Saint of the Day – 5 April – St Albert of Pietramontecorvino (c1031-1127) Bishop

Saint of the Day – 5 April – St Albert of Pietramontecorvino (c1031-1127) the 2nd Bishop of Montecorvino, known as a visionary and Mystic, Miracle-worker. Born in around 1031 or 1032 in Normandy, France and died in 1127 of natural causes, at Montecorvino, Aqulia, Italy. Patronage – of Pietramontecorvino, Italy. Additional Memorial – 16 May in Pietramontecorvino.

Although most sources believe Albert was born in Normandy in northern France some believe he was born in Planisio near Pietramontecorvino in today’s Province of Foggia in the region of Puglia in southern Italy. Be that as it may, he certainly was settled in Montecorvino with his parents by the age of five years. The original village has now disappeared and been replaced by Pietramontecorvino.

Albert showed holiness at an early age and attracted many to follow in his footsteps. i Between 1059 and 1075 he was elected the city’s second Bishop. When he grew old, he lost his sight and he was given an assistant Bishop. Our Saint endured his trials with heroic patience. He died in 1127 in Pietramontecorvino and is buried in the Cathedral there.

He is honoured with a festival every year, on 16 May, the people go on pilgrimage to the ruins of the ancient city, bringing in a procession with Statue of the Saint, preserved in the mother Church of Stone. The cult of Saint Alberto dates to the 12th Century. After the Mass, a ceremony of blessing of the crops is also celebrated. The Statue of the Saint is carried to the four sides of the ruins of the original Cathedral and arranged with the face turned to the fields; in this way the blessing is prayed over to crops.