Blessed Sylvester Of Troina

Biography

Blessed Sylvester of Troina, also known as Silvestro di Troina, was born into the local nobility in Troina, Sicily, Italy, in the late 11th or early 12th century. As a young man, he felt a deep calling to follow a life of devotion and spirituality. He entered the Basilian monastery of Saint Michael the Archangel in Troina, where he dedicated himself to a life of prayer and charitable works.

Silvester's reputation for his acts of charity and kindness grew within the monastery and the surrounding community. His selflessness and generosity earned him the admiration and respect of his fellow monks and the people of Troina. At one point in his life, he briefly lived at the monastery of San Filippo di FragalÖ near Frazzanú, Italy.

In recognition of his piety and commitment to God, Sylvester was ordained a priest by Pope Adrian VI in Rome around 1155. Following his ordination, he returned to his monastery in Troina, where he was chosen to serve as its abbot. Through his leadership, he continued to inspire and guide his brothers in the monastic life.

However, as Sylvester grew older, he felt a calling to a more contemplative and solitary existence. With the permission of his superiors, he resigned as the abbot and withdrew to live as a prayerful hermit in a small cell located in a wooded area adjacent to the oratory of Saint Bartholomew near the monastery. In this secluded place, he dedicated himself solely to a life of prayer and union with God.

Throughout his life, several miraculous stories have been attributed to Blessed Sylvester of Troina. One of the most well-known tales recounts how he once discovered that a beggar he had helped was actually Jesus in disguise. This event deepened Sylvester's devotion and commitment to serving the poor and marginalized.

Another story tells of Sylvester's devotion to Saint Agatha. It is said that he traveled on foot for 40 miles each way to the shrine of Saint Agatha on her feast day in Etna, Sicily. Remarkably, he accomplished this journey and completed his devotions in just one hour, a miraculous feat that demonstrated his unwavering faith and dedication.

There is also an account of Blessed Sylvester healing the son of King William I of Sicily. Through fervent prayer and making the sign of the cross over the young boy, Sylvester's intercession brought forth a miraculous healing.

After his passing on 2nd January 1164, numerous miracles were reported at his grave. In response to these accounts, a church was constructed over his burial site in 1625, dedicated to Blessed Sylvester of Troina.

Recognizing the sanctity of his life and the profound impact of his intercession, Pope Julius III beatified Sylvester of Troina in the mid-16th century. His beatification, accompanied by the confirmation of cultus, signifies the official recognition of his saintly virtues and the approval of his veneration within the Catholic Church.

Blessed Sylvester of Troina's feast day is celebrated on 2nd January, the day of his death. His life serves as an inspiring example to the faithful, reminding them of the power of prayer, selflessness, and adherence to the teachings of Christ. The procession of his relics and prayers beseeching his intercession were credited with ending a plague outbreak in Sicily in 1575, further attesting to the ongoing spiritual influence of this holy monk.