jeudi 16 mai 2013

Saint UBALDO di GUBBIO (UBALDUS BALDASSINI), évêque et confesseur



Saint Ubald de Gubbio

Evêque de Gubbio (✝ 1160)

Doyen de Saint-Augustin de Gubbio, près d'Ancone, il introduit la vie en communauté pour les chanoines de la cathédrale.

Évêque en 1128.

Canonisé en 1192.

(…)

- Connu en Italie sous le nom d'Ubaldo, Saint Thiébaut mort en 1160 fut l'évêque de Gubbio. Il est vénéré en France dans la ville de Thann (68) dont il est le saint patron. Fête le 30 juin (ndlr: en même temps que saint Thibaut).

- L'évêque de Gubbio st Ubaldo ne s'est jamais appelé Teobaldo (ou Thiébaud), lequel est le nom d'un saint français. Le culte du second, déjà établi à Thann, fut usurpé par les autorités civiles et religieuses, pour introduire le culte du premier car il était de parenté allemande et qu'il fallait un saint allemand pour faire réussir le pélerinage qu'on voulait essentiellement allemand. On garda le nom de "Thiébaut" avec le jour de sa fête (30 juin) pour faciliter la pantomime. De fait c'est le culte de st Ubald qui a toujours été célébré à la Collégiale de Thann. Ces choses-là étaient choses courantes au Moyen-Age, car les reliques étaient de l'or en barres... (...)

- En l'an 1160 mourrait à Gubbio (Italie), l'évêque Saint Thiébaut. Il avait légué sa bague épiscopale à son fidèle serviteur. Mais, en voulant retirer l'anneau, le serviteur arracha le pouce droit. Il l'enchâssa dans son bâton de pèlerin et s'en retourna chez lui en Lorraine. En chemin, il arriva à Thann en 1161...

- La collégiale Saint-Thiébaut, une légende et un haut lieu de pèlerinage. Chaque année, le 30 juin, Thann commémore la légende de sa création avec la «crémation des trois sapins»: en 1161, au cours d'une halte dans la forêt, le serviteur de Thiébaut, évêque de Gubbio qui dissimulait dans son bâton une relique de son maître, ne parvint plus à l'arracher du sol...

- La collégiale Saint Thiébaut, (XIVe et XVIIe siècles) avec sa haute flèche (XVIe siècle) qui nous désigne le ciel... Dans la chapelle Saint Thiébaut avec l'admirable statue processionnelle du saint (1520)...

À Gubbio en Ombrie, l’an 1160, saint Ubald, évêque, qui travailla à restaurer la vie commune de ses clercs. (16 mai au martyrologe romain)

Martyrologe romain



Basilica di S. Ubaldo, Gubbio 

Photographie de Geobia 



St Ubald, évêque et confesseur

Déposition à Gubbio (Ombrie) en 1160. Canonisé en 1192. Fête en 1605.

Leçons des Matines avant 1960

Quatrième leçon. Ubald, né d’une famille noble, à Gubbio, en Ombrie fut, dès ses plus tendres années, élevé avec grand soin dans la piété et les lettres. Au cours de sa jeunesse, on le pressa plusieurs fois d’embrasser l’état du mariage, mais jamais il n’abandonna sa résolution de garder la virginité. Ordonné Prêtre, il distribua son patrimoine aux pauvres et aux Églises, et étant entré chez les Chanoines réguliers de l’Ordre de Saint-Augustin, il établit cet institut dans sa patrie, et y vécut quelque temps de la manière la plus sainte. La réputation de sa sainteté s’étant répandue, i ! fut préposé malgré lui par le Souverain Pontife Honorius II au gouvernement de l’Église de Gubbio, et reçut la consécration épiscopale.

