St. Bibiana

St. Bibiana - December 2nd

Bibiana's father Flavian had been prefect of the city of Rome. He and his wife were such fervent Christians that when the Emperor Julian left the Catholic Faith and began persecuting it, Flavian was arrested. He was branded on the face with a hot iron and then exiled.

After he died, his good wife Dafrosa was also made a prisoner in her own house on account of her good Christian life. Then she, too, was put to death.

Left alone with her sister, Demetria, Bibiana gave herself to confident prayer. Everything they had was taken from them, and then the two of them were brought to court. Poor Demetria dropped dead at the judge's feet! Bibiana was handed over to a sinful woman, who was supposed to make the holy young girl as evil as she was.

This woman tried by sweet words and many clever tricks to make Bibiana fall, but the Saint could not be moved. She was brought back to court and beaten, yet she held to her faith and purity as strongly as ever.

St. Bibiana was put to death by being beaten with leaden scourges, and her holy body was left to the mercy of fierce dogs. The dogs, however, did not touch it, and a priest buried it at night beside her mother and sister.

To remain pure in the midst of temptations we have to pray, make sacrifices and mortify our senses.