Saint of the Day – 23 February – Saint Romana (Died c324) Virgin, Recluse, Miracle-worker. Born in c308 and died in c324 in her cave in Todi, Umbria, Italy of natural causes.
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Todi, St Romana, Viurgin, who was Baptised by Pope St Sylvester. She led a heavenly life in caves and dens and wrought glorious miracles.”
Romana was the daughter of Calfurnius, the Prefect of Rome. Having embraced the Christian Faith, she renounced all the comforts and conveniences which her rank would have allowed her.
Following her religious vocation, she ran away from home and, at the age of 10, she reached St Silvester on Mount Soratte, to be Baptised.
Inside the church of Santa Romana on Soratte (a mountain in Sabina) there is the following inscription:
“23 FEBEUARII ^ TUDERTI ^ St ROMANE VIRGINIS QUE A S. SILVESTRO BAPTIZATA IN HANC ANTRI ET SPELUCIS CELESTE VITA DUXIT ET MIRACULORV.GLORIS CLARUIT.”
(23 FEBRUARY ^ TUDERTI ^ ST ROMAN VIRGIN WHO WAS BAPTISED BY ST SILVESTER IN THIS CAVE. SHE LIVED A CELESTIAL LIFE AND WAS REPLETE WITH MIRACULOUS GLORY).
Nowadays it is almost illegible.
Romana on Mount Soratte. lived in a hermitage, She wanted to live in that very cave, perhaps because she felt close to Pope Sylvester, whose sanctity she admired. And it is in these places that a legendary relationship was born, between the Saint and his devotee, who reached him at the top of the mountain, perhaps using some secret passage, wedging herself into the bowels of the mountain.
Silvester warned her each time and once said to her: “now you will return when the roses have bloomed.” It was the middle of winter which had often stained the steep climbs of the mountain with white, when one morning Romana returned to Silvester with a rose; it had bloomed.
The Saint then set out alone towards the City of Todi. In the gorges of Forello, she established her home inside a cave. Although she lived alone, her constant prayer and her faith, were such that many Christians approached her, praising her sanctity.
Romana died in prayer surrounded by the faithful, in the year c324. The body of the Saint was buried in the cave where she lived and in which an Altar was built, where masses were continuously celebrated.
In 1301 her body was transferred to St Fortunatus Church in Todi.
AnaStpaul 