13 March – St Heldrad of Novalese (died c 875) Priest and Benedictine Abbot of the Novalaise in Italy from 816 to 845, according to his first biography in prose written around 1120 by an Italian monk. He is also known as Aldradus, Eldrad, Eldrado, Eldradus, Heldradus, Heltrodus and has an additional memorial on 31 October in the Benedictine Order.
St Heldrad entered the world at Lambec, in Provence, his father was a feudal lord. The saint spent the entirety of his inheritance on building a church, erecting a hospice and helping the poor. Then he became a religious pilgrim and visited holy places in Italy, France and Spain.
During a pilgrimage to Rome, he discovered the hospice installed on Mont-Cenis. He decided to enter this monastic community and, when Father Abbot died, he was called to govern it. He did so with all the administrative qualities that were his. At the same time as he enlarged the buildings, he made grow the spiritual life of his monks and the charity towards the travellers. He also built a hospice there and helped to expand the monastery’s library.
St Heldrad died on 13 March 875, ‘calm and cheerful as he lived’ (Sanctoral of the diocese of Gap and Embrun, page 22). His relics were transferred to the parish church in Novalesa, Italy in 1794. He was Beatified on 9 December 1904 by Pope Saint Pius X (cultus confirmed).
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