Jacopone da Todi
The 12 th century saw great literary activity in the shape of the famous writer Jacopo de' Benedetti, universally known as Jacopone da Todi.
Author of beautiful “Laude” in the so-called language of “Volgare” (a mix of Latin and the first forms of Italian), strong spirituality is essential to his work. The main theme appears to be charitable love and the tone is one of a stubborn and strict moral, spiritual attitude, showing a clear dichotomy between Man and God and expressing a rather pessimistic view of the sins of the flesh, vanity and the corruption of man. The writer, who belonged to the Franciscan Spirituals, died in Collazone, near Todi, in 1306. In the 16th century Bishop Angelo Cesi had Jacopone's relics preserved in the church of San Fortunato . In 1930 the Italian sculptor Geminati was commissioned to create a precious bronze statue, which stands outside the church today.
Teach and guide man through the iter mentis in deum (= the spiritual way to God) was Jacopone's prime objective. Everyone will know the extraordinary, highly intense and sorrowful dialogue section of the poem " Donna del Paradiso":
"O figlio, figlio, figlio,
figlio, amoroso giglio!
Figlio, chi ti dà consiglio
Al cor mè angustïato?
Figlio occhi iocundi,
figlio, cò non respundi?
Figlio, perché t’ascundi
Al petto o' si lattato?"
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