“Another church?” I hear you ask. But wait. This is the Chiesa di San Germano vescovo. It holds a story you won’t soon forget.
The story of San Germano begins not here in Milan, but in Capua. He was the son of wealthy parents. They were Amanzio and Giuliana. After his father’s death, Germano gave away his inheritance to the poor. He then dedicated his life to spirituality.
In 519, Germano became the Bishop of Capua. He undertook a delicate diplomatic mission. Pope Hormisdas sent him to Constantinople. Germano’s task was to end a schism. The schism had begun with Patriarch Acacio. Acacio had been excommunicated by the Pope in 484.
Acacio promoted a document called Henoticon. It tried to reconcile a heresy. This heresy was Monophysitism. It said Christ only had a divine nature. This contradicted the Catholic Church. The Church recognized both human and divine natures in Christ. Germano’s delegation succeeded. Eastern bishops abandoned Acacio’s schism. They accepted the Church of Rome’s position. Emperor Justin and Patriarch John signed Pope Hormisdas’ document. This ended a division that had lasted for two generations.
After his diplomatic success, Germano returned to Capua. He lived an ascetic life until his death in 540. Stories about San Germano’s life became legends. One story tells of Germano freeing a deacon from purgatory. The deacon was Pascasio. He appeared as the guardian of the Agnano hot springs. Germano was visiting the springs for healing. Another legend says Saint Benedict had a vision. He saw angels carrying Germano’s soul to heaven after his death.
Germano was buried in Capua. He was buried in the church of Santo Stefano. Later, Emperor Louis II moved most of his relics to Cassino in 866. Cassino was then renamed San Germano until 1863. Sadly, these relics were lost during the bombing of Montecassino Abbey in 1944. Other relics were taken to the church of San Sisto in Piacenza.
So as we stand here before the Chiesa di San Germano vescovo, remember the Bishop of Capua. Remember his dedication to faith. Remember his role in ending a major church schism. His legacy lives on not only in Capua. It lives on in place names and churches like this one dedicated to his name.