Estatua
de Teotonio en Valença do Minho
Statua
di san Teotonio a Valença
Saint Théodone
Fondateur de la
Congrégation des Chanoines réguliers de la Sainte Croix (+ 1166)
Confesseur.
Après avoir été prieur du couvent de Viseu, il fonda le monastère de Sainte-Croix à Coïmbra, la ville universitaire du Portugal où il rétablit la discipline régulière des chanoines du Latran. Il était en relation avec saint Bernard qui, en signe d'amitié, lui avait envoyé son bâton d'abbé.
À Coïmbre au Portugal, vers 1162, saint Théotone, qui fit deux fois le
pèlerinage de Jérusalem, refusa la garde du Saint-Sépulcre, et à son retour
dans sa patrie, la seconde fois, fonda la Congrégation des Chanoines réguliers
de la Sainte Croix.
Martyrologe romain
SOURCE : https://nominis.cef.fr/contenus/saint/5822/Saint-Th%C3%A9odone.html
Valença,
Igreja São Teotónio
StThéoton church of Valença. Fortificações da
Praça de Valença do Minho ; Theotonius
Saint Théotone de
Coimbra
Archiprêtre de Viseu
(Portugal)
Fête le 18 février
OSA
Gonfeo, Espagne, 1086 – †
1166
Autres graphies :
[Theotonius] Théotone de Coimbra ou Théoton
Canonisé en 1167
Archiprêtre de Viseu,
dans la Beira Alta, au Portugal, puis abbé du monastère de chanoines réguliers
de Coimbra dans la Beira litoral, il est très honoré au Portugal. Il a été
canonisé en 1167 par les évêques portugais et son culte confirmé par le pape
Benoît XIV.
SOURCE : http://www.martyretsaint.com/theotone-de-coimbra/
Simão
Álvares. Saint Theotonius et le le roi Afonso I du Portugal.
Simão Álvares, Saint Theotonius celebrates Mass before King Afonso I of Portugal, Alberto Sampaio Museum
Also
known as
Teotonio
Profile
Nephew of the bishop of Coimbra, Portugal. Educated at
the University of Coimbra. Parish priest,
assigned to Viseu, Portugal.
His powerful and outspoken preaching against
vice gained him a great reputation, the animosity of the ruling class, and the
affection of the king and queen. Counselor to
the throne. Rebuked the queen for
adultery, and refused a bishopric from
her, seeing it as an attempt to buy his affection. He was once asked by
the queen to
shorten a Mass so
she could attend to other business; he send back word that he answered to true
sovereigns, and the queen was
free to stay or go as she liked.
Theotinus had a great
devotion to the poor,
and to souls in purgatory.
Each Friday he combined these devotions by singing a Solemn Mass for
the dead,
leading a large procession to the cemetery to pray for
the local dead,
collecting alms there,
and distributing the money to the local poor.
Twice a pilgrim to
the Holy Lands. Augustinian Canon Regular,
which order he helped bring to Portugal in 1131,
entering the monastery at Coimbra.
Spent his last 30 years there as monk and prior.
Devoted to the daily offices, never allowing the monks to
hurry through them. King Alphonsus
attributed his victories to the prayers of
Theotonius and his brothers, and in gratitude, free all his Mozarabic Christian captives.
First Portuguese saints canonized by
the modern method.
Born
1166 of
natural causes
cultus
confirmed by Pope Benedict
XIV
Additional
Information
Saints
of the Day, by Katherine Rabenstein
books
Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
other
sites in english
images
video
sitios
en español
Martirologio Romano, 2001 edición
fonti
in italiano
Readings
His soul will be in
Heaven before his body is lowered to the grave. – King Alphonsus,
on hearing of the death of Theotonius
MLA
Citation
“Saint Theotonius of
Coimbra“. CatholicSaints.Info. 18 February 2023. Web. 7 June 2025.
