William De Vercelli

Biography

Later, he became a hermit on Mount Vergine near Naples, and as his disciples multiplied, he founded several communities of monks. However, William was a man of solitude and continued his penitent wanderings through southern Italy until his death. It is said that some courtiers from Palermo, to prove his virtue, sent him a woman who said she was in love with him and wanted to share his bed. The saint lit a bonfire and lay down in it, inviting the lady to “share his bed.” Seeing that the flames did not touch him, the woman fell to her knees in repentance and later entered a convent. On Mount Vergine (Mount of the Virgin) he founded a monastery, he purified the court and the palaces and both princes and peasants as well as men and women began to abandon their bad life and followed his example of leaving everything for Jesus Christ. Full of merits he died on June 25, 1142.