Bishop of Florence, St. Antoninus was a member of the Dominican Order. He was so opposed to accepting this title that Pope Eugenius IV had to order him to obey his command under penalty of excommunication. After many tears, Antoninus complied. His usual saying was that all the riches of a successor of the apostles ought to be his virtue. He gave audience every day to all that addressed themselves to him, but particularly declared himself the father and protector of the poor. His purse and his granaries were in a manner totally theirs; when these were exhausted he gave them often part of his scanty furniture and clothes. He never was possessed of any plate or any other precious object and never kept either dogs or horses; only one mule served all the necessities of his family and this he often sold for the relief of some poor person on which occasion a wealthy citizen would buy it to restore it again as a present to the charitable archbishop. He founded the college of St. Martin to assist persons of reduced circumstances. His prudence earned for him the title of “Antoninus of Counsel.” He died in 1459.