FAMIANO, SANTO

FAMIANO, Saint. - Born ca. 1090 in Cologne, died on 18 August 1150 at Gallese (Viterbo). Of noble family, he was given the name Gerard or Quardo at birth. In his youth he made pilgrimages out of devotion—to Rome and other Italian shrines and to Santiago de Compostela—spending six years on these journeys.

He became a Cistercian monk at the monastery of Oseira on the Miño River in Spain. Sought as abbot, he soon resigned the office to resume his pilgrimages, especially to the Holy Places, where he spent three years before returning through Rome. In all, he had spent forty-two years of his life in pilgrimage. He is said to have been canonized in 1154 by Adrian IV, who is said to have changed his name from Quardo to the Latin F.