Mangled Story

Printed in the 174^th Fiesta Celebration Souvenir Program:

The Fiesta Committee on Souvenir Program should try to research and study more subject matters to be printed in the souvenir program. I question the story of our San Guillermo featured in the 174^th issue of our town fiesta souvenir program for lack of details and inconsistencies. St. William of Gellone AKA Duke William of Aquitaine was born in 755 and died on May 28, 812.

St. William of Gellone could not have defended the antipope Anacletus against the rightful authority of Pope Innocent II in 1130. St. Bernard of Clairvaux could not have helped St. William of Gellone to reunite himself with the Church, much more; Pope Eugenius III could not have convinced St. William of Gellone to do pilgrimage in Jerusalem for the forgiveness of his sins.

All three Popes mentioned in the story including the antipope Anacletus are more than three (3) centuries younger than St. William of Gellone, meaning more than three hundred (300) years younger. They were not born yet during the time of St. William of Gellone. How can they commune with William?

In reference to the above story, the Saint is called St. William of Gellone, the Monk, Duke of Aquitaine. St. William of Gellone because this is where he did his penitence and where he died serving God as a Monk in a Monastery in a place called Gellone. He cannot be called St. William of Aquitaine because his life and works as a Duke of Aquitaine was sinful, not worth becoming a Saint, the reason for his contrition. In books and encyclopedias you cannot find William of Aquitaine as the primary subject, it is always mentioned after St. William of Gellone as “a.k.a.” or “o.k.a.” minus the title “Saint”, find the example below.

I don’t blame the research person, I know during the time it was written religious books of this nature were rare. Access to the references for the story is inadequate. Right now, there are many reliable sources, from books, encyclopedias, web sites, etc. written by renowned historians. I hope the Fiesta Committee on Souvenir Program will find time to do their research and study the life of St. William of Catmon before printing.

How can we strengthen our faith without knowing our Patron Saint? Let’s do the facts and the math; if it does not add up, then, there is something wrong. We might have cheated the other St. William of his rightful throne. 

Catmonanon help if you must!