Saint of the Day: St. Lazarus of Milan

Bishop (d. 450)

His life

+ Lazarus (or Lazzaro) was elected bishop of Milan, Italy, around the year 439, a time when the Ostrogoths controlled the region.

+ According to tradition, he popularized the penitential “Rogation” litanies, praying for protection for the city and its people.

+ Little else is known about his life, although he might have imitated Pope Saint Leo the Great in working to stop the spread of the Manichean heresy (which saw the created world as intrinsically evil).

+ Saint Lazarus died on March 14, 450.

For prayer and reflection

“Bishops, with their helpers, the priests and deacons, have taken up the service of the community, presiding in place of God over the flock, whose shepherds they are, as teachers for doctrine, priests for sacred worship, and misters for governing.”—Second Vatican Council, Lumen Gentium 20

Spiritual bonus

On this day, the Church also remembers Blessed Eva of Liege. A friend and collaborator of Blessed Juliana of Mont Cornillon, Eva continued her friend’s efforts to introduce a special feast honoring the presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Thanks to their efforts the Feast of Corpus Christi was approved by Pope Urban IV in 1264. Blessed Eva died in Liege, Belgium, in 1265, and was beatified in 1902.

Prayer

Lord God, who graciously imbued blessed Lazarus with heavenly doctrine, grant, through his intercession, that we may keep that same teaching faithfully and express it in what we do. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(from The Roman Missal: Common of Pastors—For a Bishop)
Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.