Feast of San Placido and Companions

San Placido, ora pro nobis

October 5th is the Feast of St. Placido (St. Placidus) and Companions, Martyrs. Arriving in Messina, Sicily from Monte Cassino in 534, the young Benedictine monk founded a monastery, drawing some thirty men to monastic life through his wondrous work and holy reputation. In 539 a band of pirates from North Africa raided the abbey in the dark of night, capturing the unsuspecting inhabitants, including Placido’s brothers, Eutychius and Victorinus, and their virgin sister Flavia, who was visiting from Rome. Bound and cruelly tortured, the captives were all eventually put to the sword when they refused to renounce their faith. Setting off with their ill-gotten-gains, the African marauders were soon swallowed up in divine retribution by Scylla and Charybdis, the mythical names of the infamous whirlpool in the strait of Messina.

Invoked against drowning because he was miraculously saved by San Mauro as a young child, San Placido is also the patron saint of religious novices, since he was an obedient disciple of San Benedetto Abate. Venerated across Southern Italy, San Placido is the principal protector of Castel di Lucio (ME), Biancavilla (CT), Poggio Imperiale (FG), and, along with the Madonna della Lettera, he is the co-patron of Messina, Sicily. In celebration, we're posting a prayer to St. Placidus. The accompanying photo of the statue with relic was taken at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Easton, Pennsylvania by Anthony Scillia. Evviva San Placido!

Prayer to St. Placidus

O God, who by means of martyrdom made blessed Placidus and his companions pass from exile to eternal glory, keep us for their prayers from all adversities and grant us to be able to participate in their glorious company in heaven. Amen