St. Lazarus of Milan

Lazarus (or Lazzaro) was elected bishop of Milan, Italy, around the year 439, a time when the Ostrogoths controlled the region. According to tradition, he popularized the penitential “Rogation” litanies, praying for protection for the city and its people. Little else is known about his life, although he might have imitated Pope Saint Leo the Great in working to stop the spread of the Manichean heresy (which saw the created world as intrinsically evil). Saint Lazarus died on March 14, 450, and is remembered on that date.