Augusto de Calatia

Who they were

Augustus came from North Africa, arriving in Campania in the fifth century as an exile during the Vandal persecutions of Genseric. According to tradition, he was one of twelve African clergy who, set adrift on an old ship without oars or sail, landed miraculously on the coast of Campania. The Roman Martyrology keeps his memory on 1 September, alongside his companions Priscus, Castrensis, Tammaro and others.

He is regarded as the first bishop of ancient Calatia, on the Appian Way, serving in the second half of the fifth century; he died around 490 and was buried in the monastery of Saint Mary Magdalene and Saint Marcian near Maddaloni. When the Saracens destroyed Calatia in the ninth century, the bishop's seat moved to Caserta Vecchia, which inherited devotion to him as its first bishop; a Lombard parchment of 1020 records a church dedicated to him, and in 1992 Pope John Paul II placed Caserta under his protection.

The miracles

There was never a formal cause: he has been honoured as a saint since before the Church's formal processes began.

Why that counted as sanctity

First bishop of Calatia, said to be one of twelve North African clergy who crossed to Campania miraculously during the Vandal persecutions; died around 490.

Connected on this site

• John Paul II Saint
  “When the Saracens destroyed Calatia in the ninth century, the bishop's seat moved to Caserta Vecchia, which inherited devotion to him as its first bishop; a Lombard parchment of 1020 records a church dedicated to him, and in 1992 Pope John Paul II placed Caserta under his protection.” — this site's research
• Mary Magdalene Saint
  “He is regarded as the first bishop of ancient Calatia, on the Appian Way, serving in the second half of the fifth century; he died around 490 and was buried in the monastery of Saint Mary Magdalene and Saint Marcian near Maddaloni.” — this site's research