History and tradition have handed
down to us very little of his parents.
We know, among other things, that
his father belonged to the distinguished and wealthy Indelli, Mandelli
or De Indella family and that his mother was called Igniva.
They were advanced in years, and
because of sterility, they were not blessed with the joy of receiving an
offspring. Finally, God answered their prayers and granted their wish.
One night they both had the same vision. It seemed that his mother shed
from her breast a great flame of extraordinary splendor.
A local priest was questioned
of the vision’s significance and inspired by God, assured that Igniva would
have conceived and given birth to a son which was to have been given the
name of Cono and that with the sanctity of life would have made known his
family and his birthplace. The fortunate parents received the priest’s
response with great joy and with anxious and touched spirits awaited the
day longingly.
The Indelli home began to take
a new appearance. The days were spent in a happier manner. The warm household
was to be enriched with a new creature and around the dinner table that
was deserted for a little while longer, there was outlined a candid vision
of an angel.
Igniva did not expose her intimate
joy. On his father’s face, one could read a gentle and unrepressed expression
of immense and serene joy.
A few months after the vision,
a gracious baby let his first cries be heard and revealed himself like
a budding rose. He was welcomed by all with indescribable joy like a treasure
coming from the heavens.
It is easy to imagine the happiness
of the old couple, and with deep sentiments of gratitude raised their thanks
to the lord for the wonderful gift that he made them worthy of. Suddenly
they understood each other better and loved each other more. Their reciprocal
love had touched on a flower that had budded within their domestic sanctuary
to scent their lives.
The entire family was aware of
the vision for some time and rejoiced and gave their very best wishes to
the child that was to be born.