Sylvester was born of a noble family at Osimo in the Marches of Ancona, and in his boyhood was remarkable for his love of study and his good conduct. As a youth he was sent by his father to Bologna to study jurisprudence, but was admonished by God to devote himself to sacred learning. This incited his father to anger, which Sylvester patiently endured for 10 years. On account of his remarkable virtue, the Canons of Osimo elected him an honorary member of their chapter, in which position he benefited the people by his prayers, example and sermons. While assisting at the funeral of a nobleman, his relative, who had been remarkably handsome, he looked into the open coffin, and seeing the corpse all deformed, said to himself: “What this man was, I am now. What he is now, I will be hereafter.” As soon as the funeral was over, reading these words of our Lord: “If any one will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me,” he retired into solitude to attain greater perfection. There he gave himself up to watching, prayer and fasting, often eating nothing but raw herbs.
The better to conceal himself from men Sylvester frequently changed his place of abode and at length settled at Monte Fano which, though near to Fabriano, was at that time a desert. There he built a church in honour of the most holy father Benedict, and founded the Congregation of Sylvestrians under the rule and habit shown him by Saint Benedict in a vision. Satan, roused to envy, strove in many ways to terrify his monks, making assaults by night at the monastery gates. But the man of God repressed the enemy’s attack with such vigour that the monks, recognising their father’s sanctity, were more and more confirmed in their holy purpose. Sylvester was remarkable for the spirit of prophecy and other gifts which he guarded by deep humility. This so stirred up the devil’s envy that he cast the saint headlong down the oratory stairs and almost killed him, but the Blessed Virgin at once graciously restored him to health. In gratitude for this benefit, Sylvester showed her the tenderest unfailing piety to the end of his life. He died at the age of about 90 years, renowned for sanctity and miracles, on the sixth of the Calends of December in 1267. Pope Leo XIII extended his Office and Mass to the universal Church.
Dom Prosper Guéranger:
God often brings the world to those who see from it, as Sylvester Gozzolini among others experienced. In the thirteenth century the world, all in admiration at the sanctity and the eloquence of the new Orders, seemed to have forgotten the monks and the desert. God, who never forgets, led his elect silently into solitude and the wilderness began again to rejoice and flourish like the lily. Strength was restored to the weak hands and feeble knees of the sons of the cloister. The austerities of olden days and the fervour of prolonged prayer were revived at Monte Fano and extended into 60 other monasteries. The new religious family of the Sylvestrians was approved by Innocent IV in 1247. Though originated seven centuries after Saint Benedict, and distinguished from the elder families by its blue habit, it claims the Patriarch of Cassino for its legislator and father.
Death, by revealing to you, O Sylvester, the vanity of noble birth and beauty, opened to you the path of life. The frivolous world, deceived by the mirage of false pleasures cannot understand the Gospel which defers beatitude to another life, and paves the way to it with renunciation, humility and the cross. With the Church, we ask of our merciful God, in consideration of your merits, the grace to despise, as you did, the fleeting joys of this world, that we may partake with you of true and eternal happiness. Deign to support our petition with your own supplication. We beseech Him who has glorified you to bless and multiply your sons, to sustain them and the whole monastic Order, and every religious family, under the sufferings of the present time.
