Rudolph, A Saint?

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Every Christmas, there is a little known saint who shares her feast day with Our Lord's Birth. That saint is St. Anastasia. Did you know there is another lesser known Christmas saint?

Everyone has heard of Rudolph, the Red Nose Reindeer. But...do you recall St. Rudolph, the Bishop of Gubbio? Chances are you haven't since there is very little known about him. 

*I was reminded today that there are only 100 days until Christmas, so I wanted to finish this post...started back in December of 2023*

(credit)

In the 1030s, a very holy bishop was born...the end! 

Just kidding! :D If you got my hint, there isn't much information about him because he lived so long ago. However, we do know that he became bishop at the very very young age of 25. He must have had a very holy life leading up to this point, right? Wrong! He actually converted to Christianity at the age of 17, after meeting St. Peter Damian. (Don't you love the saint friendships in our beautiful Communion of Saints?) 

His conversion was so radical that he not only joined St. Peter Damian's Benedictine order and became a monk, but also gave away his castle that he had inherited from his family! He also practiced some very rigorous penances, such as wearing a hair shirt; abstaining from meat, eggs, and cheese; walking barefoot; and sleeping on a wooden board without blankets. 

Because of his piety, the Church made an exception to his young age and consecrated him a bishop at only 25 years old. He continued in his severe penances and only ate food that was given to his servants. He loved caring for the poor and most vulnerable. He is often called "a miracle of unselfishness". 

To the sadness of the world, St. Rudolph lived a short life- he died on October 17, 1066. St. Peter Damien wrote that St. Rudolph was "quod in eremo didicit, in ecclesia non omisit", in English "what is learned in the hermitage, do not forget in the church". 

Feast day: October 17

Patron of: Gubbio, bishops, and preachers

Sources:

https://www.keytoumbria.com/Gubbio/Eremo_di_Fonte_Avellana.html

https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=4647

Let us be inspired by St. Rudolph's piety in all things, doing all of our work simply for the greater honor of God! 

St. Rudolph, pray for us! 

Are you familiar with St. Rudolph? 

-Miss K