Vigilius of Trent
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Saint Vigilius of Trent | |
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clogs (Holzschuh)[1] | |
| Patronage | Trento; Tyrol; mining and mines;[1] Diocese of Bolzano[1] |
Vigilius of Trent (
Life
According to tradition, he was a Roman patrician, the son of Maxentia and a man whose name is sometimes given as Theodosius. His brothers, Claudian and Magorian, are also venerated as saints.[2] Vigilius was educated at Athens and seems to have been a friend of John Chrysostom.
In 380, Vigilius settled in the city of
His companions during his missions were Sisinnius, Martyrius and Alexander, who were sent by Ambrose to assist Vigilius.[4] Tradition makes these three natives of Cappadocia. A work called De Martyrio SS. Sisinnii, Martyrii et Alexandri is attributed to Vigilius.[3]
In 397, Sisinnius, Martyrius and Alexander (Sisinio, Martirio e Alessandro) were killed at Sanzeno after they attempted to convert the local population there to Christianity. Vigilius forgave their killers and had the remains of the three men sent to John Chrysostom in Constantinople, as well as to Simplician, Ambrose's successor, in Milan. Milan would later give some of those relics back to Sanzeno in the 20th century, where they rest in the (Basilica dei Santi Martiri).[4]
Vigilius is associated with the legend of Romedius, who is often depicted alongside or astride a bear. According to Romedius' hagiography, Romedius once wished to visit Vigilius, a friend of his youth, but Romedius' horse was torn to pieces by a wild bear. Romedius, however, had the bear bridled by his disciple David (Davide). The bear became docile and carried Romedius on its back to Trento.[5]
Death
According to a much later tradition,[4] Vigilius, who had been accompanied by his brothers Claudian and Magorian as well as a priest named Julian, was killed in the present-day parish of Rendena, in the Rendena Valley, where he had been preaching to the locals there, who worshipped the god Saturn. Vigilius said Mass and overturned a statue of the god into the Sarca River. As punishment, he was stoned to death.[6][3]
Ironically, a statue of the god Neptune stands in front of Vigilius' shrine in Trent today.[citation needed]
Veneration
Vigilius was buried at a church that he built at Trent, later expanded by his successor Eugippius, and dedicated to Vigilius. This became Trento Cathedral.[3] He was immediately venerated after his death, and the acts of his life and death were sent to Rome, and Pope Innocent I, according to the Catholic Encyclopedia, "seems to have made a formal canonization, for Benedict XIV calls Vigilius the first martyr canonized by a pope."[3]
Vigilius' arm was removed as a separate relic and placed into its own reliquary in 1386.
See also
References
- ^ a b c d Schäfer, Joachim. "Vigilius von Trent". Ökumenisches Heiligenlexikon. Retrieved October 17, 2008.
- ^ "St. Vigilius of Trent", Faith Magazine, Roman Catholic Diocese of Lansing
- ^ a b c d e f g Mershman, Francis. "St. Vigilius." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 15. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 27 July 2018
- ^ a b c "San Vigilio". Santie Beati. February 1, 2001. Retrieved October 17, 2008.
- ^ "San Romedio". santiebeati.it. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
- ^ Monks of Ramsgate. “Vigilius”. Book of Saints, 1921. CatholicSaints.Info. 11 November 2017.
Nicholas Everett, Patron Saints of Early Medieval Italy AD c.350-800 (PIMS/Durham University Press, 2016), pp.124-138.
External links
- (in German) ökumenisches Heiligenlexikon, Vigilius_von_Trient
- Vigilius
- (in German) J.Leinweber, Heiligsprechungen bis 1234
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