2006-09-12 09:49:47 · 2 answers · asked by rkgiraffe 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Peter Gonzalez, is also called St Elmo. He was born in 1190 in Astorga, Spain.
St Erasmus, ca 303, is also called St Elmo.
They are both patrons of sailors, St Erasmus of all sailors, and Peter Gonzalez of Spanish and Portuguese sailors.
St Elmo's Fire is "St. Elmo's fire is a pale electrical discharge sometimes seen on stormy nights on the tips of spires, about the decks and rigging of ships, in the shape of a ball or brush, singly or in pairs, particularly at the mastheads and yardarms. The mariners believed them to be the souls of the departed, whence they are also called corposant (corpo santo). The ancients called them Helena fire when seen singly, and Castor and Pollux when in pairs."
2006-09-12 12:11:26 · answer #1 · answered by mary_n_the_lamb 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The name St. Elmo is an Italian corruption of St. Erasmus. He was a 4th. Cent. Syrian bishop who became known as the patron saint of sailors.
2006-09-12 18:59:16 · answer #2 · answered by U.K.Export 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