Pope Saint Telesphorus

Also known as

• Telesforo

Memorial

• 5 January (Latin Church)
• 22 February (Greek Church)

Profile

Greek, probably from Calabria. Pope. Celebrated Easter on Sunday but maintained fellowship with communities that did not. Started the tradition of Christmas Midnight Mass, and decided that the Gloria should be sung. Some legends say he was a hermit before his election, and that he instituted the tradition of Lent, but these are doubtful. Martyred, possibly due to conversions caused by his preaching.

Papal Ascension

• 128 to 129

Died

• martyred 138 to 139

Canonized

• Pre-Congregation

Representation

• pope with a chalice over which three Hosts hover (may refer to the celebration of Christmas with three Masses said to represent the temporal, spiritual, and eternal birth of Christ)
• pope with a chalice with a nearby club (possibly an indication of his martyrdom)

Additional Information

• Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
• Catholic Encyclopedia
• Christ’s Faithful People
• Ecole Glossary
• Lives of the Saints, by Father Alban Butler
• Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints

MLA Citation

• “Pope Saint Telesphorus“. Saints.SQPN.com. 13 January 2013. Web. 21 May 2013. <>