Villanus

CONCERNING BLESSED VILLANUS

BISHOP OF GUBBIO IN ITALY.

IN THE YEAR MCCXX.

Villanus, Bishop of Gubbio in Italy (B.)

G. H.

The celebrated memory of B. Villanus on this VII of May Ferrarius, in the general Catalogue of Saints and another of the Saints of Italy, Ferdinand Ughellus in the volume of sacred Italy among the Bishops of Gubbio, and Ludovicus Iacobillus in the Lives of the Saints and Blessed of Umbria, also on this VII of May: where he asserts an altar dedicated to his name in the Cathedral church, under which his body hitherto entire is laid in a devout sepulcher with the subjoined inscription, Sacred cult. "To Divine Villanus, Prelate of the Church of Gubbio, endowed with eminent goodness, wondrous temperance, and singular integrity. In the year from the redemption of the world MCCXXX he enjoys true life, born seventy years." And these things concerning his life write the said Iacobillus and the others named, various Manuscript monuments being cited.

[2] Born at Gubbio of a noble lineage, and brought up by his parents in Christian discipline: Birth, upbringing. from very boyhood addicted to abstinence and assiduous and fervent prayer, seeking from God the peace and concord of his fellow-citizens: from whom he obtained very much grace. Dwelling for some time in the monastery of S. Cross of Fonte Avellana in the diocese of Gubbio, by the good monks he was adorned with various holy virtues. And when among them he excelled, on account of his irreproachable life and singular manners; in the year MCCVI, Albernus Bishop of Gubbio being dead, from the fame of his Sanctity he was elected Bishop of his fatherland, and confirmed by Pope Innocent III. Acts in the Episcopate With most sincere affection he was borne toward the poor, and distributed large alms to them; soon held the father of the poor and orphans by the voice of all. He was of admirable continence and temperance, and cultivated the other more illustrious Christian virtues more than any whatsoever. In the year MCCXII among five other Bishops he was present at the translation of the body of S. Ruffinus, Bishop and Martyr, made at Assisi on the third day of August. He was also one of the seven Bishops of Umbria, to whom was committed the publication of the plenary perpetual indulgences granted by Christ to the church of S. Mary of the Angels, which they call the Portiuncula. The other Bishops were Guido II of Assisi, John Conti of Perugia, Benedict of Spoleto, Aegidius of Foligno, Bonifacius of Todi, and Pelagius of Nocera. He erected at Gubbio for the sick poor the hospital of the holy Spirit: which afterward was a monastery of nuns. But in the year MCCXXVI he constructed under the rule of S. Benedict at Gubbio the monastery of S. Mary, pious places erected: called Pelagium. In the following year then DCCXXVII he erected according to the Order of S. Clare the monastery of S. Angelus surnamed de Caliis. By his authority also was constructed the church of S. Bartholomew, in the Abbey called Campo regio. Moreover at the regard of B. Villanus, Pope Gregory IX, to Albert Prior of the church of the Episcopal See of B. Marianus and to the Brethren, confirmed all the rights and goods granted to them, a diploma being given at Perugia by the hands of M. Marinus Vice-chancellor of the Holy Roman Church, the XV of the Kalends of February in the II Indiction, in the year of the Lord's Incarnation MCCXXIX, but of the Pontificate of Pope Gregory IX in the III year. In which year also B. Villanus divided the parishes of his city and distinguished each by its limits. Among various miracles, by which God manifested his merits, a fountain drawn forth: from the aforesaid rock he drew forth a living and most copious fountain near Carbonano, hitherto called the fountain of B. Villanus. When he had fed his flock for twenty-five years the eminent Pastor, then born seventy years, he migrated to the celestial pastures, received by Christ the supreme Pastor and Lord of all, on the VII day of May in the year MCCXXX, buried in the Cathedral church, there hitherto held in great veneration of the people of Gubbio. his death.