Cinquième leçon. Ayant donc pris possession de son Église, il ne changea rien à sa manière de vivre accoutumée, mais il commença à se distinguer d’autant plus en tout genre de vertus, qu’il procurait très efficacement le salut des autres par la parole et l’exemple, s’étant fait de cœur le modèle de son troupeau. Sobre dans sa nourriture, sans recherche dans ses vêtements, n’ayant pour couche qu’un lit dur et très pauvre, il portait constamment en son corps la mortification de la croix, tandis qu’il nourrissait chaque jour son esprit par une application incessante à la prière. C’est ainsi qu’il parvint à cette admirable mansuétude, qui lui fit non seulement supporter avec égalité d’âme les plus graves injures et les mépris, mais encore prodiguer avec l’admirable tendresse de la charité une entière bienveillance à ses persécuteurs.

Sixième leçon. Deux ans avant de sortir de cette vie, Ubald, affligé de longues maladies, fut purifié comme l’or dans la fournaise, par les plus cruelles souffrances ; cependant il ne cessait de rendre grâces à Dieu. Le saint jour de la Pentecôte étant arrivé, il s’endormit dans la paix, après avoir gouverné de nombreuses années avec le plus grand mérite l’Église confiée à ses soins, et être devenu illustre par ses saintes œuvres et par ses miracles. Le Pape Célestin III a mis Ubald au nombre des Saints. Son pouvoir éclate particulièrement pour mettre en fuite les esprits immondes. Son corps, demeuré sans corruption après tant de siècles, est l’objet d’une grande vénération de la part des fidèles dans sa patrie que plus d’une fois il a délivrée de périls imminents.


Palma il Giovane  (1550–1628). Apparition de la Très Sainte Vierge Marie et de l’Enfant Jésus à  Saint Ubald de Gubbio, 1620, 352 X 210, São Paulo Museum of Art



Dom Guéranger, l’Année Liturgique

Pour honorer son Pontife éternel, la sainte Église lui présente aujourd’hui les mérites d’un Pontife mortel ici-bas, mais entre, après cette vie, dans les conditions de l’immortalité bienheureuse. Ubald a représenté le Christ sur la terre ; comme son divin chef il a reçu l’onction sainte, il a été médiateur entre le ciel et la terre, il a été le Pasteur du troupeau, et maintenant il est uni à notre glorieux Ressuscité, Christ, Médiateur et Pasteur. En signe de la faveur dont il jouit auprès de lui dans le ciel, le Fils de Dieu a confié à Ubald le pouvoir spécial d’agir efficacement contre les ennemis infernaux, qui tendent quelquefois aux hommes de si cruelles embûches. Souvent l’invocation du saint évêque et de ses mérites a suffi pour dissoudre les machinations des esprits de malice ; et c’est afin d’encourager les fidèles à recourir à sa protection que l’Église l’a admis au rang des saints qu’elle recommande plus particulièrement à leur dévotion.

Soyez notre protecteur contre l’enfer, ô bienheureux Pontife ! L’envie des démons n’a pu souffrir que l’homme, cette humble et faible créature, fût devenu l’objet des complaisances du Très-Haut. L’incarnation du Fils de Dieu, sa mort sur la croix, sa résurrection glorieuse, les divins Sacrements qui nous confèrent la vie céleste, tous ces sublimes moyens à l’aide desquels la bonté de Dieu nous a rétablis dans nos premiers droits, ont excité au plus haut degré la rage de cet antique ennemi, et il cherche à se venger en insultant en nous l’image de notre créateur. Il fond quelquefois sur l’homme avec toutes ses fureurs ; par une affreuse parodie de la grâce sanctifiante qui fait de nous comme les instruments de Dieu, il envahit, il possède des hommes, nos frères, et les réduit au plus humiliant esclavage. Votre pouvoir, ô Ubald, s’est signalé souvent dans la délivrance de ces victimes infortunées de l’envie infernale ; et la sainte Église célèbre en ce jour la prérogative spéciale que le Seigneur vous a confiée. Dans votre charité toute céleste, continuez à protéger les hommes contre la rage des démons ; mais vous savez, ô saint Pontife, que les embûches de ces esprits de malice sont plus fatales encore aux âmes qu’elles ne le sont aux corps. Prenez donc pitié aussi des malheureux esclaves du péché, sur lesquels le divin soleil de Pâques s’est levé sans dissiper leurs ténèbres. Obtenez qu’ils redeviennent enfants de la lumière, et que bientôt ils aient part à cette résurrection pascale dont Jésus est venu nous apporter le gage.


