Castulus

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Saint Castulus
Died	286 AD, Rome
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church
Feast	March 26; March 27 (Freising, Munich); January 22 (Irene of Rome)
Attributes	spade
Patronage	shepherds; invoked against erysipelas, lightning, horse theft, wildfires, and drowning.^[1]
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Saint Castulus (d. 286) is venerated as a martyr. According to tradition, he was the chamberlain (or officer, valet) of Emperor Diocletian and the husband of Irene of Rome, also venerated as a saint.^[2]

A convert to the Christian religion, he sheltered Christians in his home and arranged for religious services inside the palace of the emperor. Among those he sheltered were Mark and Marcellian.^[3] He is one of the saints associated with the life and legend of Saint Sebastian.

With his friend Saint Tiburtius, he converted many men and woman to Christianity and brought them to Pope Saint Caius to be baptized.^[4] He was betrayed by an apostate named Torquatus and taken before Fabian, prefect of the city.^[5]

Castulus was tortured and executed by being buried alive in a sand pit on the Via Labicana. According to tradition, Irene subsequently buried the body of the martyred Sebastian. She was later martyred herself, around 288 AD.

[edit] Veneration

A church dedicated to him at Rome, built on the site of his martyrdom, existed from at least the seventh century.

Castulus was venerated in Bavaria after relics of his were taken to Moosburg. Duke Heinrich der Löwe started the construction of the Kastulus Minster (cathedral) in 1171.

In 1604, relics were also brought to Landshut.^[6] His relics still rest in Landshut's church of St. Martin's.