Saint of the Day – 17 August – St Donatus of Ripacandida OSB (1179-1198) Monk

Saint of the Day – 17 August – St Donatus of Ripacandida OSB (1179-1198) Monk Born in 1179 at Ripacandida, Diocese of Rapallo, Italy and died on 17 August 1198 at the Onuphrios Monastery, near Petinand Salerno in Italy, of natural causes, aged just 19 years. Patronages – Auletta, Basilicata, Melfi, Montevergine, Rapolla, Ripacandida, Ruoti – all in Italy. Also known as – Donatello, Donato. The name of Donatus means “the gifted one” (Latin).

Donatus, son of a humble family, wanted to enter the Benedictine Monastery of Onuphrios near Petina, which is now in ruins, at the age of 14 but was rejected as too young. The following year Donatus was accepted into the Congregation founded by St William of Vercelli in the Monastery of Monte Vergine near Avellino. In 1195, Donatus returned, to the Onuphrios Monastery.

He strictly observed the Rules of the Order and practised obedience and self-denial. After a serious illness he died at the age of only 19 and the confreres saw a bright ray emanating from his dead body.

In 1202, at the request of his parents, Donatus’ bones were brought to Ripacandida. An arm Relic remained in the Donatus Chapel in Auletta near Salerno.

The Church of San Donato in Ripacandida, which can be traced to 1054 and, at which a Monastery of Franciscan Observers was founded in 1605. This Church is is not dedicated to our Saint Donatus but to St Donatus of Arezzo, the Bishop and Martyr, whose Feast day occurs on 7 August. To distinguishthe two, our Saint today, St Donatus is ,therefore, referred to there as Donatello. Some researchers, therefore, regard the veneration of Donatus of Ripacandida, as a variant of the devotion to the once very popular St Donatus of Arezzo, which was widespread throughout Italy at that time.

The other St Donatus here:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/08/07/saint-of-the-day-7-august-saint-donatus-of-arezzo-died-362-bishop/