Saints Tiburtius and Susanna
Encyclopedia
Saints Tiburtius and Susanna were two Roman
Catholic martyrs, the feast day of each of whom is 11 August. The saints were not related, but are simply venerated on the same day.
, father of Mark and Marcellian
, and baptized by Polycarp
.
Tiburtius, the only son of Chromatius, was also baptized through the persuasion of Sebastian, who was his godfather
in baptism.
Tiburtius lay hidden during the persecution of Roman Emperor
Diocletian
in his father's house. Accused by a traitor, he was brought before the prefect Fabianus and tried. He confessed his faith which he confirmed by a miracle
, for protecting himself only by the sign of the cross he walked over red-hot coals barefoot without suffering any injury. But the miracle was ascribed to magic
and Tiburtius was beheaded
at the third mile-stone of the Via Labicana
in the year 286. The spot of execution was called "at the two laurel
trees" (ad duas lauros).
Tiburtius is mentioned in the Roman Martyrology
for 11 August in the following terms: "At Rome, in the cemetery at the two laurel trees at the third milestone on the Via Labicana, Saint Tiburtius, martyr, whose praises Pope Saint Damasus sang." The commemoration of him that was included in the Roman Catholic calendar of saints
required to be observed wherever the Roman Rite
is celebrated was removed in 1969, because "apart from his name, the only thing known of him is that he was buried in the Inter duas lauros cemetery on the Via Labicana on an 11 August".
. The church became known as Sancta Susanna ad duas domos
(cf. Kehr, "Italia pontificia", I, 61 seq.).
Susanna is mentioned in the Roman Martyrology
for 11 August in the following terms: "At Rome, commemoration of Saint Susanna, in whose name, which was mentioned among the martyrs in ancient lists, the basilica of the titular church of Gaius at the Baths of Diocletian was dedicated to God in the sixth century." The commemoration of her that was included in the Roman Catholic calendar of saints
required to be observed wherever the Roman Rite
is celebrated was removed in 1969 because of the legendary character of the Acta of her martyrdom.
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
Catholic martyrs, the feast day of each of whom is 11 August. The saints were not related, but are simply venerated on the same day.
Tiburtius
The story is related in the legend of St. Sebastian that Chromatius, prefect of Rome, condemned several Christians to death. The prefect, however, was converted by St. TranquillinusMark and Marcellian
Mark and Marcellian are venerated as saints by the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church. Their cult is sometimes associated with that of Saints Tranquillinus, Martia, Nicostratus, Zoe, Castulus and Tiburtius, but not in the official liturgical books of the Church, which mentions only...
, father of Mark and Marcellian
Mark and Marcellian
Mark and Marcellian are venerated as saints by the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church. Their cult is sometimes associated with that of Saints Tranquillinus, Martia, Nicostratus, Zoe, Castulus and Tiburtius, but not in the official liturgical books of the Church, which mentions only...
, and baptized by Polycarp
Polycarp
Saint Polycarp was a 2nd century Christian bishop of Smyrna. According to the Martyrdom of Polycarp, he died a martyr, bound and burned at the stake, then stabbed when the fire failed to touch him...
.
Tiburtius, the only son of Chromatius, was also baptized through the persuasion of Sebastian, who was his godfather
Godparent
A godparent, in many denominations of Christianity, is someone who sponsors a child's baptism. A male godparent is a godfather, and a female godparent is a godmother...
in baptism.
Tiburtius lay hidden during the persecution of 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...
Diocletian
Diocletian
Diocletian |latinized]] upon his accession to Diocletian . c. 22 December 244 – 3 December 311), was a Roman Emperor from 284 to 305....
in his father's house. Accused by a traitor, he was brought before the prefect Fabianus and tried. He confessed his faith which he confirmed by a miracle
Miracle
A miracle often denotes an event attributed to divine intervention. Alternatively, it may be an event attributed to a miracle worker, saint, or religious leader. A miracle is sometimes thought of as a perceptible interruption of the laws of nature. Others suggest that a god may work with the laws...
, for protecting himself only by the sign of the cross he walked over red-hot coals barefoot without suffering any injury. But the miracle was ascribed to magic
Magic (paranormal)
Magic is the claimed art of manipulating aspects of reality either by supernatural means or through knowledge of occult laws unknown to science. It is in contrast to science, in that science does not accept anything not subject to either direct or indirect observation, and subject to logical...
and Tiburtius was 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 the third mile-stone of the Via Labicana
Via Labicana
The Via Labicana was an ancient road of Italy, leading east southeast from Rome. It seems possible that the road at first led to Tusculum, that it was then extended to Labici, and later still became a road for through traffic; it may even have superseded the Via Latina as a route to the southeast,...
in the year 286. The spot of execution was called "at the two laurel
Bay Laurel
The bay laurel , also known as sweet bay, bay tree, true laurel, Grecian laurel, laurel tree, or simply laurel, is an aromatic evergreen tree or large shrub with green, glossy leaves, native to the Mediterranean region. It is the source of the bay leaf used in cooking...
trees" (ad duas lauros).
Tiburtius is mentioned 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:...
for 11 August in the following terms: "At Rome, in the cemetery at the two laurel trees at the third milestone on the Via Labicana, Saint Tiburtius, martyr, whose praises Pope Saint Damasus sang." The commemoration of him that was included in 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...
required to be observed 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 was removed in 1969, because "apart from his name, the only thing known of him is that he was buried in the Inter duas lauros cemetery on the Via Labicana on an 11 August".
Susanna
Saint Susanna, virgin and martyr, is said to have been the daughter of Saint Gabinus of Rome. According to her Acts, she was beheaded about the year 295, at the command of Diocletian, in her father's house, which was turned into a church, together with the adjoining one belonging to her uncle, the prefect Caius or, according to other accounts, Pope CaiusPope Caius
Pope Saint Caius or Gaius was Pope from December 17, 283 to April 22, 296. Christian tradition makes him a native of the Dalmatian city of Salona, today Solin near Split, the son of a man also named Caius, and a member of a noble family related to the Emperor Diocletian.Little information on Caius...
. The church became known as Sancta Susanna ad duas domos
Santa Susanna
The Church of Saint Susanna at the baths of Diocletian is a Roman Catholic parish church on the Quirinal Hill in Rome, with a titulus associated to its site that dates back to about 280...
(cf. Kehr, "Italia pontificia", I, 61 seq.).
Susanna is mentioned 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:...
for 11 August in the following terms: "At Rome, commemoration of Saint Susanna, in whose name, which was mentioned among the martyrs in ancient lists, the basilica of the titular church of Gaius at the Baths of Diocletian was dedicated to God in the sixth century." The commemoration of her that was included in 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...
required to be observed 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 was removed in 1969 because of the legendary character of the Acta of her martyrdom.