Giles of Laurenzana

Attracted to the religious life, Bernardino entered the convent of the Friars Minor Observant of Laurenzana (Santa Maria ad Nives) at around the age of thirty, having himself encouraged its construction by building a small chapel there dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua. He took the name Brother Giles (Egidio). Refusing out of humility to be ordained to the priesthood, he chose to remain a simple lay brother. Giles distinguished himself by his constant search for solitude and silence. To isolate himself from the noises of the world and from visitors, he frequently retreated to a cave located in the garden or the forest adjoining the convent, which he transformed into a place of prayer and contemplation. He also spent time at the convent of Santa Maria del Sepolcro in Potenza. His life was marked by a profound Franciscan spirituality, characterized by an extraordinary love for creation. Like Saint Francis of Assisi, he was renowned for his closeness to animals, particularly the birds that would gather around him to be fed. He was also known for his intense spiritual struggles against temptations and the attacks of the devil.

Brother Egidio's reputation for holiness spread rapidly during his lifetime throughout Basilicata and the neighboring regions (Campania, Apulia, Calabria) due to his mystical gifts, prophecies, ecstasies, and miracles. Among the notable events, it is reported that he healed the son of a local nobleman (the Count of Potenza) through his intercession. On Christmas night in 1517, while in prayer, he suffered a violent physical assault attributed to the devil, which caused him severe burns on his shoulder and arm. Weakened by these injuries and a serious illness, he passed away peacefully at the convent of Laurenzana on January 10, 1518, surrounded by his community.

After his death, Giles was buried in the friars' common grave. Six years later, in 1524, his tomb was opened: his body was discovered perfectly intact and incorrupt, in a posture of prayer. Faced with this miracle, his remains were placed in a wooden casket to be exposed for the veneration of the faithful. In 1593, testimonies regarding the heroic nature of his virtues were collected and sent to the Sacred Congregation of Rites, which ratified his virtues and authorized his local cult in 1596. After the unification of Italy and the closure of the Franciscan convent, his incorrupt body was transferred to the mother church of Santa Maria Assunta in Laurenzana. Pope Leo XIII officially confirmed his immemorial cult and proclaimed him blessed by a decree on June 24, 1880 (the decree of the Congregation of Rites having been issued on June 12, 1880). In July 2017, as the fifth centenary of his death (1518-2018) approached, a canonical and scientific recognition of his body was conducted under the direction of the Archbishop of Acerenza, confirming the exceptional state of preservation of his relics, which now rest in a new crystal casket under the altar of the church in Laurenzana.

The spirituality of Blessed Giles is based on humility, manual labor on the land, silent contemplation, and absolute trust in Divine Providence. He embodies the figure of the "saint next door," a simple man from the peasant world who knew how to elevate his daily life to an extraordinary mystical dimension. His legacy remains extremely vibrant in Basilicata, particularly in Laurenzana where he is celebrated every year on January 10 (the day of his liturgical feast). Pilgrimages and spiritual paths, such as the "Path of Brother Giles" (Cammino di Frà Egidio), still allow the faithful today to walk in his footsteps and rediscover his message of peace, respect for creation, and evangelical simplicity.