Pope St. Damasus I: Feast Day, Patronage & Prayers
Feast day: December 11 (optional memorial)
Patron of: Archaeologists (by popular association).
About Pope St. Damasus I
St. Damasus I was pope from 366 to 384. Born in Rome around 305, the son of a priest of Spanish origin, he served as a deacon of the Roman Church before his election, which was bitterly contested by a rival faction and led to violence in the city. Despite this difficult beginning, his long pontificate strengthened the Church at a time when Christianity was becoming the religion of the empire.
Damasus defended the faith of the Council of Nicaea against the Arians and supported the teaching later confirmed at the Council of Constantinople in 381. He is especially remembered for two things. First, he loved the martyrs of Rome. He searched out and restored their tombs in the catacombs and composed verse inscriptions in their honor, carved in beautiful lettering, many of which survive. Second, he chose the scholar Jerome as his secretary and asked him to revise the Latin translation of the Gospels, a work that led to the Vulgate Bible. Damasus died in 384 and was buried near the martyrs he honored. He teaches us to cherish the witnesses who came before us.
Prayers to Pope St. Damasus I on Daily Catholic Prayers
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