May 28: Saint Emilio, martyr

Emilio - martyred like St. Stephen

There is no certain information about the life of Emilio. Tradition places him as having lived around the 1st century and having been Bishop of Cagliari on the island of Sardinia.

Saint Emilio, together with Saints Felix, Priamo and Feliciano, is celebrated today and is most likely one of the four Sardinian martyrs who are commemorated in the Martyrology of St. Jerome. In Sardinia he is venerated in various places, especially in the town Sestu.

It is said that he was martyred during Nero's persecution, to have died by stoning in Cagliari near Porta Cabagna. On the site of his martyrdom today stands a Romanesque church. However, there are many saints who have the name of Emilio [Emile], and he is also know as Emiliano and Gemiliano, variations of the same name.

Tradition also has it that another Emilio, Bishop of Benevento in southern Italy, although present in the first Episcopal lists, is not considered a saint as there is no trace of his presumed sanctity in the Benevento liturgical sources.