Abbé à Naples (+ 596)
Moine basilien à Naples et célèbre thaumaturge dont les prières sauvèrent la ville assiégée par ses ennemis.
Au commencement du XIe siècle, Pierre, sous-diacre de l'Église de Naples avait été guéri d'une grave infirmité par l'intercession de saint Agnello. En reconnaissance, il composa un recueil de ses miracles... D'après ce texte, nous apprenons que Gaudiosius, évêque d'Abitinie, fuyant la persécution des Vandales fonda un monastère de Basiliens à Naples où Agnello se retira; il en fut l'abbé et y mourut à l'âge de 61 ans probablement en 596. Sa renommée de sainteté incita des écrivains plus récents à relater ses interventions miraculeuses pour libérer Naples et Sorrente assiégées par les Sarrasins... (d'après 'Église de Corse en prière' - diocèse d'Ajaccio)
À Naples, vers 596, saint Agnel, abbé du monastère de Saint-Gaudiosus.
Martyrologe romain
SOURCE : https://nominis.cef.fr/contenus/saint/9600/Saint-Agnel.html
Statua
di Sant'Agnello, nell'omonimo comune in costiera costiera sorrentina nella Città Metropolitana di Napoli.
Also
known as
Aniello
Agnello
Profile
Hermit
near Naples,
Italy.
Monk.
Abbot
of San Gaudioso monastery
at Abtini, Italy.
Reported to be a miraculous
protector of Naples
during the Saracen invasions, turning aside invaders
by showing the cross.
Born
14
December 596
in Naples,
Italy
of natural causes
Additional
Information
Book
of Saints, by the Monks
of Ramsgate
Lives
of the Saints, by Father
Francis
Xavier Weninger
Roman
Martyrology, 1914
edition
books
Dictionary of Saints, by John Delaney
Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
Saints
and Their Attributes, by Helen Roeder
other
sites in english
images
sitios
en español
Martirologio Romano, 2001
edición
sites
en français
fonti
in italiano
MLA
Citation
“Saint Agnellus of
Naples“. CatholicSaints.Info. 26 January 2024. Web. 9 October 2026.
<https://catholicsaints.info/saint-agnellus-of-naples/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/saint-agnellus-of-naples/
Doni
per grazia ricevuta, Santuario di Sant'Agnello Abate, Gargani di Roccarainola
(NA)
Article
AGNELLUS (Saint)
Confessor (December 14) (7th century) Agnellus, otherwise Anellus, born at
Naples of wealthy parents, at the age of fifteen, became a hermit. Later in his
life some African monks, who had been driven into exile by the Arians and had
settled at Naples, prevailed upon him to become their Abbot. He died A.D. 596.
As to the Rule followed in his monastery, some think it to have been that of
Saint Basil, others that of Saint Benedict. He is represented clothed with the
religious habit and bearing a cross or standard, as in such guise he has often
appeared at Naples and repidsed the enemies who were assailing the town. His
relics were enshrined in an ancient church of Our Blessed Lady which later was
named after him. Moroni relates that during his lifetime, when the Saracens
(A.D. 674) besieged the city of Naples, Saint Agnellus raised the standard of
the Cross, and, at the head of the Neapolitan troops, put the besiegers to
flight.
MLA
Citation
Monks of Ramsgate.
“Agnellus”. Book of Saints, 1921.
CatholicSaints.Info. 12 May 2012.
Web. 9 October 2026. <http://catholicsaints.info/book-of-saints-agnellus/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/book-of-saints-agnellus/
Antonio Pardini da Pietrasanta, Altare di San Agnello abate, 1410 circa, Duomo
(Lucca)
St. Agnellus
Feastday: December 14
Patron: Naples
Death: 596
Miracle worker and abbot,
a patron of the city of Naples, Italy. He started his religious career as a
hermit but then became the abbot of San
Gaudioso near Naples.
SOURCE : https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=1176
Pietà
tra santi Aniello e Lucia
Weninger’s
Lives of the Saints – Saint Agnellus, Confessor
Article
Saint Agnellus was
granted to noble parents at Naples through the special intercession of the
Blessed Virgin. When Johanna, his mother, greatly distressed at her barrenness,
was praying before an image of the Blessed Virgin, she distinctly heard these
words proceed from the image: “Johanna, thy prayer is heard; you shalt give
birth to a son, who will be very dear to me.” This promise was fulfilled, and
Johanna gave to her son the name of Agnellus. Fifty days after his birth, the
following miracle took place: The child was held up to an image of the Blessed
Virgin, and looking at it, he said in the presence of a great many persons:
“Ave Maria:” this is, “Hail Mary,” as if to signify that as he had been born by
the intercession of Mary, he would spend his life in her service. After having
uttered these words, he spoke not again until the usual time for children to do
so. When his reason began to dawn, it was seen how justly the name of Agnellus,
which means a little lamb, had been given to him; for he was ever patient and
gentle, obedient to his parents, and to those above him, polite and kind to
every one; he never complained or excused himself, was free from deceit; far
from all falsehood; always honest and true; in one word, he was an innocent
lamb. While growing up, he made so much progress in learning and virtue, that
his relatives built great hopes upon him for the honor of their ancient name.
