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ST SATURNINA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR - 20 MAY


ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MAY

Saints celebrated on the 20th of May

Prayer to the Angels and the Saints

Heavenly Father, in praising Your Angels and Saints we praise Your glory, for by honouring them we honour You, their Creator. Their splendour shows us Your greatness, which infinitely surpasses that of all creation.

In Your loving providence, You saw fit to send Your Angels to watch over us. Grant that we may always be under their protection and one day enjoy their company in heaven.

Heavenly Father, You are glorified in Your Saints, for their glory is the crowning of Your gifts. You provide an example for us by their lives on earth, You give us their friendship by our communion with them, You grant us strength and protection through their prayer for the Church, and You spur us on to victory over evil and the prize of eternal glory by this great company of witnesses.

Grant that we who aspire to take part in their joy may be filled with the Spirit that blessed their lives, so that, after sharing their faith on earth, we may also experience their peace in heaven. Amen.

ST SATURNINA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR 

Saint Saturnina was a virgin and martyr from the district of Arras (in Artesia) in Belgium, who escaped from Germany to get away from the intrusiveness of a persistent suitor, but was caught at Sains, between Cambrai and Arras and was murdered. 

SHE TRIED TO HIDE

The legend tells that this holy virgin, when she saw her pursuer, fled to a flock of sheep and wanted to hide with the shepherds; but her bridegroom recognised her immediately and killed her (Miraeus, fasti. pag. 273). 

SHE IS PICTURED AS A SHEPHERDESS

The residents of Sains buried her in the Church of St Remigius and built a monastery (Sains-lez-Marqnion) in her honour. In the Roman Martyrology she is mentioned as a virgin and martyr on June 4. On pictures she is usually portrayed as a shepherdess.

(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints)






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