San Vigilio was born to a Trentino to a family of Roman origin. As a
youth, he studied in Athens and later resettled
with his family in Trentino. In the second half of the fourth century,
Vigilio was ordained the third bishop of Trento, by Sant'Ambrogio (then bishop
of Milano) and began a mission to extinguish paganism from his diocese.
Through this service, which ultimately cost him his life, and his undying
faith, Vigilio earned sainthood. He is considered the father of
christianity in Trentino.
Throughout Vigilio's service, he worked to uproot pagan beliefs. To that end, around 400 A.D., Vigilio requested
missionaries to serve in the Trentino region. Three brothers, Sisinnio,
Martirio and Alessandro, were ultimately dispatched to the area in order to
assist Vigilio. They were then sent to the western part of the
diocese, near dell'Anaunia (Val di Non), and charged with spreading
Christianity to the notably hostile populace of the area.
Vigilio instructed the brothers to evangelize by example, through
friendship and love. The envoys were ultimately accepted and their
home became a place of assembly and prayer. After a dozen years, however, a
dispute between pagans and Christians developed at Sanzeno over the refusal
to venerate a statue of Saturn. The brothers were then identified as leaders of
the Christian presence and subsequently stoned to death and their bodies burned.
Despite the event, Vigilio forgives those responsible for the martyrdom of the missionaries and intercedes
on their behalf with Emperor Honorius. The relics of the three brothers are collected
and transferred Milano. During the twentieth century part of the remains are return to the church of
Sanzeno.
Remaining steadfast in his beliefs
and mission, around 405 A.D., Vigilio traveled to Val di Rendena, near Lake
Garda, to preach and spread Christrianity. During this journey, he
overturned a statue of Saturn and was subsequently stoned to death.
Vigilio subsequently attained
sainthood based on his undying service to his faith, his work in
spreading Christianity, and ultimate martrydom. Vigilio's remains are
kept in the Cathedral of Trento and his life is celebrated throughout the
Trentino Region through yearly festivals.