By the early death of his parents, he inherited a considerable estate, but did
not give his heart to it, and endeavored to use it for the welfare of his
neighbors. He built a large hospital not far from the church, in which he had
been promised to his mother by the Blessed Virgin. When this was quite finished
and fitted up, he himself frequently carried weak, infirm, needy, helpless and
sick persons into it. To wait on these he employed servants and nurses, all of
whom he paid liberally, in order that they might be more willing in the
fulfillment of their duties. The same he did with the physicians and the
druggists, of whom he chose the best. He himself was most willing to serve the
sick, as well by day as by night. He handed them their food, gave them their
medi- cines, bandaged their wounds, and, in one word, waited on them as a
father on his sick children. Besides this, he animated them to be patient and
to receive devoutly the holy Sacraments. The Almighty blessed the charity of
this holy man by many miraculous cures on patients who had been pronounced
incurable. Those who placed obstacles in the way of the Saint’s good works,
were visited with divine punishment.
The Saint had a pious old
servant, named Anna, whose principal business was to procure and to take care
of the fowls, that were needed for the sick. One day, when the fowls had
strayed away, they were taken and consumed by relatives of the Saint, who
derided him for the care he took of the sick. Saint Agnellus knew this by
divine revelation, and sending the good servant, he requested his relatives to
make restitution. The good woman received nothing but abuse and invectives. Not
much better treated was the Saint himself, when, representing their fault to
them, with great gentleness, he exhorted them to atone for it. As they denied
the deed, and were thus adding the sin of lying to that of theft, he reminded
them that nothing was hidden from God, and told them that God had sent him to
exhort them, and to threaten them with the divine wrath in case they despised
his words. This admonition enraged one of them to such a degree, that, calling
the Saint a liar, he gave him a violent blow which broke one of his teeth. The
mild and patient servant of God bore the pain and the injury with wonderful
gentleness, saying that he forgave them with his whole heart, but that he
feared the Almighty would not leave unpunished the wrong which they had done to
Him in the person of His servant. Hardly had these words passed his lips, when
the wicked man who had struck the Saint, found that his arm was withered, while
at the same time he became entirely blind. The bodies of the others who
participated in the theft were immediately marked in a wonderful way with
feathers. If this seems incredible to you, know that the entire city of Naples
saw this miracle and attested it, and that God justly punished by mockery the
mockers of His Saints. So visible a miracle, wrought to punish them, opened
their eyes; they confessed the theft and asked Saint Agnellus’ pardon. He
advised them to go to confession and to repair the theft. When this had been
done, he, at their request, prayed that God would take the marks of their
opprobrium from them. God heard his prayer for all except him who had struck
the blow; for although the use of his arm was restored to him, he remained
blind as long as he lived. So miraculous an event caused Saint Agnellus to be
much more highly esteemed by the inhabitants of Naples than before; so that in
all important affairs of the city, the people had recourse to his prayers,
which they deemed very powerful with the Almighty. They were not mistaken; for,
it is well known that Saint Agnellus, with the sign of the Cross, drove away an
enemy who marched against the city or was already encamped before the walls. It
is also known that, after his death, he was seen in the air, with a crucifix in
his hand, keeping the enemy from besieging the town. Many sick persons were
cured by the prayers of the Saint, or by his making the sign of the holy Cross
on them. When the servant of God perceived that he was disturbed in his prayers
and devout exercises by the crowd of people who constantly sought his help, he,
one night, left the town secretly, as the hospital he had built no longer
needed his presence. Retiring to a forest, he remained there for some time,
occupied in prayer, devout reading, and other pious exercises; his nourishment
being roots and herbs, until God made it known to him, that he should return to
the city and take care of those whom heaven would send him. Agnellus obeyed the
voice of the Lord and returned to the city, where he found a great many
priests, who, on account of the persecution of the Vandals, had fled from
Africa to Naples. No sooner had they become acquainted with Saint Agnellus, so
famous for his virtue and holiness, than they humbly requested him to become
their Abbot. Agnellus, already assured of the divine Will, consented to their
request and became their superior. He exercised this function with unwearied
zeal until his death, which took place in his 61st year, in the year of our
Lord 676. Besides the other excellent qualities of the holy mans mind and
heart, the fact deserves especial admiration, that although he suffered much
hardship from persecution and other wrongs done him while he was erecting the
hospital, and on other occasions, he never manifested the slightest despondency
or sadness, but was always generous, unwearied and cheerful. It was remarked,
however, that this was the fruit of his prayers; for as soon as he had to
suffer, from whatever cause it might be, he sought aid and strength from the
Almighty in prayer.
