samedi 29 août 2015

Sainte SABINE de ROME, martyre

The reliquary of Saint Sabina in the local parish of Santi Pietro e Paolo in Ascona.

das Reliquiar der heiligen Sabina in der Pfarrkirche Santi Pietro e Paolo in Ascona.


Sainte Sabine

Martyre à Rome

Il n'est pas douteux qu'elle ait subi le martyre pour avoir enterré sa servante victime de la persécution. Elle vivait sans doute à Vindenia en Ombrie. Une église bâtie à Rome en son honneur sur le mont Aventin en fit une sainte romaine très célébrée.

C'est maintenant la basilique Sainte-Sabine et le gouvernement de l'Ordre des Prêcheurs y est établi au couvent de Sainte-Sabine à Rome.

À Rome, commémoraison de sainte Sabine, dont le titre établi sur l’Aventin vers 422-432, présente son nom à la vénération.

Martyrologe romain

SOURCE : http://nominis.cef.fr/contenus/saint/1761/Sainte-Sabine.html


Sainte Sabine, martyre

La fête de Ste Sabine semble plus ancienne à Rome que la Décollation de St Jean-Baptiste que l’Église célèbre aujourd’hui en ce jour. La station en l’église Sainte-Sabine est attestée à la fin du VIème siècle.

« Sabine est la fondatrice d’un titre sur l’Aventin, auquel Pierre d’Illyrie substitua une basilique au temps du pape Célestin. Elle devait devenir sainte Sabine dans le cours du VIe siècle, comme les autres fondateurs et fondatrices des tituli romani. Une Passio sanctarum Serapiae et Sabinae en fait une martyre et donne le 29 août pour son natale. C’est ce jour-là que le Hiéronymien en fait mention et que saint Grégoire le Grand célébrait sa fête [1]. On en trouve le formulaire, au milieu du VIIe siècle, tant dans l’évangéliaire que dans le sacramentaire grégorien. Sainte Sabine a toujours été célébrée à Rome depuis lors » [2].

Textes de la Messe

eodem die 29 augusti

S. SABINÆ

Mart.

Commemoratio

Missa Me exspectavérunt, de Communi Communi non Virginum 1 loco, cum orationibus ut infra 

Oratio

Deus, qui inter cétera poténtiæ tuæ mirácula étiam in sexu frágili victóriam martýrii contulísti : concéde propítius ; ut, qui beátæ Sabínæ Mártyris tuæ natalítia cólimus, per eius ad te exémpla gradiámur. Per Dóminum.

Secreta

Hóstias tibi, Dómine, beátæ Sabínæ Mártyris tuæ dicátas méritis, benígnus assúme : et ad perpétuum nobis tríbue proveníre subsídium. Per Dóminum nostrum.

Postcommunio

Divíni múneris largitáte satiáti, quǽsumus, Dómine, Deus noster : ut, intercedénte beáta Sabína Mártyre tua, in eius semper participatióne vivámus. Per Dóminum.

ce même 29 août

Sainte SABINE

Martyre

Commémoraison

Messe Me exspectavérunt,, du Commun des Stes Femmes I, avec les oraisons ci-dessous :

Collecte

Dieu, entre autres merveilles de votre puissance, vous avez fait remporter la victoire du martyre même par le sexe le plus faible : faites, dans votre bonté, qu’honorant la naissance au ciel de la Bienheureuse Sabine, votre Martyre, nous tendions vers vous par l’imitation de ses exemples.

Secrète

Recevez avec bonté, Seigneur, les hosties offertes pour honorer les mérites de la bienheureuse Sabine, votre Vierge et Martyre, et faites qu’elles nous procurent un continuel secours.

Postcommunio

Rassasiés par la grandeur de votre don céleste, nous vous supplions, ô Seigneur notre Dieu, que la bienheureuse Sabine votre Martyre, intercédant pour nous, nous vivions toujours de la participation à ce sacrement. 

Office

Leçon des Matines avant 1960.

Aux Matines de la Décollation de St Jean-Baptiste avant 1960, on commémorait Ste Sabine par la neuvième leçon

Neuvième leçon. Sabine, dame romaine, épouse de Valentin, homme de qualité, fut initiée par la Vierge Séraphie à la connaissance des préceptes de la foi chrétienne. Après le martyre de la pieuse Vierge, elle en recueillit les reliques pour les ensevelir avec honneur. On l’arrêta pour ce fait, et on la fit comparaître devant le juge Elpidius, Adrien étant empereur. « Êtes-vous, lui dit le juge, cette Sabine de race noble et d’illustre alliance ? — Oui, c’est moi, répondit-elle, et je rends grâces à mon Seigneur Jésus-Christ d’avoir été délivrée de la servitude des démons, par l’intercession de Séraphie, sa servante. » Le préfet essaya de diverses manières de la faire changer de sentiment ; mais voyant qu’il ne pouvait l’ébranler dans sa foi, il prononça la sentence qui la condamnait à la peine capitale, pour avoir méprisé les dieux. Les Chrétiens ensevelirent son corps dans le tombeau où elle-même avait enseveli Séraphie, sa maîtresse dans la foi.

