Saint of the Week Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - June 28, 2009 Erasmus (or Elmo), Bishop and Martyr — d.c. 303       Few saints have so great a following as St. Elmo. Yet at the same time, almost all that is known about them is based on legend. We know that Elmo (his name, over time, was shortened from Erasmus) was the bishop of Formiae and his relics were preserved in the cathedral of that city until it was destroyed by the Saracens in 842. At that point, his relics were moved to Gaëta where they rest today and where this saint is considered to be the principal patron.       The legends of this saint may have him confused with another bishop. According to these traditions, Erasmus was a Syrian bishop who fled to Mount Lebanon during the persecution of the emperor, Diocletian. Discovered, he was brought to the emperor who ordered him to be beaten and then rolled in pitch and set afire. When the flames did not harm him, he was thrown into prison to be starved to death.       An angel of the Lord released him from his prison and carried him to the Roman province of Illyricum (present day Italy, along the coast of the Adriatic Sea). In this province, Erasmus converted many souls. This led to further torture and reimprisonment. The angel again released Erasmus and brought him to Formiae where he died of his wounds.       St. Elmo became the patron saint of Neapolitan sailors and, eventually, seaman everywhere (although Portuguese sailors honor Blessed Peter Gonzalez as their patron). The static electric charge (blues lights) often seen at the mastheads of ships following storms are still called St. Elmo's fire. This fire, sometimes also seen before a storm, was believed to be a sign that the saint was protecting the ship and its crew from the tempest.       St. Elmo is honored by seaman on June 2. Elmo's Message Today: While Elmo's connection to the sea is tenuous at best, sailors everywhere have looked to Elmo for hundreds of years to protect them from raging seas. In a storm, sailors have said the prayer, "O God, thy sea is so great and my ship is so small, have mercy on me." What saint are you named after? Who is the patron of you profession or of your interests? Offer a prayer to these saints. They will help you << Last Week Next Week >>

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