Boniface of Valperga facts for kids

Boniface of Valperga (who lived until April 25, 1243) is honored as a blessed person in the Catholic Church. He was an important religious leader, serving as the Bishop of Aosta in the 1200s. People remember him for his strong leadership and dedication to his faith.

Early Life and Religious Journey

Boniface was born in the late 1100s. He came from a well-known family in a region of Italy called Canavese. His family believed they were related to a famous historical figure named Arduino d’Ivrea.

Boniface received his early education at home. Later, his uncle, also named Arduino, who was the Bishop of Turin, helped teach him. Boniface decided to dedicate his life to religion.

He first became a monk at a Benedictine monastery called Fruttuaria. This monastery was about 20 kilometers north of Turin. After some time, he joined the Augustinian community at the Collegiate church of Saint Ursus in Aosta.

Becoming a Leader

In 1210, Boniface became the Prior of the Collegiate Church of Saint Ursus. A Prior is a leader within a religious community. In this role, he showed strong leadership. He guided the community in both their spiritual lives and their daily activities.

On July 17, 1219, Boniface was chosen to be the Bishop of Aosta. This was a very important position. He served as Bishop for almost 24 years, until he passed away on April 25, 1243.

Legacy and Veneration

After Boniface died, he was first buried in the Collegiate church of Saint Ursus. Later, his remains were moved to the main cathedral in Aosta. People quickly began to honor him as a holy person.

His special recognition as a "blessed" person continued steadily over many centuries. Many monuments were built in the cathedral to remember him. His status as a blessed person was officially confirmed by Pope Leo XIII on April 28, 1890. This confirmation was based on a long tradition of honoring him.