Saint of the Day – 19 February – Saint Mansuetus of Milan (Died c685) Archbishop of Milan and Confessor

Saint of the Day – 19 February – Saint Mansuetus of Milan (Died c685) Archbishop of Milan, Confessor, an active Defender of the Faith against heresy. Born in Rome and died in Milan in c685 of natural causes. A late tradition associates him with the Savelli family of Rome. Also known as – Mansuetus Savelli, Mansueto… Additional Memorila – 2 September in the Ambrosian Rite.

Among the scant information concerning Mansuetus’ life, it is known that in 679 he organised and held, a Synod with his suffragan Bishops in Milan, in order to condemn the Monothelite heretical doctrine.

According to the Historian, Paul the Deacon, this Synod issued a letter, written by a Damian later the Bishop of Pavia, directly to Emperor Constantine IV. A year later Mansuetus and his suffragan Bishops participated in Rome in a Synod opened by Pope Agatho on 27 March 680 and subscribed to the Decrees there issued. This latter Roman Synod was held in preparation for the Third Council of Constantinople which, a few months later, ondemned the heresy Monothelitism.

Mansuetus died on 19 February probably of 685. His remains were buried in the Basilica of St Ambrose but were later translated to the Basilica di Santo Stefano Maggiore and again ,in 1987, to the South transept of the Milan Cathedral.