Saint Guido of Acqui (also Wido) (c. 1004 – 12 June 1070) was
Bishop of Acqui
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Acqui ( la, Dioecesis Aquensis) straddles the (civil) regions of Piedmont and Liguria, in northwest Italy. The ancient Roman name of the place was ''Aquae Statiellae'', which was sometimes confused with ''Aquae Sentia ...
(now
Acqui Terme
Acqui Terme (; pms, Àich ) is a city and ''comune'' in the province of Alessandria, Piedmont, northern Italy. It is about south-southwest of Alessandria. It is one of the principal winemaking communes of the Italian DOCG wine Brachetto d'A ...
) in north-west
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...
from 1034 until his death.
He was born around 1004 to a noble family of the area of Acqui, the
Counts of Acquesana
Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility.L. G. Pine, Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty'' ...
, in
Melazzo where the family's wealth was concentrated. He completed his education, by now an orphan, in
Bologna
Bologna (, , ; egl, label= Emilian, Bulåggna ; lat, Bononia) is the capital and largest city of the Emilia-Romagna region in Northern Italy. It is the seventh most populous city in Italy with about 400,000 inhabitants and 150 different nat ...
. Elected bishop of Acqui in March 1034, his career was marked by reform in the areas of liturgy, spirituality and morality. He was generous in donating his own money and possessions to the diocese, in part to remove the economic pressure which had led to widespread corruption, and in part to support new projects. The latter included the promotion of the education of young women and the foundation of the nunnery of Santa Maria De Campis. Under his government, too,
Acqui Cathedral
Acqui Cathedral ( it, Duomo di Acqui, ''Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta'') is a Catholic cathedral in the city of Acqui Terme, in the province of Alessandria and the region of Piedmont, Italy. Dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, it ...
was erected, dedicated to the
Madonna Assunta and consecrated on 13 November 1067.
Guido died on 12 June 1070. His remains are preserved in the cathedral which he founded. His feast day is recorded in the ''
Martyrologium Romanum
The ''Roman Martyrology'' ( la, Martyrologium Romanum) is the official martyrology of the Catholic Church. Its use is obligatory in matters regarding the Roman Rite liturgy, but dioceses, countries and religious institutes may add duly approv ...
'' as 12 June, the anniversary of his death. In Acqui, however, it is celebrated on the second Sunday of July.
References
San Guido (Wido) d'Acqui Fabio Arduino, ''Sante e Beati''
People from Melazzo
Medieval Italian saints
Bishops of Acqui
11th-century Christian saints
11th-century Italian Roman Catholic bishops
Year of birth uncertain
1070 deaths
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