Difference between revisions of "Hospitius the Hermit"

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Our venerable and God-bearing Father Saint '''Hospitius''', anciently Saint '''Sospis''', (in French, Saint '''Hospice'''), was a French [[hermit]] who according to tradition, had been a [[monk]] in his native Egypt towards the beginning of the 6th century. He immigrated to Gaul and retired in the ruins of an old tower near [[w:Villefranche-sur-Mer|Villefranche-sur-Mer]], a few miles east of [[w:Nice|Nice]] in [[w:Provence|Provence]], on the peninsula of [[w:Cap Ferrat|Cap Ferrat]]. The peninsula is still called after him as ''' ''Cap-Saint-Hospice'' ''' or ''' ''Cap-Saint-Sospis'' '''.  
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Our venerable and God-bearing Father Saint '''Hospitius''', anciently Saint '''Sospis''', and in French Saint '''Hospice''', was a French [[hermit]] who according to tradition had been a [[monk]] in his native Egypt towards the beginning of the 6th century, before settling in Gaul, and later was honoured by the [[Holy Trinity|Triune God]] with the gifts of [[Prophet|prophecy]] and [[Wonderworker|wonderworking]] abilities.<ref name=SYNAXARION>{{el icon}} ''[http://www.synaxarion.gr/gr/sid/3300/sxsaintinfo.aspx Ὁ Ὅσιος Ὁσπίτιος ὁ Ἐρημίτης].'' 21 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.</ref><ref name=PICTORIAL>John Gilmary Shea. ''[http://www.magnificat.ca/cal/engl/05-21.htm Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints].'' Benziger, 1894.</ref> The authority for his life is [[w:Gregory of Tours|Gregory of Tours]], who places him in the reign of [[w:Childebert II|Childebert]] (570-95), and only a little earlier than his own time.<ref name=SMITH-WACE>Rev. Charles Hole. ''HOSPITIUS, ST.'' In: William Smith and Henry Wace. '''A Dictionary of Christian Biography, Literature, Sects and Doctrines.''' Volume III: Hermogenes-Myensis. London: John Murray, Albemarle Street, 1882. Page 174.</ref>
  
The authority for his life is [[w:Gregory of Tours|Gregory of Tours]], who places him in the reign of Childebert, and only a little earlier than his own time.<ref>Rev. Charles Role. ''HOSPITIUS, ST.'' In: William Smith and Henry Wace. '''A Dictionary of Christian Biography, Literature, Sects and Doctrines.''' Volume III: Hermogenes-Myensis. London: John Murray, Albemarle Street, 1882. Page 174.</ref>
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==Life==
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From Egypt, he immigrated to Gaul and retired in the ruins of an old tower near [[w:Villefranche-sur-Mer|Villefranche-sur-Mer]], a few miles east of [[w:Nice|Nice]] in [[w:Provence|Provence]], on the peninsula of [[w:Cap Ferrat|Cap Ferrat]]. The peninsula is still called after him as ''' ''Cap-Saint-Hospice'' ''' or ''' ''Cap-Saint-Sospis'' '''.  
  
==Life==
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To increase his [[asceticism]] he girded himself with an iron chain, in [[penance]] for the many [[Sin|sins]] he [[Confession|confessed]] to have committed, and lived only on bread and dates.<ref name="SYNAXARION"/><ref name="SMITH-WACE"/><ref>Rev. Alban Butler (1711–73). ''[http://www.bartleby.com/210/5/213.html May 21 - St. Hospitius, or Sospis, Recluse in Provence].'' The Lives of the Saints. Volume V: May.  1866. (Bartleby.com).</ref> During [[Great Lent|Lent]] he redoubled his austerities, and, in order to conform his life more closely to that of the [[Anchorite|anchorites]] of Egypt, ate nothing but root vegetables.<ref name="PICTORIAL"/>  
To increase his [[asceticism]] he girded himself with an iron chain and lived only on bread and dates.<ref name=SYNAXARION>{Greek} ''[http://www.synaxarion.gr/gr/sid/3300/sxsaintinfo.aspx Ὁ Ὅσιος Ὁσπίτιος ὁ Ἐρημίτης].'' 21 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.</ref><ref>Rev. Alban Butler (1711–73). ''[http://www.bartleby.com/210/5/213.html May 21 - St. Hospitius, or Sospis, Recluse in Provence].'' The Lives of the Saints. Volume V: May.  1866. (Bartleby.com).</ref> During [[Great Lent|Lent]] he redoubled his austerities, and, in order to conform his life more closely to that of the anchorites of Egypt, ate nothing but root vegetables.<ref name=PICTORIAL>John Gilmary Shea. ''[http://www.magnificat.ca/cal/engl/05-21.htm Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints].'' Benziger, 1894.</ref>
 
