Saint Adrian III
Saint Adrian III (also known as Pope Hadrian III or Pope Adrian III; died July 8, 885 AD) was the one hundred and seventh Pope of the Catholic Church, serving from May 17, 884 AD until his death on July 8, 885 AD. His pontificate lasted only fourteen months. He is venerated as a saint with feast day July 8 and was formally canonized in 1891 by Pope Leo XIII.
Adrian III was pope during a turbulent period in the history of the papacy, marked by political instability in Rome and the weakening of Carolingian authority in Italy. His brief pontificate is noted for a harsh act early in his tenure — the blinding and exile of the lay administrator George of the Aventine, who had wielded great influence in Rome under his predecessor. Adrian III died on his way to the Diet of Worms in Germany, where he was to assist in settling the question of the imperial succession. He was buried in the monastery of Nonantola in northern Italy, where his cult developed and eventually led to his canonization.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Adrian Iii
| Saint Adrian III | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | July 08 |
| Profession | Pope; Bishop of Rome |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church |
| Attributes | Papal vestments; tiara; key of Saint Peter |
| Birthplace | Rome, Italy |
| Death Place | Nonantola, near Modena, Emilia-Romagna, Italy |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes; confessor pope (died en route to Germany) |
| Primary Shrine | Abbey of Nonantola, Nonantola, Modena, Italy |
| Liturgical Class | Not included in the General Roman Calendar |
| Historic Class | Not included |
Biography
Birth
The birth date and family origins of Saint Adrian III are unknown. He was Roman by origin.
Early Life
No details of Adrian III's early life or career in the Roman Church before his election as pope are preserved in available historical sources.
Occupation
Adrian III was elected pope on May 17, 884 AD. His pontificate of fourteen months was marked by the difficult political situation of Rome in the last years of Carolingian rule. One of his first acts was to order the blinding and exile of George of the Aventine, the lay administrator who had dominated Rome under his predecessor; this act has been criticized by historians as harsh.
Adrian III was invited to travel to Germany to assist the Emperor Charles the Fat (Charles III) in settling the question of the imperial succession — a matter of the greatest importance to the papacy. He set out on the journey in the summer of 885 but died en route, on July 8, 885 AD, near Nonantola in Emilia-Romagna, Italy.
Vocation
Adrian III's brief pontificate was overshadowed by political difficulties and cut short by his death. He is venerated primarily for his personal sanctity and as a confessor-pope whose cult developed at Nonantola, where his relics were enshrined.
Death
Saint Adrian III died on July 8, 885 AD, near Nonantola, while traveling to Germany. He was buried at the Abbey of Nonantola, which became the center of his cult.
Significant events
- Elected pope May 17, 884 AD.
- Pontificate lasted fourteen months.
- Died July 8, 885 AD near Nonantola, en route to Germany.
- Buried at Abbey of Nonantola; local cult developed there.
- Canonized 1891 by Pope Leo XIII.
- Feast day July 8.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Rome, Italy
Death location: Nonantola, near Modena, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Notable location: His see as Bishop of Rome and Pope (Rome, Italy (Vatican))
Notable location: Site of his burial and shrine; Abbey of Nonantola (Nonantola, Modena, Emilia-Romagna, Italy)
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Parishes
No parishes dedicated to Saint Adrian III have been added to the database yet.
Media
| Media | Length | AuthorCreator |
|---|---|---|
| Lives of Heroic Saints: Adrian III, Veronica Giuliani, Benedict, Martyrs and More | 15–30 minutes | Leyendas De Santos |
| Saint Adrian III: The Forgotten Pope Who Defended the Church (Part 1) | Under 5 minutes | Leyendas De Santos |
| Saint Adrian III: The Forgotten Pope Who Defended the Church (Part 2) | Under 5 minutes | Leyendas De Santos |
| Saint Adrian III – The Forgotten Pope Who Defended the Church #catholicchurch #history #facts | Under 5 minutes | Saints Stories |
Shrines
Dynamic shrines
No results
No shrines where this saint is the primary saint.
List of shrines
- Abbey of Nonantola, Nonantola, Modena, Emilia-Romagna, Italy — his tomb and principal shrine.
Canonization
Servant of God
Local cult at Nonantola; cause eventually submitted to Rome.
Venerable
Declared Venerable before canonization.
Beatification
Not separately beatified; canonized directly.
Canonization
Canonized in 1891 by Pope Leo XIII.
Miracles
No specific miracles attributed to Saint Adrian III have been fully documented in available sources.
Miracle for beatification
Not applicable.
Miracle for canonization
Miracles were reviewed and approved for the canonization in 1891.
Patronage
No specific patronage is assigned to Saint Adrian III.
Feast day
July 8
Veneration
Saint Adrian III is venerated in the Diocese of Modena-Nonantola and in the local tradition of Emilia-Romagna as a pope-confessor whose relics rest at Nonantola.
Prayers
Authored
There are prayers authored by this saint in prayers list yet.
Intercessory
There are no prayers asking for this saint's intercession in prayers list yet.
Books
Written about the saint
- Mann, Horace K. The Lives of the Popes in the Early Middle Ages, vol. III. London: Kegan Paul, 1902.
Written by the saint
- Papal letters preserved in the Patrologia Latina, vol. 126.
External links
References
- Liber Pontificalis (Book of the Popes). Translated by Louise Ropes Loomis. New York: Columbia University Press, 1916.
- Roman Martyrology (Martyrologium Romanum). Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2004.