SILVESTRO GUZZOLINI, saint. — Born at Osimo around 1177 to the noble Ghislero and Bianca dei Ghislieri, he died in a small cell on Montefano on 26 November 1267.
(courtesy of Mons. A. P. Frutaz)
SILVESTRO GUZZOLINI, saint — S. S. abbot, school of Veronese. Fabriano, hermitage of S. Silvestro.
Sent to the University of Bologna to study law, he followed an inner impulse and devoted himself to the study of theology, thereby incurring his father’s indignation, which he endured with heroic patience. Ordained a priest, he was appointed a canon in his native city, until, impelled by the horrifying sight of the corpse of an illustrious relative, at the age of 50 he left Osimo and first settled at Grottafucile, in the Rossa mountains (the Marches Apennines), and then, in 1230, on Montellano, near Fabriano, where he founded a monastery. Subsequently he erected 12 other monasteries, in which, at his death, 400 monks were distributed, forming the new Benedictine Congregation that came to be called Silvestrine after him. Certain rivals, moved by envy, denounced him to the Roman Curia; to defend himself he had to go to Rome. He appeared before those acting in place of Pope Innocent IV, who was in Lyons, in 1246 or at the beginning of 1247. From Rome, moreover, he obtained confirmation of the Congregation by a bull dated 27 June 1247. The Saint’s stay in Rome helped to spread his reputation for holiness and also brought great benefit to his Institute. Indeed, moved by his miracles, the Canons of the Basilica of S. Pietro ceded to him the church of S. Giacomo in Settimiano on the Lungara, beside which a monastery was later established. It was precisely to inspect the work of its construction that the Saint visited Rome again between 1260 and 1265. He also established a female branch of the Order, which, although it did not achieve significant development, nevertheless lasted until 1822. To the very end of his life the Saint exercised a remarkable apostolate, which made him famous in the Marches and beyond. He died surrounded by his sons, at about 90 years of age, and was immediately venerated as a saint. He received heavenly favors and worked miracles; therefore, on the occasion of a monastery opened at Osimo, Paul V paid him a singular tribute of praise in the bull Sanctorum virovum of 23 September 1617. Clement VIII inserted his name in the Roman Martyrology; Benedict XIV, Clement XIV, and Pius VI extended his cult, which Leo XIII extended to the universal Church (19 August 1890). The Saint is generally depicted in the act of receiving Communion from the Most Holy Virgin; a noteworthy canvas is preserved on the high altar of the church dedicated to him on Montellano and attributed to Claudio Ridolfi, called «Veronese». His bones are preserved above the high altar of that church in an elegant marble sarcophagus.