  
The [[Holy Trinity|Triune God]] honoured him with the gifts of [[Prophet|prophecy]] and [[Wonderworker|wonderworking]] abilities.<ref name="SYNAXARION"/><ref name="PICTORIAL"/> He foretold the ravages which the Lombards would make in 575 in Gaul, and advised the religious of a nearby monastery to flee at once. They said they could not resign themselves to abandon him, but he replied that although the invaders would insult him, they would not kill him. When the barbarians came to the tower in which Hospitius lived, on seeing the chain with which he was bound, they mistook him for a criminal who was imprisoned there. When they questioned him, he acknowledged that he was indeed a great sinner and unworthy to live, whereupon one of the soldiers lifted his sword to strike him. God, however, did not desert His faithful servant; the soldier’s arm stiffened and became numb. It was not until Hospitius made the sign of the cross over it that he recovered the use of it. This soldier embraced Christianity, renounced the world and spent the rest of his days in serving God.<ref name="PICTORIAL"/>
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He foretold the ravages which the Lombards would make in 575 in Gaul,<ref group="note">In 574 and 575 the [[w:Lombards|Lombards]] invaded Provence, then part of the [[w:Kingdom of Burgundy|Kingdom of Burgundy]] of the Merovingian [[w:Guntram|Guntram]].</ref> and advised the religious of a nearby monastery to flee to at once. They said they could not resign themselves to abandon him, but he replied that although the invaders would insult him, they would not kill him. When the barbarians came to the tower in which Hospitius lived, on seeing the chain with which he was bound, they mistook him for a criminal who was imprisoned there. When they questioned him, he acknowledged that he was indeed a great sinner and unworthy to live, whereupon one of the soldiers lifted his sword to strike him. God, however, did not desert His faithful servant; the soldier’s arm stiffened and became numb. It was not until Hospitius made the [[Sign of the Cross|sign of the cross]] over it that he recovered the use of it. This soldier embraced [[Introduction to Orthodox Christianity|Christianity]], renounced the world and spent the rest of his days in serving God.<ref name="PICTORIAL"/>
  
Saint Hospitius foretold his death and was buried by his friend, Austadius, Bishop of Cimiez. When he felt that his last hour was nearing, he asked the monks of the nearby monastery to send word to Bishop Austadius that he was going to die, so that he might see to his burial. He took off his chain and knelt in prayer for a long time. Then, stretching himself on a little bank of earth, he passed away peacefully on the peninsula of [[w:Cap Ferrat|Cap Ferrat]] in A.D. 581 and gave up his soul to God.<ref name="SYNAXARION"/><ref name="PICTORIAL"/><ref name=LATIN-ORTHODOX>''[http://www.orthodoxengland.org.uk/stdmay.htm Hospitius May 21].'' Latin Saints of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Rome.</ref><ref group="note">According to other sources he passed away in A.D. 681.<br>
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Saint Hospitius foretold his death and was buried by his friend, Austadius, Bishop of [[w:Cimiez|Cimiez]]. When he felt that his last hour was nearing, he asked the monks of the nearby monastery to send word to Bishop Austadius that he was going to die, so that he might see to his burial. He took off his chain and knelt in [[prayer]] for a long time. Then, stretching himself on a little bank of earth, he passed away peacefully and gave up his soul to God, on the peninsula of [[w:Cap Ferrat|Cap Ferrat]] in A.D. 581.<ref name="SYNAXARION"/><ref name="PICTORIAL"/><ref name=LATIN-ORTHODOX>''[http://www.orthodoxengland.org.uk/stdmay.htm Hospitius May 21].'' Latin Saints of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Rome.</ref><ref group="note">According to other sources he passed away in A.D. 681.<br>
 
