Catholic saint biography

St. Anastasius I

Commemoration:
December 19
Lived:
d. 401 — Rome

December 19 is a Catholic commemoration recorded by Nominis. This daily reading does not determine the Mass or liturgical rank; local calendars and higher-ranking celebrations can differ.

Why dates and liturgical observances can differ

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Artwork depicting Anastasius I
Artwork depicting Anastasius I. Manuel Rodríguez y Pérez de Tudela (1866-1926) · Source ↗ · Public domain · Resized for the web; no cropping or retouching.

Biography

Anastasius I was pope from 399 to 401. Jerome praised his simplicity and pastoral concern. His brief pontificate coincided with disputes about the writings of Origen, and Catholic sources remember his resistance to teaching he judged incompatible with the faith of the Church.

The same account emphasizes care for Christians who had faltered under persecution and sought to return. This combination of doctrinal responsibility and concern for reconciliation offers a more complete outline than presenting him only as a figure in theological controversy. His burial in Rome is recorded by the Martyrology, and his commemoration is December 19. He should not be confused with later popes named Anastasius.

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From reading to reflection

What will you carry with you?

After reading about St. Anastasius I, take a moment to consider:

  1. Which event or decision in this life stood out to you?
  2. What virtue would you like to understand or practice more deeply?
  3. What small action could you take today in response?

These are reflection prompts from Saint Discovery, not quotations from the saint.

Sources and further reading

Biography source comparison recorded on . This is an AI-assisted comparison, not independent human or ecclesiastical approval.

What the recorded review covers

Individual Catholic institutional source review; original concise factual summary. Checked against all existing canonical directory identities and aliases. Individual person, not a group or an observance; original English biography written from the linked Catholic sources.

A source list helps you check an account; it does not establish that every claim is certain. Follow the biography’s qualifications about historical evidence, traditions and feast calendars.

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