Procession du 15 mai : La Corsa dei Ceri (Saint Ubaldo Day)


Bhx Cardinal Schuster, Liber Sacramentorum

La fête de ce saint évêque de Gubbio (+ 1160), si puissant contre les esprits infernaux, entra dans le calendrier de l’Église universelle seulement sous Paul V. La messe Statuit est du Commun, mais la première collecte est propre.

La mitre de saint Ubald est conservée à Rome dans la basilique d’Eudoxie sur l’Esquilin, où l’on célèbre sa fête.

Prière. — « Apaisez-vous, Seigneur, en nous accordant votre secours ; et par l’intercession du bienheureux Ubald, votre Pontife et confesseur, étendez sur nous votre bras miséricordieux contre toute malice diabolique. Par notre Seigneur, etc. »

Il vainc le diable, celui qui s’exerce surtout aux vertus qui s’opposent davantage à sa malice ; l’amour de Dieu par exemple, l’humilité, la chasteté et l’amour de la paix. Le démon apparut un jour à saint Macaire et lui demanda : Macaire, que font les moines de plus que nous ? Ils jeûnent souvent, et nous ne goûtons aucune sorte de nourriture ; ils dorment peu, et nous ne reposons jamais ; ils sont chastes, et nous n’avons pas même de corps. En quoi donc les moines nous sont-ils supérieurs ? Le saint répondit : Vous êtes orgueilleux, et les moines sont humbles, voilà ce qu’ils font de plus que vous. Alors, confus, le démon s’enfuit.



Dom Pius Parsch, le Guide dans l’année liturgique

La liturgie connaît l’influence du diable dans l’Église et le combat efficacement.

Saint Ubald. — Jour de mort : 16 mai (dimanche de la Pentecôte) 1160. Tombeau : à Gubbio, en Ombrie. Image : On le représente en évêque, le diable fuyant devant lui. Vie : Le saint est originaire de Gubbio, en Italie. Il devint prêtre et chanoine. En 1128, malgré ses répugnances, il céda aux désirs du pape Honorius II et fut nommé évêque de sa ville natale. Dans cette charge, il fut un modèle de simplicité apostolique, de zèle pastoral et de sainteté personnelle. On invoque volontiers son secours contre les mauvais Esprits. Il mourut le 16 mai 1160. Son tombeau se trouve dans sa ville natale. Son corps s’est conservé jusqu’à nos jours sans corruption.

Pratique : La puissance de saint Ubald se manifesta surtout dans l’expulsion des mauvais Esprits. La liturgie, qui insiste tant sur la proximité des anges, compte aussi avec la forte influence des mauvais Esprits, car elle lutte continuellement contre eux. C’est pourquoi il n’est pas rare de trouver, dans la liturgie, des exorcismes. Il y a également un grand nombre de sacramentaux institués contre l’influence des mauvais Esprits, par exemple l’eau bénite, les cierges, les rameaux bénits. Ne méprisons pas ces moyens. — La messe (Statuit) est du commun des confesseurs pontifes avec une oraison propre laquelle nous demandons à Dieu, par l’intercession du saint, d’étendre la main contre toute méchanceté du diable ».