Basilica di Saint Sabina all Aventino, Vth century, Diocese of Rome, Ripa, Municipio I, RomeMetropolitan City of RomeLazio, Italy

Basilica di Saint Sabina all Aventino, Vth century, Diocese of RomeRipa, Municipio I, RomeMetropolitan City of RomeLazio, Italy

Basilica di Saint Sabina all Aventino, Vth century, Diocese of RomeRipa, Municipio I, RomeMetropolitan City of RomeLazio, Italy

Basilica di Saint Sabina all Aventino, Vth century, Diocese of RomeRipa, Municipio I, RomeMetropolitan City of RomeLazio, Italy

Basilica di Saint Sabina all Aventino, Vth century, Diocese of RomeRipa, Municipio I, RomeMetropolitan City of RomeLazio, Italy


Dom Guéranger, l’Année Liturgique

Saluons la noble Martyre dont le triomphe vient compléter les honneurs de cette journée [3]. La très antique église de Sainte-Sabine sur l’Aventin forme un des joyaux du trésor de la Ville éternelle. Avec Saint-Sixte-le-Vieux, elle eut cette autre gloire d’abriter dans Rome saint Dominique et ses premiers fils.

Bhx cardinal Schuster, Liber Sacramentorum

La station de ce jour sur l’Aventin nous est déjà attestée, pour la fin du VIe siècle, par le Registrum de saint Grégoire le Grand : Facta sunt haec in basilica sanctae Sabinae sub die IIII Kal. Sept. Indict. VI [4].

Le plus ancien Comes romain contenu dans le manuscrit de Würzbourg, mentionne cette fête, mais, à l’égal d’autres solennités non romaines, d’introduction moins ancienne, il la rejette à la fin de sa liste des divers Communs.

Sabine et Sérapie, que les Actes disent être ensevelies in oppido Vendinensium ad arcum Faustini, iuxta aream Vindiciani, semblent être des martyres de l’Ombrie. De Rossi a même démontré que, non loin de Interamna (Terni) existait le village de Vindena, d’où, vers la fin du VIIe siècle, les reliques des deux Saintes furent transférées dans le titulus Sabinae sur l’Aventin.

La messe est la même que le 6 mars pour les célèbres martyres de Carthage, Perpétue et Félicité. La première collecte, sauf le titre de vierge, est identique à celle de sainte Agathe, le 5 février ; les deux autres sont les mêmes que le 23 janvier, pour sainte Émérentienne [5].

Le verset alléluiatique est tiré du psaume 44 : « Alléluia. Dans la splendeur et la gloire, prépare-toi, avance-toi joyeusement et règne ».

La gloire et le triomphe du Christ, dit saint Paul, nous sont réservés dans la mesure où nous aurons participé, comme les martyrs, à l’ignominie de sa passion. C’est pourquoi la sainte liturgie de l’Église, qui est comme un reflet de celle du ciel, donne la place d’honneur aux saints martyrs.

Selon le Comes de Würzbourg, la première lecture était aujourd’hui la même que le 10 juillet ; c’est celle qui contient l’éloge de la femme forte (Prov., XXXI, 10-31). Pour mériter cet éloge, comme l’observe saint Philippe Neri, des choses extraordinaires ne sont point requises. Le Saint-Esprit loue la mère de famille qui file la laine et manie la quenouille et le fuseau. Dans la vie chrétienne, même les actes les plus ordinaires dans l’exercice du devoir deviennent sublimes et dignes de la vie éternelle quand ils sont accomplis en état de grâce. La fidélité humble et assidue aux exercices du devoir indique déjà une vie héroïque qui, si le Seigneur le veut, peut être une préparation suffisante à la grâce du martyre.