<https://catholicsaints.info/saint-theotonius-of-coimbra/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/saint-theotonius-of-coimbra/
Azulejo de São Teotónio repreendo o Rei Afonso I
Azulejo
de São Teotónio encontrando a rainha Teresa
St. Theotonius
Feastday: February 18
Patron: of Viseu, Portugal
Birth: 1088
Death: 1166
Augustinian canon and
royal advisor. Born in Gonfeo, Spain, in 1088, he studied at Coimbra, Portugal,
and served for a time as archpriest of
Viseu. After undertaking a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and
the Holy Land, he returned home and entered the Augustinian
Canons at Coimbra. He held a trusted position as advisor to King
Alfonso I Henriquez of Portugal (r.
1128-1181) and was a dedicated opponent of all forms of royal corruption.
Theotonius rebuked the queen for an adulterous affair and refused a bishopric
from her.
SOURCE : https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=2275
São
Teotónio Mosteiro Sta. Cruz Coimbra
Theotonius of Coimbra,
OSA, Abbot (AC)
Born in Spain; died 1166;
cultus approved by Benedict XIV. Theotonius, nephew of Bishop Cresconius of
Coimbra, Portugal, was educated in Coimbra and became an archpriest of Viseu.
He proved himself to be an outstanding preacher as well as a man of holiness
and austerity. He resigned that office to go on pilgrimage to the Holy Land. On
his return, he continued to work at Viseu. While the queen and her husband,
Henry, Count of Portugal, repeatedly urged him to accept a bishopric, he was
contemplating retiring further from the world. Theotonius had a tremendous love
of the poor and the souls in purgatory, for whom he sang solemn Mass every
Friday. This would be followed by a procession to the cemetery in which to
whole city joined and in the course of which large sums of money were given in
alms for him to distribute among the poor.
But he was no wimp. He
was outspoken in rebuking vice, and the greatest in the land feared and
respected him. When the widowed queen and Count Ferdinand (whose alliance with
her was causing scandal) were present at one of his sermons, Saint Theotonius
uttered stern words so obviously directed at them that they were both filled
with confusion and retreated hastily. Another time, he was vested to begin the
celebration of the Mass of the Blessed Virgin, when he received a message from
the queen, who was at the church, asking him to shorten the time he usually
took. He sent back word that he was offering Mass in honor of a sovereign who
was greater than any royal personage on earth, and that the queen was free to
leave or stay.
After a second pilgrimage
to the Holy Land, he found that his former preceptor, Tellus, was founding a
new Augustinian monastery at Coimbra, and Theotonius decided to join them. He
became its 12th prior. Theotonius was highly esteemed by King Alphonsus of
Portugal and his Queen Matilda, who lavished gifts on the monastery of the Holy
Cross. He was fearless in rebuking vice and exact in the performance of divine
service. He was remarkable for his insistence on the exact and reverent
recitation of the daily offices; he would never allow them to be garbled or
hurried. The king attributed victory over his enemies and recovery from illness
to the prayers of Saint Theotonius, and in his gratitude granted the saint's request
that he should liberate all his Mozarabic Christian captives. When Alphonsus
heard of Theotonius's death, he exclaimed, "His soul will have gone up to
heaven before his body is lowered into the tomb." This saint is still
highly venerated in Portugal (Benedictines, Walsh).
SOURCE : http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0218.shtml
Schädel-Reliquie des hl. Theotonius, aufbewahrt im Kloster Santa Cruz in Coimbra
A Brief Biography of St.
Theotonius
Co-Founder of the Order
of Canons Regular of the Holy Cross
Early life and education
St. Theotonius,
(1082-1162), co-founder of the Order of Canons Regular of the Holy Cross, was
the first Saint of the Order and of Portugal. He was born in Ganfei (northern
Portugal) around the year 1082 into a wealthy and pious family. His father,
Oveca (James), and his mother, Eugênia, were the first to instruct him in the
faith. His uncle Dom Crescónio, Abbot of the Benedictine monastery near Tuy,
was his first teacher. (The title "Dom" was used for both nobility
and clerics.) When Dom Crescónio became bishop of Coimbra in 1092, he took the
ten year old Theotonius (literally, Godly) with him and entrusted his further
education to the care of a young seminarian, Tello, who was later to be the
principle founder of the Order.
