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| Saint Rudesind, Pray for us ! |
⛪ Other Names :
• Rosendo • Rudesindo
⛪ Born :
• 26 November 907 in Galicia, Spain
⛪ Died :
• 1 March 977 at Celanova, Spain
⛪ Major Shrine :
• Celanova Abbey
Saint Rudesind (Galician: San Rosendo, Rudesindo; Latin: Rudesindus) (November 26, 907 – March 1, 977) was a County of Portugal bishop and abbot. He was also a regional administrator and military leader under his kinsmen, the Kings of LeΓ³n.
Rudesind was born into the nobility; his father was Count Gutierre MenΓ©ndez (Latin: Gutiher Ermegildi), brother-in-law to OrdoΓ±o II and supporter of Alfonso III of LeΓ³n, and his mother was St. Ilduara Eriz (Latin: Hilduara Erici), daughter of count Ero FernΓ‘ndez. His sister Hermesenda became wife of Count Pelayo GonzΓ‘lez and mother-in-law of Gonzalo MenΓ©ndez, Count of Portugal. Rudesind was the grandson of Ermesenda GatΓ³nez, sister of his predecessor in the see of MondoΓ±edo (Dumium), Bishop Sabarico II, and was also related to the abbess Saint Senorina. He became a Benedictine monk at a young age and became bishop of MondoΓ±edo at the age of 18 (as Rudesind II). He served as Bishop from 925 to 950, then after a hiatus in which his nephew Arias NΓΊnez filled the role, again served briefly from 955 to 958, to be followed again by Arias. Another nephew, Arias PelΓ‘ez, would later hold the see.
He founded, under the Benedictine Rule, monasteries such as Saint John of Caaveiro (San XoΓ‘n de Caaveiro) (934) and the Monastery of San Salvador de Celanova (September 12, 936).
To build Caaveiro, he managed to make his brother Fruela (Latin: Froyla) and his cousin Jimena (Latin: Scemena) give up their rights to the land of Villar, where he built this monastery.
In 955, he was named by King OrdoΓ±o III governor of the lands of Celanova. Rudesind also had jurisdiction over the lands that extended from Riocaldo (the southern boundary of Galicia) to Santa Maria de Ortigueira (on the Cantabrian coast).[3] Later, at the request of Elvira RamΓrez of LeΓ³n (Latin: Geloyra Renamiri), aunt of the future Ramiro III, he was made governor of Galicia, from spring of 968 to early 969.
He led forces against Norse and Moorish armies. The Moors had crossed the Mondego and had reached the Minho.
In 966, the Norsemen had raided Galicia and killed the warlord and bishop of Santiago de Compostela Sisnand in battle, but Rudesind later rallied the local forces and killed their leader Gundered.
Rudesind had already served as bishop of MondoΓ±edo - Dumio. After the killing of Sisnand in the battle of Fornelos, Rudesind was appointed administrator of the See of Iria Flavia, and he was in charge of that diocese from 968 to 977. After 977, he retired from his sees (he was succeeded at Compostela by Pelayo RodrΓguez, a monk of Celanova).
Rudesind succeeded St. Franquila (originally from the monastery of Ribas de Sil) as abbot of Celanova. As abbot of Celanova, he was a leading figure of his time, and received visits from religious leaders throughout Galicia and Portugal who wanted spiritual advice. A deacon named Egila, in a donation that he made to Celanova, wrote this to Rudesind: "To you, eminent bishop, Rudesind, holiest father, true teacher, who teaches your subjects with your words and deeds...". He earned a reputation for performing miracles.
In 1601, his relics were exhumed and placed in a silver urn at the principal altar of the church of Celanova Abbey.
A legend told of Rudesind concerns his birth. His mother had had previous children, but they had all died in infancy. When her husband Gutierre went on an expedition to Coimbra with Alfonso III, Ilduara accompanied him. She prayed at the hermitage of San Salvador on Mount Coruba, after climbing up to it alone and barefoot. There she received the knowledge, from Saint Michael, that she would bear a son who would become not only a great leader of men but also a holy man. In gratitude, she ordered the construction of a church there and remained until Rudesind had been born. She wanted to baptize her son at San Salvador, but the cart used to haul up the baptismal font broke down. The workers went to get another cart. Meanwhile, however, Saint Michael had the broken cart move up the hill on its own accord.