Lidanus, St.

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LIDANUS, ST.

Benedictine abbot and monastic founder; b. Antina, Italy, c. 1026; d. Sezze, Italy, 1118. He is believed to have entered the monastery of monte cassino at an early age. He was the founder and first abbot of the monastery of St. Cecilia at Sezze. He is especially noted for the part he played in the work of draining the Pontine marshes, where his monastery was located. He is the patron of Sezze, where his relics are venerated.

Feast: July 2 (Sezze); April 27 and July 18.

Bibliography: Acta Sanctorum Jul. 1:302309. Bibliotheca hagiographica latina antiquae et mediae aetatis, 2 v. (Brussels 18981901) 2:49194921. a. m. zimmermann, Kalendarium Benedictinum: Die Heiligen und Seligen des Benediktinerorderns und seiner Zweige, 4 v. (Metten 193338) 2:390, 393. v. venditti, La leggenda medioevale di Lidano d'Antena (Turin 1959).

[k. nolan]