Feast of San Cataldo

San Cataldo, ora pro nobis

May 10th is the Feast of San Cataldo, Monk, Bishop of Taranto, and Miracle Worker. The memorial commemorates the discovery of his relics. According to tradition, the body of the saint was interred in the chapel of St. John of Galilee in the Duomo di Santa Maria Maddalena (now the Cattedrale di San Cataldo) in Taranto, Puglia. 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 by the Archbishop 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 on May 10, 1151, by Archbishop Geraldo, his relics are reposed beneath the church’s high altar.

Widely venerated across Southern Italy, San Cataldo is the principal patron of Taranto (TA), Corato (BA), Cagnano Varano (FG), Brienza (PZ), Massa Lubrense (NA), Roccaromana (CE), Cirò Marina (KR), San Cataldo (CL), Gangi (PA), Gagliano Castelferrato (EN), and Giuliano Teatino (CH), among others.

Invoked against epilepsy, paralysis and visual impairments, he is also called upon for protection against plagues, droughts and terrible storms. The memorial of his death is commemorated on March 8th and his patronal feast day is celebrated on the first Sunday of September in Taranto.

In celebration, I'm posting a Traditional Prayer to San Cataldo in Italian. The accompanying photo, courtesy of Anthony Scillia, was taken at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Red Bank, New Jersey. The statue was originally at St. Rocco’s Church in Newark, New Jersey. Evviva San Cataldo!

Preghiera Tradizionale

Glorioso San Cataldo, nostro Patrono e Protettore, noi ammiriamo in te la forza della fede e l'ardore missionario di propagarla e testimoniarla, non risparmiando sacrifici e fatiche. Ti preghiamo di ottenere anche a noi una fede gioiosa e generosa così che Dio diventi sempre più l'unico amore della nostra vita. Glorioso San Cataldo, nostro Patrono e Protettore, i nostri padri ti hanno invocato come scudo efficacissimo nelle grandi calamità e avversità, soprattutto la guerra e il terremoto, la siccità e la carestia e sempre hanno sperimentato la tua intercessione. Ti preghiamo di estendere anche ai nostri giorni tale protezione. Glorioso San Cataldo nostro Patrono e Protettore, continua a benedire la nostra comunità parrocchiale. Concedi ai cristiani e agli uomini di buona volontà di cooperare concordemente al bene comune così che la nostra parrocchia progredisca nella giustizia libera da ogni violenza ed egoismo, pronto a servire la vita e a promuovere ogni iniziativa di bene.