The Saint of October 26, Sant'Evaristo, who is he, prayer

Tomorrow, October 26, the Church commemorates Sant'Evaristo.

We know very little about the figure of Evaristo, one of the first Pontiffs in the history of the Church, about whom partial, if not contradictory, information is often reported.

Fifth bishop of Rome after Pietro, Lino, Cleto and Clemente, Evaristo would have operated between 96 and 117 under the empire of Domitian, Nerva and Traiano.

An exceptionally peaceful period for the Christians of Rome, and which would have allowed the Pontiff - as all religious leaders then called themselves - to regulate and consolidate the ecclesiastical organization of the capital.

Il Liber Pontificalis he reports that Evaristo was the first to assign the titles to the priests of the city and that he ordained seven deacons to help him in the liturgical celebrations.

The practice of public blessing began after the celebration of the civil marriage. However, this affirmation of the Liber is devoid of any foundation, since it attributes to Evaristo a later institution than the Church of Rome.

More worthy of faith is the affirmation of the Liber Pontificalis that indicates his burial at the tomb of Peter, even if another tradition says he is buried in the church of Santa Maria Maggiore alla Pietrasanta in Naples.

The martyrdom of Evaristo, although traditional, is not historically proven.

He was probably buried near the tomb of St. Peter in the Vatican Necropolis.

Two epistles are attributed to Pope Evaristo, which are part of that complex of medieval forgeries known as the pseudoisidorian decretals.

PRAYER

Hate,

than in Pope Sant'Evaristo

you gave to the universal Church

an admirable shepherd

by doctrine and holiness of life,

grant us,

that we venerate him teacher and protector,

to burn before you

for the flame of charity

and to shine before men

for the light of good works.

We ask you for Christ our Lord.

Amen.

- 3 Glory to the Father ...

- Sant'Evaristo, pray for us