William was born in Vercelli, Italy, around 1085 and was orphaned as a young child. After a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, he chose the life of a hermit and settled on Montevergine near Naples, where disciples gathered around him and he founded the monastery and congregation of Montevergine around 1124. He spent his remaining years founding other monastic communities and died at the monastery of Goleto on June 25, 1142.
William gave up comfort and even the esteem of others to seek God in silence, and when people were drawn to his holiness he welcomed them and built a community of prayer. His life shows that quiet faithfulness, prayed day after day in hidden places, can grow into a shelter of grace for many others.
Lord, as Saint William sought You on the quiet mountain, teach us to seek You in the stillness of our own hearts, and make our lives a shelter of prayer for those we love. Amen.