Constabilis
Encyclopedia
Saint Constabilis (c. 1070–1124) was an Italian
abbot
and saint
. He was abbot of La Trinità della Cava
, located at Cava de' Tirreni
, from 1122 to 1124.
He was born around 1070 at Tresino in Lucania
to the noble Gentilcore family. At the age of seven, he was entrusted to the care of abbot of Cava, Leo I. Constabilis then became a monk
at the abbey. He followed the Benedictine Rule zealously and was entrusted by the abbot to manage important negotiations and transactions on behalf of the abbey. On January 10, 1118, he was promoted by abbot Peter of Pappacarbone
to the position of coadjutor. He subsequently succeeded Peter as abbot after the latter's death on March 4, 1122.
Constabilis is venerated as the patron saint
of Castellabate
, for the reason that he founded the town. He started construction on the Angel's Castle on 10 October 1123, which afterwards became entitled to him. His title gave the village its present name: Castrum Abbatis, the "castle of the abbot."
He steered the monastery in an unassuming manner and cared for the general and individual needs of the monks. He died at the age of fifty-three and was buried in the church overhanging the grotto
of Arsicia that had been used by the founder of the abbey, Saint Alferius
.
Constabilis died on 17 February 1124. He was succeeded by Simeon.
The first four abbots of Cava were recognized as saints on December 21, 1893 by Pope Leo XIII
. Veneration for Constabilis had already existed; however, this had now been officially approved.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
and saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
. He was abbot of La Trinità della Cava
La Trinità della Cava
La Trinità della Cava is a Benedictine abbey located near Cava de' Tirreni, in the province of Salerno, southern Italy. It stands in a gorge of the Finestre Hills.-History:...
, located at Cava de' Tirreni
Cava de' Tirreni
Cava de’ Tirreni is a city and comune in the region of Campania, Italy, in the province of Salerno, 10 km northwest of the town of Salerno...
, from 1122 to 1124.
He was born around 1070 at Tresino in Lucania
Lucania
Lucania was an ancient district of southern Italy, extending from the Tyrrhenian Sea to the Gulf of Taranto. To the north it adjoined Campania, Samnium and Apulia, and to the south it was separated by a narrow isthmus from the district of Bruttium...
to the noble Gentilcore family. At the age of seven, he was entrusted to the care of abbot of Cava, Leo I. Constabilis then became a monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
at the abbey. He followed the Benedictine Rule zealously and was entrusted by the abbot to manage important negotiations and transactions on behalf of the abbey. On January 10, 1118, he was promoted by abbot Peter of Pappacarbone
Peter of Pappacarbone
Saint Peter of Pappacarbone was an Italian abbot, bishop, and saint. He was abbot of La Trinità della Cava, located at Cava de' Tirreni. Born in Salerno, he had first been a monk at Cava under Leo I of Cava. He then was at Cluny from 1062 to 1068 and later became bishop of Policastro in...
to the position of coadjutor. He subsequently succeeded Peter as abbot after the latter's death on March 4, 1122.
Constabilis is venerated as the patron saint
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
of Castellabate
Castellabate
Castellabate is a town and comune in the province of Salerno in the Campania region of south-western Italy.-History:The are was inhabited since Upper Palaeolithic times...
, for the reason that he founded the town. He started construction on the Angel's Castle on 10 October 1123, which afterwards became entitled to him. His title gave the village its present name: Castrum Abbatis, the "castle of the abbot."
He steered the monastery in an unassuming manner and cared for the general and individual needs of the monks. He died at the age of fifty-three and was buried in the church overhanging the grotto
Grotto
A grotto is any type of natural or artificial cave that is associated with modern, historic or prehistoric use by humans. When it is not an artificial garden feature, a grotto is often a small cave near water and often flooded or liable to flood at high tide...
of Arsicia that had been used by the founder of the abbey, Saint Alferius
Alferius
Saint Alferius was an Italian abbot and saint. He was the founder of the monastery of La Trinità della Cava, located at Cava de' Tirreni.-Veneration:...
.
Constabilis died on 17 February 1124. He was succeeded by Simeon.
Veneration
After his death, he is said to have appeared to his successors and was venerated as a protector of the ships belonging to this abbey.The first four abbots of Cava were recognized as saints on December 21, 1893 by Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII , born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci to an Italian comital family, was the 256th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, reigning from 1878 to 1903...
. Veneration for Constabilis had already existed; however, this had now been officially approved.