Pope Saint Damasus I
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| Pope Saint Damasus I | |
| Feast Day | December 11 |
|---|---|
| Liturgical Class | |
| Patronage | Archaeologists |
| Birthplace | Rome, Roman Empire (now Italy) |
| Death Place | Rome, Western Roman Empire (now Italy) |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes |
| Primary Shrine | Church of San Lorenzo in Damaso, Rome, Italy |
Pope Saint Damasus I (c. 305 – December 11, 384), also known as Damasus of Rome, was a saint and the 37th Bishop of Rome, serving as pope from October 1, 366, to 384. Born around 305 in Rome, though some traditions place his birth in Egitânia, Lusitania (modern Idanha-a-Velha, Portugal), to a Spanish priest named Antonius and Laurentia, he was raised in Rome where his family relocated during his childhood.[1][2] Ordained a deacon, he served under Pope Liberius during the Arian controversies and was elected pope in 366 amid violent disputes with rival Ursinus, resulting in clashes that claimed 137 lives in Roman basilicas. Supported by Emperor Valentinian I, Damasus consolidated his authority, combated heresies like Arianism, Apollinarianism, and Macedonianism, and promoted Rome’s primacy as the Apostolic See.[3][4]
Damasus focused on unifying the Church, commissioning Saint Jerome around 382 to revise Latin biblical texts, laying the groundwork for the Vulgate, and standardizing the Roman liturgy and Latin hymnody.[1][5] A patron of martyrs’ cults, he restored catacombs like that of Callixtus, inscribed over 60 verse epitaphs in elegant hexameter, and built churches including San Lorenzo in Damaso and contributions to Sant'Agnese fuori le mura. He convened key synods, notably in 368 and 382, affirming the biblical canon (including deuterocanonical books) and Roman authority, as referenced in later Gelasian decrees.[6][7] Despite accusations of luxury (earning the nickname “ladies’ ear-tickler”) and involvement in the election violence known as the “Massacre of the 137,” his legacy as a defender of Nicene orthodoxy, promoter of biblical scholarship, and elevater of Latin as the Church's language endures.[8][9] He died of natural causes in Rome at around 79 and was canonized pre-Congregation through early acclamation; his feast day is December 11.[10]
His relics, initially buried in a family tomb on the Via Ardeatina and later in San Lorenzo fuori le Mura, were definitively placed in the eighth century in the Church of San Lorenzo in Damaso, which he had built, where a reliquary holds them today except for his head in the Basilica of St. John Lateran.[11][12] Damasus’s epitaphs and restorations of martyr shrines, like those of Saints Peter, Paul, and Agnes, strengthened Rome’s Christian identity and drew pilgrims, influencing the Roman Canon and Western Christianity.[13]
Biography
Birth
Pope Damasus I was born around 305 in Rome, Roman Empire, though alternative traditions suggest Egitânia in Lusitania, to Antonius, a priest of likely Spanish origin, and Laurentia; the Liber Pontificalis supports an early move to Rome during his childhood, where his father served at the Church of San Lorenzo.[1][2][11] As one of seven children in a clerical family, his infancy details are sparse, with baptism presumed shortly after in a Roman titulus amid post-Constantinian Church growth; his birth year is approximate, based on his age (~62) at election.[5]
Early Life
Raised in Rome and steeped in Christian tradition, Damasus followed his father into the clergy. Ordained a deacon under Pope Liberius (352–366) around 355, he remained loyal during Liberius’s exile (355–357) for opposing Arianism under Emperor Constantius II, serving the Roman Church despite the antipope Felix II’s brief reign and enduring his own exile to Thessalonica until 361 under Julian the Apostate.[3][12][4] Evidence from exile letters confirms his fidelity to anti-Arian stance; no secular education is noted, with his clerical path direct, likely including subdeacon duties in the 340s.[7]
Occupation
Damasus’s occupation spanned priest, deacon (c. 355–366), bishop, and pope. As deacon, he handled administrative and liturgical roles in Roman tituli, managing alms and martyr cults per pontifical records, with no secular involvement.[2][1] Elected Bishop of Rome on October 1, 366, amid opposition from Ursinus—whose supporters clashed violently, killing 137 in the Basilica of Sicininus—Damasus prevailed with imperial backing, exiling Ursinus in 367. He convened synods (368, 382), condemned heresies, affirmed the biblical canon (73 books), and built churches like San Lorenzo in Damaso, integrating his family’s legacy.[6][5]
Vocation
Damasus’s vocation centered on unifying the Church, elevating Rome’s authority via Peter and Paul’s martyrdoms, and securing imperial decrees against heresies. He declared Rome the “Apostolic See,” promoted Latin as the Church’s language, and bridged East-West tensions through diplomatic engagements, including in Constantinople.[8][10] His restorations of catacombs with poetic epitaphs honored martyrs and drew pilgrims, while commissioning Jerome ensured scriptural uniformity. Though criticized for lavish living, he defended orthodoxy, standardized the liturgy, and influenced Western Christianity through his epigraphic and translational legacies.[14]
Death
Damasus died on December 11, 384, in Rome, of natural causes likely due to old age at around 79–80, after illness and final anti-Apollinarian bulls, per the Liber Pontificalis.[1][11][4] He was buried in a small church on the Via Ardeatina (family tomb), later moved to San Lorenzo callixtinus (fuori le Mura), with his self-composed epitaph on a marble slab; in the eighth century, relics were transferred to San Lorenzo in Damaso. His death was peaceful, following pontifical reforms, with no hagiographic drama beyond annals.[12]
Significant events
- Became deacon under Pope Liberius, c. 352–355.
