Blessed Emerico di Quart

Émeric de Quart (known in Italian as Emerico de Quart), born in the latter part of the 13th century at the castle of Quart in the Aosta Valley, was Bishop of Aosta from 1302 until his death on 1 September 1313. He is more frequently named in ancient documents as Eymericus than Emericus or even Aimericus. Born in one of the most powerful families of Aosta Valley, Émeric or Aymeri de Quart was the son of Zacharie, known as Jacques II, lord of Quart, of the ancient and noble Aosta family « de la Porte Saint-Ours », who gave three bishops to the Diocese of Aosta. The elder brother of Émeric, Jacques III, assured the lineage while Aymon de Quart was Bishop of Geneva, and Guillaume de Quart was an archbishop. Additionally his brother Henri was provost of the Aosta Cathedral from 1288 until 1318. After finishing theological studies, Émeric chose to live apart from his noble family as a simple priest in a contemplative and ascetic manner. After some years however, he decided to join the regular canons of Aosta Cathedral. During this period Émeric was appreciated as a very worthy and pious priest and a friend of the poor. In October 1301 he was appointed the new bishop of Aosta by all the canons of Aosta, including those of the collegiate church of Saints Peter and Ursus, and in January 1302 he was consecrated as bishop in Biella by Aimo of Challant, bishop of Vercelli. All his biographers agree about his worthy life, his attention to poor people, his humility and devotion, but also his strength in protecting the rights of the sick and poor from the arrogance of the rich. Émeric regularly convoked the Synod of his diocesis (we better know the one of 1307), promoting the sanctity of the clergy and the laities with rigorous rules especially in items such as fastings and religious feasts. In 1311 he established the feast of the Conception of the Virgin Mary as a day of obligation.