Vitalis of Assisi, O.S.B. ( it, San Vitale de Assisi) (1295 – 31 May 1370) was an
Italian
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom
** Italian language, a Romance language
*** Regional Ita ...
hermit
A hermit, also known as an eremite (adjectival form: hermitic or eremitic) or solitary, is a person who lives in seclusion. Eremitism plays a role in a variety of religions.
Description
In Christianity, the term was originally applied to a Ch ...
and
monk
A monk (, from el, μοναχός, ''monachos'', "single, solitary" via Latin ) is a person who practices religious asceticism by monastic living, either alone or with any number of other monks. A monk may be a person who decides to dedica ...
.
Origin
Born in
Bastia Umbra
Bastia Umbra () is a '' comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Perugia in the Italian region Umbria, located about 15 km southeast of Perugia. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 20,523 and an area of 27.6 km2.All demogra ...
, Vitalis as a youth was licentious and immoral; however, he attempted to expiate his sins by going on
pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey, often into an unknown or foreign place, where a person goes in search of new or expanded meaning about their self, others, nature, or a higher good, through the experience. It can lead to a personal transformation, aft ...
to various sanctuaries in Italy and Europe. When he returned to
Umbria
it, Umbro (man) it, Umbra (woman)
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, he became a
Benedictine
, image = Medalla San Benito.PNG
, caption = Design on the obverse side of the Saint Benedict Medal
, abbreviation = OSB
, formation =
, motto = (English: 'Pray and Work')
, foun ...
monk at
Subiaco.
Life
Vitalis then spent the rest of his life in the hermitage of Santa Maria di Viole, near
Assisi, in utter poverty. His one possession was an old container that he used to drink water from a nearby spring. His reputation for holiness soon spread after his death. He was known as a
patron
Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows on another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings, popes, and the wealthy have provided to artists su ...
against sicknesses and diseases affecting the bladder and genitals.
Legacy
On 29 May 2011, a head preserved as a
relic, allegedly that of Vitalis, was offered at auction with an estimate of €1,000 at Annesbrook House, Duleek,
County Meath
County Meath (; gle, Contae na Mí or simply ) is a county in the Eastern and Midland Region of Ireland, within the province of Leinster. It is bordered by Dublin to the southeast, Louth to the northeast, Kildare to the south, Offaly to the ...
,
Ireland
Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
. It was sold to
Billy Jamieson for €3,500.
In November 2016 the relic was once again purchased by an antiquities and oddities collector, and permanently resides in a private gallery located in the Eastern United States.
Notes
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vitalis Of Assisi
1295 births
1370 deaths
Italian Benedictines
Italian hermits
Benedictine saints
People from Assisi
14th-century Christian saints
Italian Roman Catholic saints