William of Montevergine

Infobox Saint
name= Saint William of Montevergine
birth_date=1085
death_date=25 June 1142
feast_day= 25 June
venerated_in= Roman Catholic Church


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Saint William of Montevergine or William of Vercelli in it|Guglielmo in la|Gulielmus (1085 – 25 June 1142) was a Christian hermit and the founder of the Congregation of Monte Vergine, or "Williamites".

Life

He was born into a noble family of Vercelli in north-west Italy and brought up by a relation after the death of his parents. He undertook a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. Catholic tradition states that on his pilgrimage to Compostela, William encircled his body with iron bands to increase his suffering. [ [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15639b.htm CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: William of Vercelli ] ]

He then lived as a hermit on the summit of Monte Vergine (then known as Monte rgiliana) between Nola and Benevento.Here he attracted a number of followers and founded the Monastery of Montevergine.

While at Montevergine, William of Vercelli is stated as having performed miracles. [ [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15639b.htm CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: William of Vercelli ] ] Roger I of Sicily served as a patron to William, who founded many monasteries for men and women in Sicily. The "Catholic Encyclopedia" states that Roger built a monastery opposite his palace at Salerno in order to have William always near him. [ [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15639b.htm CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: William of Vercelli ] ]

He died at Santa Maria di Guglieto, a daughter house of Montevergine near Nusco, province of Avellino. Catholic tradition states that William foresaw his own imminent death “by special revelation”. [ [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15639b.htm CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: William of Vercelli ] ]

References

References

* "The Book of Saints", compiled by the Benedictine monks of St Augustine's Abbey, Ramsgate. London: Cassell, 1994. ISBN 0-304-34357-9.
* [http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/59350 Guglielmo di Montevergine (da Vercelli)] at the Santi e Beati website.
* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15639b.htm]

Further reading

* [http://www.montevergine.org/ Monastero e Santuario di Montevergine] it icon
* [http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/59350 Guglielmo di Montevergine (da Vercelli)] at Santi e Beati it icon

External links

* [http://www.saintpetersbasilica.org/Statues/Founders/William/St%20William.htm Founder Statue in St Peter's Basilica]