Alexander I
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Pope Alexander I
Biography:
A Roman. His father possibly also named Alexander.Started the 'blessing of houses'
He is supposed to have introduced the custom of blessing houses with salt and water to protect against evil; however, most scholars, including church historian Louis Duchesne, believe this was a common pagan custom of that time.The Last Supper as part of the Mass
Seventh century authors in The Liber Pontificalis credit Alexander I with having added the Qui Pridie, or Last Supper tradition, into the Mass. Scholars today however believe this wasn't included until much later.Death
The tradition that he was beheaded under Emperor Trajan is believed to be a confusion with another person named St. Alexander, who was not a bishop, but was a martyr under Emperor Hadrian's persecution.The tradition was that he had been imprisoned, and while there, he converted his jailor St. Quirinus, and the jailor's daughter, St Balbina. He was tortured and later beheaded on the Via Nomentana in Rome, along with a priest named Eventulus and a deacon named Theodulus.
His body is believed to have been buried on the Via Nomentana. In 834, during a period when payment for corpses of saints was at a height, his grave was said to have been exhumed, and parts transferred to the church of Freising in Bavaria as relics.
Eusebius (275-339) wrote in his Ecclesiastical History, that Alexander had actually lived past Emporer Trajan, and died in the third year of Emperor Hadrian's reign, which would be closer to 120 AD.
Feast Day
His Feast Day is celebrated on May 3rd.Rulers & Events:
98-117: Roman Emperor, Trajan
