Saint of the Day – 1 June – Saint Crescentinus (Died 303) Martyr, Soldier. Died by being beheaded on 1 June 303 at Saldo, Italy. His
Relics translated to Urbino, Italy in 1068 by Blessed Mainard of Urbino. Patronages – against headache (In Urbino the Saint’s Relics are used to touch the sufferer’s head, accompanied by prayers for the cure of the pain), of Città-di-Castello, Italy, Urbino, Italy. Also known as – Crescentian, Crescentino, Crescenziano, Crescentianus.
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Città-di-Castello, in Umbria, Italy, St Crescentian, a Roman Soldier, crowned with Martyrdom under the Emperior Diocletian.”
There are no documents, nor tombstones, nor epigraphs, prior to the 7th Century which remember our Saint. According to a ‘passio’ considered by scholars to be fictitious and fabulous, dating to the 7th Century, Crescentinus, was a Roman Soldier who fled to the countryside, killed a dragon which had been terrorising the district.
After this feat of courage, Crescentinus was captured by the his pursuers and was then killed by them on 1 June during the persecution of Diocletian and buried in the place called ‘Gaddi’ or ‘Saddi’.
A Church was built on the spot in which the Bishop of the City lived, St Floridus and the Priest St Amanzius, who were also buried in the Church.
Crescentinus Relics were donated to Mainard, Bishop of Urbino or it is also thought that they were stolen. The body of the Martyr Crescentinus was found on 18 December 1360 and, as in other cases, he was considered as the Bishop of Città-di-Castello.
But the most favourable hypothesis indicates that the Relics of the Roman Soldier Martyr Crescentinus, were buried on the Via Ostiense and were sent to Città -di-Castello in an unspecified period and placed under the Altar of the Basilica.
Subsequently, as has often happened, St Crescentinud was considered a local Martyr. In 1500, he was included on 1 June in the Roman Martyrology, taking into account the ancient cult which the holy Martyr enjoyed in the area.
AnaStpaul 