Aquilinus of Milan

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Saint Aquilinus of Milan (died 1015[1]), also known as Aquilinus of Cologne (Italian: Sant'Aquilino), is venerated as a martyr by the Catholic Church.

Saint Aquilinus of Milan
Carlo Urbino, The Rediscovery of Saint Aquilinus of Cologne's Corpse, a fresco behind the main altar in the Cappella di Sant'Aquilino in the Basilica of San Lorenzo, Milan in Milan, Italy.
BornWürzburg
Died650 or 1015 AD
Milan
Venerated inRoman Catholic Church
Major shrineBasilica of San Lorenzo, Milan
FeastJanuary 29
Attributessword through his neck
Patronagehotel porters (facchini) in Milan

He should not be confused with another Aquilinus, who was killed during the reign of the Arian Vandal king Hunneric in 484.[2] This 5th century Aquilinus was killed with Eugene, Geminus, Marcian, Quintus, Theodotus, and Tryphon. Bede writes about them.[2] He should also not be confused with an early bishop of Cologne named Aquilinus.

Biography

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Born in Würzburg to a noble family, he studied theology in Cologne, where he became a priest.[3] He was offered the bishopric of Cologne, but he refused, preferring to become a wandering preacher.

He traveled to Paris, where he miraculously cured some people of the cholera. As a result, he was offered the bishopric of Paris, but this he also refused. He traveled to Pavia, where he preached against Cathars, Manichaeans, and Arians there.[3]

He then traveled to Milan, where, according to local tradition, he was stabbed by a member of one of these sects,[4] along with his companion Constantius (Costanzo). His body was thrown into a drain, near the Porta Ticinese. His body was found and then buried in the Basilica of San Lorenzo, Milan. The Cappella di Sant'Aquilino is dedicated to him.

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References

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  1. ^ Disputed. Some sources, such as "Patron Saints Index: Saint Aquilinus of Milan". Archived from the original on 2007-12-22. Retrieved 2007-12-27., give a much earlier date (650 AD) as his date of death.
  2. ^ a b Patron Saints Index: Saint Aquilinus Archived November 16, 2005, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ a b Sant' Aquilino
  4. ^ Matthew Bunson, Stephen Bunson, Our Sunday Visitor's Encyclopedia of Saints (Our Sunday Visitor Publishing, 2003), 118.
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