Saint Ubaldus Baldassini


Also known as
  • Ubaldus of Gubbio
  • Ubaldo…
  • Ubald…
  • Ubalde…
Profile

Born to the nobility. Related to Saint Sperandea. Ubaldo’s father, Rovaldo Baldassini, died when the boy was very young; his mother was an invalid, afflicted with what we now consider a neurological disease. Raised by his uncle. Educated by the prior of the cathedral in Gubbio, Italy. Canon regular. Monk at the Monastery of Saint Secondo in Gubbio for several years. Dean of the cathedral in Gubio. Ordained in 1115. Around 1120 he convinced the canons of his chapter to live a common life together under the rule given by Peter degli Onesti; this communal life was designed to keep them out of worldly ways. Ubaldo wanted to be a hermit, but was advised against it, and in 1128 he accepted the bishopric of Gubbio. Known as a patient, gentle, and brave pastor to his people. Convinced Emperor Frederick Barbarossa not to sack Gubbio as he had done other cities. The tomb and shrine of Ubaldus is still a place of pilgrimage.

Born

SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/saint-ubaldus-baldassini/



Urna con le spoglie di S. Ubaldo, 

nella Basilica di S. Ubaldo, Gubbio. 

Photographie de Geobia 


Miniature Lives of the Saints – Saint Ubald, Bishop


Article

At an early age Ubald turned his back on a brilliant future, and entered the Order of Canons Regular. Finding his own community relaxed, he withdrew for a while to a house of strict observance, whence he came back to re-establish the discipline of his monastery. In 1128, being chosen Bishop of Gubbio, his native place, he redoubled the severity of his life. His habitual self-denial was rewarded by an apparent insensibility to insults or affronts. On one occasion a workman, whom he reproved, pushed him into a heap of mortar, covering him with dirt. Ubald rose without uttering one word of complaint, and even delivered his assailant from the prosecution which the townsfolk set up. When the man, won by this clemency, offered the bishop any reparation, Ubald only demanded of him the kiss of peace. Knowing the blessings of this holy peace, he faced every danger to preserve it in his flock, and proved himself as brave as he was gentle. When a riot arose in the town, and he saw that his entreaties were of no avail, he threw himself between the combatants, regardless of their drawn swords and of the falling stones, and fell to the ground as if wounded. The rioters at once cast down their weapons, believing him slain. But the Saint, rising up, thanked God that the tumult was stayed. During his last years he bore with perfect cheerfulness a most painful disease, and at length passed to peace eternal, a.d. 1160.

MLA Citation
  • Henry Sebastian Bowden. “Saint Ubald, Bishop”. Miniature Lives of the Saints for Every Day of the Year, 1877. CatholicSaints.Info. 24 February 2015. Web. 16 May 2020. <https://catholicsaints.info/miniature-lives-of-the-saints-saint-ubald-bishop/>

SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/miniature-lives-of-the-saints-saint-ubald-bishop/



Statua di Sant'Ubaldo, corso Garibaldi, Gubbio.

Photographie de Simone Berettoni



St. Ubaldus

Confessor, Bishop of Gubbio, born of noble parents at Gubbio, Umbria, Italy, towards the beginning of the twelfth centry; died there, Whitsuntide, 1168.
Whilst still very young, having lost his father, he was educated by the prior of the cathedral church of his native city, where he also became a canon regular. Wishing to serve God with more regularity he passed to theMonastery of St. Secondo in the same city, where he remained for some years. Recalled by his bishop, he returned to the cathedral monastery, where he was made prior. Having heard that at Vienna Blessed Peter de Honestis some years before had established a very fervent community of canons regular, to whom he had given special statutes which had been approved by Paschal II, Ubaldus went there, remaining with his brother canonsfor three months, to learn the details and the practice of their rules, wishing to introduce them among his owncanons of Gubbio. This he did at his return. Serving God in great regularity, poverty (for all his rich patrimony he had given to the poor and to the restoration of monasteries), humility, mortification, meekness, and fervour, the fame of his holiness spread in the country, and several bishoprics were offered to him, but he refused them all. However, the episcopal See of Gubbio becoming vacant, he was sent, with some clerics, by the population to ask for a new bishop from Honorius II who, having consecrated him, sent him back to Gubbio. To his people he became a perfect pattern of all Christian virtues, and a powerful protector in all their spiritual and temporal needs. He died full of merits, after a long and painful illness of two years. Numerous miracles were wrought by him in life and after death. At the solicitation of Bishop Bentivoglio Pope Celestine III canonized him in 1192. His power, as we read in the Office for his feast, is chiefly manifested over the evil spirits, and the faithful are instructed to have recourse to him "contra omnes diabolicas nequitias".