After the death of Bishop
Crescónio in 1098, Theotonius went to Viseu, where another uncle of his named
Teodorico was Prior of the Cathedral Chapter of Sancta Maria. During the time
of preparation for the priesthood, Theotonius exercised the lower ministries
with great diligence and piety. It is mentioned expressly that he did not
intrude himself into the priestly ministry, but let himself be called by the
Church. Holy Orders were conferred upon him sometime before the year 1109, by the
Bishop of Coimbra. The young priest was appointed a canon of the Cathedral
Chapter of Viseu, which was a college of clerics who served as advisors to the
Bishop.
Priesthood
As a priest, St.
Theotonius fulfilled his duties with admirable fidelity. In Viseu, he dedicated
himself principally to the ordinary care of souls. He avoided luxury, pride,
ambition and the pleasures of the world. He even denied himself things that
were permissible, such as a bed, a bench, or even a footstool in his room upon
which he might rest or sit down. His conduct with women was especially
discreet, avoiding any imprudent familiarity. His holiness, especially his
moral purity, was universally acknowledged by all the populace of Viseu, both
noble and common, both men and women.
After the death of his
uncle around the year 1112, the young priest, now thirty years old, accepted –
though not without reluctance – the office of the Prior (Superior) of the
Cathedral Chapter of Viseu at the request of the people of Viseu and of the
Bishop of Coimbra. Queen Teresa of Portugal and her husband, a Count of
Portugal, with the consent of the clergy and at the urging of the people, often
sought to restore the episcopal See of Viseu and have Dom Theotonius appointed
Bishop, but he always refused. Being a more contemplative soul, the office of
superior was already a great burden to him, and a bishopric would have been
even more onerous.
Hence, after only a short
time, in an effort to flee such honors he resigned his office as Prior of the
Cathedral Chapter and embarked on his first pilgrimage to the Holy Land in
around the year 1116. After he returned to Portugal, he resumed his work as a
priest and Chapter member in Viseu, but refused to take up again the office of
Prior. His priestly life was distinguished by a great love for the Mother of
God, in whose honor he celebrated the Holy Mass every Saturday. He also was
generous towards both the poor and the Poor Souls in Purgatory. Every Friday he
celebrated a Holy Mass for the Poor Souls at the chapel of St. Michael followed
by a procession to the cemetery; many noble families also participated and
donated very large sums to the priest, which Theotonius quietly distributed to
the poor.
Having no human respect,
Theotonius was fearless in rebuking sinful behavior. In one instance, the now
widowed queen was attending Holy Mass celebrated by Dom Theotonius. She was
accompanied by Count Ferdinand, and the nature of their scandalous relationship
had become well-known. Theotonius' sermon, though not naming them, was
unmistakably directed at their conduct. They got the message and left in shame.
On another occasion, Dom Theotonius was about to begin Holy Mass when the queen
had a message sent asking him to say the Mass quickly. He replied simply that
there was another Queen in heaven, far more noble, for whom he ought to say the
Mass with the greatest reverence and devotion. If the queen did not wish to
stay, she was free to leave, but he would not rush. Upon receiving this
response, Dona Teresa stayed for the Holy Mass and afterwards with sincere
contrition acknowledged her fault, asking Theotonius for a penance.
Second Pilgrimage to
Jerusalem
St. Theotonius made a
second pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 1126. Throughout his stay, especially at
Calvary, he meditated, prayed and wept. He relived the mysteries of the life of
Jesus from His birth to His Passion, death and Resurrection, visiting the
principal holy places. His great devotion to the Passion would later be a great
influence on the Order of the Holy Cross. While in Jerusalem, he stayed with
the fervent young community of the Canons Regular of the Holy Sepulchre. The
religious there, edified by his piety, asked him to join their Order.
Theotonius responded: "Brothers, I would gladly stay here, but I have
commitments in my own land. I shall go back to Portugal, but I hope, by the
grace of God, to return again to Jerusalem to finish my days of pilgrimage here
on earth." The return was never to be, for God had a great mission
awaiting His humble servant in Portugal.
