Saint Jerome, describes Pope Damasus I as “an incomparable person, learned in the Scriptures, a doctor of the Church, who loved chastity and heard its praises with pleasure.” Damasus was born in 304 into a Spanish family in Rome. His father, a widower became a priest after the demise of his wife. Damasus himself was an Archdeacon of the Roman Church till 355 A D. When Pope Liberius was banished to Berda, Damasus went into exile with him. Upon the death of Pope Liberius in 366, Damasus succeeded him as the next Pope.

His papacy was contested by Ursinus; the holy pope however did not protest this opposition. It was the Emperor Valentinian who acted against the opposer.
Damasus was active in suppressing heresy and promoting the primacy of Rome. He condemned the unorthodox teachings of Macedonius and Apollinaris in the two synods of AD 368 and 369. Damasus was the first Pope to denote Rome as the Apostolic See, clearly distinguishing it as that established by the Apostle Saint Peter.

He worked to resolve the relations between the Church of Rome and the Church of Antioch. He encouraged the veneration of martyrs. He commissioned Saint Jerome to prepare the correct Latin version of the Holy Bible, known as the Vulgate, and also ordered Psalms to be sung accordingly. He also changed the liturgical language of the Church from Greek to Latin.

Pope Damasus presided over the Council of Rome in 382 and determined the canon, the official list of Sacred Scripture. The list is the first ecclesiastical decree on the Church’s canonical books of the Holy Bible. It is the same canon that is used by the Catholic Church today. Saint Damasus was also an active builder and restorer of churches.

He is known as the Patron Saint of Archaeologists.

Other Saints of the Day :
Saint Daniel the Stylite
Saint Barsabas
Saint Eutychius the Martyr
Saint Cian of Wales

Please click here to read the earlier article in this series