Emerentiana
Emerentiana was a Roman virgin and martyr who lived around the start of the 4th century. According to legend, she was the foster sister of Agnes of Rome and was stoned to death by pagans for professing her faith and her relationship to Agnes, days after Agnes' martyrdom. Her cult is ancient, with her feast day observed on January 23rd.
- Feast Day
- January 23
- Century
- 4th century
- Country Or Region
- Italy
Key Facts
- ›Emerentiana was a Roman virgin and martyr who lived around the start of the 4th century.
- ›Legend states she was the foster sister of Agnes of Rome and her mother was Agnes' wet nurse and nanny.
- ›She was attacked and stoned to death by pagans while praying at Agnes' tomb after Agnes' martyrdom.
- ›Emerentiana is considered to have undergone a baptism of desire or blood.
- ›Her cult is very ancient, attested by early martyrologies.
- ›Her feast day is celebrated on January 23rd.
Emerenziana
Against Colic and Stomach Ache
About Emerentiana
Emerentiana, also known as Emerenziana in Italian, was a Roman virgin and martyr whose life is traditionally placed around the beginning of the 4th century. Her feast day is observed on January 23.
Legend and Martyrdom
The hagiography of Emerentiana links her closely with Agnes of Rome. According to the legend, Emerentiana was Agnes' foster sister, and her mother served as Agnes' wet nurse and nanny. Agnes, a wealthy Roman heiress, was martyred for refusing to renounce her Christian faith. A few days after Agnes' death, Emerentiana, who was still a catechumen preparing for baptism, visited Agnes' tomb to pray. While there, she was attacked by pagans. After professing her faith and acknowledging her connection to Agnes, she was stoned to death by the crowd. This act of martyrdom is sometimes considered a form of baptism of desire or baptism of blood within Catholic theology.
Veneration and Historical Context
Historical evidence confirms the existence of a real Roman martyr named Emerentiana, whose cult is very ancient. Her veneration is attested in the martyrologies of Jerome, Bede, and others, although the exact date of her death is not known. In the 19th century, her crypt in the Roman catacombs was rediscovered by Mariano Armellini. While her feast day is now fixed on January 23, it was formerly commemorated on September 16 in Jerome's martyrology. Since 1969, her cult has been limited to local calendars.
Iconography and Patronage
Emerentiana is often depicted iconographically as a young girl holding lilies in her hand and with stones in her lap, or being shown in the act of being stoned by a mob. Her tomb is situated in the church of Sant'Agnese fuori le mura in Rome. An altar dedicated to her, featuring a marble relief of her martyrdom by Ercole Ferrata, can be found in Sant'Agnese in Agone. She is invoked in popular devotion for relief from colic and stomach ache.
Cultural Depictions
Emerentiana makes a brief appearance in Cardinal Nicholas Wiseman's novel, Fabiola, where she is portrayed mourning Agnes immediately after Agnes' martyrdom.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Emerentiana?
Emerentiana was a Roman virgin and martyr who lived around the start of the 4th century. According to legend, she was the foster sister of Agnes of Rome and was martyred shortly after Agnes.
How did Emerentiana die?
Legend states that Emerentiana went to Agnes' tomb to pray and was attacked by pagans. After professing her faith and acknowledging her relationship to Agnes, she was stoned to death by the crowd.
When is Emerentiana's feast day?
Emerentiana's feast day is celebrated on January 23rd. Formerly, her feast was commemorated on September 16th in the martyrology of Jerome.
Where is Emerentiana venerated?
Emerentiana's cult is very ancient and has been confined to local calendars since 1969. Her tomb is in the church of Sant'Agnese fuori le mura in Rome, and an altar dedicated to her is in Sant'Agnese in Agone.
What is Emerentiana known for symbolically?
Emerentiana is often represented as a young girl with stones in her lap and lilies in her hand, or being stoned to death by a mob. She is also considered to have undergone a 'baptism of blood'.
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