Famian, St.

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FAMIAN, ST.

Cistercian priest; b. Cologne, Germany, c. 1090; d. Gallese, near Rome, Aug. 8, 1150. As a young man, Famian (Gebhard, Wardo, Quardus) left his wealthy parents for the life of a poor pilgrim. He visited several holy places in Italy and Spain, including Rome and santiago de compostela. He then lived as a hermit for about 25 years before entering a Cistercian monastery in Osera in northwestern Spain. With his superior's permission, he left for the Holy Land about 1146, returning to Italy in 1150. The first Cistercian to be canonized (1154), he was called "Famianus" because of the fame of the miracles reputedly worked at his tomb in Gallese.

Feast: Aug. 8

Bibliography: Sources. Acta Sanctorum Aug. 2:389395. Literature. j. l. baudot and l. chaussin, Vies des saints et des bienheueux selon l'ordre du calendrier avec l'historique des fêtes (Paris 193556) 8:137. b. bedini, S. Famiano, patrono di Gallese (Rome 1958). a. m.. zimmermann, Kalendarium Benedictinum: Die Heiligen und Seligen des Benediktinerorderns und seiner Zweige (Metten 193338) 2:547548.

[j. c. moore]