Saint of the Day – 6 May – Saint Benedicta (Died c550) Virgin of Rome. Also known as Benedetta. St Benedicta was a disciple of St Galla, a wealthy widow of Rome who founded a Convent on Vatican Hill where our Saint spent her holy life of prayer, fasting and assisting the poor and ill. The image below is St Galla on St Peter’s Colonnade/
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Rome, St Benedicta, Virgin.”
Information about St Benedicta is scant and comes primarily from the writings of Pope Gregory the Great, who describes her as a companion of Saint Galla in the Monastery St Gallo had founded in Rome, near St Peter’s.
Her life, although short, is rich in teachings and examples of faith and devotion.
We know that she was a young Roman virgin who, drawn to religious life, Consecrated herself to God as a virgin. She entered the Monastery founded by Saint Galla.
St Gregory the Great, in his Dialogues, describes her as a woman of great sanctity, devoted to prayer, fasting, and obedience. She was particularly dear to St Galla, who considered her a daughter. St Galla is one of the 140 saints whose images adorn St. Peter’s Square’s Colonnade.
According to tradition, Saint Benedicta died 30 days after the death of her mentor St Galla, as the Apostle Peter had foretold her in a vision. Her death was peaceful and holy, like her life.
St Benedicta is venerated by the Church and her name is inscribed in the Roman Martyrology on this day.
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