Anselmo di Bomarzo

Who they were

Anselmo, born to a wealthy and devout family in Bomarzo, consecrated himself to God from his youth, and when the city was left without a bishop the clergy, after days of prayer and fasting, elected him unanimously, hearing what they took as a divine voice naming him worthy. He governed with humility, vigils, and severity toward wrongdoing, and tradition credits him with numerous miracles — giving hearing to the deaf, sight to the blind, and freeing the possessed from demons.

According to legend he even raised a dead child to life at a grieving mother's insistence, healed a paralysed woman through prayer, and, when the Gothic king Totila's soldiers moved to torment him, struck them down by invoking Christ until the king relented and honoured him instead. He died peacefully surrounded by his clergy, and was buried in the church of the Blessed Mother of God at Bomarzo.

The miracles

There was never a formal cause: he has been honoured as a saint since before the Church's formal processes began.

Why that counted as sanctity

Legendary bishop of Bomarzo credited with many miracles of healing and resurrection, chosen by acclamation after the clergy heard what they took as a divine voice; feast 24 April.