You know the Medicis. The House of Medici in Italy was one of the most famous and powerful dynasties. From it came four popes and two queens of France. It controlled the Grand Duchy of Florence for a few centuries, and perhaps as important, it controlled one of the largest banks in Europe. Machiavelli’s The Prince was dedicated to Lorenzo de Medici (not Lorenzo the Magnificient but his grandson, Lorenzo the Swell) in hopes of getting a job. Yeah, those Medicis.
Roland lived in the middle of the fourteenth century, before they hit the real big time. Nonetheless, even as a member of the Milan branch of the family, he lived well. Very well. Right up until age thirty, when he decided to pitch it all and do penance. I don’t really know what the penance was for — maybe just for having lived well without working hard.
He put on a monk’s habit and walked into the forest near Salsomaggiore (in Parma), taking a vow of silence. In fact, he avoided all communication with other people, concentrating on prayer as much as possible. When forced to communicate, he did it entirely by signs. When the habit wore out, he patched it with leaves. When the leaves wore out, he got a goatskin to wear.
Go here to read the rest.
Just one more example among many of how even the most worldly (and, in this case, the least admirable), of families can produce great saints. There is still hope for anyone.
St. Pietro Orseolo is another great example.
I never warmed up to the Medicis. I’ll have to read up about him.