Magnus of Anagni
Encyclopedia
Saint Magnus of Anagni also known as Magnus of Trani or Magnus of Fabrateria Vetus, is venerated as the patron saint
of Anagni
. According to tradition, he was born at Trani
in the 2nd century, the son of a man named Apollonius. He became a shepherd
at an early age to support the family; he had a small flock of sheep and donated his earnings to the poor. He and his father were baptized by Bishop Redemptus of Trani.
When Redemptus died, Magnus was proclaimed bishop of Trani by the people and local clerics. As bishop Magnus worked to spread Christianity
in Fondi
, Aquino
, and Anagni. In Anagni, he baptized a young woman named Secundina, who would later die as a Christian martyr.
Magnus fled to Rome
to escape the persecutions of Christians that were led by a man named Tarquinius. After a while, Magnus headed home, hiding himself along the way. Soldiers discovered him in a cave near Fondi, however, and he was decapitated
near Fabrateria Vetus, in Latium
.
from Fondi to Veroli
by a man named Plato. According to tradition, a Muslim
overlord named Musa converted Magnus’ sepulcher into a stable. When the horses placed in the stable began to die, Musa became frightened and sold the relics to citizens from Anagni. These relics were translated to the cathedral of Anagni in the presence of Bishop Zacharias (Zaccaria). Magnus was afterwards declared patron saint of Anagni, and was also venerated in the town of Colle San Magno
, in Frosinone
.
Magnus should not be confused with Saint Magnus of Cuneo, martyr of the Theban Legion
, who is venerated on the same day. The Roman Martyrology lists only Saint Magnus of Anagni. He is mentioned in the Martyrologium Hieronymianum
in which his death place is listed as Fabrateria vetus. Magnus enjoyed wide veneration in the lower Latium region. His name appears in the Sacramentarium Gelasianum (7th century) and the Sacramentarium of the eighth century.
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 Anagni
Anagni
Anagni is an ancient town and comune in Latium, central Italy, in the hills east-southeast of Rome. It is a historical center in Ciociaria.-Geography:...
. According to tradition, he was born at Trani
Trani
Trani is a seaport of Apulia, southern Italy, on the Adriatic Sea, in the new Province of Barletta-Andria-Trani , and 40 km by railway West-Northwest of Bari.- History :...
in the 2nd century, the son of a man named Apollonius. He became a shepherd
Shepherd
A shepherd is a person who tends, feeds or guards flocks of sheep.- Origins :Shepherding is one of the oldest occupations, beginning some 6,000 years ago in Asia Minor. Sheep were kept for their milk, meat and especially their wool...
at an early age to support the family; he had a small flock of sheep and donated his earnings to the poor. He and his father were baptized by Bishop Redemptus of Trani.
When Redemptus died, Magnus was proclaimed bishop of Trani by the people and local clerics. As bishop Magnus worked to spread Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
in Fondi
Fondi
Fondi is a city and comune in the province of Latina, Lazio, central Italy, halfway between Rome and Naples. Before the construction of the highway between the latter cities in the late 1950s, Fondi had been an important settlement on the Roman Via Appia, which was the main connection from Rome to...
, Aquino
Aquino
Aquino is a town and comune in the province of Frosinone, in the Lazio region of Italy, 12 km northwest of Cassino.-History:The ancient Aquinum was a municipium in the time of Cicero, and made a colony by the Triumviri...
, and Anagni. In Anagni, he baptized a young woman named Secundina, who would later die as a Christian martyr.
Magnus fled 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...
to escape the persecutions of Christians that were led by a man named Tarquinius. After a while, Magnus headed home, hiding himself along the way. Soldiers discovered him in a cave near Fondi, however, and he was decapitated
Decapitation
Decapitation is the separation of the head from the body. Beheading typically refers to the act of intentional decapitation, e.g., as a means of murder or execution; it may be accomplished, for example, with an axe, sword, knife, wire, or by other more sophisticated means such as a guillotine...
near Fabrateria Vetus, in Latium
Latium
Lazio is one of the 20 administrative regions of Italy, situated in the central peninsular section of the country. With about 5.7 million residents and a GDP of more than 170 billion euros, Lazio is the third most populated and the second richest region of Italy...
.
Veneration
In the ninth century, his relics were translatedTranslation (relics)
In Christianity, the translation of relics is the removal of holy objects from one locality to another ; usually only the movement of the remains of the saint's body would be treated so formally, with secondary relics such as items of clothing treated with less ceremony...
from Fondi to Veroli
Veroli
-History:Veroli became a Roman municipium in 90 BCE. It became the seat of a bishopric in 743 CE, and was occupied by Spanish milices, allied to the Colonna family, in the 16th troops.-Main sights:...
by a man named Plato. According to tradition, a Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
overlord named Musa converted Magnus’ sepulcher into a stable. When the horses placed in the stable began to die, Musa became frightened and sold the relics to citizens from Anagni. These relics were translated to the cathedral of Anagni in the presence of Bishop Zacharias (Zaccaria). Magnus was afterwards declared patron saint of Anagni, and was also venerated in the town of Colle San Magno
Colle San Magno
Colle San Magno is a comune in the Province of Frosinone in the Italian region Lazio, located about 110 km southeast of Rome and about 30 km southeast of Frosinone....
, in Frosinone
Province of Frosinone
The Province of Frosinone is a province in the Lazio region of Italy, with 91 comuni . Its capital is the city of Frosinone. It has an area of 3,244 km², and a total population of 489,042 .The Province was established by Royal Decree on 6 December 1926 with territories belonging to Lazio...
.
Magnus should not be confused with Saint Magnus of Cuneo, martyr of the Theban Legion
Theban Legion
The Theban Legion figures in Christian hagiography as an entire Roman legion — of "six thousand six hundred and sixty-six men" — who had converted en masse to Christianity and were martyred together, in 286, according to the hagiographies of Saint Maurice, the chief among the Legion's...
, who is venerated on the same day. The Roman Martyrology lists only Saint Magnus of Anagni. He is mentioned in the Martyrologium Hieronymianum
Martyrologium Hieronymianum
The Martyrologium Hieronymianum was a medieval list of martyrs, one of the most used and influential of the Middle Ages...
in which his death place is listed as Fabrateria vetus. Magnus enjoyed wide veneration in the lower Latium region. His name appears in the Sacramentarium Gelasianum (7th century) and the Sacramentarium of the eighth century.