St. Erasmus(St. Elmo)
Erasmus was also known as Elmo. He was the bishop of Formiae, Campagna, Italy, and suffered martyrdom during Diocletian's persecution of the Christians. He once fled to Mount Lebanon during the persecution and lived a life of solitude there for some time, being fed by a raven. After the emperor discovered his whereabouts, he was tortured and thrown in prison. Legend claims that an angel released him and he departed for Illyricum, eventually suffered a martyr's death and was one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. Legend records that when a blue light appears at mastheads before and after a storm, the seamen took it as a sign of Erasmus's protection. This was known as "St. Elmo's fire". The blue electrical discharges under certain atmospheric conditions have also been seen on the masks or riggings of ships. Erasmus is also invoked against stomach cramps and colic. This came about because at one time he had hot iron hooks stuck into his intestines by persecutors under Emperor Diocletian. These wounds he miraculously endured. His Feast day is June 2nd.
Previous Saint
< St. Erastus
Next Saint
Era of the Martyrs >
Rate This Saint
1 - 19 of 19 Comments
Leave a Comment
Previous Saint
< St. Erastus
Next Saint
Era of the Martyrs >
Find Saints
Catholic Online offers the largest searchable database of Catholic Saints on the internet.
| Browse Saints by Alphabet |
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
| Patron Saints by Alphabet |
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
Videos
St. Francis of Assisi 80,764 views View Video
Padre Pio 49,007 views View Video
Black Saints Vol I 31,793 views View Video
Black Saints Vol II 28,047 views View Video
Most Popular
No-one Can Change the Truth About Fatherhood. Love Your Father. Be a Good Father Read More
Fall of the Wall of Silence: More on Pope Francis and Reports of a 'Gay Lobby' in the Roman Curia Read More
Courageous Cardinal George of Chicago Defends Marriage, Calls for Public Conversion Read More
Pope Francis Refers to 'gay lobby' inside Vatican Read More
Why Catholics Have Failed Our Culture: The Bottom Line Read More
Daily Readings
Reading 1, Second Corinthians 9:6-11
But remember: anyone who sows sparsely will reap sparsely as ... Read More
Psalm, Psalms 112:1-2, 3-4, 9
Alleluia! How blessed is anyone who fears Yahweh, who delights ... Read More
Gospel, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
'Be careful not to parade your uprightness in public to attract ... Read More
Saint of the Day
St. Romuald
June 19: St. Romuald was born at Ravenna about the year 956. In spite ... Read More
Latest Videos
Credo Series - Episode 7 View Video
Credo Series - Episode 8 View Video
About 200 people evacuated from the Lourdes Shrine, as floods hit Southern France View Video
Mary and a Broken World - ADWM #78 View Video
Jun 19 - Homily - Fr. Benedict: St. Juliana's Eucharistic Miracle View Video
Marketplace
The Medjugorje Fasting
The Medjugorje Fasting Book attempts to answer these and other ... Read More
Mother of Medjugorje. One Decade Bracelet Rosary. Pocket Rosary. Read More
St. Erasmus please heal my stomach/digestive problems. Thank you!
I pray for the healing and cure of my stomach pain and headache. Amen.
Is there a St. Elmo novena?
upon waking, the word Erasmus popped into my head. I had never heard that word before. What does that mean I asked myself. I had been praying for my daughter Maria who I had taken to the doctor yesterday because off her severe ibs. I was praying all day for her recovery. I continue to pray today to st Erasmus now that I understand the word that came to me. Thank you st Erasmus for your intercession for us. Lisa
Please heal my stomach problems, St. Erasmus. I pray for my healing.
I am suffering from IBS for the last two years .St.Erasmus pray for my healing.
I'm looking for a saint to invoke for my sister who, post-operatively needs to get her bowel moving again. She is slow in recovering and we are all worried about her. Help us pray for her. Thank you.
My friends granddaughter is 2 months old and has severe colic, she cries all night. May St. Elmo intercede for her and help to heal her. Babies name is Isabella Salazar. We ask this in Jesus name.
St. Elmos,st. of those having abdominal pains,pray for those dt hv stomach pains and for me dt God will cure me of my stomach cramp.
Became interested in St. Elmo when I saw his light on the night of June 16th , 2011. I was coming home that evening, it had rained and thundered with lightning. I stared to see dancing electrically charged neon lights before me. As my vehicle traveled forward these lights would appear on my windshield. I was passing under an elictrial cable and saw the electricity running through the cable. the neon lights were beautiful I had never seen anything like this in my life. I also saw ribons of emerald green lights dancing up on the poles that hold the cables along the side of the road. This lasted approx 2 to three minutes. I was going crazy looking through the internet and was about to abandon my hopes of finding anything when I came across St. Elmos Fire.
please pray for me for strength and complete recovery from stomach acidity/disorder. may God continue to shower me with His blessings and comfort me in time of distress and pain.
Get interested to him because of my stomach ailment. St. Erasmus,pls pray for my healing.
In Malta there is an old fortress (16th century or so) called St.Elmo's fortress. I often wondered why it was called so. However since it was built on a promontory to protect the locals from foreign invaders and serraceans, I can understand now the reason.
There is a school in Umzumbe called St Elmos South Africa, I would be very intrested in it's history as nobody appears to much info about it. I have searced high and low , the most I seem to be able to abtain is that many of the sisters retired there. It also appears that it may have being built by Italian prisoners of war. My interest stems from the fact I went to a small convent in the then western transvaal Stilfontein South Africa from 68-71. I believe the order was Sister of perpetual help.I believe the history of these catholic schools need to be preseved for generations to come. I it posted on the internet this can be achieved. Though I am not a cathelic my entire schooling was. I matriculated from St Conrads (Brothers of Charity). Wonderful school
God Bless
Andrew
Good information I remember as a child i would look at a calander at my grandmothers house in Mexico where each day had a saint's name, i don't find these type of calanders anymore and this site has brought this info back to avaiability
l am a strong catholic and l love to be apriest in future.And l want to contunue being a ycs member as it strengthens my faith.
Plis Pope Benedict XVI Continue encouraging my fellow youth from drug abuse allover the world. may God bless you
is cool for my project and i am going to dress up like him in November
This article is just what I needed to inspire me as I send a message to a 7-year old who is recovering from stomach surgery!
BEST SAINT EVA