Monday, June 25, Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
Third from left, the saint's statue among the founder-saints' gallery in St. Peter's Basilica.
ST. GUGLIELMO (WILLIAM) OF VERCELLI (also 'of Montevergine') (Italy, 1085-1142)
Hermit, Founder of the Williamites Benedictine Congregation
The saint was born into a noble family of Vercelli in northwest Italy. At age 14, he went on a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela,
during which, tradition says, he encircled his body with iron bands to increase his suffering. Back in Italy, he went to live as a hermit
on the summit of Monte Vergine (then known as Monte Vergiliana) between Nola and Benevento, southwest Italy. By 1119 his followers
were united in the Benedictine congregation, the Hermits of Monte Vergine (Williamites), which he headed. The austerity of his rule led
to dissension among his monks. To restore peace he left and was taken under the protection of Roger I of Naples who built a monastery
for him in Salerno. He founded monasteries throughout the then Kingdom of Naples and Sicily. He died at Santa Maria di Guglieto, a
daughter house of Montevergine. He is often portrayed with a wolf - according to legend, a wolf attacked and ate his donkey, whereupon
the saint tamed him. Although he was immediately venerated in Italy, he was not canonized till 1785.
Readings for today's Mass:
www.usccb.org/bible/readings/062512.cfm
AT THE VATICAN TODAY
The Holy Father met with
- His Highness Fra Matthew Festing, Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta,
and his delegation.
- Cardinal Marc Ouellet, Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops
- Cardinal José Manuel Estepa Llaurens, emeritus Military Ordinary for Spain.
At a news conference, Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education,
presented a document entitled "Pastoral orientations for the promosion of vocations to the ministry
of priesthood".
The Vatican also released the texts for two recent Vatican interventions before the United Nations:
- A statement on national debts and human rights 20th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva[ and
- The closing statement of the Vatican delegation to the UN Conference on Sustainable Development that just
ended in Rio de Janeiro
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 25/06/2012 18:26]