Born of noble parents at Vercelli, Italy, in 1085, Saint William made a barefoot pilgrimage to Saint James of Compostela, Spain at the age of 14. On his return he began living the life of a hermit, during which time he performed his first miracle: restoring the sight of a blind man. He tried to lead a solitary life on Mt. Virgiliano in the Kingdom of Naples. he renamed the mountain Monte Virgine (Mount of the Virgin). Many followers joined him, and he formed them into a monastic community. They built a church and dedicated it to Our Lady of Monte Virgine. Asked to act as a counsellor to the King of Naples, William miraculousy converted a loose woman sent to tempt him from virtue, by lying in a bed of fiery coals and arising unharmed. He died in 1142.

Thousands of people still make annual pilgrimages to this shrine and venerate the picture of Our Lady of Monte Virgine.

The wolf is shown with Saint William because, according to local legend, he assisted in the building of a monastery at Monte Virgine by carring stones to the building site.

St. William pray for us that we might have our sight restored -- that we might see with the eyes of our hearts and souls God's presence in and around us. Teach us to nourish our spiritual journeys with prayer so that we too might be instruments of God's light and love to others. In the spirit of St. Benedict help us to be people of hospitality who let our work become prayer.  Let us find God in each other.