SAINT URBAN

Saint Urban, Pope and Martyr, succeeded Saint Calixtus in the year 223. In the acts of Saint Cecily Saint Urban is said to have encouraged the martyrs and converted many idolaters.

It appears from Fortunatus and several ancient missals that the festival of Saint Urban was celebrated in France with particular devotion in the sixth age. A very old church stood on the Appian road, dedicated to God in his honor, near the place where he was first interred in the cemetery of Praetextatus.

His body was discovered together with those of SS. Cecily, Tiburtius and Valerian in 821. This place was translated by pope Paschal into the church of Saint Cecily. Papebroke shows that it is the body of another martyr of the same name which Nicholas I sent in 862 to the monks of Saint Germanus of Auxerre. It now adorns the monastery of Saint Urban in the diocese of Challons on the Marne. It is exposed in a silver shrine.

Feastday is May 25.