- Exiled to Thessalonica during Arian crisis, 355–361.
- Elected pope amid Ursinus riots, October 1, 366.
- Condemned Ursinus and heresies, 367–368.
- Convened Synod of Rome, condemned Arianism, 368.
- Restored catacombs with inscriptions, 366–384.
- Commissioned Jerome for biblical translations (Vulgate groundwork), c. 382.
- Held Synod of Rome, affirmed biblical canon, 382.
- Died in Rome, December 11, 384.[1][3][5]
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Rome, Roman Empire (now Italy)
Death location: Rome, Western Roman Empire (now Italy)
Notable location: Primary shrine and family church (Church of San Lorenzo in Damaso, Rome, Italy)
Notable location: Initial burial site (San Lorenzo fuori le Mura, Piazzale del Verano 1, 00185 Rome, Italy)
Notable location: Restored catacomb and inscriptions (Catacomb of Callixtus, Via Appia Antica 110, 00179 Rome, Italy)
Notable location: Papal residence and synodal site (Basilica of St. John Lateran, Piazza di San Giovanni in Laterano 4, 00184 Rome, Italy)
Notable location:
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Shrines
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List of shrines
Church of San Lorenzo in Damaso
Rome's Church of San Lorenzo in Damaso, founded by Damasus in his family home and under the Diocese of Rome, enshrines his relics in a reliquary (except head in Lateran), qualifying under Canon 1230 as a pilgrimage center for papal devotions, Masses, and catacomb tours tied to his epitaphs.[2][11] Pilgrimage details: Near Campo de' Fiori, Rome, Italy; burial transfer 8th century; notable for December 11 feasts; Diocese of Rome. Fact: Symbolizes his family legacy and martyr patronage.
San Lorenzo fuori le Mura
Rome's Basilica of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura, a patriarchal basilica under the Diocese of Rome since the 6th century, was an initial burial site for Damasus, qualifying under Canon 1230 with his epitaph and pilgrim devotions.[2] Pilgrimage details: Piazzale del Verano 1, 00185 Rome, Italy; burial 384; annual feasts; Diocese of Rome. Fact: Site of early tomb, linking to his self-epitaph.
Catacomb of Callixtus
Rome's Catacomb of Callixtus, restored by Damasus and designated a shrine by the Diocese of Rome since the 3rd century, meets Canon 1230 through guided tours of his 60+ inscriptions and martyr commemorations.[5][1] Pilgrimage details: Via Appia Antica 110, 00179 Rome, Italy; restorations 366–384; synod reflections; Diocese of Rome. Fact: Core to his archaeological patronage.
Basilica of St. Agnes outside the Walls
Rome's Sant'Agnese fuori le mura, under diocesan oversight for Damasus's restorations, qualifies under Canon 1230 with relic veneration, youth novenas, and virgin martyr honors.[4] Pilgrimage details: Via Nomentana 349, 00162 Rome, Italy; restored 366; December prayers; Diocese of Rome. Fact: Emphasizes his support for women's cults.
St. Damasus Chapel, St. John Lateran
The Lateran's chapel, a shrine by papal status for Vulgate devotions under Canon 1230, holds his head relic.[7][11] Pilgrimage details: Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano, Rome, Italy; medieval origins; feast expositions; Diocese of Rome. Fact: Ties to his Jerome commission and synods.
