Saint of the Day – 8 April – Saint Amantius of Como (Died c448) Bishop

Saint of the Day – 8 April – Saint Amantius of Como (Died c448) the 3rd Bishop and Confessor. Born in Canterbury, England and died on 8 April c448 in Como, Italy of natural causes. Also known as – Amanzio …

The Roman Martyrology reads: “At Como, St Amantius, Bishop and Confessor.”

The figure of Amantius, the 3rd Bishop of Como, is illuminated against the background of the 5th Century, a period of profound changes for the Roman Empire and the Church. Born in Canterbury in England, he intertwined his history with that of the City of Como, leaving an indelible mark in its collective memory.

Information on his origins is fragmentary. Tradition has it that he was born in Canterbury, a British city that was part of the Roman Empire at the time. His Catholic family, of noble lineage, counted among its ancestors, the Emperor Theodosius III or, according to other sources, another Emperor of the 4th-5th Century. It is possible that Amantius initially operated as an Imperial Official and was sent to Italy in that role.

However he arrived in Italy, he settled in Como. Amantius undertook a trip to Rome, driven by faith and the desire to enrich his theological knowledge. In the eternal City he had the opportunity of venerainge the Relics of the Apostles Peter and Paul and obtained some for hisSee. Upon his return to Como, he immediately worked to build a Basilica in the Apostles’ honour. The Basilica, built on land owned by himself became an important centre of worship and devotion for the local community.

Elected the 3rd Bishop of Como after the death of St Provino in 420, Amantius led the Diocese with wisdom and apostolic zeal. His Episcopate coincided with a period of turbulence for the Roman Empire, threatened by barbarian invasions. In this difficult context, Amantius shone as a shepherd and model for all the faithful.

Saint Amantius died on 8 April, the day on which his liturgical memory is celebrated. The precise year of his death is uncertain but it is presumed to have occurred around 448. His remains rested in the Basilica he founded until 1590, when they were translated to the Jesuit Church of the Gesu in Como, of which he became Patron together with St Felix.