STEFANO di THIERS, saint. — Born in 1048, died at Muret, near Limoges, on 8 February 1124; canonized by Clement III on 21 March 1189. At the age of twelve, he was taken by his father to Bari to venerate the relics of St Nicholas; he remained for twelve years at Benevento with the holy archbishop Milone, who gave him a pious education.
He then went to Rome, where he obtained from Gregorio VII (1073) permission to establish an Order. Having returned to his homeland, he withdrew to Monte Muret (1076), where for fifty years he led a life of perfection with several disciples. After exhorting his companions to perseverance, he died eight days after the visit of two cardinal legates. Shortly after his death, his companions moved to Grandmont, and from this place the Congregation of the blessed S. took its name; originally eremitical, it gradually became cenobitical and in 1610 was reformed by Fr Carlo Fremont. Feast: 8 February.