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San Pantaleone, ora pro nobis |
July 27th is the Feast of San Pantaleone, Doctor, Miracle Worker and Martyr. One of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, he is the principal patron of Ravello (SA), Vallo della Lucania (SA), Serrata (RC), Papanice (KR), and Montauro (CZ), among others. According to tradition, the Christian physician was beheaded during the Diocletian persecutions in Nicomedia (c. 305), and that a woman collected his spilled blood. The ampulla containing the saint's coagulated blood reached Ravello in the eleventh-century after a storm at sea miraculously transported the Basilian monks safeguarding the phial from the East to the Amalfi Coast. It is believed the relic chose the town for shelter. In Celebration, I’m posting an ancient prayer to San Pantaleone. The accompanying photo of the Martyrdom of San Pantaleone (1638) by Gerolamo Imperiali was taken during my 2010 pilgrimage to beautiful Ravello and its fabulous Duomo. Evviva San Pantaleone!
Prayer to San Pantaleone
O San Pantaleone di Ravello, protector and advocate, pray to our God that frees us from sins, hunger, plague, wars and great chastisements in this world; save us out of pity! Our fate be blessed to have you as a protector. Let us have a good death our always defender. Amen.