:* Rev. Alban Butler (1711–73). ''[http://www.bartleby.com/210/5/213.html May 21 - St. Hospitius, or Sospis, Recluse in Provence].'' The Lives of the Saints. Volume V: May.  1866. (Bartleby.com).</ref>
 
:* Rev. Alban Butler (1711–73). ''[http://www.bartleby.com/210/5/213.html May 21 - St. Hospitius, or Sospis, Recluse in Provence].'' The Lives of the Saints. Volume V: May.  1866. (Bartleby.com).</ref>
  
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==Sources==
 
==Sources==
* {Greek} ''[http://www.synaxarion.gr/gr/sid/3300/sxsaintinfo.aspx Ὁ Ὅσιος Ὁσπίτιος ὁ Ἐρημίτης].'' 21 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
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* Great Synaxaristes: {{el icon}} ''[http://www.synaxarion.gr/gr/sid/3300/sxsaintinfo.aspx Ὁ Ὅσιος Ὁσπίτιος ὁ Ἐρημίτης].'' 21 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
 
* ''[http://www.orthodoxengland.org.uk/stdmay.htm Hospitius May 21].'' Latin Saints of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Rome.
 
* ''[http://www.orthodoxengland.org.uk/stdmay.htm Hospitius May 21].'' Latin Saints of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Rome.
 
* Rev. Alban Butler (1711–73). ''[http://www.bartleby.com/210/5/213.html May 21 - St. Hospitius, or Sospis, Recluse in Provence].'' '''The Lives of the Saints. Volume V: May.'''  1866. (Bartleby.com).
 
* Rev. Alban Butler (1711–73). ''[http://www.bartleby.com/210/5/213.html May 21 - St. Hospitius, or Sospis, Recluse in Provence].'' '''The Lives of the Saints. Volume V: May.'''  1866. (Bartleby.com).
 
* John Gilmary Shea. ''[http://www.magnificat.ca/cal/engl/05-21.htm Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints].'' Benziger, 1894. 625pp.
 
* John Gilmary Shea. ''[http://www.magnificat.ca/cal/engl/05-21.htm Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints].'' Benziger, 1894. 625pp.
* Rev. Charles Role. ''HOSPITIUS, ST.'' In: William Smith and Henry Wace. '''A Dictionary of Christian Biography, Literature, Sects and Doctrines.''' Volume III: Hermogenes-Myensis. London: John Murray, Albemarle Street, 1882. Page 174.
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* Rev. Charles Hole. ''HOSPITIUS, ST.'' In: William Smith and Henry Wace. '''A Dictionary of Christian Biography, Literature, Sects and Doctrines.''' Volume III: Hermogenes-Myensis. London: John Murray, Albemarle Street, 1882. Page 174.
 
* Katherine I. Rabenstein. ''[http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0521.shtml#hosp May 21 - Hospitius of Cap-Saint-Hospice, Hermit (RM)].'' St. Patrick Catholic Church, Washington, D.C. - Saint of the Day.
 
* Katherine I. Rabenstein. ''[http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0521.shtml#hosp May 21 - Hospitius of Cap-Saint-Hospice, Hermit (RM)].'' St. Patrick Catholic Church, Washington, D.C. - Saint of the Day.
 
* [[w:Hospitius|Hospitius]]. Wikipedia.
 
* [[w:Hospitius|Hospitius]]. Wikipedia.
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'''French'''
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* [http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Hospice Saint Hospice]. French Wikipedia.
  
