Biography
Benedictine monk. Lived with such austerity that it brought on the enmity of his brothers who felt he was setting a standard that they could not meet, making them look bad, and drawing attention to himself. Monk at Montevergine Abbey under the spiritual direction of his friend Saint William of Vercelli, its founder. Popular preacher in Bari, Italy. Founded the Saint Mary of Pulsano Abbey at Pulsano, Italy where he served as abbot, and from which grew a new congregation. Born: c.1070 at Matera, Basilicata region, Italy Died: • 1139 at Pulsano, Italy of natural causes • buried in a niche in a cave in the church at Saint Mary of Pulsano Abbey • relics translated to Matera Cathedral in 1830 • relics enshrined in a new sarcophagus in 1939