Belated Saint of the day- Saint Tutilo- Mar 28

St Tutilo, Religious               ( c. AD 915)

 

                                                                                                      Tutilo was educated at the celebrated Benedictine Monastery of Saint-Gall, by Iso and Marcellus. Two of his classmates were Bd Notker Balbulus and Ratpert. All 3 later became monks in that same Abbey. Tutilo was appointed head of the cloister school, and Notker became the librarian. Tutilo was handsome, eloquent and had a quick wit.  He was a universal genius and jack of all trades. He is said to have been a poet, a gifted speaker, an architect, a painter, a sculptor, a metal worker, a mechanic and a musician, able to play every instrument which were taught to the monastery scholars. He is said to have written many hymns and sequences, and to have written words for the last Alleluia in the Gradual. He was admired by King Charles the Fat, who said that it was a shame that such a genius was closed up in a monastery. St Tutilo did his best to stay out of the spotlight, and avoid compliments. When he had to go into cities, because his talents were in such high demand, he did everything he could to avoid being noticed. So much so, in fact, that he didn't even sign his many works of art. There are still a number of artworks attributed to him all over France. Of his musical works, only 3 eligies and 1 hymn have been published. He died in about 915. He was buried in the Chapel of St Catherine, which was renamed St Tutilo's after him. His feast is March 28.