The life of the saint was written by Blessed Theobaldus, his immediate successor in the episcopal see, and from this source is derived all the information given by his numerous biographers. The body of the holy man, which had at first been buried in the cathedral church by the Bishops of Perugia and Cagli, at the time of hiscanonization was found flexible and incorrupt, and was then placed in a small oratory on the top of the hill overlooking the city, where in 1508, at the wish of the Duke of Urbino, the canons regular built a beautifulchurch, frequented to this day by numerous pilgrims, who come to visit the relics of their heavenly protector from near and far. The devotion to the saint is very popular throughout Umbria, but especially at Gubbio, where in every family at least one member is called Ubaldus. The feast of their patron saint is celebrated by the inhabitants of the country round with great solemnity, there being religious and civil processions which call tomind the famous festivities of the Middle Ages in Italy.
Allaria, Anthony. "St. Ubaldus." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 15. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 16 May 2015 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15114b.htm>.
Transcription. This article was transcribed for New Advent by Carol Kerstner.

Ecclesiastical approbation. Nihil Obstat. October 1, 1912. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York.
SOURCE : http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15114b.htm


Edicola di Sant'Ubaldo, corso Garibaldi, Gubbio.


May 16: St. Ubald

This saint lived in twelfth-century Italy. He was an orphan raised by his uncle, a bishop. Ubald was given a good education. When he finished his schooling, he had the chance to marry. But he became a priest instead. Eventually, the pope made him bishop of Gubbio, the city of his birth.

St. Ubald became well known for his mild and patient disposition. One time, for example, a worker was repairing the city wall. He badly damaged the bishop's vineyard. The saint gently pointed it out to him. The workman must have been very tired. He probably did not even recognize the bishop. He shoved Bishop Ubald so hard that he fell into a pile of wet cement. He was covered with it. He got up, cleaned himself off and went into the house. Some people saw the whole thing and demanded that the worker be brought to court. Bishop Ubald appeared in the courtroom and obtained the man's freedom.

The holy bishop loved peace and he had the courage it takes to keep it. Once, when the people of Gubbio were fighting in the streets, he threw himself between the two angry crowds. He seemed unafraid of the swords clashing and the rocks flying. Suddenly he fell to the ground. The people stopped fighting at once. They thought the bishop had been killed. But he got up. He showed them he was not even hurt. The people thanked God. They stopped fighting and went home.

Another time, Emperor Frederick Barbarossa was on his way to attack Gubbio. St. Ubald did not wait for him and his army to come to the city. He went out on the road to talk to him. No one knows what he said. All they know is that he convinced the emperor to leave Gubbio alone.

The saint had a great amount of physical pain. Yet he never talked about it. On Easter Sunday, 1160, he rose for Mass. He gave a beautiful sermon and blessed the people. Then he had to go back to bed. He was not able to get up again. He died on May 16, 1160. All the people came to pay their respects. They cried and prayed to St. Ubald to take care of them from heaven.

Reflection: At times it is hard to forgive those who hurt us. We obtain the grace to do so by turning to Jesus more and asking him to help us be as meek and forgiving as he was.

