Saint of the Day – 12 January – Saint Tatiana of Rome (Died c 226) Virgin, Martyr. Died by being beheaded in c 226 in Rome, Italy. Patronage – students, school children. Also known as – Martina, Tatienne.
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Rome in the time of the Emperor Alexander, St Tatiana, Martyr who was torn with iron hooks and combs, thrown to the beasts and cast into the fire but, having received no injury, was beheaded and thus, went to Heaven.”
Tatiana was a Christian Martyr in the 3rd Century, in Rome during the reign of Emperor Alexander Severus. According to legend, she was the daughter of a Roman civil servant who was secretly Christian. He raised his daughter in the Faith and she became prominent in helping the early Church. This was dangerous, bringing her to the attention of the persecutors and one day the jurists Ulpian, captured Tatiana and attempted to force her to make a sacrifice to Apollo. She prayed and miraculously an earthquake destroyed the Apollo statue and part of the temple.
Tatiana was then blinded and beaten for two days, before being brought to a Circus and thrown into the pit with a hungry lion. But the lion did not touch her,and instead, lay at her feet. This resulted in a death sentence being pronounced and after being tortured, Tatiana was beheaded with a sword.
Tatiana was venerated as a Saint from the early days of the Church. The miracles performed by Tatiana are said to have converted thousands upon thousands,and many converted to the Faith immediately. She is the Oatron Saint of students.
AnaStpaul 