Gaudentius of Ossero
Encyclopedia
Gaudentius of Ossero was a bishop of Ossero (Croatian: Osor
), on the island of Lošinj
in the Istrian March in 1030. Falsely accused, he travelled to Rome
in 1032 to defend his name. On the way home, he fell ill in Ancona
, and stayed there to recover. He then resigned his see in 1042, and became a Benedictine
monk under Saint Peter Damian. Died in 1044 of natural causes. June 1 is his Feast Day.
A church was built in his name in Osor in the 14th century. It still currently holds his relics in the alter. St. Gaudentius was born in Tržić in the vicinity of Osor. The abbey was active in Osor from 1018 till 1942 (or 1944). He was a great cultural and national reviver. He initiated the construction of St. Peter's monastery for men and the St. Mary of Mercy monastery for women. Osor
became a strong glagolitic center.
, who took advantage of the instability within the papal state and attacked him. The bishop Gaudentius escaped and hid at the base of Mount Osoršćica. There he lived in a cave for one year. Later he moved to Rome
and he continued with his penitential life in the Franciscan monastery in Ancona
, where he died on May 31, 1044.
One hundred years later, all the bells began to ring by themselves early before dawn. Later, the citizens then found there was a wooden chest in the sea under the town wall. In it, there was another iron chest with the body of St. Gaudentius. He was proclaimed the patron saint of the town and the whole island. His remains are now in the alter of the church of his name.
Osor
Osor is a village and a small port on the Cres island in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County in western Croatia.Osor lies at a narrow channel that separates islands Cres and Lošinj. The channel was built in Roman times to make sailing possible. Now the islands are connected with a rotating bridge.The...
), on the island of Lošinj
Lošinj
Lošinj is a Croatian island in the northern Adriatic Sea, in the Kvarner Gulf. It is almost due south of the city of Rijeka and part of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar county....
in the Istrian March in 1030. Falsely accused, he travelled to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
in 1032 to defend his name. On the way home, he fell ill in Ancona
Ancona
Ancona is a city and a seaport in the Marche region, in central Italy, with a population of 101,909 . Ancona is the capital of the province of Ancona and of the region....
, and stayed there to recover. He then resigned his see in 1042, and became a Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
monk under Saint Peter Damian. Died in 1044 of natural causes. June 1 is his Feast Day.
A church was built in his name in Osor in the 14th century. It still currently holds his relics in the alter. St. Gaudentius was born in Tržić in the vicinity of Osor. The abbey was active in Osor from 1018 till 1942 (or 1944). He was a great cultural and national reviver. He initiated the construction of St. Peter's monastery for men and the St. Mary of Mercy monastery for women. Osor
Osor
Osor is a village and a small port on the Cres island in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County in western Croatia.Osor lies at a narrow channel that separates islands Cres and Lošinj. The channel was built in Roman times to make sailing possible. Now the islands are connected with a rotating bridge.The...
became a strong glagolitic center.
The legend
There is an alleged history of St. Gaudentius. It is believed that his reforms did not comply with the wishes of some noble men from OsorOsor
Osor is a village and a small port on the Cres island in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County in western Croatia.Osor lies at a narrow channel that separates islands Cres and Lošinj. The channel was built in Roman times to make sailing possible. Now the islands are connected with a rotating bridge.The...
, who took advantage of the instability within the papal state and attacked him. The bishop Gaudentius escaped and hid at the base of Mount Osoršćica. There he lived in a cave for one year. Later he moved to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
and he continued with his penitential life in the Franciscan monastery in Ancona
Ancona
Ancona is a city and a seaport in the Marche region, in central Italy, with a population of 101,909 . Ancona is the capital of the province of Ancona and of the region....
, where he died on May 31, 1044.
One hundred years later, all the bells began to ring by themselves early before dawn. Later, the citizens then found there was a wooden chest in the sea under the town wall. In it, there was another iron chest with the body of St. Gaudentius. He was proclaimed the patron saint of the town and the whole island. His remains are now in the alter of the church of his name.
See also
- Calendar of saintsCalendar of saintsThe calendar of saints is a traditional Christian method of organizing a liturgical year by associating each day with one or more saints and referring to the feast day of said saint...
- Doctor of the churchDoctor of the ChurchDoctor of the Church is a title given by a variety of Christian churches to individuals whom they recognize as having been of particular importance, particularly regarding their contribution to theology or doctrine.-Catholic Church:In the Catholic Church, this name is given to a saint from whose...
- Patron saintPatron saintA 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...