SOURCE : http://www.holyspiritinteractive.net/dailysaint/may/0516.asp


Mitria di Sant'Ubaldo



May 16
St. Ubaldus, Bishop of Gubio
 HE was born of a noble family at Gubio, a city of the Ecclesiastical State, near the marquisate of Ancona. He had his education in the seminary of SS. Marian and James, and made great progress in his studies both profane and sacred; but the holy scriptures, those springs of living waters, were his chief delight. Many honourable matches were proposed to him by his friends; but he rejected all such offers, and made a vow of celibacy. His ardour in the perfect practice of virtue strengthened him against the bad example of many tepid companions. However, not approving certain irregularities which he saw tolerated among them, he exchanged this house for the seminary of St. Secundus, where he finished his studies. The bishop of Gubio made him prior of his cathedral that he might reform several abuses in the behaviour of the canons. Ubaldus prepared himself for this important work by fasting, prayers, and tears, by which he hoped to engage the divine assistance. He easily prevailed on three of his canons who were the best disposed, to join with him in his exercises and rules of life; and their example soon began to work upon the rest. The saint visited a community of regular canons, esteemed for their regularity and sanctity, which had been established by Peter de Honestis, a person of singular piety, in the territory of Ravenna. He staid there three months in order to take an exact view of the discipline of the house; and he carried its rule back with him to Gubio, and in a short time got it received by the whole chapter to render their reformation complete. After some years, their house and cloister being burnt down, Ubaldus looked upon this as a favourable opportunity of leaving his post, and retiring into some desert. In this view he made his way to that of Font-Avellano, where he found Peter of Rimini, to whom he communicated his design of quitting the world. That great servant of God opposed the motion as a dangerous temptation, and exhorted him to return to his former vocation, in which God had fixed him for the good of others. The saint, therefore, returned to Gubio, rebuilt the cloisters, and rendered his chapter more flourishing than it had ever been, to the great edification of the whole country. In 1126, St. Ubaldus was unanimously chosen bishop of Perugia; but he hid himself in the country, so that the deputies of that city were not able to find him; and when they were departed, he went to Rome, threw himself at the feet of Pope Honorius II. and with many tears begged that he might be excused; employing all the interest he had in the world to obtain the favour he desired. Honorius granted his request; but the see of Gubio becoming vacant two years after, the pope directed the clergy of that city to proceed to his election according to the forms prescribed by the canons: in consequence of which his holiness consecrated him with his own hands in the beginning of the year 1129. The new bishop made it his whole business to adorn the dignity of his station with all the virtues of a true successor of the apostles. He practised a perpetual mortification of all his senses, and lived dead to all the enjoyments of the world: he was indefatigable both in the exercise of penance, and in the labours of his ministry; frugal, humble, sincere, and full of compassion for all the world. But mildness and patience, by which he appeared insensible to injuries and affronts, was one of the brightest parts of his character. Once it happened, that in repairing the wall of the city, the workmen encroached upon his vineyard. The bishop mildly put them in mind of it, and desired them to forbear. The overseer of the work moved with brutish fury, scornfully pushed him into a great heap of mortar. The good bishop got up all covered with lime and dirt, without making the least expostulation. The people demanded that the overseer, in punishment for the offence, should be banished, and his goods confiscated. The saint endeavoured to make it pass for an accident; but when that could not satisfy the people, who knew how it happened, he being desirous to deliver the man out of the hands of the magistrates, maintained that the cognizance of the misdemeanour belonging to his own court, he would take care to do himself justice. The workman, stung with remorse, proffered to accept of any punishment the bishop should think proper to inflict on him, even though his life was to pay for the offence. The holy prelate, rising from his chair, went up to him, and told him with a smiling countenance, that by way of satisfaction for the injury received, he insisted on his giving him a kiss of peace, as a token of a perfect reconciliation, and that he begged of God to pardon him that and all other offences. After which he saluted him.
 The saint often defended his flock in public dangers. Hearing one day that a sedition was raised in one of the streets, wherein some were wounded, others killed, he ran out, and venturing himself between the combatants, fell down amidst their naked swords. The mutineers thinking him dead, all threw away their weapons, running to take him up, and every one condemned himself as the murderer of their holy bishop. Then the saint, thanking God that the tumult was appeased, dispelled their fears by assuring them that he had received no hurt. The Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, in his cruel wars in Italy, having taken and plundered Spoleto, threatened to do the like by Gubio. Ubaldus, moved by a more than fatherly tenderness for his flock, met the emperor on the road, and on his first interview softened the heart of that tyrant to compassion, and obtained of him the safety of his people. The two last years of his life he laboured under a complication of painful distempers, which he bore with the patience of a saint. On Easter-day, in 1160, his devotion to the glorious mystery of that festival made him forget his infirm condition, get up, say mass, and give the people a discourse on eternal life. From the cathedral he would be carried to the church of St. Laurence, near which he had an apartment. He continued there till the feast of the ascension in retirement, to prepare himself for death. After that he was removed into his own house, where he repeated his last instructions to his clergy and people, who came to visit him and beg his last blessing. Having received the rites of the church, he expired on the 16th of May, 1160. The people from all the neighbouring provinces attended his funeral in crowds, and were eye-witnesses of the many miracles God performed at his tomb. So tender was the devotion which this spectacle excited in every one, that animosities and dissensions over the whole country were extinguished, and a most wonderful spirit of charity was infused into all hearts. Injuries were forgotten, and cities which had been long at variance, renewed the most sincere league of friendship. St. Ubaldus had been favoured with the miraculous gift of curing diseases in his lifetime, which he performed by the sign of the cross and prayer; yet, when a certain blind man addressed himself to him to be cured, the bishop told him that his corporal sight would be prejudicial to his soul, and that his temporal blindness would be recompensed with the clear vision of God in heaven for all eternity: at which the good man was so well satisfied, that he no longer desired to be cured. St. Ubaldus was canonized by Pope Celestine III. in 1192. See his accurate life written by Tebald, his successor, in the Acta Sanctorum.
 Rev. Alban Butler (1711–73).  Volume V: May. The Lives of the Saints.  1866.
SOURCE : http://www.bartleby.com/210/5/163.html