Founding of the Order of
Canons Regular of the Holy Cross
On his return to
Portugal, Dom Theotonius first went to Coimbra where he met his former teacher,
the now Archdeacon Tello. Dom Tello had gathered ten other men with the
intention of founding a new monastery. They needed only one more to complete
the number of the twelve Apostles. Though he was reluctant to abandon his plans
to enter the Canons Regular of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, Dom Tello
argued that he was needed more in the West, where religious life was
degenerating. After praying and reflecting, Theotonius saw in this invitation
the will of God. Therefore he disposed of his inheritance, giving one third to
the poor, one third to the diocese, and one third for the needs of the new
monastery.
The cornerstone of the
Holy Cross Monastery was laid on the vigil of Saints Peter and Paul, June 28,
1131. Work advanced quickly being subsidized by the king, the bishop of Coimbra
and the most distinguished families of the city. On Ash Wednesday, February 24,
1132 (then also the feast of St. Matthias), in the presence of the king and a
great multitude of people, the bishop gave the habit of St. Augustine to the
new Canons Regular. They were now a total of seventy-two, for sixty candidates
had since joined the original twelve founders. That same day, the chapter for
electing the Prior took place.
While Dom Theotonius
suggested Dom Tello would be the natural choice for Prior, Dom Tello in a
serene, but inflamed discourse proposed Dom Theotonius for election. The
assembly approved the latter proposal with enthusiasm and unanimity, against
the will of Theotonius, who at first refused, claiming to have neither the
human qualities nor the virtues required for such an important office. In the
end, seeing God's own will in the will of his brothers, he accepted in
obedience the task confided to him. Nevertheless, Dom Tello continued to play
the more active role of Martha, administering most of the practical, material
concerns of the monastery, whereas Dom Theotonius became the contemplative,
spiritual leader and guide of his brethren. In his humility, he never accepted
the title of Abbot nor the episcopal insignia which went with his office.
His first biographer, a
contemporary religious of the community, says that while others praise many
things in him, such as his humility, his sanctity, and the ardor of his faith,
the one virtue which most impressed him was the strong bond of charity that
united Theotonius with the brethren. Like the Good Shepherd he treated his flock
with kindness, honor, and respect. He ruled without pride and corrected with
moderation, paternal affection and good judgment. If he saw that one of his
religious was overly distraught over some correction, the Prior made it a point
to soothe him with words of friendship before the day was over. Like a wise
superior he did not limit himself solely to a negative approach, but by word
and example led his community to the practice of virtue. He urged his brothers
that inasmuch as they had left the world in body, they should leave it also in
spirit and devote themselves to the pursuit of virtue. He was solicitous and
gentle towards the sick, but accepted no special treatment when he himself was
sick. He became also renowned for his insistence that the Divine Office be
reverently and precisely prayed, refusing to allow it to be hurried.
During the period
following the establishment of the first monastery, the first king of Portugal,
Dom Alfonso Henriques, was at this same time militarily reclaiming the territory
of Portugal from the Moors. The Order of the Holy Cross was entrusted with the
mission of re-evangelizing the territories. In some parts the evangelization
was entirely new because they had been cut off from Christianity for so long.
To accomplish this task, the Order was given churches and properties to
establish monasteries. St. Theotonius sent groups of Canons to preach and
instruct the people. In 1140, the Moors attacked the Castle of Leiria. The
Canons who were there to evangelize were captured and martyred for their faith.
This was but one incident among many where the Canons gave their lives for the
faith. During this same year, St. Theotonius consecrated the entire country of
Portugal to St. Michael the Archangel.
King Alfonso held St. Theotonius in profound veneration for his virtues and was also keenly aware of how much the Order and its Prior could contribute toward the unity of the new-born nation. This royal affection for the "Cruzios" (Holy Cross priests) would never be lacking. The king himself became a member of the Third Order and publicly received the linen surplice of the Canons Regular from the hands of Dom Theotonius. Dom Alfonso chose him as his confessor and spiritual director, confiding to him all the difficult endeavors he undertook, with absolute certainty that they would be successful if they had the support and prayers of the holy Prior. The biographer asserts, "Every time the king undertook great things, he would always come to the servant of God and very intently recommended his person and soul to the prayers of the Saint. Theotonius, for his part, loved the king with such tenderness that he seemed more solicitous for the king than for himself."
