Saint Aldebrand
Bishop and Patron of Fossombrone
Bishop and builder of the Fossombrone Cathedral in the 12th century, Saint Aldebrand is famous for his picturesque miracles. He resurrected a roasted partridge to avoid breaking his abstinence and imposed silence upon swallows. After his death, he rendered the bells stolen by the inhabitants of Fano mute until their restitution.
Guided reading
4 reading sections
SAINT ALDEBRAND, BISHOP AND PATRON OF FOSSOMBRONE
Identity and patronage
Presentation of Saint Aldebrand as the builder and patron of his cathedral, traditionally depicted with a bell tower.
(19th century).
Saint Aldebrand having built his cathedra l, it is u cathédrale Religious building constructed by Saint Aldebrand. nderstandable to a certain extent that it chose him as its patron, and that in his images a bell tower is placed to recall this fact. But the beautiful miracles attributed to him were undoubtedly all-powerful in making him popular: three are recounted which paint the saint in the most picturesque and graceful colors.
Miracles over nature
Account of two miracles illustrating the saint's authority over animals: the resurrection of a roasted partridge and the silence imposed upon swallows.
He had abstained from meat his entire life: yet, in his old age, it was decided to serve him a roasted partridge to restore his frail stomach. Without saying a word, he blessed the bird and ordered it to take flight once more into the air; which the bird hastened to do. Another time, while he was preaching, the chattering of swallows drowned out his voice: he commanded them to be silent, and they fell silent. Finally, after his death, the inhabitants of Fano, having defeated those of Fossombrone in a civil struggle, took two bells from the cathedral bell tower. Saint Aldebr and, who had pl Saint Aldebrand Bishop and patron saint of Fossombrone, known for his miracles and the construction of his cathedral. aced them there for the service of his people, and not for that of their enemies, rendered them mute. Stunned by this miracle, the inhabitants of Fano hastened to return the bells, which, as soon as they arrived on the bridge of the Metauro, near F Métaure River near Fossombrone where stolen bells began to ring again. ossombrone, began to ring of their own accord.
The miracle of the bells
Posthumous intervention of the saint rendering mute the bells stolen by the inhabitants of Fano until their restitution to Fossombrone.
Acta Sanctorum Acta Sanctorum Monumental hagiographic collection by the Bollandists. , vol. 127 of May, pp. 163 and 165, new ed.
Hagiographic sources
Reference to the Acta Sanctorum as a documentary source for the life and miracles of Saint Aldebrand.
Acta Sanctorum, vol. 127 of May, p. 163 and 165, new ed.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Construction of the Fossombrone Cathedral
- Abstinence from meat throughout his life
- Preaching interrupted by swallows
- Miraculous restoration of the bells after his death
Miracles
- Resurrection of a roasted partridge that takes flight again
- Swallows silenced by an order
- Bells rendered mute after being stolen by enemies
- Bells ringing by themselves upon their return to the Metauro bridge