Practical Considerations
Saint Agnellus was
neither faint-hearted nor sad while in trouble, or while suffering persecution;
but was always strong, cheerful and hopeful. In like manner, Saint Flavian was
not seen cast down by the most dreadful persecutions and ignominies that he had
to suffer; he too was always cheerful. This was the effect of prayer, to which
both were devoted. The Apostle Saint James says: “Is any of you sad? let him
pray.” (James 5) Most people, when sad or suffering, leave off praying; they
feel as if they could not pray; and yet they never needed it more than just at
that time. The evil one disgusts them with prayer at such moments; for he knows
the power and necessity of prayer in sadness; hence he endeavors to keep us
from it as long as possible. He is used to fishing in troubled waters; and
besides keeping those who are sad from doing good, he influences them to sin,
especially to murmur against God, to complain of Him; nay, he even brings them
sometimes to despair: “For sadness has killed many,” says the Wise Man, “and
there is no profit in it.” (Eccl. 30) In truth, we have no profit in sadness
unless it be that we are sad on account of our sins, as Saint Chrysostom
teaches. For by such sadness, the loss that we have sustained by sin may be
repaired. But even this sadness ought to be moderate, that it may not make us
faint-hearted, or bring us to despair. Follow the advice of the Wise Man, who
says: “Give not up thy heart to sadness, but drive it from thee.” (Eccles. 38)
If you perceive that on account of misfortune or persecution, or sickness, or
poverty, or any other trial, your heart becomes sad, think of the example your
dear suffering Saviour gave you, and follow it. On Mount Olivet, He was
overtaken by such deep sadness that He Himself said: “My soul is sorrowful even
unto death.” (Mark 14) But what did he do? The gospel tells us that He went to
pray and continued in prayer, and returned a second and a third time to His
prayer. And what happened at the third time? His heavenly Father sent Him an
angel, who comforted and strengthened Him; and encouraged him so greatly for
His approaching passion, that He went fearlessly to meet His enemies who came
to take Him prisoner. This beautiful, animating example your Saviour gave you
that you might learn what to do when you are sad, or when you feel that sadness
approaches you. Immediately have recourse to prayer, and give not way to any disgust
of prayer, but force yourself to it and continue not only longer than usual,
but repeat it also with great confidence. God, although He sends you no visible
angel to strengthen and comfort you, will fill you with the consolation you
need. “Is any of you sad? let him pray.” (James 5)
MLA
Citation
Father Francis Xavier
Weninger, DD, SJ. “Saint Agnellus, Confessor”. Lives
of the Saints, 1876.CatholicSaints.Info.
3 June 2018. Web. 14 December 2019.
<https://catholicsaints.info/weningers-lives-of-the-saints-saint-agnellus-confessor/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/weningers-lives-of-the-saints-saint-agnellus-confessor/
Pietro
Negroni, Madonna con Bambino e i Santi Bernardino e Aniello. Pinacoteca del
convento di Sant'Antonio a Nocera Inferiore.
