St. Catald
Encyclopedia
Saint Catald of Taranto (also known as Cataldus, Cathaluds, Cat(t)aldo, Cathal), a friend of Saint Patrick
, was an Irish monk who lived roughly from 400 to 480 AD. He was made a saint around 685.
His monastery was in Lismore, County Waterford
but his apparent desire for a life of solitude saw him venture off to Jerusalem on a pilgrimage.
On his return home his ship was wrecked off the Italian coast, near the city of Taranto
. The people here appear to have encouraged the monk to become their bishop
, and he rose to become their archbishop
. Some of the miracles claimed in Catald's name include protecting the city against the plague
and floods that, apparently, had occurred in neighbouring areas.
When his coffin was reopened it allegedly contained a golden Celtic cross
and a stick carved from Irish oak
featuring Celtic design
which was to become Catald's emblem. The Italian towns of San Cataldo
are believed to have been named in his honour, and his feast day is 10 May.
Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick was a Romano-Briton and Christian missionary, who is the most generally recognized patron saint of Ireland or the Apostle of Ireland, although Brigid of Kildare and Colmcille are also formally patron saints....
, was an Irish monk who lived roughly from 400 to 480 AD. He was made a saint around 685.
His monastery was in Lismore, County Waterford
Lismore, County Waterford
Lismore is a town in County Waterford, Ireland. It is located where the N72 road crosses the River Blackwater.-History:It was founded by Saint Mochuda, also known as Saint Carthage. In the 7th century, Lismore was the site of the well-known Lismore Abbey. It is also home to Lismore Castle, the...
but his apparent desire for a life of solitude saw him venture off to Jerusalem on a pilgrimage.
On his return home his ship was wrecked off the Italian coast, near the city of Taranto
Taranto
Taranto is a coastal city in Apulia, Southern Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Taranto and is an important commercial port as well as the main Italian naval base....
. The people here appear to have encouraged the monk to become their bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
, and he rose to become their archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
. Some of the miracles claimed in Catald's name include protecting the city against the plague
Bubonic plague
Plague is a deadly infectious disease that is caused by the enterobacteria Yersinia pestis, named after the French-Swiss bacteriologist Alexandre Yersin. Primarily carried by rodents and spread to humans via fleas, the disease is notorious throughout history, due to the unrivaled scale of death...
and floods that, apparently, had occurred in neighbouring areas.
When his coffin was reopened it allegedly contained a golden Celtic cross
Celtic cross
A Celtic cross is a symbol that combines a cross with a ring surrounding the intersection. In the Celtic Christian world it was combined with the Christian cross and this design was often used for high crosses – a free-standing cross made of stone and often richly decorated...
and a stick carved from Irish oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
featuring Celtic design
Celtic knot
Celtic knots are a variety of knots and stylized graphical representations of knots used for decoration, used extensively in the Celtic style of Insular art. These knots are most known for their adaptation for use in the ornamentation of Christian monuments and manuscripts, such as the 8th-century...
which was to become Catald's emblem. The Italian towns of San Cataldo
San Cataldo
-Places:Italy*Chiesa di San Cataldo, a church in the City of Palermo, Sicily*San Cataldo, Apulia, a nature reserve in the Province of Lecce*San Cataldo di Lecce, Apulia*San Cataldo, Sicily, a commune in the Province of Caltanissetta...
are believed to have been named in his honour, and his feast day is 10 May.