Who is Saint Expedite?
Saint Expedite is a folk saint that is massively popular amongst those who need a fast solution to a situation they’re facing. He’s often depicted as a Roman soldier holding a cross inscribed with the word HODIE (Latin for “today”), and is stepping on a crow that has a banner in it’s mouth that reads CRAS (Latin for “tomorrow”).
To say that his following has grown rapidly across the world would be a massive understatement.
In fact, his devotees can be found venerating him at home, in church, during New Orleans Voodoo ceremonies and depending where you are in the world… at one of many roadside shrines.
The Most Popular Origin Myth of Saint Expedite
There are a handful of origin stories regarding the veneration of Saint Expedite. However, by far the most popular legend circulated about how this saint came to be venerated comes to us from the late 18th century.
In this popular folk tale, we are told that once upon a time, a non-descript package arrived at a convent. It was a big wooden box that contained no return address or any other indication of what was actually in the box, with the exception of one word. One word had been stamped into the side of it, reading simply “Expeditus”.
The nuns opened the box to find a statue of what appeared to be a man dressed as a Roman soldier but with all the markings of what would be typical of a saint statue. They immediately made the association that the word on the outside of the box must be the name of the saint whose statue they had just unboxed.
Miracles followed and the veneration of Saint Expedite officially began.
However, this is the same story you will likely hear repeated no matter where you’re at in the world, with the details always varying slightly. Plus, St. Expeditus was designated as the patron saint of Acireale, a town in Sicily, in the year 1781. This predates the popular legend that attributes the origin of his veneration to the unboxing of a statue by nuns in the late 18th century. Historical records indicate that his cult was already well-established in various parts of Europe, including Germany, prior to this time.
Obviously, this story leaves too many gaps open for it to be taken as a historical fact.
The Real Origin Story of Saint Expedite
The real origin story of Saint Expedite is actually far less mysterious than the legends would have you believe. And yes, there was indeed a real martyr named Expeditus.
One of the handful of only recorded accounts that we have of this saint is found in the Hieronymian Martyrology. There, he is described as a light infantry soldier serving in the Legio XII Fulminata. He was one of six soldiers who, during the Diocletianic Persecution, were martyred at Melitene near modern-day Malatya, Turkey. During that period in time, Melitene was a rather significant military stronghold so this is not surprising.
The other soldiers martyred alongside Expeditus were named Hermogenes, Gaius (Caius), Aristonicus, Rufus and Galata. Each of them were also elevated to Sainthood due to their resolve to stand strong in their faith even in the face of death. Additionally, in Latin, the word ‘expeditus’ is a reference to a light infantry soldier who doesn’t have a marching pack, so this may be why this name was associated with him. The name Expeditus was also a fairly common one in the Roman Empire at that time. So, it could have been his actual name but it could also have just been a reference to him as a nameless soldier without a marching pack. He was believed to have been beheaded.
Unfortunately, that’s about all we know regarding Saint Expedite from historical records.
The name Expeditus does get mentioned a couple of other places throughout time in a religious context but nothing more than a reference by name, leaving no way to verify that it is a reference to the same person.
Symbolism of Saint Expedite
Imagery of Saint Expedite always contains a few key elements, most notably:
- A cross in his hand that reads “HODIE”
- A crow under his foot with a banner in its mouth that reads “CRAS”
- A palm frond in his other hand
If we break these down, it is easy to start to understand why he is associated with swift action…
The cross that he holds in his hand, is inscribed with the Latin word “HODIE”. The English translation of this word is “today”. With his foot, the saint is stepping on a crow that has a banner in its mouth that features the Latin word “CRAS” and the English translation of this one is “tomorrow”. The message that is being given through this imagery is that this saint is associated with acting now without delay, not waiting to do it tomorrow.
The palm frond in his hand lets us know that he was a martyr. Anytime you see a palm frond within the iconography of a saint, it’s usually there as a way to show that the saint in the image was martyred for their faith.
So just based on the imagery alone, we already know that we are looking at a martyred saint whose intercession can likely be sought out when one needs some immediate change in their life.
