Martyr for Los Angeles

Today's saint is one of the early saints before Christianity was allowed in the Roman empire.  Her entire family gave their lives for the faith.  Little is known about their lives before they came to their martyrdom.

St. Bibiana

Feast Day:  December 2
Born:  ??
Death ??
Italy

I did not have time to research and write my own account of the saint for today.  I found this record of St. Bibiana:

In the year 363, Julian the Apostate made Apronianus Governor of Rome. St. Bibiana suffered in the persecution started by him. She was the daughter of Christians, Flavian, a Roman knight, and Dafrosa, his wife. Flavian was tortured and sent into exile, where he died of his wounds. Dafrosa was beheaded, and their two daughters, Bibiana and Demetria, were stripped of their possessions and left to suffer poverty. However, they remained in their house, spending their time in fasting and prayer.

Apronianus, seeing that hunger and want had no effect upon them, summoned them. Demetria, after confessing her Faith, fell dead at the feet of the tyrant. St. Bibiana was reserved for greater sufferings. She was placed in the hands of a wicked woman called Rufina, who in vain endeavored to seduce her. She used blows as well as persuasion, but the Christian virgin remained faithful.

Enraged at the constancy of this saintly virgin, Apronianus ordered her to be tied to a pillar and beaten with scourges, laden with lead plummets, until she expired. The saint endured the torments with joy, and died under the blows inflicted by the hands of the executioner.

An interesting side note...when we were at Mass today, we learned that the cathedral of Los Angeles was originally dedicated to St. Bibiana.  Her body was given the the diocese and she was placed in a glass coffin on a side chapel.  The diocese has since built a new cathedral; however, her body was moved to the new cathedral as well.  We might need to make a special trip to learn more about St. Bibiana.