Guido of Acqui

Saint Guido of Acqui, also Wido, (c.1004 – 2 June 1070) was Bishop of Acqui in north-west Italy from 1034 until his death.

He was born around 1004 to a noble family of the area of Acqui, the Counts of Acquesana, in Melazzo where the family’s wealth was concentrated. He completed his education, by now an orphan, in Bologna. Elected bishop in March 1034, his career was marked by reform in the areas of liturgy, spirituality and morality. He was generous in donating his own money and possessions to the diocese—in part to remove the economic pressure which had led to wide-spread corruption, and in part to support new projects. The latter included the promotion of the education of young women and the foundation of the female monastery of Santa Maria De Campis. Under his government, too, the cathedral of Acqui was erected, dedicated to the Madonna Assunta and consecrated on 13 November 1067.

Guido died on 2 June 1070. His remains are preserved in the cathedral which he founded. His feast day is recorded in the "Martyrologium Romanum" as 2 June, the anniversary of his death. In Acqui, however, it is celebrated on the second Sunday of July.

References

*Fabio Arduino, [http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/90996 "San Guido (Wido) d'Acqui"] , Sante e Beati.