St. Florian
Feast 05-04
Patron of
About
Florian was a Roman army officer in the third century, stationed in Noricum, in present-day Austria. He was secretly a Christian and, according to tradition, was responsible for organizing fire brigades in the Roman military, making him the natural patron of firefighters.
During the persecution of the emperor Diocletian, Florian refused to sacrifice to the gods and surrendered himself to the authorities. He was scourged and, around 304, was thrown into the river Enns with a millstone tied around his neck. His body was recovered and buried by a pious woman named Valeria.
Florian is venerated especially in Austria, Poland, and southern Germany, where his image appears on countless fire stations and fire engines. He is invoked against fire, floods, and drowning, and his feast is celebrated on May 4.
Suggested prayer
O God, who gave St. Florian courage to surrender himself for the faith and to be thrown into the river with a millstone, grant through his intercession protection to firefighters and to all who risk their lives against fire and flood. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
