Silvester Guzzolini, Saint

SILVESTER GUZZOLINI, Saint. - Born at Osimo around 1177 to the nobles Ghislero and Bianca dei Ghislieri, died in a little cell on Montefano on 26 November 1267.

(by courtesy of Monsignor A. P. Frutaz)

SILVESTRO GUZZOLINI, saint - St. Silvester, abbot, school of the Veronese. Fabriano, hermitage of St. Silvester.

Sent to the University of Bologna to study law, following an inner impulse he devoted himself to the study of theology, thereby incurring his father's indignation, which he bore with heroic patience. Ordained a priest, he was appointed a canon in his native town, until, driven by the horrible sight of the corpse of a distinguished relative of his, at the age of 50 he left Osimo and fixed his dwelling first at Grottafucile, on the mountain of the Rossa (Marche 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, which was called the Silvestrine after him. Certain rivals, moved by envy, denounced him to the Roman Curia; to defend himself he had to go to Rome. He presented himself to those who held the place of Pope Innocent IV, who was at Lyon, in 1246 or at the beginning of 1247. From Rome, moreover, he also obtained the confirmation of the Congregation with a bull of 27 June 1247. The Saint's stay in Rome served to spread his holiness and also brought great advantage to his Institute. Moved indeed by his miracles, the Canons of the basilica of St. Peter ceded to him the church of St. James in Settimiano alla Lungara, near which a monastery later arose. It was precisely in order to inspect the works for its construction that the Saint revisited Rome between 1260 and 1265. He also instituted a female branch of the Order, which, though it did not have notable development, nevertheless lasted until 1822. The Saint, to the very end of his life, carried on a wonderful apostolate, which made him famous in the Marche and beyond. He died surrounded by his sons, at about 90 years of age, and was soon venerated as a saint. He received heavenly favors and worked miracles, on account of which, on the occasion of a monastery opened at Osimo, Paul V rendered 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, 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; noteworthy is the canvas preserved on the high altar of the church consecrated to him on Montellano and attributed to Claudio Ridolfi, called "the Veronese." His bones are preserved above the high altar of that church in an elegant marble ark.

Antonio Cancellieri