Saints Faustinus and Jovita
Encyclopedia
Saints Faustinus and Jovita were said to be Christian
martyr
s under Hadrian
. Their traditional date of death is 120. They are patron saints of Brescia
.
"Jovita" is a woman's name. In some accounts the saints were instead Faustinus and Jovinus, brothers.
(northern Italy). Faustinus, the older brother, was a preacher; Jovinus, a deacon
. For their fearless preaching of the Gospel, they were arraigned before the Roman Emperor
Hadrian, who at Brescia, Rome
and Naples
, subjected them to frightful torments, after which they were beheaded
at Brescia in the year 120, according to the Bollandists, though Allard (Histoire des Persécutions pendant les Deux Premiers Siècles, Paris, 1885) places the date as early as 118.
Saint Faustinus of Brescia, a bishop of Brescia and an alleged descendant, compiled their Acts.
Their common feast day on February 15, the traditional date of their martyrdom, was inserted into the Roman Catholic calendar of saints
to be venerated wherever the Roman Rite
is celebrated. It was removed in 1969 because their "Acts are completely fabulous, treating Jovita as a deacon, although she was a woman." However, because the saints are not to be identified with the fabulous figures in the Acts, the two saints remain listed in the Roman Martyrology
, the official, through professedly incomplete, list of the saints recognized by the Roman Catholic Church
. The cities of Rome
, Bologna
and Verona
share with Brescia possession of their relics.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
martyr
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
s under Hadrian
Hadrian
Hadrian , was Roman Emperor from 117 to 138. He is best known for building Hadrian's Wall, which marked the northern limit of Roman Britain. In Rome, he re-built the Pantheon and constructed the Temple of Venus and Roma. In addition to being emperor, Hadrian was a humanist and was philhellene in...
. Their traditional date of death is 120. They are patron saints of Brescia
Brescia
Brescia is a city and comune in the region of Lombardy in northern Italy. It is situated at the foot of the Alps, between the Mella and the Naviglio, with a population of around 197,000. It is the second largest city in Lombardy, after the capital, Milan...
.
"Jovita" is a woman's name. In some accounts the saints were instead Faustinus and Jovinus, brothers.
Traditional vita
Tradition states that they were members of a noble family of Brescia in LombardyLombardy
Lombardy is one of the 20 regions of Italy. The capital is Milan. One-sixth of Italy's population lives in Lombardy and about one fifth of Italy's GDP is produced in this region, making it the most populous and richest region in the country and one of the richest in the whole of Europe...
(northern Italy). Faustinus, the older brother, was a preacher; Jovinus, a deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
. For their fearless preaching of the Gospel, they were arraigned before the Roman Emperor
Roman Emperor
The Roman emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period . The Romans had no single term for the office although at any given time, a given title was associated with the emperor...
Hadrian, who at Brescia, Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
and Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
, subjected them to frightful torments, after which they were beheaded
Decapitation
Decapitation is the separation of the head from the body. Beheading typically refers to the act of intentional decapitation, e.g., as a means of murder or execution; it may be accomplished, for example, with an axe, sword, knife, wire, or by other more sophisticated means such as a guillotine...
at Brescia in the year 120, according to the Bollandists, though Allard (Histoire des Persécutions pendant les Deux Premiers Siècles, Paris, 1885) places the date as early as 118.
Saint Faustinus of Brescia, a bishop of Brescia and an alleged descendant, compiled their Acts.
Doubts and veneration
The many "Acts" of these saints are chiefly of a legendary character. The Jesuit Fedele Savio questioned nearly every fact related of them except their existence and martyrdom, which are too well attested by their inclusion in so many of the early martyrologies and their extraordinary cult in their native city, of which from time immemorial they have been the chief patrons.Their common feast day on February 15, the traditional date of their martyrdom, was inserted into the Roman Catholic calendar of saints
Roman Catholic calendar of saints
The General Roman Calendar indicates the days of the year to which are assigned the liturgical celebrations of saints and of the mysteries of the Lord that are to be observed wherever the Roman Rite is used...
to be venerated wherever the Roman Rite
Roman Rite
The Roman Rite is the liturgical rite used in the Diocese of Rome in the Catholic Church. It is by far the most widespread of the Latin liturgical rites used within the Western or Latin autonomous particular Church, the particular Church that itself is also called the Latin Rite, and that is one of...
is celebrated. It was removed in 1969 because their "Acts are completely fabulous, treating Jovita as a deacon, although she was a woman." However, because the saints are not to be identified with the fabulous figures in the Acts, the two saints remain listed in the Roman Martyrology
Roman Martyrology
The Roman Martyrology is the official martyrology of the Roman Rite of the Roman Catholic Church. It provides an extensive but not exhaustive list of the saints recognized by the Church.-History:...
, the official, through professedly incomplete, list of the saints recognized by the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. The cities of Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
and Verona
Verona
Verona ; German Bern, Dietrichsbern or Welschbern) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy, with approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven chef-lieus of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of North-Eastern Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona...
share with Brescia possession of their relics.
Sources and external links
- Faustinus and Jovita at the Catholic EncyclopediaCatholic EncyclopediaThe Catholic Encyclopedia, also referred to as the Old Catholic Encyclopedia and the Original Catholic Encyclopedia, is an English-language encyclopedia published in the United States. The first volume appeared in March 1907 and the last three volumes appeared in 1912, followed by a master index...
- Faustinus at Patron Saints Index
- 15 February saints at St. Patrick's ChurchSt. Patrick's ChurchSt. Patrick's Church, or Saint Patrick Church, St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, Saint Patrick's Roman Catholic Church or other variations on the name, may refer to:-Canada:* St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church...
San Faustino