC]IONE DI CRISTO OVERO LA MORTA SVA.
RNO: LA RESVRRESIONE:
LO: EL SVO AVENIMENTO AL DIE
E PONIAMO CHE SI PORIA DIRE CHE
EGLI NEL CREDO IN DEO PER XII. A
CIASCHUNO NERECE VNA PARTE:

DELA CHIESA SONO .VII.
. . CONFORMAGIONE CIOE LA CRESIMA.
TO LA PENITENTIA:
MA IL MATRIMONIO LORDINE
ERICRISIMAL VESCHOLO E ALPAPA

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