Feast of San Leucio d’Alessandria

San Leucio d'Alessandria, ora pro nobis

January 11th is the Feast of San Leucio d'Alessandria, First Bishop of Brindisi, Missionary & Wonderworker. He is invoked against plague, drought and demonic possession.

Highly revered throughout Southern Italy, San Leucio is the patron saint of Atessa (CH), Rocca di Mezzo (AQ), Villavallelonga (AQ), San Leucio del Sannio (BN), Pietracamela (TE), and San Salvatore Telesino (BN). In San Salvatore Telesino, he is also venerated on the last Sunday in July, which commemorates the Saint's miraculous intercession during the 1656 plague epidemic in the Kingdom of Naples.

In 1773 the utopian colony of San Leucio in Caserta was founded and named after the great Saint by King Ferdinando IV of Bourbon.

In celebration, we’re posting a prayer to St. Leucius courtesy of the San Leucio Society of Paterson, New Jersey. The accompanying photo of San Leucio by of Anthony Scillia was taken at St. Anthony of Padua Church in New Haven, Connecticut. Evviva San Leucio d’Alessandria!

Prayer to St. Leucius

Eternal Father, I wish to honor St. Leucius, and I give You thanks for all the graces You have bestowed upon him. I ask You to please increase grace in my soul through the merits of this saint, and I commit the end of my life to him by this special prayer, so that by virtue of Your goodness and promise, St. Leucius might be my advocate and provide whatever is needed at that hour. Amen.