Unsurprisingly, there is also a popular short explanation about why he is stepping on a crow and holding a cross…
Expeditus, being a Roman soldier who had persecuted Christians, later had a change of heart and wanted to convert to Christianity. As the story goes, upon hearing of this, the devil took the form of a crow and flew around Expeditus trying to lure him away from converting by saying “cras” and finally the soon-to-be saint had enough of the bird. So he grabbed him, slammed him on the ground and stepped on him. He then lifted a cross up and yelled out “hodie!”, thereby marking his commitment to become a Christian.
Veneration of Saint Expedite Across The World
Saint Expedite has a rather large cult following that’s scattered all around the world. Some of the most common places you’ll find him being venerated includes New Orleans, Argentina, Chile, Réunion Island and anywhere else you might encounter various forms of folk magick or Catholic folk beliefs.
Saint Expedite in New Orleans
In New Orleans, Saint Expedite has built up a considerable amount of folklore and is petitioned in various spiritual or magickal traditions. The most popular veneration of Saint Expedite in the area can be seen through the lens of New Orleans Voodoo. Within the folk religion, he is often syncretized with Baron LaCroix (a lwa found within New Orleans Voodoo).
But you will also find just as many conjure doctors, witches and devout Catholics paying homage to this Saint throughout the city.
There are many places around New Orleans where you can see Saint Expedite being venerated, whether in a Catholic church or during a folk spiritual procession walking through the streets. Probably one of the most popular stops for folks visiting the city is the Our Lady of Guadalupe Church.
- Our Lady of Guadalupe Church & International Shrine of St. Jude – This church is home to NOLA’s most famous statue of Saint Expedite. If you are in the city, swing by 411 N Rampart Street to check it out
Saint Expedite in Argentina
Argentina has a rather devoted Saint Expedite following that can be seen through various smaller roadside shrines as well as official events held for the Saint in large churches. By far, Saint Expedite i the most popular Saint in the northern region of Argentina, especially amongst the poor and needy.
If you are ever in Argentina, there are a few places you can go to find a place to venerate this saint:
- San Juan Province – Bermejo Sanctuary: The most renowned shrine dedicated to San Expedito is located in Bermejo, within the Caucete Department of San Juan Province. Established in the 1990s, this sanctuary attracts tens of thousands of pilgrims annually, especially on his feast day, April 19. The devotion here began when locals attributed a miraculous recovery from alcoholism to the saint’s intercession, leading to the construction of a chapel that has since become a major pilgrimage site.
- Buenos Aires – Balvanera Neighborhood: In the heart of Buenos Aires, the Parroquia Nuestra Señora de Balvanera houses a prominent statue of San Expedito. Every 19th of the month, devotees line the sidewalks to offer prayers and petitions, with April 19 being the most significant day of celebration.
- San Miguel de Tucumán: Here, a parish originally dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary has become a focal point for San Expedito’s veneration. Monthly gatherings on the 19th see devotees offering candles and flowers, seeking the saint’s aid in pressing matters.
Saint Expedite statue at Inmaculado Corazón de María church in Tucumán, Argentina – Credit: Catholics and Cultures
A vendor selling San Expedito candles at a Tucumán church on the 19th of each month. – Credit: Catholics and Cultures
Saint Expedite in Chile
With all of the places you can find around the world where the veneration of Saint Expedite is a common thing, Chile is probably not one of the places you would typically think of. But, Chile actually has one of the strongest following of Saint Expedite. You can find devotees of the Saint all over Chile, but there is one place in particular that stands out from amongst the rest. The coastal city of Viña del Mar is known, primarily, for its beaches but it is also the home to a rather large Saint Expedite following.
In fact, there’s a church in the city that is solely dedicated to Saint Expedite. Nestled in the neighborhood of Reñaca stands the church; Parroquia Santa María de los Ángeles.
It is this church that serves as somewhat of a pilgrimage site for devotees of San Expedito. The best times to visit the church are during the summer and on the 19th of every month. And since April 19th is Saint Expedite’s feast day, you can bet that day is “the big one”.
The story of how the church came to be goes like this: a devotee of the Saint brought his image to the city and requested that a church be built in honor of Saint Expedite. Local authorities dismissed the devotee and rejected the idea to build the church. Well, the faith of the determined always wins, so some local priests, along with the devotee, prayed to Saint Expedite to help make the church a reality and in less than nine days, the plans for the church were approved.
