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San Cataldo Vescovo, ora pro nobis
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Born in the early seventh century to pious parents in Canty, Ireland, San Cataldo had a reputation for great holiness. According to tradition, he performed many miracles, including raising from the dead a worker who fell to his death while repairing the roof of the monastery in Lismore, County Waterford.
Accused of witchcraft by Meltrides, the regulus of the Desii, he was imprisoned by the King of Munster. However, two angels visited the King in a dream and warned him not to harm his prisoner. The next day when the King learned that Meltrides had died, he immediately freed San Cataldo and offered him the dead man's lands in recompense. He was appointed Bishop of Rachau.
Leaving Ireland to visit Rome and the Holy Land, a great storm on the return trip left him shipwrecked at Taranto in Apulia. There, he brought back to life a sailor who died in the storm. Naturally the people did not want the holy man to leave and chose him to stay and be their Bishop.
Carrying out his work, San Cataldo built churches and schools, ordained new priests, and helped the city’s downtrodden. Continuing his miracles, he restored the eyesight of a blind man.
Dying on March 8th in 685, he was interred in the chapel of St. John of Galilee in the Duomo di Santa Maria Maddalena (now the Cattedrale di San Cataldo). Sacked and destroyed by Saracens, the memory of the tomb was lost in time.
On May 10, 1071 the body of San Cataldo was discovered during the restoration of the Cathedral. The Saint’s gold cross with the inscription, "Cataldus Rachau," was found in the marble urn and is now preserved in the Chapel’s treasury. Reinterred in a silver casket, his relics are reposed beneath the church’s high altar.
In addition to March 8th, the city of Taranto honors their glorious patron on the first Sunday of September and on May 10th, in commemoration of the discovery of his relics.
