(ABOUT A.D. 449.)
[Roman Martyrology. He died on March 14th, but as by the Milan use
no saint is commemorated in Lent, his festival has been there thrown
back to Feb. 11th; and adopted thence into the Roman Martyrology.
His life from scattered notices is given by Bollandus.]
Of the acts of this saint, who was bishop of Milan before 440, but in
what year consecrated is unknown, we have scarcely any records. He
lived in the stormy time of the Gothic invasion of Italy. It is
disputed whether he or S. Mamertus, bishop of Vienne, was the first to
institute the use of litanies. It is certain that Bishop Lazarus
ordered their use for three days in succession in all the principal
churches of Milan.