Alferius () (930–1050) was an Italian abbot and saint.
Life Alferius was born in Salerno to the noble Pappacarbona family.Holweck, Frederick George. A Biographical Dictionary of the Saints, B. Herder, 1924, p. 50 He spent many years in service to Guaimar. Prince of Salerno. In 1002, Alferius was named to head a delegation from his city to King Robert II of France. Taking ill during the journey, he convalesced at the monastery of S. Michele della Chiusa. While there, he met Odilo of Cluny and vowed to become a monk himself if he recovered."Alferius", The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature. (James Strong and John McClintock, eds.); Harper and Brothers; NY; 1880 He spent some time at Cluny before returning to Salerno.
Around 1020, he withdrew to the foot of Monte Finestra, southwest of Cava, where he lived a life of contemplation and prayer. At the beginning of the 11th century, a nucleus of hermit monks, attracted by the famed saintliness of Alferius, joined him.Oldfield, Paul. Sanctity and Pilgrimage in Medieval Southern Italy, 1000–1200 Cambridge University Press, 2014. p. 85 In 1011, he founded the monastery of La Trinità della Cava.Monks of Ramsgate. "Alferius". Book of Saints, 1921. CatholicSaints.Info. 27 May 2012 It followed the Benedictine rule.
Veneration The first four abbots of Cava were officially recognized as saints on December 21, 1893, by Pope Leo XIII.San Constabile (Costabile) The first four abbots are Alferius; Leo I (1050–79); Peter of Pappacarbone (1079–1123); and Constabilis.
See also Cava de' Tirreni, Italy (Italia) La Trinità della Cava
Notes
Bibliography Joseph Ratzinger: Sainti. Gli autentici apologeti della Chiesa., Lindau Edizioni, Torino 2007.
External links San Alferio Alferius of La Cava