Fortunatus of Todi

Infobox Saint
name= Saint Fortunatus of Todi
birth_date=
death_date=537
feast_day= October 14
venerated_in= Roman Catholic Church


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patronage=Todi
major_shrine= Todi
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Saint Fortunatus (d. 537) was a 6th century bishop of Todi. According to tradition, he defended Todi during a Gothic siege. [ [http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=3429 St. Fortunatus of Todi - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online ] ] [ [http://www.orthodoxengland.org.uk/saintsf.htm Latin Saints of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Rome ] ] He is the patron saint of Todi. He is praised by Gregory the Great, who calls him a man of great virtue who took great care in attending to the sick. [ [http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/74145 San Fortunato di Todi ] ] Gregory, who was born around the time that Fortunatus died, was greatly interested in the Fortunatus' life. Gregory writes that "a certain poor old man was brought to me –because I always love to talk with such men- of whom I inquired his country, and hearing that he was of the city of Todi, I asked him whether he knew Bishop Fortunatus. He said he knew him very well. 'Then I beseech you,' said I, 'tell me whether you know of any miracles that he did, and, since I am very desirous to know, explained to me what manner of man he was.'" [Quoted in Frederick Homes Dudden, "Gregory the Great: His Place in History and Thought" (Longmans, Green, and Co., 1905), 339.]

Veneration

The church of "San Fortunato" in Todi is dedicated to him and holds his relics. San Fortunato began as a Palaeo-Christian temple (7th century) and in 1292 the construction of a new Gothic edifice was begun by the Franciscans, with a "hall" structure. The crypt houses a sepulchre containing the remains of Fortunatus and other saints, as well as the tomb of Jacopone da Todi.

References