The Saints: St. Erasmus

Died C. 303/Feast - June 2

According to a sixth-century “acts” of this legendary martyr, also known as Elmo, he was a bishop in Syria persecuted by Emperor Diocletian in several places who eventually died in Formiae, Italy. A later legend had him executed by having his intestines wound out of his body on a windlass. Possibly because a windlass resembles a ship’s capstan, he came to be honored as the patron of sailors. “St. Elmo’s fire” is the name for the electrical charges seen at ships’ mastheads, where he was said to have preached in a storm; the light signaled his protection.              © 2008 CNS