Cessianus

Saint Cessianus was a Roman Catholic Saint and Martyr. At the age of eight, he was martyred during the persecutions of the Roman Emperor Diocletian.

Pope Gregory XVI presented Bishop Mathias Loras with the remains of St. Cessianus in 1838. Bishop Loras brought the remains with him to the United States. The Dubuque Diocese then stored the remains until 1986.

After renovations were complete at St. Raphael's Cathedral, it was decided to place the remains in the new main altar. On November 23, 1986, the wooden box containing the remains of St. Cessianus was installed in the altar during mass, where they currently reside.