Saint Susanna of Rome – Feast Day, Life Story & Legacy

ST. SUSANNA

Saint Susanna of Rome was a Christian virgin and martyr who lived during the reign of Emperor Diocletian. She refused to marry a pagan and was executed for her faith in 295 AD. Her home became the Church of Santa Susanna in Rome.

Saint Susanna of Rome is remembered as a courageous early Christian martyr, whose story has inspired devotion for centuries. She lived during the reign of Emperor Diocletian in the late 3rd century, a period of severe persecution of Christians throughout the Roman Empire. According to early traditions, Susanna was the daughter of Saint Gabinus, a Roman nobleman and a Christian, and the niece of Pope Caius. Her family background placed her among the elite of Roman society, but her strong Christian faith set her apart.

When Susanna came of age, she was pressured by her relatives and the imperial court to marry a pagan relative of Diocletian. Despite the political advantage and wealth such a marriage would bring, she resolutely refused, choosing to remain a virgin and loyal to Christ. This act of defiance infuriated her family and the imperial authorities, and she was arrested for her insubordination and steadfast faith.

Susanna was interrogated, tortured, and eventually executed around the year 295 AD for refusing to renounce her Christian beliefs. Her martyrdom is a testament to her unwavering dedication to Christ in the face of death. The location of her family's house, where she is believed to have lived and been martyred, was later converted into a church known as Sancta Susanna ad duas domos, which still stands in Rome today. This church remains a significant historical and spiritual site for Christian pilgrims.

Over the centuries, devotion to Saint Susanna spread beyond Rome. Her relics were transferred to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, and a church was established in her honor in the early 12th century. She is venerated in both the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions, with her feast celebrated on August 11 in the West and December 15 in the East.

One notable place associated with her legacy is the town of Torre Santa Susanna in southern Italy. According to local legend, the town was named after her following a miraculous survival of a cholera epidemic in 1837. A column in her honor was erected in the center of town, and she is regarded as its protector.

Despite some legendary embellishments over time, the story of Saint Susanna reflects enduring themes of purity, faith, and resistance against tyranny. Her legacy as a Christian martyr continues to be honored today in various churches and communities around the world.

Feast Day

11-8-

Birth Date

--

Died Date

11-8-295 AD

Canonised Date

--Pre-congregation

Sancta Susanna, Rome, Italy

O glorious Saint Susanna, virgin and martyr, obtain for us purity of heart and strength to stand firm in our faith, as you did against all worldly temptations. Amen.
ST. SUSANNA

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ST. SUSANNA

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