 i 3 ceri custoditi nella Basilica di S. Ubaldo, Gubbio

Ubaldus Baldassini B (RM)

 Born in Gubbio near Ancona, Umbria, Italy; died there in 1160; canonized in 1192. While dean of the cathedral in his home town, Ubaldus induced the canons of the chapter to live a common life together, under the rule given by Peter degli Onesti to his community at Ravenna. Ubaldus himself wanted to be a hermit, but was advised otherwise, and, in 1128, he had to accept the bishopric of Gubbio. He was an admirable bishop, noted for his patience and forbearance. His character was remarkable for its combination of gentleness and courage with which he succeeded in disarming the tyrannical Frederick Barbarossa. His shrine is still a place of pilgrimage (Benedictines, Delaney).

In art, Saint Ubaldus is depicted as a bishop giving a blessing as angels carry his crozier. On his book is written Sacerdos et Pontifex et virtutum opifex pastor bone, etc. The devil may be shown fleeing the blessing (Roeder). Ubaldus is invoked against demoniac possession, migraine, neuralgia, and for sick children (Roeder).


SOURCE : http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0516.shtml


Basilica di S. Ubaldo, Gubbio



Sant' Ubaldo di Gubbio Vescovo


Gubbio, 1084/5 - Gubbio, 16 maggio 1160

Appartenente ad una nobile famiglia originaria della Germania. Rimasto ben presto orfano di entrambi genitori, Ubaldo fu allevato da un omonimo zio che curò la sua educazione religiosa e l’intellettuale. Ordinato sacerdote nel 1114, qualche anno più tardi Ubaldo veniva eletto priore della sua canonica, di cui riformò la disciplina e il costume. La fama del suo nome e delle sue virtù si era diffusa al di fuori della sua città, tanto che Perugia nel 1126 lo acclamò suo vescovo. Ubaldo però, schivo di tanto onore, si recò subito a Roma per chiedere al Papa Onorio II di essere esonerato da tale incarico, ottenendone grazia. Il vescovo Ubaldo governò la diocesi di Gubbio per 31 anni, durante i quali superò felicemente avversità ed ostacoli, riuscendo a piegare con la dolcezza i suoi nemici e ad ammansire gli avversari con la mitezza d’animo.

