Hospitius

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Saint Hospitius

Hermit
Born	unknown
Died	May 21, 581, Cap Ferrat
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church
Beatified	Pre-Congregation
Canonized	Pre-Congregation
Major shrine	Relics at cathedral of Nice, and also La Turbie and Villefranche-sur-Mer
Feast	May 21
Attributes	Depicted as an old man, in the garb of a hermit or monk

Saint Hospitius (in French, Saint Hospice and anciently Saint Sospis) (d. May 21, 581) was a French recluse who, according to tradition, had been a monk in his native Egypt towards the beginning of the 6th century. He immigrated to Gaul and retired to a dilapidated tower, situated on the peninsula of Cap Ferrat, a few miles east of Nice.

The people of the environs frequently consulted him; he forewarned them on one occasion, about the year 575, of an impending incursion of the Lombards. Hospitius was seized by these raiders, but his life was spared. He worked a miracle in favour of one of the warriors, who became converted, embraced the religious life, and was known personally to St. Gregory of Tours. It was from him that Gregory, to whom we are indebted for the meagre details of the saint's life, learnt the austerities and numerous miracles of the recluse. Hospitius foretold his death and was buried by his friend, Austadius, Bishop of Cimiez.

He died at Cap Ferrat (sometimes called Cap Saint-Sospis or Cap Saint-Hospice), near Villefranche-sur-Mer, in the department of Alpes-Maritimes.

[edit] Veneration

He is still venerated in the Diocese of Nice. The cathedral church possesses a small bone of his hand; other relics are at Villefranche, La Turbie, and San-Sospis.