Gaudentius of Novara
Encyclopedia
Saint Gaudentius was a bishop of Novara, considered the first of that city. Tradition states that he was born to a pagan family at Ivrea
, and was then converted to Christianity
by Eusebius of Vercelli
. Some sources say that Vercelli ordained Gaudentius a priest, and that Gaudentius was sent to Novara by Eusebius to assist a Christian priest named Laurence (Laurentius) there.
Eusebius of Vercelli was exiled after a synod held at Milan
(355); some sources state that Gaudentius accompanied him in exile. Eusebius ordered him back to Novara
, where Laurence had been killed. Gaudentius was supported in his mission by a new ally: Saint Ambrose, bishop of Milan. Simplician
, Ambrose’s successor, consecrated Gaudentius as bishop of Novara in 398 AD.
Gaudentius preached and ordained many new clergymen. A miracle
reported of his death states that Gaudentius’ head continued to speak after the saint had died, so that the clergy could record and repeat his sermons.
The Basilica of San Gaudenzio
in Novara, as well as numerous churches throughout the region, is dedicated to him.
Ivrea
Ivrea is a town and comune of the province of Turin in the Piedmont region of northwestern Italy. Situated on the road leading to the Aosta Valley , it straddles the Dora Baltea and is regarded as the centre of the Canavese area. Ivrea lies in a basin that, in prehistoric times, formed a great lake...
, and was then converted to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
by Eusebius of Vercelli
Eusebius of Vercelli
Eusebius of Vercelli was a bishop and saint in Italy. Along with Athanasius, he affirmed the divinity of Jesus against Arianism.-Biography:...
. Some sources say that Vercelli ordained Gaudentius a priest, and that Gaudentius was sent to Novara by Eusebius to assist a Christian priest named Laurence (Laurentius) there.
Eusebius of Vercelli was exiled after a synod held at Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
(355); some sources state that Gaudentius accompanied him in exile. Eusebius ordered him back to Novara
Novara
Novara is the capital city of the province of Novara in the Piedmont region in northwest Italy, to the west of Milan. With c. 105,000 inhabitants, it is the second most populous city in Piedmont after Turin. It is an important crossroads for commercial traffic along the routes from Milan to Turin...
, where Laurence had been killed. Gaudentius was supported in his mission by a new ally: Saint Ambrose, bishop of Milan. Simplician
Simplician
Simplician or Simplicianus was Archbishop of Milan from 397 to 400 . He is honoured as a Saint in the Catholic Church and his feast day is August 14.-Life:...
, Ambrose’s successor, consecrated Gaudentius as bishop of Novara in 398 AD.
Miracle
A miracle often denotes an event attributed to divine intervention. Alternatively, it may be an event attributed to a miracle worker, saint, or religious leader. A miracle is sometimes thought of as a perceptible interruption of the laws of nature. Others suggest that a god may work with the laws...
reported of his death states that Gaudentius’ head continued to speak after the saint had died, so that the clergy could record and repeat his sermons.
The Basilica of San Gaudenzio
Basilica of San Gaudenzio
The Basilica of San Gaudenzio is a church in Novara, Piedmont, northern Italy. It is the highest point in the city. It is dedicated to Gaudentius of Novara, first Christian bishop of the city....
in Novara, as well as numerous churches throughout the region, is dedicated to him.
External links
San Gaudenzio- Nicholas Everett, "The Hagiography of Lombard Italy", Hagiographica 7 (2000) 92-100.