Beatified Pre-Congregation Canonized Pre-Congregation Name Hospitius Hospitius | Feast May 21 Role Saint | |
Venerated in Roman Catholic ChurchEastern Orthodox Church Major shrine Nice Cathedral, Villefranche-sur-Mer | ||
May 21 - Saint Hospitius - Recluse - Penitent - 0681 - Niciae
Saint Hospitius (in French, Saint Hospice and anciently Saint Sospis) (died May 21, 581) was a French recluse who, according to tradition, had been a monk in his native Egypt towards the beginning of the 6th century. He immigrated to Gaul and retired to a dilapidated tower, situated on the peninsula of Cap Ferrat, a few miles east of Nice.
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The people of the environs frequently consulted him; he forewarned them on one occasion, about the year 575, of an impending incursion of the Lombards. St Hospitius was seized by these raiders, but his life was spared. He worked a miracle in favor of one of the warriors, who became converted, embraced the religious life, and was known personally to Saint Gregory of Tours. It was from him that St Gregory, to whom we are indebted for the meagre details of the saint's life, learned of the austerities and numerous miracles of the recluse. St Hospitius foretold his death and was buried by his friend, Austadius, Bishop of Cimiez.
Saint Hospitius died at Cap Ferrat (sometimes called Cap Saint-Sospis or Cap Saint-Hospice), near Villefranche-sur-Mer, in the department of Alpes-Maritimes.
Veneration
St Hospitius is still venerated in the Diocese of Nice at the Cathedral of Saint Reparata. The Cathedral Church possesses a small bone of his hand; other relics are kept in the churches of Villefranche-sur-Mer, La Turbie, and San-Sospis.