Saints Who Lived to 100 or More (Part One)

Getting to Know the Centenarian Saints (Series 1 of 4)

Introduction
This series on the Centenarian-Saints will gather information from a book of Saints by Jesuit author John Delaney, S.J. Although for certain there are more centenarian-saints aside from the 22 surveyed in this article Series, this sample gives ideas how these saints used the gift of longevity, to inspire others to greater faith in Christ, and give glory to God's name in the history of the Church. In this batch of 22 saints, 2 were able to live to the age of 120 years.

A brief biographical sketch of each centenarian-saint
Before listing down the first batch of centenarian-saints, this article will describe them briefly: through the years and eras they have lived; through the various states of life they have gone through before their death; and through the administrative roles and ministries some of them served in the Church. Since exact birthdates and dates of death cannot be obtained (especially in the earlier centuries), the authenticity of their long life as Catholic historical tradition attests is worth believing.

First batch of the list of 22 centenarian-saints

• Blessed Aimo Taparelli: (1395-1495), Dominican, chaplain to the Duke of Savoy, inquisitor general for Lombardy and Liguria
• St. Alferius: (930-1050), monk at Cluny, hermit near Salerno, founded Benedictine abbey of La Cava
• St. Amicus: (925-1045), priest, hermit, Benedictine monk
• St. Antony of Egypt: (251-356), hermit, founder of Eastern Christian monasticism, fought against the Arian heresy
• St. Artaldus: (1101-1206), Carthusian monk, founder of another Carthusian charterhouse, bishop of Belley
• St. Basil the Younger: (852-952), hermit, famed for his miracles and holiness
• Blessed Christopher: (1172-1272), parish priest, Franciscan friar, fought the Albigensian heresy, established Franciscan house in Cahors

Summary
From this first batch of centenarian-saints, two were in active life, while five were contemplatives. The two who lived to 120 years of age were both contemplatives, and both schooled in the teachings of St. Benedict and his monastic rule.