Buono

Who they were

Buono is remembered as a priest of the Roman clergy of Pope Stephen I, martyred during the persecution of the emperor Valerian. Little is known of his life beyond his priestly title, which distinguishes him in the liturgical tradition from other martyrs of the same name; tradition holds that he was arrested and condemned along with the priests Faustus and Maurus and nine other Christians, and beheaded on the Via Latina on 1 August, around the year 259.

After the martyrdom, a Christian named Tertullinus is said to have gathered the bodies for burial in a Roman cemetery. His memory was kept by the Roman liturgy, and in 1753 a body identified with him was translated from the catacomb of Priscilla to the Abruzzo town that now bears his name, San Buono, where he remains patron and his relics are venerated.

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

Roman martyr and priest of Pope Stephen I's clergy, beheaded on the Via Latina during the persecution of Valerian with Saints Faustus, Maurus and nine companions; feast 1 August.

Connected on this site

• Stephen I Saint
  “Buono is remembered as a priest of the Roman clergy of Pope Stephen I, martyred during the persecution of the emperor Valerian.” — this site's research