Sant' Agnello di Napoli Abate
All'inizio del decimo
secolo Pietro, suddiacono della Chiesa napoletana che era stato liberato da una
grave infermità per intercessione di Agnello, compose un «libellus
miraculorum», in cui, oltre alla sua, racconta altre ventidue guarigioni
miracolose operate dal santo. Da questo testo, che è la più antica fonte che ci
parli di Agnello, apprendiamo che Gaudioso Settiminio Celio, vescovo di Abitina
in Africa, avendo dovuto insieme con altri presuli abbandonare la sua sede
invasa dai Vandali, riparò a Napoli e vi fondò un monastero, probabilmente
basiliano, che poi prese il suo nome. Di questo monastero, nel VI secolo,
divenne abate Agnello, che morì a sessantun'anni tra il 590 e il 604, forse nel
596, come molti affermano. Scrittori recenti parlano dei suoi interventi
miracolosi per liberare Napoli e Sorrento, strette d'assedio dai Saraceni, ma
l'agiografo citato non ne fa cenno. Il suo epitafio, rinvenuto nella chiesa
parrocchiale a lui dedicata, dal punto di vista paleografico, secondo gli
esperti, si accorda con l'età della sua morte. (Avvenire)
Etimologia: Agnello
= messaggero, dal greco
Emblema: Bastone
pastorale
MartirologioAl principio
del sec. X Pietro, suddiacono della Chiesa napoletana, che era stato liberato
da una grave infermità per intercessione di Agnello, compose un libellus
miraculorum, in cui, oltre alla sua, racconta altre ventidue guarigioni
miracolose operate dal santo. Da questo testo, che è la più antica fonte che ci
parli di Agnello, apprendiamo che Gaudioso Settiminio Celio, vescovo di Abitina
in Africa, avendo dovuto insieme con altri presuli abbandonare la sua sede
invasa dai Vandali, riparò a Napoli e vi fondò un monastero, probabilmente
basiliano, che poi prese il suo nome. Di questo monastero, in un anno
sconosciuto del sec. VI, divenne abate Agnello, che morì a sessantun'anni tra
il 590 e il 604, forse nel 596, come molti affermano.
Scrittori recenti parlano
dei suoi interventi miracolosi per liberare Napoli e Sorrento, strette
d'assedio dai Saraceni, ma l'agiografo citato non ne fa cenno. Il suo nome non
figura nel Calendario marmoreo di Napoli, inciso verso l'800. Il suo epitafio,
rinvenuto nella chiesa parrocchiale a lui dedicata, dal punto di vista
paleografico, secondo gli esperti, si accorda con l'età della sua morte.
Fin dal sec. XV Agnello
fu annoverato fra i patroni di Napoli ed è anche patrono di Guarcino, città del
Lazio in provincia di Frosinone; gode pure di particolare venerazione a Lucca,
dove, già dal sec. XII, gli fu dedicato un altare. Questa città contese con
Napoli per l'autenticità delle sue reliquie e ne celebra la festa il 18 maggio,
in contrasto con l'uso più comune che la fissa al 14 dicembre.
Autore: Sergio
Mottironi
Romano: A Napoli,
sant’Agnello, abate del monastero di San Gaudioso.
SOURCE : http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/81450
Dipinto
raffigurante Sant'Agnello, autore ignoto, secolo XVII. Affisso sulla parete
laterale sinistra della Cappella del Crocifisso della Chiesa di Santa Maria
Nascente (Paderno, Paderno Dugnano).
La vita di sant’Agnello
Abate
Quanti hanno scritto la
vita di sant’Agnello Abate sono concordi nell’affermare che egli nacque a
Napoli da nobili genitori di origine siracusana nel 535. La tradizione narra
che la madre Giovanna, essendo sterile, pregava costantemente la Vergine
affinché le fosse concesso un bambino.
Ottenuta la grazia la pia
genitrice volle offrirlo alla Madonna e, portato il neonato, che aveva solo 20
giorni, di fronte all’immagine della Vergine, tra lo stupore dei genitori,
esclamò: "Ave Maria!". A ricordare tale prodigio sul luogo venne
eretta una chiesa: "Sancta Maria, intercede pro miseris!". Di
Sant’Agnello si narra che sin dalla tenera infanzia, non desiderava nulla di
terreno, nulla di carnale e che piangeva colpe non sue e scelleraggini della
patria menando vita eremitica.
Però,
la grandezza di questo cristiano divenuto santo, non si limitò solo alla
preghiera o al fioretto, ma cercò di concretizzare nelle opere la sua fede,
cioè di mettersi al servizio dei bisognosi; così che alla morte dei genitori
impiegò i suoi averi nella costruzione di un ospedale che da lui prese il nome.
Il Signore premiò questo
suo amore per il prossimo operando per mezzo di lui numerosissimi miracoli. Fra
tutti spicca la sua apparizione a difesa di Napoli nel 581 durante l’assedio
dei Longobardi.Ecco perché lo si dipinge con la bandiera nella mano destra ossia
con il vessillo della Croce. La fama della sua santità crebbe a dismisura tanto
da costringerlo ad andare a vivere per sette anni in un luogo sconosciuto. Solo
l’apparizione della Vergine lo ridestò da farlo ritornare a Napoli dove i suoi
concittadini gli prepararono un autentico trionfo, si verificarono altri
miracoli che il Santo, schivo com’era, non attribuiva a sé ma alle preghiere
dei malati.
