Justus of Urgell

Saint Justus of Urgell was a Spanish bishop and saint, the first bishop of Urgell known from sources (527 to 546), who took part in the Second Council of Toledo in 527. He died after 3 November 546. He is a locally venerated saint of the diocese of Urgell, commemorated on 28 May.

His life is known only from Isidore of Seville's "On Illustrious Men" (chapter 34) and the acts of the councils in which he took part. Isidore says Justus had three brothers, also bishops or saints: Nebridius, bishop of Egara (today Terrassa) and then of Barcelona, Elpidius, perhaps bishop of Huesca, and Justinian, bishop of Valencia. The date at which Justus came to the see of Urgell is not known. He is first mentioned in documents as a participant in the Second Council of Toledo, of 17 May 527, but some historians, by the order of his signature on the acts of the councils, think he may have become bishop earlier (but not before 517). He also took part in the councils of Lleida (8 August 546) and Valencia (3 November 546), after which nothing is known of him. His successor in the see of Urgell was probably Epigonius, mentioned as bishop about 550.

He was a known ecclesiastical writer of his time. His most important work is a commentary on the Song of Songs, with theological allegorical interpretations, which Isidore describes as brief but well written, and which he dedicated to Sergius, archbishop of Tarragona. His letter to Sergius also survives, and a prayer in honour of the Holy Martyr Vincent, written probably at the request of his brother Justinian of Valencia. He began to be venerated as a saint very early in the diocese of Urgell: a document of 1079 mentions an altar dedicated to him in the cathedral of Seu d'Urgell. Then there is no news of veneration until the fifteenth century, when evidence of the celebration of his day appears again. Justus was not officially canonized by the Catholic Church; his veneration rests on the old custom of the diocese. The day of 28 May is a local tradition, not tied to any known event in his life, and the Roman Martyrology has long had him on 28 May.