A quelle époque le Titulus Sabinae fut-il dédié à la martyre homonyme de Vindena ? C’est un problème difficile à résoudre, car dans l’inscription en mosaïque qui existe encore sur la porte de cette basilique, on relève bien que son fondateur fut un prêtre illyrien nommé Pierre, qui vivait au temps de Célestin Ier, mais sainte Sabine n’y est point nommée. Qu’a donc à faire ici cette matrone Sabine de qui l’église prit le nom ? Faut-il établir une relation quelconque entre la martyre de l’Ombrie et l’ancienne propriétaire de la domus de l’Aventin, agrandie ensuite par l’Illyrien Pierre et devenue une vaste basilique ? Ou bien une seconde Sabine romaine acheva-t-elle, en lui donnant son nom, la construction commencée par l’Illyrien ? Ce sont des questions que nous ne pouvons résoudre actuellement.

Dans le cloître de la basilique de Saint-Paul on conserve l’épigraphe d’un prêtre du titulus Sabinae, qui vivait à une époque où l’église n’était pas encore dédiée à la martyre de Vindena :

LOCVS • PRESBYTERI • BASILI • TITVLI • SABINE

[1] Grégoire Le Grand, Registrum epistolarum, XIII, 2 ; édit. Ewald- Hartmann, tome 2, p. 367.

[2] Cf. Pierre Jounel, Le Culte des Saints dans les Basiliques du Latran et du Vatican au douzième siècle, École Française de Rome, Palais Farnèse, 1977.

[3] Allusion à la Fête de la Décollation de St Jean-Baptiste.

[4] Reg. Lib. XI, n. 2. Ed. Hartmann, II, 367.

[5] Toutes ces pièces sont désormais du Commun des Vierges.

Girolamo Francino, Santa Sabina, 1588


Dom Pius Parsch, Le guide dans l’année liturgique

Sainte Sabine. — Jour de mort : 29 août, vers 126. Tombeau : à Rome, dans la basilique qui lui est dédiée sur l’Aventin. Vie : Sainte Sabine, originaire de Vindena, en Ombrie, fut l’épouse d’un patricien appelé Valentin. Elle fut convertie à la foi chrétienne par sa servante Séraphie. Après la mort de cette pieuse vierge (le martyrologe en fait mémoire le 3 septembre), elle en recueillit les restes pour les ensevelir avec honneur. Cela lui vaut d’être incarcérée peu après par ordre de l’empereur Adrien, et d’être traduite devant le tribunal d’Elpidius : « N’êtes-vous pas Sabine, veuve de l’illustre Valentin ? » lui demanda celui-ci. . Oui, c’est moi, répondit-elle, et je rends grâces à mon Seigneur Jésus-Christ d’avoir été délivrée de la servitude des démons par l’intercession de sa servante Séraphie ». Le juge la condamna à mort pour son mépris des dieux. Les chrétiens déposèrent son corps dans le tombeau où elle-même avait enseveli Séraphie, sa maîtresse dans la foi. Pratique : Quel exemple édifiant ! La servante convertit sa maîtresse ; la maîtresse ensevelit le corps de sa servante et la suit dans son martyre. Toutes deux reposent unies dans une même sépulture. Comme le christianisme sait franchir les barrières sociales !

La basilique de Sainte-Sabine est une des plus célèbres églises stationnales de Rome ; c’est là que le clergé et les fidèles se rassemblent le Mercredi des Cendres.

SOURCE : http://www.introibo.fr/29-08-Ste-Sabine-martyre


Saint Sabina of Rome

Memorial

29 August

Profile

Wealthy widow in RomeItalyConverted to Christianity by her Syrian servant Serapia. Serapia was martyred, and Sabina about a month later. Basilica on the Aventine in Rome named for her, and her cultus is confined to it.

Died

126 in RomeItaly

relics enshrined in 430 in the Basilica of San Sabina on the Via Aventine in Rome

Canonized

Pre-Congregation

Patronage

against hemorrhages

children having trouble walking

homemakers

AvezzanoItalydiocese of

Representation

young woman, sometimes in a crown, giving alms to people unable to walk

young woman, carrying a book and palm, with angels nearby

Additional Information

Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate

Catholic Encyclopedia

Lives of the Saints, by Father Alban Butler

Lives of the Saints, by Father Francis Xavier Weninger

New Catholic Dictionary

Saints and Saintly Dominicans, by Blessed Hyacinthe-Marie CormierO.P.

books

Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints

Saints and Their Attributes, by Helen Roeder

other sites in english

Catholic Online

Saint Sabina Parish, Belton, Missouri

Wikipedia

video

YouTube PlayList

sitios en español

Hagiopedia

Martirologio Romano2001 edición

sites en français

La fête des prénoms

Wikipedia

fonti in italiano

Santi e Beati

Wikipedia

strony w jezyku polskim

Deon.PL

Wikipedia

MLA Citation

“Saint Sabina of Rome“. CatholicSaints.Info. 16 January 2024. Web. 2 March 2024. <https://catholicsaints.info/saint-sabina-of-rome/>

SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/saint-sabina-of-rome/

Ettore Roesler Franz  (1845–1907), Chiesa di Santa Sabina in Rome (rione Ripa), circa 1880


St. Sabina

Widow of Valentinus and daughter of Herod Metallarius, suffered martyrdom about 126. According to the Acts of the martyrdom, which however have no historic value, she lived at Rome and was converted to Christianity by her female slave Serapia. Serapia was put to death for her faith and later, in the same year, Sabina suffered martyrdom. In 430 her relics were brought to the Aventine, where a basilica, which is very interesting in the history of art, is called after St. Sabina. Originally the church was dedicated to both saints. The feast of St. Sabina is celebrated on 29 August.

Löffler, Klemens. "St. Sabina." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 13. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 29 Aug. 2015 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13290a.htm>.

Ecclesiastical approbation. Nihil Obstat. February 1, 1912. Remy Lafort, D.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York.

Copyright © 2023 by Kevin Knight. Dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

SOURCE : http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13290a.htm


Genova, quartiere di San Fruttuoso: la chiesa parrocchiale di Santa Sabina. Image taken by Giovanni Benvenuto (priest of Genoa, Italy) using Camera model Canon PowerShot A80


Sabina of Rome M (RM)

Died c. 127. According to Saint Sabina's untrustworthy acta, she was a rich and noble widow (of Valentine?) from Umbria, Italy. Her virginal, Syrian servant, Saint Seraphia, was such a model of Christian charity and obedience that she converted her mistress, who soon outshone her teacher in fervor and piety. At the beginning of Hadrian's persecution, Beryllus, governor of the province, arrested Sabina and Seraphia. The latter was beaten to death with clubs. Sabina was released because of her high station at the pleading of her friends. She was retaken the following year and martyred at Rome. The Bollandists have proven that she was, indeed, a Roman martyr. About 430, a basilica was dedicated to her in Rome, which was one of the station churches of Lent. Some say that she gave her home to the Christians as a church and that this was the site for the later erection of the basilica. Saint Dominic had a special devotion to this Saint Sabina (Benedictines, Encyclopedia, Husenbeth). In art, Saint Sabina is depicted giving alms to a cripple. She may also be portrayed as a princess with a book, palm, and angels (Roeder). This patron of Rome is the patroness of children who have difficulty in walking and of housewives. She is invoked against hemorrhage (Roeder).

Source : http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0829.shtml

Saint Sabina (†126 AD) Chapel and Benedictine Study House. - Péterhegyi út / Horogszegi határsor, Péterhegy neighborhood, 11th district of Budapest.

Szent Szabina Kápolna és Bencés Tanulmányi Ház. 1984. szeptember 9.-én szentelték fel,.nevét Szent Szabina vértanú (†126 k.) után kapta- BudapestXI. kerületPéterhegy városrész, Péterhegyi út

Saint Sabina (†126 AD) Chapel and Benedictine Study House. - Péterhegyi út / Horogszegi határsor, Péterhegy neighborhood, 11th district of Budapest.

Szent Szabina Kápolna és Bencés Tanulmányi Ház. 1984. szeptember 9.-én szentelték fel,.nevét Szent Szabina vértanú (†126 k.) után kapta- BudapestXI. kerületPéterhegy városrész, Péterhegyi út


August 29

St. Sabina, Martyr

SHE was a rich widow lady of high birth, and lived in the province of Umbria in Italy. She had a servant called Seraphia, a native of Antioch in Syria, who was a zealous Christian, and served God in the holy state of virginity. The religious deportment of this virtuous maid-servant had such an influence over the mistress, that she was converted to the Christian faith; and so powerfully did the great truths of our holy religion operate on her soul, that her fervour and piety soon rendered her name illustrious among the great lights of the church, in the beginning of the second century. The persecution of Adrian beginning to rage, Beryllus, governor of the province, caused Sabina and Seraphia to be apprehended, and the latter to be beat to death with clubs. Sabina was discharged out of regard to her quality and friends; but her zeal procured her the crown of martyrdom the year following. She suffered at Rome, as the Bollandists have proved. She is honoured on the 29th of August, and again with St. Seraphia on the 3rd of September, because, on that day, as Ado informs us, a famous ancient church was dedicated to God in Rome, under the patronage of those two saints, in 430. It at present bears only the name of St. Sabina. In it was kept the first among the stations in Lent, till, in the last century, the public prayers of forty hours succeeded the devotion of the stations, both being equally the general assembly of the city in the same church to join in prayer. See the acts of SS. Sabina and Seraphia in Baluze, Miscell. t. 2.

