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Feast Day: July 17
Death: July 1, 21
Blessed Benigno of Vallumbrosa, also known as Benigno Benizzi, Benigno Visdomini, Benignus, or Bénigne, was a Catholic saint and an esteemed figure in the Vallumbrosan Order. He was born around 1136 in Montevarchi, Arezzo, Italy, and is believed to have been related to Saint John Gualbert.
In his early years, Benigno pursued a vocation as a priest and was likely ordained in the region of Florence, Italy. However, it is recorded that he faced a failure in clerical discipline and "fell into sin." Seeking to reexamine his life and find his true calling, Benigno embarked on a pilgrimage to the graves of the apostles in Rome, Italy. It was during this transformative journey that he felt called to reform his life and dedicate himself fully to God.
Upon his return from Rome, Benigno joined the Benedictine Vallombrosan Order around 1180. As a monk, he emerged as a role model of penance, piety, and humility. To focus on his penance, he chose to live as a hermit in a cell near the Vallombrosa monastery. His exemplary dedication and asceticism caught the attention of his fellow monks, and he was appointed as the abbot of the San Salvi monastery outside Florence, Italy, around 1190.
In the year 1201 or early 1202, Abbot Benigno was chosen to serve as the abbot of the Vallombrosa monastery and the General of the Vallumbrosan Order. He fulfilled this role for over 30 years, leading the Order during its period of greatest prosperity and expansion. Benigno worked diligently to maintain discipline according to the Vallumbrosan Rule and to bring peace to Orders and monastic houses that were in conflict due to the claim of anti-pope Callistus III.
During his tenure, Abbot Benigno accomplished notable achievements. He enshrined the relics of Saint John Gualbert on 10 October 1210, signifying his deep reverence for his potential familial connection and fellow saint. Additionally, Benigno undertook the construction of a new church in Vallombrosa, a project that spanned six years and aimed to create a beautiful space for worship and reflection. He also expanded the monastery by adding more cells for hermits and built an oratorium.
In his final years, some time in 1234, Benigno resigned from his leadership position as abbot and chose to live in a hermit's cell. The motive behind this decision was to devote himself to daily penance, seeking forgiveness for the errors of his youth. Blessed Benigno passed away on 17 July, around the year 1236, at the Vallumbrosa monastery in Italy from natural causes.
After his death, his grave, along with several others, was rediscovered in May 1600 and exhibited for veneration on 21 August 1600, while preparations were made for their enshrinement. Eventually, on 1 August 1604, the relics of Blessed Benigno were enshrined in a new chapel of the church at the abbey of Vallumbrosa.
Throughout his life, Blessed Benigno of Vallumbrosa displayed a strong commitment to spiritual growth, penance, and the reform of his own life. His dedication to the Vallumbrosan Order and his positive influence as abbot contributed greatly to its flourishing. Today, he is remembered and venerated for his exemplary piety, humility, and the significant impact he made on the Order and the spiritual lives of those around him.