Candida the Elder

Saint

Candida the Elder
Luca Giordano, The Patron Saints of Naples (Baculus, Euphebius, Francis Borgia, Aspren, and Candida the Elder (kneeling)) adoring the Crucifix, 17th century. Palazzo Reale, Naples.
Virgin
BornNaples
Died78 AD
Naples, Italy, Roman Empire
Venerated inRoman Catholic Church
FeastSeptember 4
PatronageNaples, Dining Clubs

Candida the Elder (Italian: Candida la Vecchia) (died 78 AD) was a supposed early Christian saint and resident of Naples, Italy.

According to her legend, Candida was an elderly woman who hospitably welcomed Peter the Apostle, when he was passing through Naples on his way to Rome.[1] The woman was cured of an illness by Peter and converted to Christianity.[2] She was baptized by Peter and later converted Aspren, the first bishop of Naples, to Christianity.[3]

She is one of the patron saints of Naples. Basil Watkins says she probably never existed. Her name has been deleted from the revised Roman Martyrology.[4]

Notes

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  1. ^ Monks of Ramsgate. "Candida the Elder". Book of Saints 1921. CatholicSaints.Info. 26 September 2012Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ "Sant' Aspreno di Napoli". Santi e Beati. April 19, 2002.
  3. ^ Dunbar, Agnes Baillie Cunninghame. A Dictionary of Saintly Women United Kingdom, Bell, 1904. p. 142
  4. ^ Watkins, Basil (2015-11-19). The Book of Saints: A Comprehensive Biographical Dictionary. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-0-567-66415-0.