Rev. Alban Butler (1711–73). Volume VIII: August. The Lives of the Saints. 1866

SOURCE : https://www.bartleby.com/lit-hub/lives-of-the-saints/volume-viii-august/st-sabina-martyr

Commune de Sainte Sabine Born, dans le département de la Dordogne (24), en France : l'église Sainte-Sabine.

Commune de Sainte Sabine Born, dans le département de la Dordogne (24), en France : l'église Sainte-Sabine.


Saint Seraphia

Virgin and Martyr († ca. 126)

and Saint Sabina

Martyr († ca. 127)

Saint Seraphia was born at Antioch in the late first century, of Christian parents who, fleeing the persecution of Adrian, went to Italy and settled there. When her parents died, Seraphia was sought in marriage by many, but having resolved to consecrate herself to God alone, she sold all her possessions and distributed the proceeds to the poor. And then she sold herself into a voluntary slavery, and entered the service of a Roman noblewoman named Sabina. The piety of Seraphia, her love of work, and her charity soon gained the heart of her mistress, who became a Christian.

Seraphia was denounced as a follower of Christ and condemned to die. She was first placed over a burning pile, but remained uninjured by the flames. The prefect ordered her to be beheaded, and in that way she received the crown she so richly merited. Her mistress buried her with every mark of respect.

That noble Roman matron, Saint Sabina, was also denounced to the prefect Helpidius a year later. Christ is my God, I adore Him and serve Him; to Him alone I must sacrifice, she said when questioned. Her humble confession of faith obtained for her the grace of martyrdom; she was beheaded and all her goods confiscated. She was buried in the tomb she herself had had built in Rome, and where she had interred her beloved servant, Seraphia. In the year 425 a church was built at the site of the martyrdom of the two holy women, on Mount Aventino. The Church of Saint Sabina was given to Saint Dominic in the 13th century by Pope Honorius III, and still today one venerates, under the main altar there, the bodies of the two holy Martyrs.

Reflection : Christian courage is in direct relationship to our Faith. If we continue in the Faith, founded and established and immovable, all things will be found possible to us.

Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, a compilation based on Butler's Lives of the Saints and other sources by John Gilmary Shea (Benziger Brothers: New York, 1894); Les Petits Bollandistes: Vies des Saints, by Msgr. Paul Guérin (Bloud et Barral: Paris, 1882), Vol. 10

SOURCE : https://magnificat.ca/cal/en/saints/saint_seraphia_and_saint_sabina.html

Église Sainte-Sabine de Saint-Antonin-Noble-ValTarn-et-GaronneOccitaniaMetropolitan France,


St. Sabina

St. Sabina's feast day is August 29th. We know St. Sabina only through legend, and there is some question as to it's trustworthiness. Even the century in which she lived is unknown. Supposedly Sabina was converted to Christianity by her Syrian servant Serapia. During the persecution of Emperor Hadrian, Serapia suffered martyrdom for her Christian Faith. It is believed that St. Sabina was murdered for the Faith about a month later. The reknowned basilica on the Aventine in Rome is dedicated to and named after her. Some sources hold that Sabina herself had it constructed in the third or fourth century. In an age when our Faith is ridiculed as being outmoded, we take heart in the lives of so many martyrs, like St. Sabina, who gave their lives under terrible conditions to defend and sustain their Faith. This confers on us a strong desire to persevere in God's love.

SOURCE : https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=756

Chiesa Saint Sabina, 1763, Roman Catholic Diocese of Chiavari, Riva TrigosoSestri LevanteMetropolitan City of GenoaLiguria, Italy


