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

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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

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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,

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. 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