Isnardo da Chiampo  Isnardo da Chiampo (d. 19 March 1244) was an Italian Roman Catholic priest and professed member in the Order of Preachers. He studied in Bologna (where Dominic of Osma himself received him into his order) and in Milan before preaching in northern Italian cities such as Brescia and Bergamo following his ordination. He settled in Pavia in 1231 where he founded a convent and would remain there preaching against heretics until his death over a decade later. His reputation for holiness had been known throughout his life to the point it had extended into France; efforts to see him proclaimed a saint did not come to fruition until Pope Benedict XV beatified him on the account of his "cultus" (or longstanding veneration) on 12 March 1919. Isnardo was born in Chiampo. It is said that he perhaps came from the noble Nardi house while others believe he was born to poor parents. It is also alleged that he might have belonged to the noble Isnardi house. Isnardo entered the Order of Preachers around 1218. He received the order's habit in 1219 in Bologna from Dominic of Osma himself alongside his friend Guala de Roniis (who later became the Bishop of Brescia). Isnardo studied at the college in Bologna and was later sent to Milan in order to continue with his ecclesial studies. He spent a decade between Milan and Bologna and it is believed that he resided for most of that time at the San Eustorgio convent near Milan. He soon became a noted preacher and sought-after spiritual director following his ordination and his contemporaries lauded Isnardo for his pious and austere penances in addition to his staunch adherence to the Dominican Rule. He founded in 1231 (at the invitation of Blessed Bishop Rodobaldo Cipolla) - and became the first prior for - the convent in Pavia that he titled Beata Vergine Maria di Nazareth in recognition of the profound devotion he had cultivated to the Blessed Mother. He was noted for having been a friar of large weight to the point his enemies mocked him for this while he went around travelling to preach. Isnardo preached against heretics who were spreading their beliefs throughout northern Italian cities and his increasing success in converting some resulted in his enemies resorting to ridiculing him and threatening them in their failed attempt to bring him to disrepute or to make him cease his preaching. It was often the case during his preaching that he would invoke the intercession of the Blessed Mother to protect the faithful.