Saint Celestine V
Stored in Cargo: Saint Celestine V
| Saint Celestine V | |
| Feast Day | May 19 |
|---|---|
| Liturgical Class | |
| Patronage | Bookbinders, papal resignations, Aquila, Italy |
| Birthplace | Sant'Angelo Limosano, Molise, Italy |
| Death Place | Ferentino, Papal States |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes, possibly exacerbated by imprisonment |
| Primary Shrine | Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio, Aquila, Italy |
Saint Celestine V (AD 1215 – May 19, 1296), born Pietro Angelerio, was a saint and Pope of the Roman Catholic Church for five months in 1294, renowned for his humility and rare act of papal resignation. Born in Sant'Angelo Limosano, Molise, Italy, he lived as a hermit and monk, founding the Celestine branch of the Order of St. Benedict. Elected pope at 79 during a two-year conclave deadlock, he took the name Celestine V and governed from Aquila. His brief papacy, marked by administrative struggles and a desire for solitude, ended when he resigned, the first pope to do so willingly. Imprisoned by his successor, Pope Boniface VIII, he died in Ferentino. Canonized by Pope Clement V in 1313, his feast day is celebrated on May 19 in the Roman Catholic Church.[1]
Celestine’s life as an ascetic and his reluctance to wield power made him a symbol of spiritual purity amid political turmoil. His resignation, detailed in a decree affirming a pope’s right to abdicate, set a historical precedent later cited by Pope Benedict XVI. His relics, housed in the Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio in Aquila, draw pilgrims, especially after surviving the 2009 L’Aquila earthquake. Venerated for his simplicity, Celestine remains a patron of Aquila, bookbinders, and those reflecting on papal resignations.[2][3]
Biography
Birth
Saint Celestine V, born Pietro Angelerio in AD 1215, entered the world in Sant'Angelo Limosano, a small village in Molise, Italy. The son of peasant farmers, Angelo and Maria, he was the eleventh of twelve children in a devout Roman Catholic family. His birthplace, then part of the Kingdom of Sicily, was a rural region steeped in Christian tradition.[1]
Pietro’s early years were shaped by his mother’s piety, who encouraged his religious inclinations despite their poverty. Her stories of saints inspired his lifelong pursuit of holiness, setting him on a path toward monastic life in a time of feudal strife and ecclesiastical reform.[3]
Early Life
Pietro displayed a deep spirituality from childhood, often retreating to pray in solitude. After his mother’s death when he was young, he joined the Order of St. Benedict at 17, entering the monastery of Santa Maria in Faifoli in the Diocese of Benevento. His ascetic practices, including fasting and prayer, distinguished him among his peers. Seeking greater solitude, he left the monastery to live as a hermit in a cave on Mount Morrone, near Sulmona, earning the name “Pietro da Morrone.”[2]
His reputation for holiness attracted disciples, leading him to found a hermitage that grew into the Celestine Order, approved by Pope Urban IV in 1264. Pietro’s early life, marked by rigorous discipline and mystical experiences, prepared him for leadership within his order, though he remained drawn to contemplation over administration.[1]
Occupation
Before his papacy, Pietro’s primary “occupation” was as a hermit and monk, dedicating himself to prayer, fasting, and manual labor. As a Benedictine, he performed tasks like copying manuscripts, a skill that later tied him to bookbinders. After founding the Celestine Order, he served as its leader, guiding monks in Abruzzo and overseeing the construction of hermitages, including one at Sulmona.[3]
His brief tenure as Pope in 1294 involved governing the Church, though he delegated most duties to cardinals due to his inexperience. His work centered on spiritual leadership, issuing decrees and granting indulgences, but his preference for solitude hindered his effectiveness in the complex political landscape of the Papal States.[2]
Vocation
Pietro’s vocation was rooted in his call to asceticism and contemplation, which he pursued as a hermit and founder of the Celestine Order. His life of prayer and penance on Mount Morrone reflected the Benedictine ideal of “ora et labora” (prayer and work). The Celestines, formally recognized in 1274, emphasized poverty and solitude, spreading to monasteries in Aquila and beyond under his guidance.[1]
Elected Pope on July 5, 1294, after a prolonged conclave, Pietro reluctantly accepted the papacy as Celestine V, crowned in Aquila. His five-month reign included issuing a decree on papal resignation and granting indulgences, but his trust in advisors led to mismanagement. Resigning on December 13, 1294, he returned to his hermit’s life, only to be imprisoned, fulfilling his vocation through sacrifice.[4]
Death
Saint Celestine V met his end on May 19, 1296, in the castle of Fumone near Ferentino, Papal States, dying of natural causes, likely exacerbated by imprisonment. After resigning, he sought to resume his hermitic life but was detained by Pope Boniface VIII, who feared Celestine could be used to challenge his legitimacy. Confined in a small cell, the 81-year-old’s health deteriorated, possibly due to an untreated infection from an abscess.[1]
His death was mourned by the faithful, who saw him as a victim of political intrigue. Buried initially at Ferentino, his relics were later transferred to the Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio in Aquila, where they remain a focal point of devotion, especially after surviving the 2009 earthquake.[2]
Significant events
- Joined the Order of St. Benedict at Santa Maria in Faifoli around 1232.
