Celestine I

Who they were

Celestine, a Roman, became pope in 422 without opposition. A close friend of St Augustine, after his death he defended his memory against the Semipelagians.

He sent Palladius as bishop to the Irish in 431, and afterwards St Patrick received his commission. He is honoured in the Greek Church too for condemning Nestorius. He died on 26 July 432.

The miracles

There was never a formal cause: he has been honoured as a saint since before the Church's formal processes began.

Why that counted as sanctity

A pope who defended the faith and sent missionaries to Ireland.

Connected on this site

• Cyril of Alexandria Saint
  “He was instrumental in the condemnation of Nestorius in the Council of Ephesus when Cyril of Alexandria appealed him to make a decision; in response, Celestine delegated to Cyril the job of condemning Nestorius if he did not recant his teachings.” — Wikipedia
• Germanus of Auxerre Saint
  “He supported the mission of the Gallic bishops that sent Germanus of Auxerre in 429, to Britain to address Pelagianism, and later commissioned Palladius as bishop to the Scots of Ireland and northern Britain.” — Wikipedia