Canonization
Servant of God
Damasus’s recognition as a Servant of God began shortly after his death through immediate Roman cultus, implying heroic virtue via the Liber Pontificalis and early martyrologies, predating formal processes and centered on his tomb and orthodoxy.[3][2]
Venerable
Venerated as Venerable from the late 4th century through episcopal approvals by Roman successors, based on his synodals and catacomb cultus, without formal pre-Gregorian declaration; spread organically via churches and epitaphs.[1][5]
Beatification
No distinct beatification occurred, but by the 5th century, inclusion in martyrologies permitted veneration as Blessed through acclamation, based on his attested pontificate and traditional tomb graces, without required miracles per early praxis; extended to Lateran feasts honoring his inscriptions.[8][4]
Canonization
Damasus was canonized pre-Congregation through universal Church acceptance by the 5th century, with martyrological proclamation, basilica dedications, and no second miracle needed for ancient popes; his feast day is December 11, observed in the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches.[1][6][9] This enshrined his reform legacy in doctrinal consolidation and martyr veneration.
Miracles
For early popes like Damasus, canonization relied on virtuous reign and attested contributions rather than posthumous miracles; no authenticated ones are documented, though hagiographic traditions note devotional graces at his tomb and inspirations from his era.[12][7] Devotional accounts emphasize epigraphic inspirations and catacomb healings.
Miracle for beatification
No formal miracle was required or documented, as 5th-century cultus sufficed based on traditional tomb healings and his ecclesiastical reforms.[3][2]
Miracle for canonization
No second miracle was needed per pre-formal norms; 5th-century acceptance was affirmed via dedications and medieval claims, without investigation.[8][5]
Other notable miracles
Patronage
Pope Damasus I is patron of archaeologists, reflecting his extensive restorations of Rome’s catacombs, martyr shrines, and epigraphic commissions that aided early Christian archaeology.[14][9]
Feast day
His feast day is December 11 in the Roman Catholic Church, commemorating his death and pontificate.[1][11]
Veneration
Damasus is venerated in the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches, with pilgrimages to sites like the Church of San Lorenzo in Damaso in Rome, where his relics rest and serve as a focal point for adoration. His image, often depicted with a papal tiara, pallium, book, and inscription tablet, appears in Roman basilicas and Lateran mosaics.[8][2][13] Feast day observances include Masses honoring his biblical scholarship and martyr veneration, with readings from his epitaphs, Jerome’s letters, or the Liber Pontificalis. Novenas for scholars and annual synod reflections occur at restored catacombs like Callixtus and shrines such as Sant'Agnese, underscoring his impact on Rome’s Christian heritage, Latin liturgy, and Vulgate-era devotions.[12][7]
Books
Written about the saint
- Lives of the Saints, Vol. VI by Alban Butler[3]
- Butler's Lives of the Saints: December[2]
- The Popes: A History by John Julius Norwich[1]
- Pope Damasus I and Early Christianity[5]
- The Early Papacy: To the Synod of Chalcedon in 451 by Adrian Fortescue[1]
Written by the saint
External links
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 "Pope Damasus I". Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Damasus_I.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 "Pope St. Damasus I". New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia. https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04613a.htm.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 "St. Damasus I". New Advent. https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04613a.htm.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 "St. Damasus I". Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/St-Damasus-I.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 "Pope Damasus I". Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Damasus_I.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Saint Damasus I". Franciscan Media. 2024-12-11. https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-damasus-i.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 "Saint Damasus I". Franciscan Media. https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-damasus-i.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 "Saint Damasus I". CatholicSaints.Info. https://catholicsaints.info/saint-damasus-i/.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 "St. Damasus I". Catholic Online. https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=104.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 "St. Damasus I". Vatican News. 2024-12-11. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/saints/12/11/st--damasus-i.html.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 "St. Damasus I". Catholic News Agency. 2024-12-11. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-damasus-i-94.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 "Pope Saint Damasus I". Eternal Word Television Network. https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/saints/damasus-i-1215.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 "San Lorenzo in Damaso". Turismo Roma. https://www.turismoroma.it/en/places/basilica-san-lorenzo-damaso.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Saint Damasus I". Saint of the Day. 2022-11-30. https://saintoftheday.com/st-damasus-i.