- Founded the Celestine Order on Mount Morrone, approved by Pope Urban IV in 1264.
- Elected Pope on July 5, 1294, taking the name Celestine V.
- Issued a decree affirming a pope’s right to resign, abdicating on December 13, 1294.
- Died in imprisonment on May 19, 1296, in Ferentino.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Sant'Angelo Limosano, Molise, Italy
Death location: Ferentino, Papal States
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Canonization
Servant of God
The process to recognize Saint Celestine V as a Servant of God began shortly after his death in 1296, likely in the Diocese of Aquila or Sulmona, where his holiness was widely revered. His reputation as a humble hermit and resigned pope, coupled with his death in captivity, prompted the Celestines and local faithful to advocate for his sanctity.[3]
Investigations into his life focused on his asceticism, founding of the Celestine Order, and perceived martyrdom. By the early 14th century, his cause was advanced under pressure from French King Philip IV, leading to formal consideration by the Roman Catholic Church.[1]
Venerable
Celestine V was not formally declared Venerable, as his canonization occurred before the modern process requiring this stage. His veneration grew rapidly after his death, driven by his reputation for humility and the circumstances of his imprisonment, which many viewed as martyrdom.[2]
Beatification
No distinct beatification process is recorded for Saint Celestine V, as his sainthood was affirmed through pre-Congregation practices. His cult was established in Aquila and Molise by the early 14th century, with devotion spreading among the Celestines and faithful, setting the stage for canonization.[3]
Canonization
Saint Celestine V was canonized on May 5, 1313, by Pope Clement V in Avignon, France, under pressure from French King Philip IV, who saw Celestine’s sanctity as a critique of Pope Boniface VIII. No specific miracles are documented, as his canonization was based on his holy life, resignation, and perceived martyrdom. His canonization affirmed his universal veneration, with his feast day set for May 19.[4][1]
Miracles
No specific miracles are recorded for Saint Celestine V’s canonization, as his recognition as a saint was based on his holy life and perceived martyrdom rather than verified miracles, common in pre-Congregation processes. His ascetic life and resignation were seen as extraordinary signs of sanctity.[2]
Miracle for beatification
No miracle is recorded, as Celestine V’s recognition as a saint predates the modern beatification process.
Miracle for canonization
No miracle is recorded, as his canonization in 1313 relied on his reputation for holiness and resignation rather than specific miracles.[3]
Other notable miracles
- None specifically documented, though his survival into his 80s despite extreme asceticism was considered remarkable by contemporaries.
Patronage
Saint Celestine V is the patron saint of bookbinders, papal resignations, and Aquila, Italy.
Feast day
Saint Celestine V’s feast day is celebrated on May 19 in the Roman Catholic Church, commemorating his death and legacy of humility.
Veneration
Saint Celestine V is venerated through prayers, pilgrimages, and Masses, particularly at the Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio in Aquila, where his relics are preserved. Devotees honor him with novenas, seeking his intercession for humility and discernment. His image, often depicting him in a Benedictine habit with a papal tiara or dove, adorns churches in Abruzzo and Molise.[1]
Celestine’s relics, which survived the 2009 L’Aquila earthquake, are central to his cult, with annual celebrations on May 19 drawing pilgrims. His resignation inspired Dante’s “Inferno,” though negatively, while modern popes like Pope Benedict XVI visited his shrine, honoring his precedent. The Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio hosts the Perdonanza Celestiniana, a jubilee indulgence he instituted as pope, reinforcing his spiritual legacy.[2][5]
Books
Written about the saint
- Celestine V: The Light of the Church by James C. Hedley
- Pope Celestine V: Hermit and Papacy by Peter Herde
- The Pope Who Quit: A True Medieval Tale of Mystery, Death, and Salvation by Jon M. Sweeney[1]
Written by the saint
- None recorded, though he issued papal decrees, including one on resignation, during his brief pontificate.[4]
External links
- Saint Celestine V at CatholicSaints.Info
- Saint Celestine V at Catholic Online
- Pope St. Celestine V in the Catholic Encyclopedia
- Pope Celestine V at Wikipedia
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Sweeney, Jon M. (2012). The Pope Who Quit: A True Medieval Tale of Mystery, Death, and Salvation. Image Books. ISBN 978-0385531894.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 "Pope St. Celestine V". https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03477a.htm.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Mann, Horace K. (1902). The Lives of the Popes in the Early Middle Ages. Vol. I, Part 2. Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co.. https://archive.org/details/livesofpopesinea01mannuoft.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 McBrien, Richard P. (2006). Lives of the Popes: The Pontiffs from St. Peter to Benedict XVI. HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0060878078.
- ↑ "Saint Celestine V, Pope". https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-celestine-v.