Wednesday’s Woman: St. Hermione of Ephesus

The Basics: Born in the 1st century in Israel; died in 117 in Italy; canonized precongregation; feast day, September 4. Martyr. The Story: Two Roman emperors attempted to break Hermione’s faith, and both failed. Hermione was one of Philip the Deacon’s (not to be confused with Philip the apostle) four daughters, and so was well grounded… Continue reading Wednesday’s Woman: St. Hermione of Ephesus

Wednesday’s Woman: St. Verena

The Basics: Born in the 3rd century in Egypt; died about 300 in Switzerland; canonized precongregation; feast day, September 14. Social worker, nurse, hermit. The Story: Some saints never left their hometowns. Others traveled far and wide doing missionary work. Verena’s story is somewhere in between. She was born into a noble Christian family in Egypt,… Continue reading Wednesday’s Woman: St. Verena

Wednesday’s Woman: St. Pusinna

The Basics: Born in the 5th century in France; died in the 6th century in France; canonized precongregation; feast day, April 23. Hermit. The Story: The Second Vatican Council writings included a reference to the family as the “domestic Church,” calling parents “the first preachers of the faith.” It appears that Pusinna’s parents, who lived fifteen… Continue reading Wednesday’s Woman: St. Pusinna

Wednesday’s Woman: St. Dafrosa

The Basics: Born in the 4th century in Italy; died 362 in Italy; canonized precongregation; feast day, January 4. Wife, mother, martyr. The Story: The two-year reign of Julian the Apostate was a horrible time to be a Christian. It’s estimated the emperor put hundreds of people to death. That’s the macro level. At the micro… Continue reading Wednesday’s Woman: St. Dafrosa