Saint of the Day – 3 January – Saint Daniel of Padua (Died 168) Deacon Martyr, Missionary, Evangeliser. Born in Italy, tradition says that he was originally a Jew but was converted by Saint Prosdocimus (Died c100), the first Bishop of Padua, who he assisted in evangelising north-eastern Italy. He was Ordained a Deacon and helped the Bishop preach the Gospel. Patronages – of lost articles, the blind and of eye diseases, prisoners, women whose husbands are away from home at war and he is considered the Patron Saint of Treviso and is also one of four Patron Saints of Padua, along with Saints Anthony of Padua, Prosdocimus and Justina of Padua. Also known as – Daniele, Danilo. Additional Memorial – 17 February on some calenders.
According to tradition, Daniel was Martyred in the year 168 under Emperor Marcus Aurelius (161-180), nailed to a table. However, it is more likely that he died in the early 4th Century in the persecutions under the Emperor Diocletian (284-305). The Roman Martyrology gives no further information.
The traditions about Daniel were forgotten but his remains were discovered many Centuries later. According to the legend, the core of which seems certain, the Martyr appeared to a blind man in Tuscia and invited him to receive the grace of sight in the oratory of St Prosdocimus in Padua, where Daniel’s tomb lay, completely ignored. The miraculous cure was followed by a diligent search, which led to the discovery of a marble sarcophagus. The Martyr lay there, as on the day he was killed. The body, lying on a wooden slab and covered with a slab of marble, had been pierced by many long nails. An inscription said:
“Hic corpus Danielis martyris et levitae quiescit – This is the body of Daniel, Martyr and Deacon.”
Bishop Uldericus was present at the first identification and, on 3 January 1076 he had the sarcophagus solemnly processed into the new Cathedral of Santa Maria within the City walls. To appease the opposition of the Monks of Santa Justina and the local population of the place, he built a Chapel dedicated to St Daniel on the site where the Parish Church of the same name now stands – the Statue depicted below is situate on the facade. The Martyr’s remains lay under the High Altar in the Cathedral until in 1592 when they were moved to the crypt in the new Cathedral.
In 1953, the sarcophagus was placed in another Chapel and then Daniel’s original sarcophagus was freed from the marble and bronze which had hidden it. It was the same one in which the Martyr had been found, an old Roman sarcophagus of Carrara marble which had had the old pagan decoration removed, probably at the time it was discovered.
Daniel is celebrated in the Diocese of Padua, as a Patron Saint, on 3 January the date of the first translation. This day is also in the general Roman Martyrology, while the day in the edition for the Regular Canons was 17 February.
Daniel is depicted in art as a Deacon wearing a Dalmatic, holding a towel and wash basin. He is also often depicted with a Church or City model and a banner. He is invoked by wives with men away at war. He is also invoked in cases of imprisonment, the blind and eye disorders and lost articles.
AnaStpaul 