 
[[Category:Hermits]]
 
[[Category:Hermits]]
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[[Category:Egyptian Saints]]
 
[[Category:Egyptian Saints]]
 
[[Category:Wonderworkers]]
 
[[Category:Wonderworkers]]
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[[Category:6th-century saints]]

Latest revision as of 16:12, February 21, 2013

Our venerable and God-bearing Father Saint Hospitius, anciently Saint Sospis, and in French Saint Hospice, was a French hermit who according to tradition had been a monk in his native Egypt towards the beginning of the 6th century, before settling in Gaul, and later was honoured by the Triune God with the gifts of prophecy and wonderworking abilities.[1][2] The authority for his life is Gregory of Tours, who places him in the reign of Childebert (570-95), and only a little earlier than his own time.[3]

Life

From Egypt, he immigrated to Gaul and retired in the ruins of an old tower near Villefranche-sur-Mer, a few miles east of Nice in Provence, on the peninsula of Cap Ferrat. The peninsula is still called after him as Cap-Saint-Hospice or Cap-Saint-Sospis .

To increase his asceticism he girded himself with an iron chain, in penance for the many sins he confessed to have committed, and lived only on bread and dates.[1][3][4] During Lent he redoubled his austerities, and, in order to conform his life more closely to that of the anchorites of Egypt, ate nothing but root vegetables.[2]

He foretold the ravages which the Lombards would make in 575 in Gaul,[note 1] and advised the religious of a nearby monastery to flee to at once. They said they could not resign themselves to abandon him, but he replied that although the invaders would insult him, they would not kill him. When the barbarians came to the tower in which Hospitius lived, on seeing the chain with which he was bound, they mistook him for a criminal who was imprisoned there. When they questioned him, he acknowledged that he was indeed a great sinner and unworthy to live, whereupon one of the soldiers lifted his sword to strike him. God, however, did not desert His faithful servant; the soldier’s arm stiffened and became numb. It was not until Hospitius made the sign of the cross over it that he recovered the use of it. This soldier embraced Christianity, renounced the world and spent the rest of his days in serving God.[2]

Saint Hospitius foretold his death and was buried by his friend, Austadius, Bishop of Cimiez. When he felt that his last hour was nearing, he asked the monks of the nearby monastery to send word to Bishop Austadius that he was going to die, so that he might see to his burial. He took off his chain and knelt in prayer for a long time. Then, stretching himself on a little bank of earth, he passed away peacefully and gave up his soul to God, on the peninsula of Cap Ferrat in A.D. 581.[1][2][5][note 2]

His relics were translated to Lérins on May 21,[5] the day on which his feast is now celebrated.

Veneration

Saint Hospitius is still venerated in Nice at the Cathedral of Saint Reparata. The Cathedral Church possesses a small bone of his hand; other relics are kept in the churches of Villefranche-sur-Mer, La Turbie, and San-Sospis.

Notes

  1. In 574 and 575 the Lombards invaded Provence, then part of the Kingdom of Burgundy of the Merovingian Guntram.
  2. According to other sources he passed away in A.D. 681.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 (Greek) Ὁ Ὅσιος Ὁσπίτιος ὁ Ἐρημίτης. 21 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 John Gilmary Shea. Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints. Benziger, 1894.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Rev. Charles Hole. HOSPITIUS, ST. In: William Smith and Henry Wace. A Dictionary of Christian Biography, Literature, Sects and Doctrines. Volume III: Hermogenes-Myensis. London: John Murray, Albemarle Street, 1882. Page 174.
  4. Rev. Alban Butler (1711–73). May 21 - St. Hospitius, or Sospis, Recluse in Provence. The Lives of the Saints. Volume V: May. 1866. (Bartleby.com).
  5. 5.0 5.1 Hospitius May 21. Latin Saints of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Rome.

Sources

  • Great Synaxaristes: (Greek)
Ὁ Ὅσιος Ὁσπίτιος ὁ Ἐρημίτης. 21 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.

French