Etimologia: Ubaldo = spirito ardito, dal tedesco

Emblema: Bastone pastorale

Martirologio Romano: A Gubbio in Umbria, sant’Ubaldo, vescovo, che si adoperò per il rinnovamento della vita comunitaria del clero.

Davvero non gli piacciono, questi canonici della cattedrale di San Mariano, in Gubbio: preghiera poca, penitenza meno ancora. Lo ospitano mentre pensa al sacerdozio, ma lì tira un’aria che può guastargli la vocazione. Così Ubaldo ritorna alla collegiata di San Secondo, dov’è stato già da ragazzo per i primi studi. (Nato in una famiglia di origine tedesca, ha perduto i genitori da bambino, e uno zio si è preso cura di lui). Per un breve periodo ha studiato a Fano, e poi è tornato stabilmente a Gubbio, che all’epoca è una città-stato tra le più potenti dell’Umbria.

Nella collegiata di San Secondolo scopre Giovanni da Lodi, già monaco per quarant’anni a Fonte Avellana (Marche), poi vescovo di Gubbio per un anno solo, l’ultimo della sua vita. Prende Ubaldo come collaboratore e lo rimanda proprio a San Mariano, perché metta in riga quei canonici bontemponi, anche se non è ancora prete. E lui ci riesce, col tempo e per gradi. Quei canonici, li raddrizza con le sue doti di persuasore e con la forza dell’esempio, al punto che sono poi loro a rieleggerlo priore per un decennio (e intanto è stato ordinato sacerdote). Intorno al 1125, però, un incendio distrugge molte case di Gubbio e la stessa cattedrale, sicché i canonici devono disperdersi presso altre chiese. Non c’è più comunità: scoraggiato, Ubaldo pensa di farsi eremita, ma poi torna in città, lavora a ricostruire.Un anno dopo gli arriva la sorpresa: a Perugia è morto il vescovo, e al suo posto i perugini vogliono mettere lui. Reagisce fuggendo, arriva a Roma e supplica papa Onorio II di lasciarlo semplice prete. Per quella volta il Pontefice lo accontenta. Ma quando a Gubbio muore il vescovo, non sente più ragioni e nomina lui a succedergli. Ora, altro che i canonici di SanMariano: le aspre divisioni tra le famiglie importanti accompagnano (e peggiorano) gli scontri nel clero, gli atti di indisciplina. Si arriva anche alle offese personali, fisiche, contro il vescovo. Lui risponde con la fiduciosa inalterabilità: mai impaurito, mai infuriato. E quando nelle liti cittadine si pone mano alle armi, è pronto a mettere in gioco persino la vita per fermarle.

Nel 1154 Gubbio è attaccata da una coalizione di città umbre capeggiate da Perugia, ne esce vittoriosa, e se ne dà merito alle preghiere del vescovo. Nel 1155 l’esercito di Federico Barbarossa dà fuoco a Spoleto e poi assedia Gubbio: Ubaldo corre dall’imperatore, si parlano, e l’assedio viene sciolto, la città è salva. In tutte queste crisi, Ubaldo chiama i cittadini alla preghiera, li fa sentire una cosa sola, li rassicura, evita il panico. Una strategia della fiducia che fa di lui una sorta di baluardo per la città. E in morte gli si attribuiscono profezie, miracoli, lo si proclama patrono, e già nel 1192 il papa Celestino III lo canonizza. Il corpo, dapprima sepolto in cattedrale, nel 1194 viene trasferito in una chiesa sul monte Ingino.

Ogni anno Gubbio festeggia Ubaldo con solenni riti religiosi e con una manifestazione all’aperto che unisce fede, gioia e fantasia: la notissima “corsa dei ceri”, che sono tre “macchine” di legno con i loro portatori in costume, trascorrenti nelle vie cittadine a passo di corsa, per salire poi sul monte Ingino, il luogo che custodisce i resti del patrono.

Autore: Domenico Agasso

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