medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (26. November) is the feast day of:
Silvestro Guzzolini (d. 1267). S. was born at Osimo (accented on the first syllable) in today's Ancona province of the Marche. After studying law at Bologna and theology at Padua he became a cathedral canon in his native city, where he distinguished himself by a fondness for preaching. In 1227, at about the age of fifty, he gave this up and established a small hermitage at the cave of Grottafucile in the same general area of the Marche. S. and the disciples he attracted adopted the Benedictine Rule and in 1230 they moved to a more capacious location on Monte Fano near Fabriano (also in today's Ancona province). The monastery he established here in 1231 became the mother house of the Silvestrine family of Benedictines (papally approved in 1248). At S.'s death in 1267 it had a dozen houses (some very small) in the Marche, Umbria, and Rome.
S.'s cult was confirmed in 1598 by virtue of its inclusion in the RM. The first monastery dedicated to him was San Silvestro at Nepi in today's Lazio (1602). Paul V, designating him Saint, granted his order a Mass and Office. In 1890 these were extended to the entire Roman church. S. is a co-patron of the city of Fabriano. He was buried at Monte Fano and his relics are still there.
Starting in 1265 S.'s establishment at Grottafucile was expanded into a small monastery, now ruinous. An illustrated, Italian-language account of it is here:
http://www.fabrianostorica.it/monasteri/grottafucile.htm
and some more views are here:
http://www.fabrianostorica.it/monasteri/fotogrfcil.htm
The monastery on Monte Fano was greatly expanded in the early modern period. Medieval construction survives in its Oratorio di San Benedetto and in the walls of its refectory. Views of both are here:
http://sansilvestro.silvestrini.org/monastero.htm
Best,
John Dillon
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