Saint Erasmus
Saint Erasmus of Formia (also known as Saint Elmo; died c. 303 AD in Formia, Latium, Italy) was a Christian bishop and martyr of the Diocletianic persecution, and one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers — saints invoked against specific diseases or dangers. He is the patron saint of sailors and is associated with the electrical phenomenon St. Elmo's Fire (the corona discharge seen on ship masts before or during storms). His feast day is June 2.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Erasmus
| Saint Erasmus | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | June 02 |
| Profession | Bishop; martyr |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; early martyr of the Diocletianic persecution |
| Patronage | Sailors; mariners; abdominal pain; intestinal disorders; women in labor; against storms; Gaeta; Mediterranean sailors; Fourteen Holy Helpers |
| Attributes | Bishop's vestments; windlass (instrument of torture/martyrdom); intestines wound on windlass; ship; lightning |
| Birthplace | Unknown; tradition says Antioch, Syria |
| Death Place | Formia, Latium (now Campania), Italy |
| Cause of Death | Martyrdom; tortured under Diocletian; traditional account includes having his intestines wound out on a windlass |
| Primary Shrine | Cathedral of Saints Erasmus and Marciano, Gaeta, Latium — his relics; a major place of pilgrimage for sailors |
| Liturgical Class | Optional Memorial (Roman Calendar, June 2) |
| Historic Class | Feast |
Biography
The historical details of Erasmus's life are obscure. According to tradition, he was a bishop from Syria (Antioch) or possibly from Lycia (Asia Minor) who fled during the Diocletianic persecution to the mountains of Mount Lebanon or the Apennines and lived as a hermit for some time. He was eventually arrested, tortured, and executed around 303 AD.
The location of his martyrdom is traditionally placed at Formia in Latium (southern Italy), where a basilica was erected in his honor. His relics were translated to Gaeta, the neighboring coastal city, where the Cathedral of Saints Erasmus and Marciano became his principal shrine and Gaeta his particular patron city.
He is numbered among the Fourteen Holy Helpers — a group of saints whose intercession was considered especially powerful against specific diseases or dangers, particularly invoked in the Rhineland and Bavaria during the Black Death (14th century). Erasmus is the patron against abdominal pain and intestinal disease, and the patron of sailors.
The connection to sailors comes from St. Elmo's Fire — the corona discharge (glowing plasma) seen on ship masts during electrical storms. Sailors of the Mediterranean interpreted this phenomenon as the light of their patron Erasmus (Elmo being a corruption of Erasmus/Ermo), a sign of his protection and presence during storms.
His feast day is June 2.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Unknown; tradition says Antioch, Syria
Death location: Formia, Latium (now Campania), Italy
Notable location: His relics were translated here from Formia; he is the patron saint of Gaeta; the cathedral houses his shrine (Cathedral of Gaeta (Cattedrale dei Santi Erasmo e Marciano), Gaeta, Latium, Italy)
Notable location: The place of his martyrdom and original burial; an ancient basilica marked the site (Formia, Latium, Italy)
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Parishes
No parishes dedicated to Erasmus have been added to the database yet.
Media
| Media | Length | AuthorCreator |
|---|---|---|
| The Servant of God Jane of St. Erasmus | 5–15 minutes | Daily Lives of Franciscan Saints |
| Jan 20 - S. of God Jane of St. Erasmus - Franciscan Saint of the Day | 5–15 minutes | Franciscan Media |
| The Servant of God Jane of St. Erasmus | 5–15 minutes | Radio Immaculata |
Shrines
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No shrines where this saint is the primary saint.
Known shrines
- Cathedral of Saints Erasmus and Marciano, Gaeta, Latium — his primary shrine; his relics; patron of Gaeta.
- Vierzehnheiligen Basilica, Bad Staffelstein, Bavaria — the great shrine of the Fourteen Holy Helpers; Erasmus is honored here.
Feast day
June 2
Veneration
Saint Erasmus is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church with an Optional Memorial on June 2. He is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers.
Prayers
Authored
There are prayers authored by this saint in prayers list yet.
Intercessory
There are no prayers asking for this saint's intercession in prayers list yet.