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SAINT GUIDO, ABBOT OF POMPOSA - 31 MARCH

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MARCH

Saints celebrated on the 31st of March

SAINT GUIDO, ABBOT OF POMPOSA


Saint Guido, also called Wido, (French: Guion or Guy), Abbot of Pomposa in Italy, was a contemporary of bishop Saint Ulrich of Augsburg, as well as of Saint Peter Damian. He was born about the year 970 in the village of Casemar, not far from Ravenna.

After his studies he went under the direction of a holy hermit called Martin (Martinus), who sent him to the nearby monastery of Pomposa three years later, which was then headed by Abbot William (Guilielmus), who went into solitude not long after. His successor Johannes Angelus having died, Saint Guido was then elected abbot, an office he only accepted on the orders of his teacher Martin.

This Benedictine monastery of Pomposa, which is situated on the Po Volano (Padus de Volane), a so-called arm of the Po, not far from Ferrara, is now completely in ruins. Under Saint Guido, however, who ruled it for 48 years, it made tremendous progress. His own father Albert and his brother Gerhard placed themselves under his leadership. The number of monks doubled, so that he had to build another monastery.

Even Saint Peter Damian gave spiritual discourses in Abbot Guido's monastery for two years; he also dedicated his writing "On the Perfection of Monks" (de perfectione monachorum) to him.

When Guido felt the end of his life approaching, he withdrew into solitude to prepare for the great journey into eternity. But Emperor Henry (Heinrich III), who had heard a lot about Guido's wisdom and piety, arrived in Italy and had him summoned to Piacenza. Although Guido was very reluctant to do so, he accepted the call and said goodbye to his brothers, indicating that they would not see him again. He then travelled to Parma, and then to Borgo-San-Donnino (Burgus S. Domnini), where he fell ill on the second day after his arrival, and died on the third day, March 31, 1046.

As he had performed many signs and wonders in life, so after his death God confirmed his holiness by miracles, which are enumerated by the Bollandists*. Guido's mortal remains were first taken to Parma, where they remained for seven months, and where, through his intercession, many miracles were performed on all kinds of sick people.

Since Emperor Henry arrived in Parma towards the beginning of November, he sent Guido's body to Verona, to the Church of Saint Zeno, and later to Speyer, where it was interred at the Church dedicated to the apostle and evangelist John, which was subsequently given the name Saint Guido (Weidenberg). These transmissions are celebrated on April 2 and May 4.

According to Butler* (IV. 308) his relics were moved when the French Revolution had destroyed the venerated places. They were brought to the Saint Magdalena Church to the Dominican nuns, where the parish service was held until the cathedral was restored. Guido's name is not included in the Roman Martyrology*. (III. 910–918)

(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, Volume 2, Augsburg, 1861, pp. 543-44)

*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 Guido 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.









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