19th century

Saint Aldebrand

Summary

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.

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    Guided reading

    4 reading sections

    SAINT ALDEBRAND, BISHOP AND PATRON OF FOSSOMBRONE

    Cult 01 / 04

    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 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.

    Miracle 02 / 04

    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 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 ossombrone, began to ring of their own accord.

    Miracle 03 / 04

    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 , vol. 127 of May, pp. 163 and 165, new ed.

    Source 04 / 04

    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.

    Official source Les Petits Bollandistes, by Mgr Paul GUÉRIN, chamberlain to His Holiness Pius IX.

    Iconography

    Signs and attributes

    bell tower Traditional attribute associated with representations of this figure. bells Traditional attribute associated with representations of this figure. bird (partridge) Traditional attribute associated with representations of this figure. swallows Traditional attribute associated with representations of this figure.

    Entities

    Narrative network

    The names, places, and concepts most present in the entry, weighted by centrality in the text.

    100 Saint Aldebrand Saint 89 Fossombrone Place 82 Cathedral of Fossombrone Institution 78 Fano Place 64 Metauro Place 55 Acta Sanctorum Work

    The supernatural in their life

    The miracles of Saint Aldebrand

    Full corpus →
    ToposCertainty: Hagiographic topos
    Illustration to come
    Resurrection
    Resurrection of a roasted partridge
    Food
    « Resurrection of a roasted partridge that takes flight again »
    Saint Aldebrand·Fossombrone·19th century
    ToposCertainty: Hagiographic topos
    Illustration to come
    Mastery of the elements
    Silence imposed on the swallows
    Animals
    « Swallows silenced by an order »
    Saint Aldebrand·Fossombrone·19th century
    TraditionCertainty: Tradition
    Illustration to come
    Sign / wonder
    The silence imposed on the stolen bells
    « Bells rendered mute after being stolen by enemies »
    Saint Aldebrand·Fossombrone·19th century
    TraditionCertainty: Tradition
    Illustration to come
    Sign / wonder
    The silence imposed on the stolen bells
    « Bells ringing by themselves upon their return to the Metauro bridge »
    Saint Aldebrand·Fano·19th century

    Frequently asked questions about Saint Aldebrand

    Who was Saint Aldebrand?

    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.

    What is Saint Aldebrand the patron saint of?

    Patronage of Saint Aldebrand: Fossombrone.

    How is Saint Aldebrand depicted in Christian art?

    In iconography, Saint Aldebrand is recognizable by: bell tower, bells, bird (partridge) and swallows.

    What miracles are attributed to Saint Aldebrand?

    4 miracles are attributed to this saint, notably: Resurrection, Mastery of the elements and Sign / wonder.

    Which saints were contemporaries of Saint Aldebrand?

    Contemporaries include: Jesús María Echavarría Aguirre, Pauline of the Agonizing Heart of Jesus, Narcisa de Jesús and Juan de Jesús López y González.

    When did Saint Aldebrand die?

    Saint Aldebrand died around 1900.

    Annexes & related entities

    Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.

    Key Events

    1. Construction of the Fossombrone Cathedral
    2. Abstinence from meat throughout his life
    3. Preaching interrupted by swallows
    4. Miraculous restoration of the bells after his death

    Iconographic Attributes

    Patron of