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Article: January 30 + Saint Martina

January 30 + Saint Martina - VENXARA®

January 30 + Saint Martina

Martina was a noble virgin of Rome and the daughter of a Consul. Having lost her parents as a child and being exceedingly fervent as a Christian, she was charitable to the poor and distributed among them her immense riches.

During the reign of Alexander Severus, she was ordered to worship false gods but she courageously refused. Because of her refusal, she was several times scourged, her flesh was torn with iron hooks and nails, and her whole body was cut with sharp swords. She was scalded with boiling oil and was condemned to be devoured by wild beasts in the amphitheater. But being miraculously left untouched by them, she was thrown on a burning pile, from which she also escaped unhurt.

Some of the men that had inflicted these tortures upon her were touched by the grace of God and embraced Christianity. They suffered many tortures but gained the glorious palm of martyrdom by being beheaded.

The prayers of Martina were powerful with God. Earthquakes shook the city, fire fell from the heavens in the midst of loud thunder, and the temples and false idols were destroyed. More than once, milk flowed from her wounds together with the blood and a sweet fragrance was perceived by the bystanders. Sometimes she was seen raised up and placed on a beautiful throne singing the divine praises surrounded by heavenly spirits.

Vexed by these prodigies and, above all, by her constancy, the judge ordered her to be beheaded. Upon her execution in the year 228, a voice from heaven was heard calling Martina to ascend. The whole city trembled and many of the idolaters were converted.

Martina was martyred during the Pontificate of Pope Urban the First. Under the Pontificate of Pope Urban the Eighth, her body was discovered in an ancient Church, together with the Holy Martyrs Concordius, Epiphanius and Companions.

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