Feast Day: January 30
Patronage: Rome (co-patron), nursing mothers, those suffering from ulcers
Attributes: Lion, sword, palm of martyrdom
Early Life
Saint Martina was a noble Roman maiden, born into a distinguished Christian family during the early third century, under the reign of the Emperor Alexander Severus. Orphaned at a young age, she inherited considerable wealth, but chose to live in chastity and piety, distributing her fortune to the poor and dedicating her life to God.
Despite the relative leniency of Emperor Alexander Severus toward Christians compared to his predecessors, there remained a simmering hostility toward the Church, and persecution continued sporadically, often at the instigation of local magistrates or mobs.
Martyrdom
Martina was brought before the Roman tribunal for refusing to renounce her Christian faith and to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods. Her steadfastness in professing Christ provoked the fury of her persecutors, and she was subjected to a series of cruel tortures:
- Scourging and beating: She was beaten and scourged in public, yet miraculously survived without renouncing the Faith.
- Wild beasts: She was thrown to lions in the amphitheater, but the beasts did not harm her.
- Burning: She was then subjected to fire, yet the flames left her untouched.
- Beheading: Finally, she was beheaded by the sword, thus receiving the crown of martyrdom around the year 228.
Her constancy and miraculous preservation through so many torments became a powerful testimony to the truth of Christianity. Many who witnessed her sufferings and courage were converted to the Faith and, according to tradition, several were martyred soon after.
Veneration and Relics
Her relics were rediscovered in 1634 beneath the ruins of an ancient church near the Forum Romanum. Pope Urban VIII personally oversaw the restoration of her veneration. Deeply moved by the discovery, he composed hymns in her honor and rededicated the Church of Santi Luca e Martina, located near the Arch of Septimius Severus in the Roman Forum.
Saint Martina is honored in the Traditional Roman Martyrology on January 30th with the following entry:
At Rome, the holy virgin and martyr Martina, who, under Emperor Alexander and the judge Ulpius, was subjected to various torments and finally beheaded for the name of Christ, gaining the palm of martyrdom.
Spiritual Reflection
Saint Martina’s life is a radiant example of the virginal purity and unflinching courage with which so many early Christian women embraced martyrdom. She reminds us that divine grace can render the soul victorious over the most terrible trials when it remains united to Christ in faith and love.
“Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
(Matthew 5:10)