But Theotonius was not blind to the faults of the king and was quick to correct
him. When Dom Alfonso took the city of Seville from the Moors, his soldiers in
the midst of a vast plunder took captive as well a race of Christians called
"Mozarabs" who were subjected under the Muslims, more than a thousand
men, not counting their wives and children. According to the rules of war, Dom
Alfonso took them as slaves.
As soon as he heard this,
Theotonius was moved with deep compassion and he, who never departed from the
cloister, burning in the zeal of faith, went out to meet the King and the whole
army and said, "O King and all noble men who are sons of Holy Mother
Church, do you subject your brothers to the condition of slaves and servant
girls? By doing this you sin against the Lord your God!" Hearing these words,
everyone received them with a contrite heart and they came down from their
horses and reverently kissed Dom Theotonius' hand as they promised to free the
captives. Many of those freed stayed close to the monastery, adding themselves
to the number of the poor who were daily helped by the Holy Cross fathers. He
further founded, within the monastery, a hospice to receive pilgrims and the
sick, whom he himself along with the other brothers served.
Gifts of healing and
expelling demons
Already during Dom
Theotonius' life, many miracles and extraordinary facts were attributed to him.
When the queen Dona Mafalda's life was in danger during childbirth, he was
called to her bedside, and with a blessing saved both her and the life of the
child. King Alfonso was also cured from a persistent and life-threatening fever
through the blessing of the Saint.
Several episodes of
exorcism are also mentioned in the life of St. Theotonius. One instance
concerned a lay brother of the monastery who claimed to see a black figure
continuously shooting arrows at him. The man would point to its shadow on the
wall, but no other brother could see it. When Theotonius came to visit him, he
was relieved so long as the Prior remained with him. Finally, St. Theotonius
told the man to repent of the sin of adultery into which he had fallen, for
this was the reason why the devil tormented him.
On another occasion, a
pious Canon was grievously tried by the devil. One day while St. Theotonius was
seated in the Church, he saw the brother being tormented by the demon. He went
to his aid, held his right hand and addressed the devil saying, "Depart,
unclean spirit, in the Name of Jesus Christ, and by the power of the Holy
Spirit I command you to disturb the servant of God no longer." And so it
was. The contemporary biographer adds that very often he had seen sick brethren
restored to health through the intercession and prayers of Theotonius.
Preparing for Death
When Dom Theotonius had
been Prior of the monastery of the Holy Cross for twenty years, his strength
began to fail. He was seventy years old and felt the need to prepare for his
final departure, no longer for the earthly Jerusalem, but for the heavenly. He
called the members of the community together and informed them of the weaknesses
that affected him and his great desire to prepare himself better for the final
encounter with God. His wish was respected and his nephew, Dom John Theotonius,
was chosen as his successor. He was to rely frequently on the wise counsels of
his uncle. Free from the duties of prior, Dom Theotonius spent his time in
continual prayer and reading. Besides the normal prayers of the community, he
prayed the entire Psalter (150 Psalms) every day. When he was not praying, he
occupied himself with the simplest chores, such as sweeping the corridors.
During this period, he intensified correspondence with St. Bernard of Clairvaux
who, as a token of great friendship, offered him his own staff which became
miraculous. It is said that many who suffered from headaches or any other
infirmity were healed if they had the honor of touching it.
Final Passing and Glory
On his deathbed, he gave
his final counsel to his brothers. "My children," he said,
"consider it as if you had embraced the religious life and state this very
day." All the brothers were gathered about him filled with grief, and he
consoled the mournful assembly. His first biographer recounts, "As he gave
us his abundant blessing…he joyfully beheld the approach of death. We saw him
rise up for the encounter with a joyful countenance. So it was that we did not
doubt, on account of the joy of his smiling countenance, that the holy angels
were there present. His face did not grow pallid, but was filled with a dignity
and gravity that made us clearly understand that he was not dying, but going
away; changing his friends, as it were, but not forsaking them."
Just before his death
"there appeared a great circle of stars which filled the cloister, and the
rays of the stars fell about him to the admiration of all." It was Friday,
February 18th, 1162, when he gave up his spirit; he was in his eightieth year.
