Picture: Fra Filippo Lippi · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Saint Placidus
6th centurry Benedictine monk
SaintResearchedBenedictinesPre-congregation
Feast: 5 October (not on the universal Roman calendar; kept in the Roman Martyrology or local calendars)
Born
515
Died
541
Beatified
—
not needed: before formal processes
Canonised
By tradition
recognised before formal processes began
Who they were
Placidus, son of a patrician, was brought as a child to St Benedict at Subiaco. St Gregory tells how his fellow monk Maurus, sent by Benedict, ran over the water to rescue him from drowning.
He probably went with Benedict to Monte Cassino about 529. Nothing more is known of his life; the later story of his martyrdom is not historical.
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
St Benedict's young disciple, saved from the waters by obedience.
Connected on this site
- Benedict of Nursia Saint Teacher“546 (or 541) in Messina) was a Christian monk and martyr, and a disciple of Benedict of Nursia.” — Wikipedia
Sources
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), via New Advent - St. Placidus
- Wikidata Q2026066 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — Placidus (abbot) (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.