TODAY'S SAINT (Adrian III)

JULY 8

ADRIAN III (d. 885) Pope

also known as: Hadrian III

Little is known of the life or papacy of Adrian III, or why he is venerated as a saint. He was born in Rome and was elected to the Chair of St. Peter on May 17, 884.

During his reign, there was great famine in Rome, which he mitigated as he could. He opposed an aristocratic faction led by Formosus, Bishop of Porto; had George of the Aventine, a member of the Formosan group and a notorious murderer, tried, condemed and blinded; and had a widow of another of the group whipped naked through the streets of the city.

Adrian died either in early September or on July 8, 885, near Modena, while on his way to a diet in Worms, Germany, at the invitation of Emperor Charles the Fat, probably to settle the question of Charles's succession and to seek help in defense aginst the Muslim Saracens. He was buried in the monastery of Nonantula, where his memory has ever since been held in veneration.

Cultus confirmed: 1892 by Pope Leo XIII

Feast: July 8 (formerly September 7)