Saint Ubald

John, surnamed the Grammarian Jean, surnommé le Grammairien Bishop of Gubbio who appointed Ubald as prior. , Bishop of Gubbio, seeing the capacity and virtue of Ubald, made him, despite his youth, prior of the Chapter of his cathedral, where, as we have said, our Saint had completed his first studies. These canons lived in the greatest disorder. The new prior undertook their reform with courage and prudence; he first won over three of them, better disposed than the others, and persuaded them to live with him in community; then he went to visit the regular canons, instituted by Peter of Honest ie, in the territo Pierre de Honestie Founder of the regular canons whose rule was adopted by Ubald. ry of Ravenna. He spent three Ravenne Birthplace of the saint and site of his final mission. months with these servants of God to get to know their Rule well; it pleased him: he took it to bring it to Gubbio. We must not omit here a favor from heaven that he received while returning. Having fallen asleep under a tree with his companion, he left there, upon waking, the book of his Rule, which thus remained exposed to a heavy rain that drenched the whole area. Having noticed it on the way, he was greatly distressed; he feared that the book might be spoiled, or that it might have been taken by some passerby; but, having retraced his steps, he found it in the same place where he had lost it, without there being any appearance that a single drop of water had fallen upon it. This served not a little to win the hearts of his canons; recognizing so sensibly the spirit of God in the person of their father and superior, they submitted absolutely to everything he wished to prescribe for them for the full observance of their Rule.

The Bishop of Perugia having died in 1126, the clergy elected Ubald as his successor; no sooner had he learned this news than he went to hide in a desert. He thus escaped the deputies of Perugia. After their departure, he went to Rome, and, by dint of tears and prayers, he obtained from Pope Honorius II to be exempted from the episcopate. But, in 1128, this Pope had him elected Bishop o f Gubb Gubbio Italian city of which John of Lodi was bishop. io, and consecrated him the following year.

Ubald's way of life did not change with his dignity: his food and clothing remained as simple as before. He continued to take his rest on a straw mattress, with a poor blanket: a bed was a useless piece of furniture for a man who spent the greater part of his nights in prayer and contemplation. But, among his virtues, we see none more admirable than the patience with which he endured insults and affronts. While the walls of Gubbio were being repaired, it happened that the workers encroached upon the Saint's vineyard. He gently pointed out the harm they were doing him, and begged them to stop. The inspector of the works replied only with insults; then, pushing him brutally, he made him fall onto a heap of mortar. The good bishop rose in silence, and withdrew without making the slightest complaint; but the people demanded that justice be done to him by banishing the culprit and confiscating his property. They were so incensed that Ubald, to rescue the inspector from the hands of the magistrates, was obliged to say that the cognizance of this matter belonged to him and that he alone should be the judge. The spirits then calmed down a little. The culprit, touched by repentance, declared himself that he would submit to any penalties that might be inflicted upon him, even if it were to cost him his life. The Saint's entire vengeance was limited to giving him a kiss of peace, and praying to God to forgive him for the fault in question, as well as all those he might have committed.

Another time, a sedition broke out in the city; the inhabitants having taken up arms, some were already lying dead: the Saint ran there immediately to perform the office of the good shepherd, offering his life for the salvation of his flock who were slaughtering one another; but, seeing that neither his voice nor his prayers had any effect, he threw himself across the naked swords and a hail of stones that were falling from all sides; then, cleverly feigning that he was wounded, he let himself fall as if he had been dead. The people were so surprised that everyone laid down their arms to raise their hands to heaven and cry for mercy. Then, the holy bishop, rising gently, made it known that he had no harm; he thus restored joy to the whole city, after having restored peace to it.

He showed no less courage against external wars than against civil war. Seven neighboring cities had allied together against Gubbio, and their army had grown so large that the Gubbians could barely oppose one man to forty enemies. Our Saint ordered a three-day fast and had public processions and penances performed to implore the assistance of heaven. Meanwhile, he went from street to street, like a generous captain, exhorting his diocesans not to lose courage, but to trust in God; and, on the day of the battle, he stood at the city gate in order to give his blessing to all the soldiers, promising them victory; then he climbed onto the rampart where, like another Moses, he prayed for the success of his people's arms. The enemy was repelled and put into a complete rout.

In 1155, Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, who had just taken and sacked Spoleto, threaten ed the city of Gubbi Frédéric Barberousse Emperor whose hand was requested for Rosana by an officer. o with similar treatment. Ubald went to meet t Spolète Episcopal city and site of the martyrdom of Sabinus. he irritated prince and disarmed his anger. Frederick gave him great testimonies of veneration, as to a Saint; he prostrated himself at his feet, asked for his blessing, gave him gifts, and offered to return the stages he had received from the Gubbians.

It is not to be wondered at if so many graces and virtues were accompanied by the gift of miracles. We read that Saint Ubald, while still alive, appeared one night to an ecclesiastic who, having an extraordinarily swollen thumb, was suffering extreme pain; when he had made the sign of the cross over the wounded part, the sick man found himself entirely healed at that very hour. He went in the morning to thank the holy bishop, who forbade him, with threats, to speak of it.

A religious, who was charged with giving the vestments to the holy prelate for the most august sacrifice of the altar, being at the point of death, had himself recommended to his prayers. The Saint prayed for him during the Mass, and no sooner had he finished it than the religious found himself in perfect health.

A person who had lost their sight for four years recovered it by respectfully kissing Ubald's hands. Another, blind for ten years, was healed by the mere invocation of his name. He forbade both of them from ever declaring anything about it: they acted like those sick people in the Gospel, who did not cease to publish the wonders of the Son of God, even though He forbade them to say anything.

A third blind man having presented himself to him to obtain the same grace, the holy bishop, knowing by a supernatural light that this was not expedient for the salvation of his soul, explained it to him: the blind man, persuaded, preferred not to recover his sight, which exposed him to losi ng the eternal l Bréviaire romain Liturgical book containing accounts of the lives of the saints. ight.

The lesson of the Roman Breviary, for the feast of our Saint, remarks that he had great power to cast demons out of the bodies of the possessed; but what we admire even more in him is an excessive patience in his sufferings and illnesses, which were not small: for he broke his thigh twice and his arm once; he had ulcers on all sides, which did not prevent him from performing his episcopal functions. Two years before his death, he was almost always very ill and in danger; nevertheless, on Easter day, his people desiring to receive the Sacraments from his hand one more time, he obtained from God the strength to rise from his bed, celebrate the Holy Mass, and give an exhortation in public; then, having given his blessing to his flock, he returned to his bed from which he never rose again.

On the Saturday and Sunday of Pentecost, this good prelate, who knew not how to refuse anything to his people, permitted entry to his room to all who wished to come: there was no one in the entire city who did not obtain the happiness of kissing his hands or his feet. To avoid confusion, they went in order. Upon entering his room, they knelt to receive his blessing and commend themselves to his prayers; those who had formerly offended him humbly asked his pardon, and he granted it to them with a very willing heart. Afterward, each withdrew to the church, where the men and even the children, holding lit torches, awaited in prayer the outcome of their pastor's illness. Toward evening, the malady having increased, he had the last Sacraments of the Church brought to him, which he received most devoutly; after which, reciting psalms, he finally peacefully rendered his soul to Him who had created him for His glory, on May 16, 1160.

Saint Ubald is depicted holding in his hand a banner marked with a cross, opposing the enemies besieging his episcopal city; — embracing the mason who had thrown him into a pit. We have recounted the event in detail; — healing a possessed person. He is still invoked today for the healing of those possessed by demons.