May 16: Saint Ubaldo, Bishop of Gubbio

A shepherd at the service of his people 

The exact year of birth of Ubaldo Baldassini is not known, probably around 1085, in the town of Gubbio in the Italian province of Umbria. He was the only son of Rovaldo Baldassini, and Giuliana. He lost his parents as a child and was taken care of by his uncle Ubaldo. In 1115 he was ordained a priest and three years later he became prior of the Cathedral of San Mariano. 

He committed himself to reforming its canonical life, affected by moral decadence due that communal life had become an exception instead of the rule. As a result, the integrity of pastoral care and divine worship had declined.

He refused the bishopric of Perugia, but had to accept that of Gubbio in 1129.

Humility and simplicity were the characteristics of  his ministry. He greatly helped the population of Gubbio during the infamous siege of eleven cities and managed to avoid the destruction of the town by the armies of emperor Frederick Barbarossa, whom he met personally in 1155. He was eventually stricken by a disease that led to his death on May 16, 1160,  celebrating his last Mass on the solemnity of Easter. His body rests on Mount Ingino at Gubbio, in the basilica dedicated to his name.

The life of Saint Ubaldo was documented by Giordano, the canon regular, who was his successor on the Chathedra of Gubbio, and Teobaldo, a monk of  Fonte Avellana. Many miracles were reported, which occurred through his intercession in the days preceding his funeral. In the Bull of canonization, Pope Celestine III, on March 5, 1192, wrote: “Ubaldo was pious and just while he lived on earth, and after his death, because of the miracles that God deigned to work through his merits, he was deemed a saint by peoples near and far.”