Servulus

Saint Servulus was a man paralyzed from childhood, who lived on alms in the porch of the church of Saint Clement in Rome. His mother and brother had carried him there, and what he could spare from the gifts he shared with other poor people. He spent his time in prayer and sang praises to God, listening closely to the readings from Scripture offered by believers who passed by.

When he felt his end drawing near, he asked the poor and the pilgrims to sing psalms beside him; suddenly he bade them be silent, saying that he heard a sweet melody in heaven. He reposed soon afterwards, around 590. Saint Gregory the Great, who seems to have known him, tells the story in one of his homilies and in the Dialogues. He is a saint of the undivided Church, remembered on 23 December in the Western calendar (new style).