Saints Faustinus and Jovita

Martyrs (d. ca. 120)

Their story

+ These brothers were born in the region of Lombardy, Italy.

+ Tradition relates that Jovtia, a priest, and Faustinus, a deacon, were fearless in preaching the Gospel and condemned to death by the Emperor Hadrian.

+ After suffering extreme torture, the two were beheaded in Brescia, Italy, around the year 120.

+ Because of the fantastic legends surrounding the lives of these two martyrs, their commemoration was removed from the liturgical calendar in the reforms of 1969, although their names are still included in the Roman Martyrology (the Church’s official list of saints).

For reflection

“Holy men shed their glorious blood for the Lord; they loved Christ in their life, they imitated him in their death, and therefore were crowned in triumph.”—Entrance Antiphon for the Mass of the Common of Several Martyrs

Prayer

Receive, holy Father, the offerings we bring in commemoration of the holy Martyrs, and grant that we, your servants, may be found steadfast in confessing your name. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

(from The Roman Missal: Common of Martyrs—For Several Martyrs Outside the Easter Season)

Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.