Saint Candidus

Infobox Saint
name= Saint Candidus
birth_date=
death_date=~287 AD
feast_day= September 22
venerated_in= Roman Catholic Church


imagesize= 150px
caption= "Saint Candidus", by Ayne Bru, 16th century
birth_place=
death_place= Saint Maurice-en-Valais
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beatified_date=
beatified_place=
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canonized_date=
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attributes=Military attire
patronage=
major_shrine= Abbaye de Saint-Maurice d'Agaune
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Saint Candidus (d. 287 AD) was, according to legend, a commander of the Theban Legion. The "Golden Legend" states: "And the noble man, Maurice, was duke of this holy legion; and they that governed under him, which bare the banners, were named Saint Candidus, Saint Innocent, Saint Exsuperius, Saint Victor, and Saint Constantine, all these were captains." [ [http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/golden277.htm The Golden
] at Catholic-Forum.com]

Candidus is called Maurice's "senator militum" or staff officer. [John Bury, "A Source for El Greco's 'St. Maurice'", "Burlington Magazine", Vol. 126, No. 972 (Mar. 1984), pp. 144-148.] He opposed Maximian, who had ordered them to practice non-Christian rites in his name, stating that "we are your soldiers, but we are also servants of the true God. We cannot renounce Him who is our Creator and Master, and also yours even though you reject Him." [ [http://www.ichrusa.com/saintsalive/candius.htm St Candidus] at Saints Alive! website]

Candidus, along with many others, is said to have been martyred at the Swiss town of Saint Maurice-en-Valais, then called "Agaunum". His feast day is September 22.

Candidus' relics were stored in a 6th century reliquary at the Abbaye de Saint-Maurice d'Agaune. There was also an embossed silver bust of Candidus. [ [http://switzerland.isyours.com/E/guide/valais/stmaurice.html St Maurice] , Switzerland] [ [http://www.cartantica.it/pages/LegioneTebea.asp La Legione Tebea ] ]

Gallery

Other saints with this name

*Candidus of Armenia, Armenian martyr venerated on 10 March.
*Candidus of Rome, a Roman martyr buried on the Esquiline Hill, whose feast day is October 3. [ [http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=2582 St. Candidus] at Catholic.org]
*Candidus the Martyr, Martyr whose feast day is February 2. [ [http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintc5w.htm Candidus] at Catholic-Forum.com]

Notes

External links

* [http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintc4t.htm Saint Candidus]
* [http://www.ichrusa.com/saintsalive/candius.htm Relics of Saint Candidus]