Anastasius, Monk of Mont-Saint-Michel, Saint

ANASTASIO, monk of MONT-SAINT-MICHEL, saint. - Despite the existing studies, certain obscure points concerning his life still remain. He was certainly born in the first quarter of the 11th century in Venice. Having completed his studies, he embraced the Benedictine life in the exceedingly austere monastery of Mont-Saint-Michel in the diocese of Avranches, whence he later moved to the nearby locality of Tombelaine with Roberto of that name, and finally, in the year 1067, to the celebrated monastery of Cluny. Around 1073 he was appointed by Gregory VII to preach to the Mozarabs, rather than to the Saracens, as some have believed. From Spain he returned to Cluny, where he lived for another seven years, then spent three more in solitude. He died a holy death about 1085 at Saint-Martin-de-Doydes in the ancient diocese of Rieux, and the people venerated him as a saint; this veneration continued even after the Huguenots (16th century) scattered his tomb. His feast is celebrated on 16 October.