In
questo attaccamento alla sua persona sant’Agnello vide una minaccia alla sua
santità e l’ancora di salvezza gli venne offerta da un monastero dove trascorse
il resto della sua vita. Alla morte dell’Abate del monastero , Sant’Agnello per
voto unanime dei monaci venne chiamato a sostituirlo. Morì all’età di 61 anni e
precisamente il 14 dicembre del 596 ed i funerali furono un’autentica apoteosi.
Il suo culto raggiunse in Napoli e nei suoi dintorni il massimo sviluppo verso
il secolo XV. Tutte le biografie del Santo infatti risalgono a questo periodo.
Da Napoli il culto passò
nella provincia. E’ difficile stabilire in che anno sia arrivato nel Cilento:
Probabilmente fu il suo potere taumaturgico a conquistare la nostra gente.
D’altro canto dal 1300 alla fine del secolo scorso tutto il commercio del
Cilento era orientato verso Napoli, agevolato da due fatti importantissimi, il
mare come via di comunicazione e i numerosi feudatari delle nostre zone residenti
abitualmente a Napoli.
Il culto di Sant’Agnello
compare nelle nostre zone nel 1500, allorché i cavalieri di Malta stabilirono
una loro Commenda a Rodio. Fra i paesi che si dimostrarono più devoti a
sant’Agnello subito di distinse Pisciotta. Per quanto riguarda il lato
religioso il documento più antico riguardante Pisciotta è la Visita pastorale
di Mons. Sivio Galasso, compiuta il 1° aprile 1583 conservato presso l’archivio
Diocesano. Alla fine del 1800 aumenta il culto e la devozione verso
sant’Agnello Abate tanto è vero che nel 1906 viene costituita la Confraternita
in suo onore e viene acquistata l’attuale statua. Sarà questa Confraternita a
costruire un altare dedicato al Santo nella Chiesa Madre nel 1963. La statua
verrà restaurata dai fratelli Lebro di Napoli nell’anno 1979. L’anno seguente a
riprova dei legami religiosi tra Napoli e Pisciotta Sua Eminenza il Cardinale
Corrado Ursi Arcivescovo di Napoli visita la comunità di Pisciotta per venerare
sant’Agnello Abate.
Si fa notare ancora come
tale devozione non si sia fermata a Pisciotta, ma sia arrivata ovunque i
pisciottani si siano stabiliti. Ad esempio in America dove numerose sono le
colonie pisciottane. Ad Amsterdam (U.S.A.) è sorta addirittura UNA Chiesa in
onore di sant’Agnello con relativa Confraternita. Una numerosa rappresentanza
di detta colonia il 10 agosto 1975 venne a Pisciotta, accompagnata dal suo
parroco padre Giuseppe Cotugno edificando tutti per devozione e pietà.
Pisciotta festeggia il suo compatrono il 10 agosto ed il14 dicembre.
Notizie prelevate dai
primi calendari-giornale in occasione della festa di Sant’Agnello. Non firmate.
Sant'Agnello
Maggiore, Sant'Aniello a Caponapoli ou Santa Maria Intercede, Naples
AGNELLO, santo
di ** - Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani - Volume 1 (1960)
AGNELLO, santo. - Vescovo
di Napoli per ventun'anni (ca. 673-ca. 694; una maggiore approssimazione è
impossibile, data la grande incertezza che regna circa la cronotassi dei
vescovi napoletani del sec. VII), istituì la prima diaconia napoletana
"intus civitatem", quella di S. Gennaro - oggi S. Gennaro
all'Olmo - annessa all'omonima basilica, e la dotò, annualmente, con
duecentodieci moggi di grano e duecentodieci orne di vino, nonché di mille
silique di sapone, per le abluzioni dei poveri. Partecipò al concilio romano
del 680, convocato da papa Agatone, in preparazione del VI concilio ecumenico
(III costantinopolitano), che avrebbe deciso intorno alla questione del
monotelismo.
Nel "calendario
marmoreo" di Napoli è menzionato, come santo, il 9 gennaio, giorno della
sua deposizione.
Fonti e Bibl.: Chronicon
episcoporum sanctae Neapolitanae ecclesiae, in Monumenta ad
Neapolitani ducatus historiam pertinentia, a cura di B. Capasso, I, Napoli
1881, pp. 190-191; H. Delehaye, Hagiographie napolitaine, in Analecta
Bollandiana, LVII (1939), p. 9; D. Mallardo, Il calendario marmoreo
di Napoli, Roma 1947, pp. 52, 173, 174; Encicl. Cattolica, IV,
col. 1527; VIII, col. 1635.
.jpg?utm_source=it.wikipedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=original){kind=link}
.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=original){kind=link}
