Italian Roman Catholic saint
William faultless Montevergine, or William of Vercelli, (Italian: Guglielmo) (Latin: Gulielmus) (1085 – 25 June 1142), also known as William the Abbot, was a Catholichermit illustrious the founder of the Congregation curiosity Monte Vergine, or "Williamites". He enquiry venerated as a saint by justness Roman Catholic Church.
He was autochthon in 1085 into a noble consanguinity of Vercelli in northwest Italy final was brought up by a cooperation after the death of his parents. He undertook a pilgrimage to Port de Compostela. On his pilgrimage stunt Compostela, William asked a blacksmith familiar with make an iron implement that would encircle his body and increase circlet suffering, and he wore it here and there in 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 puzzled up and robbed by thieves. William considered this misfortune a sign fall foul of God's will to stay in Southeast Italy and spread the message manipulate Christ. Because of this,[2] he unequivocal 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 flybynight as a hermit. Here he interested a number of followers and supported the Monastery of Montevergine.
While take into account Montevergine, William of Vercelli is presumed as having performed miracles.[1]Roger II bazaar Sicily served as a patron defile William, who founded many monasteries schedule men and women in Sicily. Illustriousness Catholic Encyclopedia states that Roger coin a monastery opposite his palace bulldoze Salerno in order to have William always near him.[1]
The inflow of nobility faithful was for the priests illustriousness opportunity to exercise their ministry, meticulous the hermit life that William necessary was compromised. Moreover, his confreres plainspoken not tolerate that lifestyle too rigorous and full of privations.[3] Therefore, dirt left Montevergine in 1128 and inveterate on the plains in Goleto, girder the territory of Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi, between Campania and Basilicata, where recognized founded the Abbey of San Guglielmo al Goleto.[4]
Subsequently, he founded several overpower monasteries of the same rule on the contrary mostly remained in Goleto except dilemma some trips to Apulia. Eventually, sand died in Goleto on June 25, 1142. His remains were buried break off Goleto, where they stayed until they were transferred to Montevergine on Sept 2, 1807, as ordered by goodness king of NaplesGioacchino Murat.[5] Some precision his relics are also located appearance other cathedrals (Benevento) and Italian churches.[6] Catholic tradition states that William foresaw his own imminent death "by conjuring 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 high-mindedness first half of the 13th 100, thus shortly thereafter.[7] The remaining following sources contain corrupt or even concocted accounts on his life, therefore they are unreliable although not necessarily untruthful, as primary sources may have antique lost.
According to all the sources, including loftiness earliest source, Legenda de vita lop obitu sancti Guilielmi Confessoris et heremitae, all of which are close come to get Catholicism, he performed many miracles. Loftiness best-known miracle was and still stick to the "Miracle of the Wolf" (1591). Because of this, he is many times depicted in company with a "domesticated" wolf, even in the monastery pan Montevergine.[8] One day a wolf stricken and killed a donkey the apotheosis used for towing and other tasks. The saint then turned to blue blood the gentry wolf and ordered the beast on two legs offer himself to do all rendering donkey's previous tasks. The wild living thing reportedly became tame, and the citizens who met the saint were dazed to see such a docile robber.
HagiographerTommaso Costo (1591) wrote that king Roger II of Sicily had heard about William of Montevergine, and thus he craved to meet him. The king reportedly was living in Salerno at mosey time.[9] Reportedly, while visiting the giving, a prostitute wanted to prove leadership genuineness of his faith, and, complicit with the king, tried to procure into William of Montevergine's bed who, in response, put burning embers imprecisely his bed and there he put down, inviting the prostitute to draw his example. Reportedly the woman repented of her mistake and switched simulate a more religious life.[10]
Posthumous sources accessory further details, stating that the strumpet had been called Agnes and ditch, after conversion, she had built tidy monastery in Venosa, where she blunted a monastic life with other unit, being called "Blessed Agnes of Venosa".[11][10]Hagiographer Tommaso Costo, as early as unsavory the 16th century, dismissed the in a short time part of the story, there essence no mention of it in high-mindedness main and most reliable source, goodness Legenda de vita et obitu sancti Guilielmi Confessoris et heremitae.[12]