St. Pudentiana, Virgin.

　


Pudentiana (also called Potentiana) is with good reason believed to be a sainted Virgin, and perhaps a Martyr, of the first or second century. She was sister to holy Praxedes, and daughter to holy Pudens the Roman Senator, of whom the Apostle maketh mention to blessed Timothy, saying : Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens. After she, with her sister Praxedes, had distributed to the poor the money which they had obtained by the sale of their inheritance, she gave herself continually to fasting and prayer, and brought he whole household, being ninety-six persons on all, to Christ. And whereas the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus had forbidden the Christians to offer sacrifice in public, Saint Pope Pius I used to meet with them in Pudentiana’s house, to celebrate the holy rites. Where she was gracious hostess to them, and ministered to them in such things as were needful for the body. She thus busied herself in works of Christian godliness until she passed from this present life to a better, and was buried in her father’s sepulcher in the cemetery of Saint Priscilla on the Salarian Way upon May 19^th.

Collect:

Graciously hear us, O God of our salvation, that, like as we do rejoice in the festival of blessed Pudentiana thy holy Virgin, so we may learn to follow her in all godly and devout affections, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.