The brothers took his body to the church where he lay for two days, with a
large, continuous flow of people accompanying him with prayers, psalms and
spiritual hymns. The whole city of Coimbra concurred that he was one of the
blessed and had gone straight to heaven. The King was taken by such a great
grief that his face lost its color. It is told that he said, "His soul
will be in Heaven before his body is in the tomb."
St. Theotonius was held
in such great veneration and so many were the graces obtained by his
intercession that many, beginning with the king himself, urged for his
canonization. The process was one of the fastest in the history of the Church.
On the first anniversary of his death, February 18, 1163, he was canonized by
the Provincial Council of Portuguese bishops in Coimbra. The canonization was
approved and confirmed shortly thereafter by Pope Alexander III. More than 360
years after his death, the body of St. Theotonius was exhumed and found to be
intact. Fifty years later it was again exhumed and showed signs of decay,
though it still exuded a sweet fragrance.
Opus Sanctorum Angelorum® • 164 Apollo Rd. SE • Carrollton, OH 44615 • Tel: (313) 527-1739 • Fax (313) 527-1729
SOURCE : http://www.opusangelorum.org/English/bio_theo.html
Viseu, Sé, São Teotónio
StThéoton lowest pediment of the facade, Sé, Cathedral of Viseu.
San Teotonio Sacerdote
Ganfei (Portogallo), 1080
circa – Coimbra (Portogallo), 18 febbraio 1166
Nato in Spagna intorno al
1080, fu affidato dai genitori allo zio Cresconio, vescovo di Coimbra, in
Portogallo. Poté così imparare, sotto la guida dell'arcidiacono Tello,
«l'arte della lettura e del canto secondo l'uso dei tempi». Morto lo zio, ricevette
gli ordini sacri a Viseo, diocesi suffraganea di Coimbra per poi essere eletto
priore della Cattedrale. Incarico cui rinunciò per recarsi pellegrino a
Gerusalemme. Al ritorno si dedicò all'attività pastorale, soprattutto alla
predicazione e alla confessione. Dopo qualche tempo tornò in Terra Santa. Nel
frattempo Tello con altri dieci sacerdoti aveva avviato la costruzione del
monastero di Santa Croce, vicino Coimbra. Teotonio aderì entusiasta al progetto
e fu eletto priore della nuova comunità di Canonici Regolari di Sant'Agostino.
Dopo 21 anni rinunciò alla carica di priore per passare gli ultimi dieci anni
di vita nella piena osservanza della regola agostiniana. Morì il 18 febbraio
1166. (Avvenire)
Patronato: Viseo
Emblema: Mitra e
pastorale abbaziali
Martirologio Romano: A
Coimbra in Portogallo, san Teotonio, che si recò due volte in pellegrinaggio a
Gerusalemme e, rifiutata la custodia del Santo Sepolcro, tornato in patria
fondò la Congregazione dei Canonici regolari della Santa Croce.
Teotonio nacque verso il
1080 a Ganfei, Valença do Minho, in Portogallo. I suoi genitori, Oveco ed
Eugenia lo educarono cristianamente ed in seguito lo affidarono alla cura di
suo zio Cresconio, vescovo di Coimbra, in Portogallo. Poté così imparare, sotto
la guida dell'arcidiacono Tello, “l’arte della lettura e del canto secondo
l’uso dei tempi”.
Morto lo zio, Teotonio fu
accolto e ricevette gli ordini sacri a Viseo, diocesi suffraganea di Coimbra.
Divenuto sacerdote, eccelse nell’esercizio del suo ministero per lo zelo
pastorale e l’assidua pratica delle virtù cristiane, tanto da meritarsi nel
giro di pochi anni l’elezione a priore della cattedrale. Rinunciò però
assai presto a tale incarico per potersi recare in pellegrinaggio a
Gerusalemme. Al suo ritorno rifiuto l’episcopato, ripetutamente ed
insistentemente offertogli dal conte Enrico e dalla regina Teresa che si
facevano in tal modo portavoci del “consenso del clero e di tutto il
popolo”. Teotonio preferì dedicarsi ad un’intensa attività pastorale,
cimentandosi prevalentemente nella predicazione e nella confessione. Il suo
biografo ne esaltò la carità, la castità e la libertà evangelica, che gli
meritarono un unanime senso di ammirazione.
