TODAY'S SAINT (Optatus of Milevis)

OPTATUS OF MILEVIS

(d. 387)

Bishop of Milevis, Father of the Church

 

 

Little is know about Optatus, though it appears he was raised a pagan and was a late convert to Christianity. He survived fourth-century persecutions and rose in the Church to become bishop of Milevis, Numidia (now Algeria), inn North Africa. In a series of six treatises, he defended the orthodox doctrine of the Church in its battle with the Donatist heresy.

     Optatus died about 3877. Although there is no sigh that he  ever received a cultus, and early martyrologies and calendars do not mention him, his name was latter inserted in the Roman Martyrology under June 4.

     In art, Optatus is depicted as an early Christian bishop trampling heretics.

 

      Feast: June 4

 

FURTHER READING

www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=4913