Saint of the Day – 26 March – St Barontius of Pistoia (Died c725) Monk, Hermit.

Saint of the Day – 26 March – St Barontius of Pistoia (Died c725) Monk, Hermit. Barontius was a French nobleman who had been a Courtier at the Court of King Thierry II. Also known as – Barontus, Baronce, Baronto, Baronzio. Barontius

With his son, he had became a Monk at Saint-Pierre de Longoret in the Diocese of Bourges, now the Monastery of Saint-Cyran-du-Jambot.

In around 678, Barontius received a vision of Heaven and hell, in which demons clawed and kicked at him. Accompanied by the Archangel St Raphael, Barontius journeyed through the four levels of Heaven, although he continued to be tormented by the demons, who aimed to pull him down to hell.

He met many he had known, including fellow Monks from Longoreto. St Raphael asked another Angel to bring Saint Peter to them, so that St Peter may evaluate Barontius.

The demons brought their evidence against Barontius, repeating all the sins which Barontius had committed, including those which he had completely forgotten. However, the demons became so annoying that St Peter smacked them with his keys, sending them away. St Peter then decided to send Barontius back to earth via hell, where he saw all of the souls in torment. before returning to earth. When he recovered, he wrote an account of his vision — a large manuscript known as Visio Baronti Monachi Longoretensis.

This vision led to Barontius’ decision to become a Hermit in Italy and he established himself near Pistoia with Desiderius, also a former Monk. They lived an austere, prayerful life and were joined by many disciples.

Barontius died around 725. Both he and Desiderius ‘ names appear in the Martyrologium Romanum as Saints, for celebration today.