Weninger’s Lives of the Saints – Saint Serapia and Saint Sabina, Martyrs

Article

Saint Serapia was born at Antioch, the capital of Syria; but when the persecution of the Christians broke out, her parents went with her to Italy, where they both soon died. Serapia’s hand was sought in marriage by several Roman youths, on account of her uncommon beauty and modest manners; but she desiring no other but the heavenly bridegroom, refused all riches and honor offered to her, and hired herself as servant to a noble widow named Sabina. This lady, although a pagan, was very respectable, and exercised herself in many good works. She stood high in favor at court on account of her late spouse, who had been an officer of great renown in the reign of the Emperor Vespasian. Serapia had hardly been two years in the service of Sabina, when she had so entirely won the heart of her mistress, that she was no longer treated as a servant but as a friend. Under these circumstances, it became easy to convince Sabina so thoroughly of the truth of the Christian faith, that, recognizing the falsity of paganism, she was baptized and numbered among the faithful. Alter this, Serapia advised Sabina to leave the city and go to one of her country seats, where she would have better opportunities to exercise herself in the Christian religion. The newly converted widow, eager to assure herself of salvation, followed the advice, taking Serapia and a few other pious virgins with her. The life which these holy women led was truly holy. Serapia, born in the light of Christianity, was to all a bright example of virtue. The persecution of the Christians under the Emperor Adrian began some years later, and Berillus, Governor of the Province, received the cruel order to torture and execute all who refused to sacrifice to the gods. Berillus resolved to commence with the society Sabina had formed, as the life of its members served to edify and animate all the Christians. Being informed that Serapia was the principal instructress of this society, he called her to him. She appeared, but was accompanied by Sabina. Although Berillus severely reproved Serapia for not having sacrificed to the gods, and tor preventing others from doing so, he dare not say more in the presence of Sabina, and soon after dismissed them. Scarcely, however, had three days elapsed, when he had Serapia brought alone before him and commanded her immediately to sacrifice to the gods, if she wished to save her life. The pious virgin did not permit herself to be frightened, but answered courageously: “I am a Christian, and I honor no other but the true God. To Him alone I sacrifice, not to your false idols.” “What is it you sacrifice?” asked Berillus; “and where is the temple of thy God?” “I sacrifice,” said Serapia, “neither oxen nor calves, but myself, my body, my soul, my life. The temple of my God is my body, my soul. In this temple He dwells; for I have consecrated my virginity to Him. A chaste body, a chaste soul, is a temple of the Most High.” Berillus laughed at this answer, and threatened entirely to destroy her temple. He had her cast into a narrow dungeon, and sent two debauchees to her to force her to vice and thus dishonor and ruin the so-called temple of the Lord. The horrible wretches hastened to the dungeon, entered it, and were about to lay their sacrilegious hands on the chaste virgin, when, raising her eyes towards heaven, she cried aloud: “Jesus Christ, my Saviour! Thou who hast desired to be born of a virgin, protect my virginal chastity, which I have entirely consecrated to Thee!” These words were hardly uttered, when the earth began to tremble and both the criminals sank dead to the ground. Berillus, informed of this, raved with anger, and ascribed the whole event to witchcraft. Serapia, however, said: “No, this was not done by witchcraft, but by the power of the God whom I worship.” “If your God is so mighty,” said Berillus, “obtain from him the restoration of these youths.” Serapia, sinking upon her knees, said a short prayer, and the dead were restored to life. Being present at so visible a miracle, the governor ought to have recognized that the God, whom Serapia worshipped, was the Lord of the living and the dead. But he ascribed this also to witchcraft, and ordered the garments to be torn from the chaste body of the virgin, and that she should be tortured with burning torches. The Christian heroine suffered this terrible martyrdom with invincible patience, and praised and glorified God with a loud voice, until the tyrant ordered her to be beheaded. This took place in the year of our Lord, 122. Sabina, the pious widow, almost envied her holy teacher the priceless grace of dying for the love of her heavenly bridegroom, and desired nothing but to give her life also for Him This wish was at length gratified; for, the successor of Berillus, calling her into his presence, endeavored, by flatteries and kindness, to win her to forsake Christ. But as she remained firm in her confession, and hesitated not to place the nothingness of the gods before his eyes, he ordered her to be beheaded. The joy she expressed on hearing her death-sentence pronounced, is hardly to be described. Raising her hands and eyes upwards, she said: “I give thanks, infinite thanks, to Thee, O my God, for vouchsafing me the grace to die for Thy honored name. To Thy care I commend my soul.” Then kneeling down, she offered her neck to the executioner, and received with firmness the fatal stroke.

