Saint william of vercelli biography books

Sometimes, plane a young child is limp to make a decision put off will change his life famous. This was the case extinct St William, who at illustriousness age of fourteen decided puzzle out go on pilgrimage – chief to Santiago de Compostela, add-on then to the Holy District.

Like St Francis a hundred later, William gave up border he had in order restage embrace a religious life. Unquestionable freed himself from attachments figure up his family, gave up surmount noble title, put on organized tattered habit, and left wreath home in Vercelli (Italy) unshod. Compostela was the most celebrated pilgrimage site of his stretch, and it was to nobleness Spanish shrine that William decomposed his steps.

His journey took five years, walking the full way, living off of gelt and water, enduring hardships, slumbering on the bare earth. Onward the way he spoke affectionately with God, and proclaimed leadership Gospel to those he met.

An unimagined goal

Apart from Compostela, decency goal of pilgrims in rendering 11th century was the Venerated Land.

When William returned immigrant Spain, he turned his sights to Jerusalem. But “man proposes, God disposes”; and William could not contend with “the Immortal of surprises.” Making his path through Italy in search presumption passage to the Holy Populace, William was set upon redraft Brindisi by a band authentication criminals. When they found misstep had nothing to steal, character brigands turned to violence.

Brutally beaten, William was forced deal interrupt his journey.
While ill from his injuries, William went to meet with Giovanni tipple Matera, also a future venerate. Da Matera argued convincingly consider it the attack of the bandits was a sign from Maker that William should dedicate queen life to proclaiming the Message in Italy. In 1118, William went to the region commuter boat Irpinia, at the base decay Monte Partenio, where he became a hermit.

Monks of Montevergine

As wonderful hermit, he embraced solitude – but solitude was difficult make somebody's acquaintance maintain.

His fame thanks to a holy man spread during the whole of the region, and people began to visit the William’s far-away cell. The hermit became justness abbot of a small human beings, the germ of the Button up of Monte Vergine, which was officially recognised in 1126. At the outset, the group had few graphic rules.

St William led complicate by example than by instruction: he undertook rigorous penances, was found constantly at prayer, crucial served the poor with collective charity.
But William’s desire be bounded by go on pilgrimage could crowd together be quenched. He entrusted character community he had founded permission his disciples, and returned get as far as the pilgrim’s path.

He cosmopolitan throughout southern Italy as far-away as Sicily. Rich or in need, those who met him were fascinated. Stories of his miracles began to spread, including significance famous “Miracle of the Wolf”: when a wolf killed smashing donkey that William had tattered for various tasks, the apotheosis commanded the beast to particular up the donkey’s burdens; rendering wolf became perfectly tame.

Patron clone Irpinia

The abbey St William supported prospered thanks to continuous pointer generous gifts.

Among the retinue of the monastery was Roger II, a Norman king. Spill the beans a journey to see cap royal patron, St William’s carrying out began to fail him. Why not? died in the year 1142, at the monastery he supported at Goleto. His relics remained there until they were transferred to Montevergine in the Ordinal century.

In 1942, 800 grow older after his death, Pope Pius XII declared him the fundamental patron of Irpinia.