Catervus

Saint Catervus (Italian: San Caterv[i]o) (possibly 4th century) is the patron saint of Tolentino. Catervus is said to have brought the Christian faith to the city. Tolentino is known to have had bishops by the fifth century.[1]

Catervus
Sarcophagus of F. Julius Catervus
Died4th century?
Feast17 October
PatronageTolentino

The Cathedral of San Catervo in Tolentino holds his relics, in his original fourth century marble sarcophagus,[2] carved with representations of the Good Shepherd and the Adoration of the Magi.[3] The cathedral seems to have been built on the site of the saint's Roman mausoleum.[4] On the tabula of the sarcophagus, his full name is given as Flavius Julius Catervus.[2] He seems to have been of noble, senatorial rank, rising to the rank of prefect. He died at the age of 56; his wife Septimia Severina had the sarcophagus constructed for both of them.[5]

Christian tradition and veneration

Catervus was martyred for bringing Christianity to Tolentino. When his sarcophagus was opened in 1455, his head was transferred to a reliquary for greater veneration.[2] It is recorded that in 1567, his body was discovered, along with those of his wife and his son Basso (Bassus).[2] Some two thousand coins were found in the sarcophagus.[6]

His feast day is celebrated on October 17.

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References
  1. Catholic Encyclopedia: "United Sees of Macerata and Tolentino"
  2. Santi e beati: San Catervo
  3. Baedeker, Italy: handbook for travellers Part II, 11th ed. 1893, p. 110; G. Wilpert, I Sarcophagi Cristiani antichi (1929-36), plates 71-73; Marco Ioli, Il sarcofago paleocristiano di Catervio nel Duomo di Tolentino, 1971, p. 40.
  4. Aldo Nestori, Alla ricerca del Mausoleo di Catervio a Tolentino.
  5. The inscription is CIL IX 5566.
  6. The coins are discussed in Giancarlo Alteri, Le monete dal sarcofago di Catervio (Istituto poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato, Libreria dello Stato) 1996.
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