ST TASO, ABBOT - 11 JANUARY

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JANUARY

Saints celebrated on the 11th of January

WELCOME!

SAINT TASO, ABBOT

Of Saint Taso, Lechner* says: "In the monastery of St Vincent on Volturno in the (former) kingdom of Naples, the passing of Taso, abbot and younger brother of Saint Tato."

THE ELECTION

When Saint Paldo - the first abbot of the above-mentioned monastery - had died, Taso, who had the reputation of being the most zealous of all the brothers, was elected his successor. 

INCREDIBLY STRICT

However, since he was very strict about the discipline of the Order - as time went on, he turned out to be too strict for the monks' liking - they deposed him and chose his brother Tato as abbot instead.

THE POPE GOT INVOLVED

This uncanonical procedure was punished by Pope Gregory II by imposing a severe penance. God punished even more severely by causing the guilty to die a quick death. He was soon followed by Taso, too, who passed to his eternal reward in 729. 

INSIDER INFORMATION

Some do not know what really happened, and, oblivious to his removal, count him as the third abbot of the monastery. 

HE WORE METAL ARMOUR UNDER HIS HABIT

Taso's strictness of life was extraordinary: he wore armour under his habit, never went to bed, ate little and badly, never cut his beard, and is said to have even abstained from washing his face.

(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints)

*A hagiography source used by the authors 

Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Taso may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Sources of these articles (in the original German): books.google.co.uk, de-academic.com, zeno.org, openlibrary.org