Umbria spiritual tradition

Umbria is a region with a strong religious tradition, that gave birth to many of the most popular saints of the Christian tradition. The religious spirit of the region is linked with the mystical charm of some places that until now have maintained a strong link with the past and which represent for the faithful, passionate or simply curious destinations for pilgrimages and itineraries. Umbria of the Saints and the Blessed is really huge and every small village and town in the region has a tradition linked to a few characters in the history of the Catholic Church. Main Umbrian Saints and Blessed, on which were built spiritual itineraries that connect throughout the region, are:

St. Francis of Assisi

St. Francis of Assisi (Assisi, about 1181 – October 3, 1226) Patron of Italy, is considered the symbol of the Holy Catholic tradition. Francesco Giovanni di Pietro Bernardone was born in Assisi in 1181 and after a childhood dedicated to the commercial and family after participating in the war between Assisi and Perugia Francis embarks on a journey of conversion that led him to become “the poor man of Assisi” and to establish over time the order of the Franciscans friars devoted to poverty, to work and to preghiera.San Francis of Assisi is also known for his love of nature and his poetic that a few years after his death took him wrote the Canticle of the Sun considered the oldest poem of Italian literature. St. Francis is celebrated in Assisi, as the rest of the world, on October 4.Santa Chiara of Assisi

Santa Chiara d ‘Assisi (Assisi,  1193 – Assisi, August 11, 1253) Along with St. Francis, with whom he shared part of life, it is the Santa Chiara Assisi. Chiara is founder of the Poor Clares, the second order Franciscan voted to poverty and seclusion and patron of television and comucation systems. Assisi dedicated to the Holy Basilica of Santa Chiara one of the most famous churches of Umbria, where every August 11 is celebrated the Holy of Assisi.

Santa Rita of Cascia

Saint Rita of Cascia (Roccaporena, 1381 – Cascia, May 22, 1457) Santa Rose, the Thorns and the Impossibles. Margherita Lotti was born in Roccaporena, a small hamlet of Cascia, in 1381, just 5 days after birth, according to tradition, he made his first miracle. Immediately it developed a passion for tradition and attended the Augustinian Monastery of St. Mary Magdalene in Cascia but is then given in marriage to a man in the area and they had two sons and only after the death of her husband and children managed to enter the monastery in 1407. At this special woman, Cascia has dedicated the Basilica, where are the mortal remains of Rita. Every year on May 22 the Umbrian town celebrates the patron saint with the Celebrations of St Rita culminating in the Feast of Santa Rita.

San Benedetto of Nursia

St. Benedict of Nursia (Norcia, about 480 – Montecassino, 21 March 547) Patron of Europe and founder of the Benedictine monks, is considered one of the most important saints of the Catholic tradition. Born and raised in Umbria, between Umbria and Lazio Benedict of Nursia founded the Benedictine Rule in 540 that includes above all the good moral conduct, compassion for others and obedience to the abbot. The saint is celebrated in two different times of the year, on March 21 anniversary of the death and on July 11 when Pope Paul VI proclaimed St. Benedict Patron of Europe on Oct. 24, 1964.

Ubaldo Baldassini from Gubbio

Ubaldo from Gubbio (Gubbio, 1084 or 1085 – Gubbio, May 16, 1160) Ubaldo Baldassini, bishop of Gubbio in the 12th century, is a saint much loved by the people of Gubbio and celebrated abroad, for example in the French town of Thann in Alsace, in which Gothic cathedral houses a relic of the saint. Gubbio has dedicated to his patron the Basilica of St. Ubaldo located on Monte Igino, hill overlooking the Umbrian city. Ubaldo is celebrated on May 16, the anniversary of his death on May 15, eve of the feast, there is the famous religious festival, to commemorate the memory of the saint and the city’s history.

San Valentino of Terni

Valentine of Terni (Interamna Nahars, ca. 176 – Rome, 14 Feb. 273) patron of lovers, venerated as a saint by the Catholic Church, the Orthodox Church and later by the Anglican Church. Valentine was the first bishop of the city of Terni from 197 AD the investiture of Pope Feliciano. On the death of Valentine, his body was brought to Terni and buried on a hill outside the city walls where arose after the Basilica dedicated to the saint. Valentine’s Day is celebrated worldwide on February 14 and the city of Terni, in honor of its patron saint, dedicating an entire month events and religious events and called Valentine events.