Pope Urban I

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Pope Saint Urban I was pope from 222 to 230.

Born in Rome, Italy, he came to the See of Rome in the year that Roman Emperor Elagabalus was assassinated and served during the reign of Emperor Alexander Severus. He had been preceded by Callixtus I and was followed by Pontian.

He is mentioned by Eusebius in his history and is named in an inscription in the Coemeterium Callisti, but of his life nothing is known. Urban was elected pope after the death of Callixtus I on 14 October 222.

Urban I is the first pope whose reign can be definitely dated. Seven of his successors have taken his name.

To Pope Urban is attributed a decree concerning the donations of the faithful at Mass:

"The gifts of the faithful that are offered to the Lord can only be used for ecclesiastical purposes, for the common good of the Christian community, and for the poor; for they are the consecrated gifts of the faithful, the atonement offering of sinners, and the patrimony of the needy.

Legend

The story that was once included in the Catholic Church's Breviary on 25 May speaks of his numerous converts, among whom were Valerianus, husband of Saint Cecilia, and his brother Tiburtius, and states that he suffered martyrdom and was buried in the Coemetarium Praetextati. In reality Pope Urban I, whose feast as a saint is on 19 May, but was confused with a Saint Urban whose feast was on 25 May and whom the ancient liturgical books describe as a martyr bishop of a place near Rome.

The Urban of legend was credited with the miracle of toppling an idol through prayer. It is claimed that after this act Urban was beaten and tortured before being sentenced to death by beheading.

He is invoked against storm and lightning and represented by: Vine and grapes; a fallen idol beneath broken column; a scourge; a stake and his severed head.

Art

Urban is found in various pieces of artwork that present him as a composite of these two Urbans. Often he is found sitting wearing the Papal Tiara, Papal robes and holding a sword pointed towards the ground. An example of such a depiction. Otherwise Urban may be portrayed wearing Papal garb and a Bishop's Mitre whilst holding a bible and a bunch of grapes. Examples: 1 and 2

Other less common depictions of Pope Urban are:

after his beheading, with the papal tiara near him.
as idols fall from a column while he is beheaded;
scourged at the stake;
seated in a landscape as a young man (Saint Valerian) kneels before him and a priest holds a book.

References

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Last updated on Monday March 03, 2008 at 17:24:13 PST (GMT -0800)
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