ARIALDO, saint. — Leader of the reform movement in Milan, under the episcopate of the archbishop Guido da Velate (1045–71), the appointee of Henry III opposed to the reform movement known as the Pataria.
A., of the noble family of Carimate (and not of Alzate), was born at Cucciago di Cantù around 1000; after completing his studies in Milan, he was ordained to the diaconate, in which he remained throughout his life. He formed a friendship with Anselmo da Baggio, cardinal priest of the Milanese Church, with the noble Landolfo Cotta, notary-clerk of the Metropolitan Church, and with other zealous Catholics, with whom he founded a society to combat the incontinence of the clergy. The adversaries derisively called it the Pataria and its followers Patarins (ragmen). A. began preaching reform at Varese and then in Milan: he appealed to the people, inciting them against the scandalous clergy, rebellious against the orders of Rome. At the provincial Synod held at Fontaneto (Novara) under the presidency of Guido, A. and Landolfo were excommunicated, but both appealed to Rome. While they were travelling there, they were attacked at Piacenza by an assassin; Landolfo, wounded, returned to Milan, while A. was able to continue his journey. The Pope sent to Milan as his legates the monk Ildebrando and Anselmo da Baggio, who had become bishop of Lucca; they encouraged the reformers to persevere in the struggle. The new legate, s. Pier Damiani, bishop of Ostia, did the same.
After Landolfo’s death, A. placed at the head of the popular party, which supported reform, Erlembaldo (v.), a noble knight and Landolfo’s brother, whom Pope Alessandro II (Anselmo da Baggio) appointed gonfalonier of the Holy Church. The struggle flared up again in Milan and became tragic. At Pentecost in 1066, a tumult broke out in the Cathedral over the bulls of excommunication against Guido, brought by Erlembaldo; A. was wounded, and Guido, emboldened, placed the city under interdict for as long as A. remained there. A. then departed secretly; Erlembaldo caught up with him and took him to Pavia, intending to continue on to Rome; but near Piacenza they were stopped by a friend of Guido, and A. was taken prisoner. After being freed, he was soon betrayed by a priest of the opposing party and taken to the castle of Angera, where Oliva, Guido’s niece, held sway. She had the deacon taken to a small island in Lake Maggiore, where he was murdered by two wicked priests who mutilated the corpse (27 June 1066). Ten months later, Erlembaldo transferred the body to Milan; it seems that Pope Alessandro II proclaimed him a martyr (1068), but in any case the cult rendered to him ab immemorabili was confirmed by Pius X on 13 July 1904, with the formula « sanctus vel beatus nuncupatus ». Feast, 27 June.