Dopo qualche tempo
intraprese un nuovo pellegrinaggio in Terra Santa, dove fu invitato dai
canonici regolari del Santo Sepolcro ad entrare a far parte della loro
comunità. Il santo non accolse però questa proposta, riservandosi di accettare
in un’eventuale altra occasione.
Nel frattempo il suo
vecchio maestro Tello insieme ad altri dieci sacerdoti aveva intrapreso la
costruzione del nuovo monastero di Santa Croce, nei pressi di Coimbra. Teotonio
aderì entusiasta a questo progetto e fu addirittura subito eletto priore di
questa nuova comunità di Canonici Regolari di Sant’Agostino. In questo nuovo
ruolo assegnatogli poté rivelare le sue qualità di uomo di governo, le sue
virtù e la fama di santità e di miracoli che lo circondava, che contribuirono
al rapido sviluppo del neonato monastero. Dopo ben ventuno anni rinunciò alla
carica di priore, per poter trascorrere gli ultimi dieci anni della sua vita
nella più assoluta osservanza della regola agostiniana, esercitandosi in
particolar modo nella preghiera e nella penitenza.
San Teotonio morì il 18
febbraio 1166, ormai quasi nonantenne, e fu sepolto nel capitolo del monastero
di Santa Croce. Nel 1630 le sue reliqui furono traslate nella chiesa e vennero
sistemate sopra l’altare maggiore. Le ossa di un braccio furono donate al monastero
di San Vincenzo di Lisbona e l’altro alla cattedrale di Viseo. Sin dal ‘500 il
santo fu commemorato dai martirologi nell’anniversario della sua morte e se ne
celebrò la festa con Ufficio proprio nelle cattedrali di Braga, Evora, Coimbra,
Leiria e Viseo. In quest’ultima San Teotonio è venerato come patrono.
L’iconografia tradizionalmente gli attribuisce la mitra ed il pastorale, non
per l’episcopato che rifiutò, bensì per la carica abbaziale chè ricoprì.
Autore: Fabio
Arduino
SOURCE : http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/92325
Reliquia do braço de São Teotónio
Reliquia do braço de São Teotónio
Teotonio, Santo
Sacerdote y Fundador, 18 de febrero
Por: Catholic.net | Fuente: Catholic.net
Presbítero y Fundador de la Congregación de los Canónigos Regulares de la Santa Cruz
Martirologio Romano: En Coimbra, en Portugal, san Teotonio (o Theodón), que peregrinó dos veces a Jerusalén y, después de renunciar a la custodia del Santo Sepulcro, volvió a su patria y fundó la Congregación de Canónigos Regulares de la Santa Cruz (c. 1162).
Fecha de canonización: Su culto fue confirmado por Benedicto XIV en el año 1167.
Breve Biografía
Don Teotonio nació hacia
el año 1086 en Ganfei en Portugal. Recibió su educación en el monasterio de
Benedictino de Ganfei. Inmediatamente después viajó a Coimbra para estudiar
humanidades y teología. Posteriormente su tío Cresconio, obispo de Coimbra, lo envió
a Viseu donde aprendió, bajo la guía del archidiácono Tello, el arte de la
lectura y el canto según la usanza de aquelos tiempos. Fue en esta ciudad donde
recibió la ordenación sacerdotal.
Llegó a ser prior de Nuestra Señora de Viseu, y en su período mejoró la
situación material del convento y su testimonio de vida contribuyó mucho al
clero; predicaba con el ejemplo y era un excelente consejero espiritual para
muchas personas. Terminado su período emprendió una peregrinación a Jerusalén.
Rehusó el obispado y se entregó al ministerio de la Palabra y al sacramento de
la confesión, en medio de un pueblo corrompido, dando pruebas –en muchas
circunstancias– de su fidelidad a la virtud de la castidad.
Emprendió una segunda peregrinación a Jerusalén. Al regresar a Coimbra fundó,
con 11 compañeros, la Congregación de los Canónigos Regulares de la Santa Cruz.
