Giovanni da Caramola
Feast: 26 August (not on the universal Roman calendar; kept in the Roman Martyrology or local calendars)
Who they were
Giovanni was born in Toulouse around 1280 and came to Italy, probably during the 1300 Jubilee, settling near Chiaromonte in Basilicata. He lived as a hermit in several caves in the area, finally at Monte Caramola, from which he took his name, combining prayer with manual work such as weaving wicker.
In his later years he entered the Cistercian abbey of Santa Maria del Sagittario as a lay brother, living in such strict silence that he was called 'the mute'. Worn thin by fasting, he ate only once a week. He died on 26 August 1339 and was buried incorrupt; his body was found still intact when examined in 1500 and again in 2002. His veneration was never formalised through a beatification act but was recognised by the Church as immemorial custom.
The miracles
There was never a formal cause: he has been honoured as blessed since before the Church's formal processes began.
Why that counted as sanctity
Cistercian hermit and lay brother known for austerity and silence; his veneration was recognised by the Church ab immemorabili rather than through formal beatification.
The cause
The cause continues. No postulation address is published here yet. Favours received through this person’s intercession, and offers of help, are best sent to the religious order or congregation they belonged to, or to the diocese where the cause was opened; either will pass them to the postulation.
- Santi, beati e testimoni (santiebeati.it) - Beato Giovanni da Caramola
- Wikidata Q3768414 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
Checked against the sources listed on 22 September 2026. Corrections welcome.