Page:A Dictionary of Saintly Women Volume 1.djvu/461

ST. JUSTINA Ut St Justina (3), Nov. 30, V. M. at Garmena in Oarpetana, between Toledo and Torrijos, in the time of Diocletian. B.M. St. Justina (4) of Trieste, July 18, V. M. 289. A girl of fourteen, who was tortured on account of her religion. Zeno, one of the companions of the goYomor, was standing by during her trial, and said to her in derision of her hopes of immortal happiness, "Spouse of Christ, send me some fruit from your husband's paradise." When she was led to the place where she was to be beheaded, she gave her handkerchief to a child, saying, " Take this to Zeno and say to him, ' Justina, the servant of Christ, sends you the fruit which you asked for from her husband's paradise.' " When Zeno received the handkerchief, he said it would do to wipe his face with ; and as he did so, he was converted and began to praise the name of Jesus Christ The governor had him scourged to death with leaded whips, and he is commemorated with Justina. A similar story is told of St. Dorothea and Theo- philus ; and Sollerius seems to think it possible this may be the same story with the names changed. AA.SS. St. Justina (5), June 1, M. c. 303. Patron of Pergola, in the duchy of Urbino. Sister of St. Agapitns, of noble Spanish birth, and beheaded at the same time that he and St. Secundus were put to death in the persecution under the Emperors Maximian and Diocletian. Endoxia, a good Christian woman with whom Secundus lodged at the time of his arrest, buried them at Engubium (Gubbio) ; they are patrons of that and some other neighbouring towns. AA.SS, St. Justina (6) of Padua, Oct. 7, V. M. 303. Patron of Padua, Venice, Piaccnza, and the Congregation of the O.S.B. of Northern Italy. Kepresented with a unicorn, the emblem of virginity, and with a dagger in her breast. Daughter of King Vitalicino, who re- ceived baptism from a disciple of St. Peter. After her father's death Justina was condemned as a Christian by the Emperor Maximian, and pierced through the breast with a sword. At Venice a stone was long preserved, bearing the print of her knees, where she prayed after her flight from the governor who pursued her for her wealth and beauty. Her Acts are not authentic and her real history is not known. B,M, AA.SS, Cahier. Baillet. Martin. Mrs. Jame- son. St. Justina (7), Sept. 26, patron of Placentia. SS. Cyprian, the magician, and Justina of Antioch, are always commemorated and represented together. They suffered martyrdom in the early part of the 4th century. After studying magic in Greece, Phrygia, and Egypt, Cyprian went to Babylon to learn the mysteries there. He was obliged to renounce meat, wine, and women. As long as he did so, he had a certain success with his divinations ; but he had only studied magic in order to indulge himself the better. Justina was the daughter of a heathen priest, became a Christian, and converted her parents. A young nobleman of Antioch, named Agla'ides, applied to Cyprian to enable him to win the love of Justina. Cyprian, however, employed all his spells and spirits to win her for himself, and finding all his arts in vain and Justina's heart protected by a greater Spirit than any at his command, he resolved to abandon his witchcraft and serve the God of the Christians. He became remarkable for his humility and piety. Justina was very glad of his conversion, made a thank-offering of her beautiful hair, and burnt a lamp before the altars. During the last great perse- cution of the Christians under Diocletian, the governor of Antioch threw Cyprian and Justina into a caldron of boiling pitch. They escaped unhurt, and the governor fearing the sympathy of the people, sent them to Nicomedia, whore the emperor lay sick. He at once ordered them to be beheaded. For six days no one dared to bury them. Finally they were taken by night, shipped to Italy, and buried in a farm belonging to a noble lady called Eusina. Thence their bodies were taken to Bome and afterwards to Placentia. BM. AA.SS, BaiUet. Flos Sanc- torum. Villegas. Mrs. Jameson. The story of Cyprian and Justina ia tVSk