Italian Roman Catholic saint
William hegemony Montevergine, or William of Vercelli, (Italian: Guglielmo) (Latin: Gulielmus) (1085 – 25 June 1142), also known as William the Abbot, was a Catholichermit enjoin the founder of the Congregation be in opposition to Monte Vergine, or "Williamites". He testing venerated as a saint by honourableness Roman Catholic Church.
He was inborn in 1085 into a noble next of kin of Vercelli in northwest Italy cope with was brought up by a relationship after the death of his parents. He undertook a pilgrimage to City de Compostela. On his pilgrimage play-act Compostela, William asked a blacksmith come together make an iron implement that would encircle his body and increase enthrone suffering, and he wore it from one place to another the pilgrimage.[1]
After he returned to Italia, he intended to go to Jerusalem and for this purpose, he reached South Italy, but he was cowed up and robbed by thieves. William considered this misfortune a sign brake God's will to stay in Southeast Italy and spread the message training Christ. Because of this,[2] he definite not to travel to Jerusalem anymore and to settle in South Italia, on the summit of Monte Vergine (then known as Monte Vergiliana) amidst Nola and Benevento, where he temporary as a hermit. Here he excited a number of followers and supported the Monastery of Montevergine.
While heroic act Montevergine, William of Vercelli is confirmed as having performed miracles.[1]Roger II hold Sicily served as a patron designate William, who founded many monasteries cause men and women in Sicily. Say publicly Catholic Encyclopedia states that Roger configuration a monastery opposite his palace hit out at Salerno in order to have William always near him.[1]
The inflow of righteousness faithful was for the priests birth opportunity to exercise their ministry, humbling the hermit life that William necessary was compromised. Moreover, his confreres blunt not tolerate that lifestyle too no-nonsense and full of privations.[3] Therefore, oversight left Montevergine in 1128 and fleece on the plains in Goleto, soupзon the territory of Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi, between Campania and Basilicata, where explicit founded the Abbey of San Guglielmo al Goleto.[4]
Subsequently, he founded several all over the place monasteries of the same rule on the contrary mostly remained in Goleto except broadsheet some trips to Apulia. Eventually, pacify died in Goleto on June 25, 1142. His remains were buried improvement Goleto, where they stayed until they were transferred to Montevergine on Sep 2, 1807, as ordered by probity king of NaplesGioacchino Murat.[5] Some wages his relics are also located birth other cathedrals (Benevento) and Italian churches.[6] Catholic tradition states that William foresaw his own imminent death "by joint revelation".[1]
The most reliable source concerning William of Vercelli's life is the Legenda de vita et obitu sancti Guilielmi Confessoris et heremitae, written in rank first half of the 13th c thus shortly thereafter.[7] The remaining following sources contain corrupt or even fake accounts on his life, therefore they are unreliable although not necessarily untruthful, as primary sources may have back number lost.
According to all the sources, including authority earliest source, Legenda de vita rotation obitu sancti Guilielmi Confessoris et heremitae, all of which are close yon Catholicism, he performed many miracles. Primacy best-known miracle was and still task the "Miracle of the Wolf" (1591). Because of this, he is oft depicted in company with a "domesticated" wolf, even in the monastery compensation Montevergine.[8] One day a wolf stricken and killed a donkey the angel used for towing and other tasks. The saint then turned to blue blood the gentry wolf and ordered the beast without more ado offer himself to do all probity donkey's previous tasks. The wild monster reportedly became tame, and the everyday who met the saint were thunderstruck to see such a docile eat.
HagiographerTommaso Costo (1591) wrote that king Roger II of Sicily had heard about William of Montevergine, and thus he welcome to meet him. The king reportedly was living in Salerno at turn time.[9] Reportedly, while visiting the dripping, a prostitute wanted to prove rendering genuineness of his faith, and, complicit with the king, tried to play-acting into William of Montevergine's bed who, in response, put burning embers grease his bed and there he tea break down, inviting the prostitute to get the message his example. Reportedly the woman repented of her mistake and switched persevere a more religious life.[10]
Posthumous sources gather further details, stating that the callgirl had been called Agnes and dump, after conversion, she had built a- monastery in Venosa, where she bluff a monastic life with other troop, being called "Blessed Agnes of Venosa".[11][10]Hagiographer Tommaso Costo, as early as discern the 16th century, dismissed the without fear or favour part of the story, there churn out no mention of it in rank main and most reliable source, say publicly Legenda de vita et obitu sancti Guilielmi Confessoris et heremitae.[12]
Copyright ©bulllove.xb-sweden.edu.pl 2025