BLESSED ODDINUS OF FOSSANO, PRIEST - 21 JULY

 

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Saints celebrated on the 21st of July

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BLESSED ODDINUS OF FOSSANO, PRIEST

Pope Pius VII approved the veneration of Blessed Oddinus in 1808. Descended from distinguished parents of the Barotto family, he was born in Fossano in Piedmont in A.D. 1324. As young adult, Oddinus entered the clergy and, due to his extraordinary piety, he was ordained a priest by the bishop of Turin being a year younger than the stated age requirement and  then assigned to pastoral care. Soon after, he became a pastor at Saint John Baptist Church in his native town. 

He lived so strictly that the bishop had to oblige him to eat meat; only after receiving this order from above did Oddinus allow himself what he thought was a luxury.

His zeal and his mildness were equally appreciated, which is why the chapter of the collegiate monastery of Fossano in 1374 elected him provost. After four years he gave up this role and fully dedicated himself to helping the poor and the sick for the love and glory of God. Oddinus made several pilgrimages to Rome and Loreto, entered the Third Order of Saint Francis of Assisi and undertook the big pilgrimage to Jerusalem in 1381. 

After his return he first converted his own house into a poor and pilgrims' house, but soon, with the help of pious benefactors, was able to build a much larger establishment, which still exists, for the same purpose. 

In 1396 the canons requested him to become provost once more, since he had directed the new building of their church with great unselfishness and expertise and wonderful heavenly support. Four years later he died of a plague-like disease in the odour of sanctity. Oddinus' mortal remains, which had been buried with great honour, were visited by the Archbishop of Turin, Hieronymus della Rovere in 1566 and Hieronymus Scarampus, bishop and apostolic visitor in 1583. The people invoke the Blessed especially against headaches. (V. 180)

(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, Volume 4, Augsburg, 1875, p. 600)

Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of the blessed Oddinus 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