St. William of Vercelli

Born in Vercelli, Italy, in 1085, St. William was the Abbot and founder of a religious congregation known as the Hermits of Monte Vergine.

At the age of fourteen he is said to have left his home and set out as a poor pilgrim for Compostela in Spain. Soon priests and lay people came to him and wanted to learn from him and pray with him. As the people multiplied, he began a religious community and built a church named after Mary.  The mountain has received its present name - Monte Vergine - from this community and church. 

In one legend, St. William rode a horse to travel between his monasteries and preach to local towns.  One day, a wolf came upon William and ate the horse.  Unfazed, from that time on he rode the wolf around the area as he would a horse

The only monastery of William's foundation which exists at the present day is that of Monte Vergine.  It now belongs to the Benedictine congregation of Subiaco, and has a much venerated picture of our Lady of Constantinople, to which pilgrimages are frequently made.

St. William died at Guglietto on June 25, 1142. His Feast Day is June 25.