March 26: Saint Castulus, Martyr

In the Service of God and rejection of Power

There is not much information about Castulus (or Castolo). In the Martyrologium Hieronymianum, Castulus is commemorated on March 26 and together with another martyr on January 12.

The information we have comes from the Passio of Saint Sebastian, according to which Castulus, a cubicularius (chamberlain) or perhaps the treasurer of emperor Diocletian, sheltered many Christians in the imperial palace on the Palatine Hill.

It was Saint Castulus who introduced Saint Sebastian at court; after converting, Sebastian devoted himself to assisting imprisoned Christians. Castulus, baptized by Pope Caius, converted many people together with his friend Tiburtius. He was betrayed by the apostate Torquatus, who denounced him to the Prefect of Rome. In A.D. 286 he was arrested and, after enduring torture, was thrown into a pit and buried alive in a pozzolana quarry along the Via Labicana.

His wife, Irene of Rome, is a saint as well and is venerated on January 22. Pope Paschal I transferred the relics of Castulus and his wife to the Basilica of Santa Prassede.