Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Pantaleon is Pantless

Did his blood liquefy today in Ravello, Italy? 

St. Pantaleon, one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, was a physician, who practiced without payment, and who was martyred under Diocletian.
His cultus is primarily connected with Bithynia, where Emperor Justinian rebuilt his church at Nicomedia. Churches are dedicated to him in Constantinople and Rome.
In the East he is known as the Great Martyr and Wonder Worker.
A reputed relic of Pantaleon's blood kept at Ravello in southern Italy displays the phenomenon of liquefaction on his feast day, similar to that of Saint Januarius.
Before the reform of the General Roman Calendar his feast was celebrated today.
Patron: bachelors; consumption; doctors; midwives; physicians; torture victims; tuberculosis; protection of domestic animals.

Symbols: Budding olive branch or olive tree; vials of medicine; lion; club; sword and vase.

Excerpted from The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch

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