Practical Considerations

• “A chaste body, a chaste soul, is a temple, a dwelling of God.” These were the words of Serapia. Whose temple and whose dwelling is then the body and soul of the unchaste? Most certainly of no other than of him whose greatest delight is unchastity, as this draws thousands of souls into hell. See whether God or the devil dwells in your soul, and judge with whom your eternal home will be. God most miraculously protects a chaste soul, because it is His temple, His dwellings as Saint Serapia experienced. Satan precipitates unchaste souls into his dark abode, as many thousands have experienced. If you desire to be guarded by the Almighty, and one day to inhabit heaven, take care that you keep your soul free from all stain, and give it to God as a permanent dwelling. Should you, however, be addicted to unchastity, and allow the impure spirit to abide long in your soul, tremble; for he will prepare a place for you in hell, where you shall live in eternal flames. You hope to drive him away some day, by penance, and to prepare your soul to be a dwelling of the Lord. But I fear that you deceive yourself, to your own great harm. For, as I have already remarked elsewhere, there is no vice from which it is more difficult to tear ourselves by penance, when we have been long a slave to it, than the vice of unchastity. Persons who have been long addicted to it, either do not think at all of repentance, or their souls fall into so sad a condition, that they do not desire to do penance, or they think that it is too late to hope for pardon “And I gave her time that she might do penance,” says God of an unchaste person, “and she will not repent of her fornication.” (Apocalypse 2) Hence, Saint Cyprian rightly called unchastity, “the mother of impenitence.” Saint Chrysostom says that a lewd person can- not be moved to repentance, either by admonition, by menaces, or descriptions of heaven or of hell. “It is a greater miracle when a person, who has long lived an unchaste life, reforms, than when a legion of devils are exorcised from one possessed.” Hence, what must be done? If the unclean spirit has dwelt until now in your soul, do not suffer him to do so one moment longer, but expel him by true penance. If he has never found an abode in you, receive him not at any future time. Avoid most earnestly the horrible and dangerous vice of unchastity.

• Sabina, while yet a pagan, exercised herself in good works, and God brought her, by the persuasion of her servant, to the true faith. Understand it well! The good works of Pagans, Heretics and Jews merit not eternal life; as, according to the well-known words of the holy Apostle, it is impossible for such to please God. Also the good works performed by Catholics, when they are not in a state of grace, cannot merit heaven, as you were informed yesterday. It does not, however, follow from this, that we should omit good works altogether, so long as we are either not in the true faith, or in a state of mortal sin; but that we should endeavor to convert ourselves to the true faith and gain by repentance the grace of the Almighty. It is further to be remarked, that although God does not recompense in heaven the good works performed either by heathens and Jews, or by I Catholics living in mortal sin, He rewards them in this world. To those who are zealous in the practice of them, the infinite mercy of I God often gives a long time to be converted and do penance. He averts punishment from them which otherwise they would have deserved, gives them many good inspirations and other graces that they may be converted and thus save their souls. These graces and inspirations they would not receive, if they omitted to do deeds of kindness and charity. Hence, non-Catholics, as well as Catholics living in mortal sin, should endeavor to do good works, as both will derive great benefit, by thus opening a way toward their conversion. The heathen Centurion, Cornelius, spoken of in the Acts, was devoted to prayer and alms-giving and hence God called him to the true faith. The Prophet said to King Josaphat: “Thou did indeed deserve the wrath of the Lord; but good works are found in thee!” (2nd Paralip. 19) On account of these, God averted the deserved punishment. Daniel advised the godless king Nabuchodonosor to redeem his sins with alms; (Daniel, 4) in order that God might have pity, and bestow grace on him to do true penance and thus obtain the forgiveness of his sins.

MLA Citation

Father Francis Xavier Weninger, DD, SJ. “Saint Serapia and Saint Sabina, Martyrs”. Lives of the Saints1876. CatholicSaints.Info. 30 April 2018. Web. 2 March 2024. <https://catholicsaints.info/weningers-lives-of-the-saints-saint-serapia-and-saint-sabina-martyrs/>

SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/weningers-lives-of-the-saints-saint-serapia-and-saint-sabina-martyrs/


Saints and Saintly Dominicans – 29 August

Saint SabinaMartyr

Sabina, noble by birth, was converted to the faith by Seraphia her slave, who afterwards became her friend, sister and helper in all works of charity. Seraphia having been beheaded for Jesus Christ, under Hadrian, Sabina reverently buried her re-mains. On account of this pious act, she herself was accused as a Christian to Ælpidius, the Prefect of Rome, who said to her: “Art thou Sabina, that Roman so illustrious by her birth and her marriage?” “Yes,” she replied, “but I rather thank my Lord Jesus Christ, that by His servant Seraphia, He has delivered me from the power of demons.” Every effort to make her deny Christ was fruitless, and she was condemned to be beheaded (about 130). In 425 a church was built on the Aventine, just at the spot where she had suffered death. Later, Pope Honorius III made over to Saint Dominic the church and its dependencies, and it became one of the sanctuaries most justly dear to the Order. The cell of the holy Patriarch is still preserved, as well as the orange tree planted by his own hands. Of this tree Saint Francis de Sales thus charmingly writes to Saint Chantal: “I have seen in Rome, a tree planted by the Blessed Dominic; every one goes to see it, and cherishes it for the sake of the planter. Thus, having seen in you the tree of the desire of sanctity, which Our Lord has planted in your soul, I cherish it tenderly and say: May God give you increase, oh beautiful tree which He has planted, divine, celestial seed! May God deign to make you bring forth fruit to maturity.”

