Feast of Sant’Asterio (Eusterio) di Salerno

(L) Sant'Asterio, ora pro nobis. (R) Sant'Eusterio, ora pro nobis

October 19th is the Feast of Sant'Asterio (or Eusterio), a sixth century Bishop of Salerno who served as a papal legate for Pope Agapitus I during the Second Council of Constantinople (fifth overall). While some maintain (due to the similarity of their names) that Asterio and Eusterio are the same person, there are those who believe they are actually different saints. Seeing as the church has separate statues for each and only Sant'Asterio appears on their list of Bishops, I'm inclined to believe they are not the same person. Since there are other saints with the same names (e.g. Sant’Asterio di Ostia, who coincidentally shares the same feast day), it is possible that an older devotion, perhaps introduced by the conquering Langobards, was over time conflated with Salerno's glorious Bishop.1

 

In celebration, I’m posting a prayer to St. Asterius of Salerno. A standard prayer for a saint's day, St. Eusterius (or any other saint's name for that matter) can be substituted. The accompanying photos, courtesy of Andrew Giordano, were taken at the Basilica Cattedrale SS. Matteo e Gregorio in Salerno. Evviva Sant’Asterio! Evviva Sant'Eusterio!

Prayer to St. Asterius of Salerno

Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that the examples of St. Asterius, sixth Bishop of Salerno, may effectually move us to reform our lives; that while we celebrate his festival, we may also imitate his actions. Through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Look upon our Weakness, almighty God, and since the burden of our own deeds weighs heavily upon us, may the glorious intercession of St. Asterius protect us. Through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Notes

(1) History of different saints and confused. San Eusterio vescovo and healthy Eusterio Martire by Carmelo Currò, Italia Medievale, Nov. 12, 2002