Born in Mantua on April 17, 1447, as a youth Baptist joined the Carmelites of the Congregation of Mantua at Ferrara. He made his religious profession in 1464 and served in many positions of responsibility in the community; he was vicar general of his congregation six times, and in 1513 was elected prior general of the whole Order. In his own time he was a renowned humanist "who brought his richly-varied poetry into the service of Christ." He used his friendship with scholars as an opportunity of encouraging them to live a Christian life. He died in Mantua on March 20, 1516.
Image: By Skara kommun - Flickr: Paridi Ceresar Baptista Mantvan, CC BY 2.0, wikimedia.org
