Gratus of Aosta: Difference between revisions
| Line 35: | Line 35: | ||
His [[calendar of saints|feast day]] is [[September 7]]. The diffusion of Gratus' cult occurred in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, when his relics were translated from the Paleochristian church of San Lorenzo to the collegiate church of [[Sant' Orso]]. His relics lie there still, in a gold and silver [[reliquary]]. |
His [[calendar of saints|feast day]] is [[September 7]]. The diffusion of Gratus' cult occurred in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, when his relics were translated from the Paleochristian church of San Lorenzo to the collegiate church of [[Sant' Orso]]. His relics lie there still, in a gold and silver [[reliquary]]. |
||
One [[March 27]] of an uncertain year, a [[liturgical]] feast was introduced in the diocese of Aosta that honored the translation of Gratus' relics. An ancient ritual of [[pagan]] origin consisted of a blessing of the earth, the water, and the candles, coinciding with the coming of [[spring (season)|spring]]. During the [[Middle Ages]], Gratus was invoked against a series of natural disasters: [[flood|floods]] caused by the melting of the winter snows; [[drought]]; [[hailstones]]; fire; [[grasshopper|grasshoppers]] and [[ |
One [[March 27]] of an uncertain year, a [[liturgical]] feast was introduced in the diocese of Aosta that honored the translation of Gratus' relics. An ancient ritual of [[pagan]] origin consisted of a blessing of the earth, the water, and the candles, coinciding with the coming of [[spring (season)|spring]]. During the [[Middle Ages]], Gratus was invoked against a series of natural disasters: [[flood|floods]] caused by the melting of the winter snows; [[drought]]; [[hailstones]]; fire; [[grasshopper|grasshoppers]] and [[Mole (animal)|moles]] that devastated the fields. As a [[thaumaturgus]], he was invoked against [[witch|witches]] and [[devil|devils]]. |
||
The ''Magna Legenda Sancti Grati'', a fictitious account of his life, was composed by Jacques de Cours, [[canon]] of Aosta cathedral in [[1285]] to celebrate the translation of the saint's relics. It states that Gratus travelled to the [[Holy Land]] and brought back to Italy the head of [[John the Baptist]]. For this reason, Gratus is sometimes depicted with John the Baptist's head in iconography.[http://www.comune.saint-vincent.ao.it/foto_modello.asp?numID=108] |
The ''Magna Legenda Sancti Grati'', a fictitious account of his life, was composed by Jacques de Cours, [[canon]] of Aosta cathedral in [[1285]] to celebrate the translation of the saint's relics. It states that Gratus travelled to the [[Holy Land]] and brought back to Italy the head of [[John the Baptist]]. For this reason, Gratus is sometimes depicted with John the Baptist's head in iconography.[http://www.comune.saint-vincent.ao.it/foto_modello.asp?numID=108] |
||
Revision as of 21:08, 5 December 2006
Saint Gratus | |
|---|---|
| Died | ~470 AD |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Major shrine | Aosta |
| Feast | September 7 |
| Attributes | episcopal garb; head of Saint John the Baptist |
| Patronage | Aosta; invoked against fear of insects |
Saint Gratus of Aosta (Template:It icon San Grato di Aosta) (d. September 7, ca. 470 AD) is the patron saint of Aosta. He is known to have signed the acts of the synod of Milan in 451 AD as a priest. Gratus represented the bishop of Aosta, Eustasius, at this council, signing the letter that the assembly sent to Pope Leo I the Great in order to affirm its condemnation of the heresy of Eutyches.
It is thought that both Gratus and Eustasius were of Greek origin and that they received their education and ecclesiastical formation from the type of monastic foundation in Italy established by Eusebius of Vercelli, which was modeled on that of the Eastern cenobites.[1]
Gratus became bishop of Aosta sometime after 451, and presided over the translation of various relics in the city around 470 AD, including those of Saint Innocent, one of the martyrs of the Theban Legion. The bishops of Agaunum and Sion were present at this translation.
The year of his death is not known, but the day is: his tomb in the parochial church of Saint-Christophe bears an inscription that reads Hic requiescit in pace S. M. GRATUS EPS D P SUB D. VII ID. SEPTEMB.
Veneration
His feast day is September 7. The diffusion of Gratus' cult occurred in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, when his relics were translated from the Paleochristian church of San Lorenzo to the collegiate church of Sant' Orso. His relics lie there still, in a gold and silver reliquary.
One March 27 of an uncertain year, a liturgical feast was introduced in the diocese of Aosta that honored the translation of Gratus' relics. An ancient ritual of pagan origin consisted of a blessing of the earth, the water, and the candles, coinciding with the coming of spring. During the Middle Ages, Gratus was invoked against a series of natural disasters: floods caused by the melting of the winter snows; drought; hailstones; fire; grasshoppers and moles that devastated the fields. As a thaumaturgus, he was invoked against witches and devils.
The Magna Legenda Sancti Grati, a fictitious account of his life, was composed by Jacques de Cours, canon of Aosta cathedral in 1285 to celebrate the translation of the saint's relics. It states that Gratus travelled to the Holy Land and brought back to Italy the head of John the Baptist. For this reason, Gratus is sometimes depicted with John the Baptist's head in iconography.[2]
Miracles were attributed to the saint, and he was invoked against plagues of insects. In 1450, he was invoked against a plague of insects in the Tarentaise region of France.
Sources
- Elizabeth Hallam (ed.), Saints: Who They Are and How They Help You (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1994), 105.