Feastday: May 10
Patron: of Taranto, Invoked for protection from plagues, droughts and storms
Death: 5th century
Bishop of Taranto, in southern Italy, an Irish churchman. He was born in Munster, Ireland, and became a student and then headmaster of Lismore, the monastic school in his home region. On his return from a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, he was elected to the see of Taranto. He is patron of Taranto.
Irish monk
Saint Catald of Taranto (a.k.a. Cataldus, Cathaluds, Cathaldus, Cat(t)aldo, Cathal), Irish monk, fl. 7th century.
Biography
His monastery was in Lismore, County Waterford but his apparent desire for a life of solitude saw him venture off to Jerusalem on a pilgrimage.
Chapel at San Cataldo
On his return home his ship was wrecked off the Italian coast, near the city of Taranto. The people here appear to have encouraged the monk to become their bishop, and he rose to become their archbishop. Some of the miracles claimed in Catald's name include protecting the city against the plague and floods that, apparently, had occurred in neighbouring areas.
When his coffin was reopened it allegedly contained a golden Celtic cross and a stick carved from Irish oak featuring Celtic design which was to become Catald's emblem.
Legacy
The Italian towns of San Cataldo (there is such a town in Sicily, and a modern sea resort in the Apulian Province of Lecce) are believed to have been named in his honour, and his feast day is 10 May.
Saint Cathal was the patron of the Sicilian Normans.
The parish church in Montenero Sabino, province of Rieti, in the region of the Lazio, is dedicated to San Cataldo.
San Cataldo is the patron saint of Supino, located in the province of Frosinone and the region of Lazio.
