Acta Sanctorum

Tato

11 January · vita
Latin source: Heiligenlexikon
St. Tato (d. 729), a Beneventan nobleman who became a monk at the monastery of St. Vincent on the Volturno in Samnium. Together with his brothers Paldo and Taso, he undertook a pilgrimage and founded a monastic community. He was appointed abbot after the monks could not endure Taso's severity, but the appointment was disapproved by Pope Gregory II. 8th century

ON ST. TATO THE MONK.

A.D. 729.

Commentary

Tato, monk in Samnium (S.)

[1] In Samnium, not far from the source of the Volturno River, there is the monastery of St. Vincent, once enriched with many estates by the Lombard kings, which Leander mentions in his work on Samnium as once most flourishing but declining in his own time. In that monastery St. Tato is venerated on the 11th of January, The feast of St. Tato: as attested by Philippus Ferrarius in his general catalogue of Saints and in his catalogue of the Saints of Italy; he briefly recounts his deeds from the records of the said monastery.

[2] Tato, a noble of Benevento, in order to serve Christ, having spurned all things Life from Ferrarius. and left his homeland and parents, undertook a pilgrimage together with Paldo and Taso, his brothers, who shared the same purpose. First they betook themselves to the territory of the Marsi, to the aged Abbot Thomas, whose fame for holiness was current, in order to consult him about what they ought to do. By his advice they came to Samnium near the source of the Volturno River, and there in the wilderness they led a most austere life under the governance of Paldo, the eldest, having joined to themselves many companions. After Paldo died during the pontificate of Gregory II, Taso, the younger in age, was appointed in his place as administrator. When the monks could not endure his harshness and severity, they appointed Tato in his stead. This matter, when reported to the Pontiff, was disapproved. Tato himself, meanwhile conspicuous for holiness, fell asleep in the Lord on the 3rd of the Ides of January, in the year of salvation 729. Thus Ferrarius. St. Paldo is venerated on October 11th, and St. Taso on December 11th.