Prayer

Spirit of Dominic, flourish in us!

Practice

Make a spiritual pilgrimage to the cell and orange tree of Saint Dominic.

– taken from the book Saints and Saintly Dominicans, by Blessed Hyacinthe-Marie CormierO.P.

SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/saints-and-saintly-dominicans-29-august/

Chiesa di San Zaccaria in Venezia. Polittico di Santa Sabina. Intarsiato e legno intarsiato scolpito da Ludovico da Forlì nel 1443. I dipinti sono di Antonio Vivarini - Giovanni d'Alemagna.

Église San Zaccaria de Venise - Polyptyque de sainte Sabine en bois marqueté et sculpté par le marqueteur Ludovico da Forli en 1443. Les tableaux sont d'Antonio Vivarini - Giovanni d'Alemagna.

San Zaccaria in Venice - Polyptych of Saint Sabina. Inlaid wood marquetry and sculpted by Ludovico da Forli in 1443. The paintings by Antonio Vivarini - Giovanni d'Alemagna.


Santa Sabina Martire

29 agosto

Sec. II

Patrizia romana del II secolo, uccisa in spregio alla fede allo stesso modo: decapitata. Nella sua «Passione» si legge che era una nobile pagana, moglie del senatore Valentino, convertitasi al cristianesimo per influenza dell’ancella Serapia. Con lei di notte scendeva nelle catacombe, dove i cristiani si riunivano clandestinamente per sfuggire alle persecuzioni imperiali. Quando Serapia venne catturata e bastonata a morte, anche Sabina venne allo scoperto subendo il martirio intorno all’anno 120. Le reliquie delle due martiri, insieme a quelle di Alessandro, Evenzio e Teodulo si trovano nella basilica di Santa Sabina all’Aventino, fondata nel 425 da Pietro d’Illiria, sui resti di un antico «Titulus Sabinae» (forse la santa, oltre che patrona, ne fu fondatrice e protettrice). San Domenico vi fondò il suo ordine nel 1219. Si può ancora vedere la sua cella, trasformata in cappella. Nel chiostro del convento si può ammirare l’arancio che il santo avrebbe piantato alla fondazione dei Predicatori. Anche uno dei più celebri figli dei Domenicani, san Tommaso, ha insegnato in questo convento. Santa Sabina viene raffigurata con libro, palma e corona. Con questi ultimi due attributi compare in una delle sue prime rappresentazioni (VI secolo) nella chiesa di Sant’Apollinare Nuovo a Ravenna. (Avvenire)

Patronato: Avezzano (AQ), Mariana Mantovana (MN)

Martirologio Romano: A Roma, commemorazione di santa Sabina, la cui basilica costruita sull’Aventino reca il suo venerando nome. 

Santa Sabina è una martire del II secolo che trova ancor oggi, come per tutti i martiri, luoghi a lei dedicati, dove la si invoca come protettrice. Oltre la Basilica dell’Aventino a Roma, a lei dedicata anche la comunità parrocchiale della Chiesa arcipretale di Trigoso (risalente ai primordi del Cristianesimo in Liguria, quasi certamente del VII sec.) antico borgo nelle vicinanze di Sestri Levante, ridente cittadina sul mare, la invoca e la festeggia come sua Patrona e chiede, con umile e devoto affetto, la sua intercessione sulla parrocchia e sulle famiglie. La implora di ottenere dal Signore il dono della preghiera, della vigilanza, della mortificazione e della fermezza e perseveranza nella fede e nel bene, ad imitazione della Sua Vita che fu segno della totale appartenenza a Dio. A lei dedicato è uno dei cinque altari, in stile barocco genovese. 

Possa Santa Sabina indicare a tutti la via della salvezza che troviamo solo in Cristo e nel “martirio quotidiano” che non è necessariamente quello vissuto da Santa Sabina, ma è il saper accettare non solo le nostre debolezze, limiti ed imperfezioni, ma soprattutto quelle di coloro che ci stanno accanto e che spesso vorremmo cambiare a nostro piacimento non cercando tanto il Volere di Dio ma il nostro, possibilmente vivendo una vita comoda e senza problemi. Gesù stesso però ci dice che per essere suoi discepoli bisogna prendere ogni giorno la propria croce e seguirlo.

Autore: Giuliana Brugnoli

SOURCE : http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/91096

Voir aussi : http://www.stsabina.org/history.html