El 28 de junio de 1131, con la presencia del rey Don Alfonso, quien lo tenía en
gran estima, se colocó la primera del nuevo monasterio. El 24 de febrero del
año siguiente es elegido prior de ese monasterio, puesto que ejerció durante
casi veinte años. San Teotonio se propuso convertir al monasterio de la Santa
Cruz en un foco de santidad y cultura, y para este fin trabajó tenazmente para
dotarlo de todas aquellas obras que consideraba indispensables para la
formación teológica de sus monjes, lo que pudo llevar a término gracias a la
magnificencia de su gran amigo y penitente: el rey Alfonso, gesto que más tarde
imitó Don Sancho I, el cual, en 1192, ordenó que se entregaran anualmente al
Monasterio 400 maravedís de oro para que se pudieran mandar religiosos a las
Universidades de Francia, París y Montpellier. De hecho, el impulso científico
que dio a su Monasterio San Teotonio no fue frívolo ni momentáneo, puesto que
por varios años el Monasterio de la Santa Cruz mantuvo su prestigio de centro
cultural de primer orden, contando entre sus monjes con hombres eminentes en
ciencia y virtud que fueron lumbreras de la Iglesia de Portugal.
Fiel a las oraciones diarias nunca permitió que los monjes rezasen los oficios
con premura, El Rey Alfonso atribuyó sus victorias a las oraciones de Teotonio
y en muestra de gratitud concedió la libertad a todos los Cristianos mozárabes.
Teotonio dejó el cargo de prior a los 70 años de edad.
Murió el 18 de febrero de 1162, con ochenta años de edad. Su cadáver descansa
en el monasterio de Santa Cruz. Su culto fue aprobado por Benedicto XIV en
1167. Fue el primer santo portugués en ser canonizado en los tiempos modernos.
La Congregación que él presidió tuvo un gran florecimiento por 700 años, hasta
que finalmente en el año 1834 fue suprimida violentamente por un gobierno
enemigo de la Iglesia.
Fue designado como el patrono de Viseu.
Fuentes bibliográficas:
Franciscanos.org: Artículo de Luis Arnaldich, o.f.m.
Santiebeati.it: Artículo de Fabio Arduino
Cademeusanto.com.br
SOURCE : https://es.catholic.net/op/articulos/34727/teotono-santo.html#modal
.jpg)
Sala Capitular del claustro del Monasterio de Santa Cruz, Coimbra. Obra de Tomé Velho,circa 1588
S. Teotónio, religioso,
+1162
18 de Fevereiro, a Igreja
celebra S. Teotónio, bispo
Segundo a tradição, S. Teotónio nasceu em Ganfei,
concelho de Valença, no Minho, em 1082. Foi confiado aos cuidados de seu tio,
Crescêncio, bispo de Coimbra. Em Viseu, foi ordenado presbítero onde foi prior
da Sé. Neste cargo, usou de grande influência a favor do infante Afonso
Henriques na luta pela independência contra sua mãe D. Teresa. Duas vezes foi a
Jerusalém e aí aprendeu o desapego pelas coisas do mundo. Quiseram que ele
fosse superior da comunidade dos cónegos regrantes de Santo Agostinho em Jerusalém
mas ele recusou, regressando a Portugal.
Foi convidado pelo arcebispo de Coimbra a fundar naquela cidade uma nova
congregação de frades agostinhos, aquilo que se veio a tornar o mosteiro de
Santa Cruz, do qual Teotónio foi eleito primeiro prior. Exerceu as suas
funções, dando exemplo grandioso de virtudes, entre as quais sobressaía o sua
humildade, austeridade e caridade para com os pobres. Por sua intercessão, o
Senhor operava multidão de prodígios. A sua proximidade com D. Afonso Henriques
tornou-o conselheiro espiritual do rei e da rainha, exortando-os à prática da
caridade para com os vencidos nas batalhas e nos ataques aos castelos. Entre os
seus amigos pessoais contava-se S. Bernardo de Claraval.
Em 1152 renunciou ao
priorado de Santa Cruz e, em 1153, ao bispado de Coimbra, para que tinha sido
convidado pelo Papa. Morreu em 1162 e a sua partida para a casa do Pai foi
acompanhada, segundo a tradição, de sinais no céu e de prodigiosos milagres.
Foi canonizado um ano após a sua morte.
fonte: Evangelho
Quotidiano