If you ever find yourself trekking through Chile and want to make a special stop at the church, here’s the address:
- Parroquia Santa María de los Ángeles: Avenida Borgoño 14000, Reñaca, Viña del Mar, Chile
Saint Expedite on Réunion Island
There is a French island in the Indian Ocean just east of Madagascar known as Réunion Island. There are several cultures on the island, with a demographic made up of people from France, Africa, India, China and the islands of the Indian Ocean. This blending of cultures over time can be heard in the Creole language that is spoken on Réunion (Kréol Rényoné).
However, their own language isn’t the only thing that has come as a result of the intermixing of cultures on the island. It’s also home to a rather large amount of roadside shrines dedicated to Saint Expedite.
This intense devotion to the Saint can probably be attributed to a handful of reasons but the way this is practiced is visibly influenced by a mix of Catholicism, African spiritual practices and Indian Tamil traditions, all of which make up a large portion of the local spiritual landscape.
If you ever find yourself on Réunion Island, there are a few places you can find shrines to visit:
- Les Trois Bassins: A roadside shrine is situated in this area, featuring the typical red-painted structure locally associated with Saint Expedite.
- Ravine de Langevin: This shrine is located near La Passerelle.
- Saint-Philippe: In the southern part of the island, the Chapelle Saint Expédit serves as a place of worship and pilgrimage for devotees.
- Saint-Paul: Saint-Paul is a city situated on the coast of the Northwest side of the island. Throughout this area you will find several shrines to Saint Expedite.
An altar to Saint Expedite along the Des Plaines route on Réunion Island in 2005 – Photo Credit: David Monniaux
How to Petition Saint Expedite
If you have a situation that you needed resolved, like yesterday, Saint Expedite might just be able to come through for you!
Generally, the process involves lighting a candle every day while praying your petition to Saint Expedite, promising to spread his name and give him an offering, if he comes through for you. As for the offering, this is usually a poundcake. The reason that Saint Expedite is offered pound cake isn’t really set in stone. But, the way that I have always heard it is that it’s just because pound cake is so quick and easy to throw together. And since that aligns well with the sort of quickness you are requesting from him, it makes sense. However, in place of a pound cake, a glass of red wine is just as good!
A few things you will need for this:
- An image of Saint Expedite
- A glass of fresh water
- A red or green candle
- Your written petition
Find a spot in your house that you can dedicate to using for this sole purpose for the next 7-9 days.
Clean and cleanse the area that you will be using, along with all of the items you will be using. If you are using a table for this, cover it with a white or red tablecloth, if possible. At the back center of the table, place your image of St. Expedite. Place your petition face up on the left side of the image and place your candle on top of it.
On the right-hand side of the image, place a clean glass of water.
Now, light the candle and say a prayer to Saint Expedite, asking for his intercession in the situation you need help with. Here is a prayer you can use for this:
St. Expedite, time is of the essence and you know all too well the struggles that come on the heels of delay. I ask for your help with an urgent matter, please intercede for me that I may receive divine blessings without further delay.
(say your petition)
St. Expedite, patron of those with urgent needs, I seek your swift help in this situation. If you are to grant what I need, I promise to publicly spread and glorify your name.
Amen.
When you petition Saint Expedite, it will help if you are as specific as possible when asking for what you need and the date you need it to happen by. There is a common thought that this is because Saint Expedite was decapitated, so this is associated with him needing just a bit more help making sense of what you are saying to him. Once done praying, sit for a few minutes in silence before snuffing out the candle.
Come back to this spot everyday until the timeframe that you specified to Saint Expedite is up or until he has come through for you, whichever comes first.
If Saint Expedite does come through for you, you need to make sure you deliver on your promises to spread his name with a public thank you and/or give him an offering. If you do give him poundcake as an offering, it is traditional to place some coins in the top of it (usually just 3 coins and any denomination is fine). You can leave the pound cake in front of his image for 24 hours and then you can dispose of it in the woods, at the base of a tree, a church, etc. along with the coins. I also like to burn my petition when done and scatter the ash of offerings when I dispose of them.
If Saint Expedite does not come through for you, tell him thank you for listening and you can begin dismantling the spot you set up if it was only temporary. I would then recommend a reading to determine why it didn’t work and possibly determine what might be the right way to approach the issue.