Apr
9
Saint Bibiana ~ Also known as Viviana; Vivian; Vibiana
April 9, 2007 | 4 Comments
ST. VIVIAN
Virgin and Martyr
Of the time at which St. Vivian suffered martyrdom and of the circumstances of her passion nothing certain is known. Certain it is, however, that there existed in the city of Rome in the Fifth Century the Church of St. Vivian, said by the Liber Pontificalis to have been dedicated by Pope Paul Simplicius and to have contained St. Vivian’s body. It was under the Emperor Julian, the Apostate, according to legend, that she suffered. A native of Rome, she was the daughter of zealous Christian parents, both of whom were persecuted for their Faith; he banished from the country after severe tortures and she beheaded. Their daughter, St. Vivian, then stripped of all she had in the world, and suffering much for five months from poverty, was placed by the Court judge into the hands of an extremely artful woman named Rufina, who sought to bring St. Vivian to another way of thinking. But Rufina’s blandishments were tried in vain, and after she had failed to tempt St. Vivian from the way of Faith and chastity, she ordered blows to be rained upon her, but this too to no avail, St. Vivian was next tied to a pillar and whipped with scourges loaded with lead, and under this tremendous torture she died. Her body was left in the open air to be eaten by scavenging dogs, but they would not touch it, and her body, after having lain exposed for two days, was buried in the night by a priest called John near the palace of Licinius. Because St. Vivian is in one story represented as having been locked up with mad people, she has been honored as a patron of the insane and epileptics. The Feast Day of St. Vivian occurs on December 2.
If you look for the original church of St. Vivian you will find it near the railroad station in Rome. It was built in the fifth century. The church was restored by Bernini in 1625. Bernini was a famous Italian architect.
If you travel to Italy the name you will find on the church is Bibianae. Bibianae in the Old French reads Vivianae and so in English we have Vivian. It is said that this church was built on tile sight of St. Vivian’s home and that her body is buried in this church. The church was dedicated by Pope Paul Simplicus in the fifth century.
Bibiana was a Roman virgin, noble by birth, but more noble by her profession of the Christian faith. For under the most wicked tyrant Julian the apostate, Flavian, her father, was deprived of his dignity of prefect, and being branded with the mark of slavery, he was banished to Aquae Taurinae, and there died a Martyr. Her mother, Dafrosa, was first shut up in her own house with her daughters, that she might die by starvation; but shortly afterwards was banished from Rome and beheaded. The virtuous parents thus put to death, Bibiana was deprived of all her possessions, as also was her sister, Demetria. Apronianus, the city praetor, thirsting after their wealth, persecutes the two sisters. They are bereaved of every human help. But God, Who gives food to them that are in hunger, wonderfully nourishes them; and the praetor is exceedingly astonished on finding them in better health and strength than before.
Apronianus, notwithstanding, endeavours to induce them to venerate the gods of the Gentiles. If they consent, he promises them the recovery of all their wealth, the emperor’s favour, and marriage to the noblest in the empire: but should they refuse, he threatens them with prison and scourgings, and the sword. But neither promises nor threats can make them abandon the true faith; they would rather die than be defiled by the idolatrous practices of paganism; and they resolutely resist the impious praetor. Whereupon, Demetria was struck down in the presence of Bibiana, and slept in the Lord. Bibiana was delivered over to a woman by name Rufina, who was most skilled in the art of seduction. But the virgin, taught from her infancy to observe the Christian law, and to preserve with the utmost jealousy the flower of her virginity, rose above nature, defeated all the artifices of the wretched Rufina, and foiled the craft of the praetor.
Finding, therefore, that Rufina could in no wise shake the virgin’s holy resolution, and that both her wicked words and frequent blows were of no avail; and seeing his hopes disappointed and his labour thrown away; the praetor became violently enraged, and ordered Bibiana to be stripped by the lictors, to be fastened to a pillar with her hands bound, and to be beaten to death with leaded whips. Her sacred body was left for two days in the Bull-Forum, as food for dogs; but received no injury, being Divinely preserved. A priest called John then buried it during the night, close to the grave of her sister and mother, near the palace of Licinius, where there stands at this day a church consecrated to God under the title of St. Bibiana. Urban VIII restored this church, having there discovered the bodies of Saints Bibiana, Demetria, and Dafrosa, which he placed under the high altar.
Prayer to St. Bibiana
God of Mercy and love, you gave St. Bibiana the courage to witness to the gospel of Christ, even to the point of giving her life for it. By her prayers, help us endure all suffering for love of You and to seek You with all our hearts, for You alone are the source of life.
Holy Bibiana, most wise virgin! thou hast gone through the long unbroken watch of this life; and when, suddenly, the Spouse came, thy lamp was bright and richly fed with oil. Now thou art dwelling in the abode of the eternal marriage-feast, where the Beloved feeds among the lilies. Remember us who are still living in the expectation of that same Divine Spouse, Whose eternal embrace is secured to thee for we are awaiting the coming of this Saviour into our souls, that He may give them life and union with Himself by love; we are awaiting our Judge, the Judge of the living and the dead. Most wise virgin! intercede for us, by thy fervent prayers, with this our Saviour, our Spouse, and our Judge; pray that each of these three visits may work and perfect in us that Divine union, for which we have all been created. Pray also, O faithful virgin, for the Church on earth, which gave thee to the Church in Heaven, and which so devoutly watches over thy precious remains. Obtain for her that strict fidelity, which will ever render her worthy of Him, who is her Spouse as He is thine. Though He has enriched her with the most magnificent gifts, and given her confidence by His promises which cannot fail, yet does He wish her to ask, and us to ask for her, the graces which will lead her to the glorious destiny which awaits her. Amen
Comments
4 Comments so far
I visited the cathedral in Los Angeles where I saw the tomb of St. Viviana. Yet, this site says that her body was burned in a church in Rome. Could you please this apparent discrepancy to me.
Thank you.
Claudia Allen
P.S. Why is St Viviana the patron saint of hangovers?
I have neither visited any holy sights and only through strange coincidence found out about St. Bibiana. I suffer from daily migraines, depression, body pain and fatigue from my Fibromyalgia. I have also been diagnosed with kidney disease in the last year as well. Shortly after that my wife left me a single parent with my son living with me and my daughter living with her mother. I barely manage to keep my roof over our heads and am on the verge of losing my home in October when my contract for deed expires. I do not have the financial means to stay afloat due to my medical condition prevents my from having full work weeks and paychecks. I am looking for any medals or jewelry that may be available with Bibiana on them. It would bring me comfort. Thank you. Kurt Belker
Two different saints with similar names. The 3rd century St Vibiana is the saint of the cathedral in Los Angeles. Her body was discovered in 1853 in Rome. She had died a violent death, and had the Christian martyr sign on the tomb or on the plaque. It is her remains that were given by the then Pope to be taken to the US where a cathedral was to be founded in her name. Her saint’s day is September 1st. It was St Bibiana, a different saint, whose body was burned in Rome. Her saints day is December, I think the 2nd.
And also there was St Vivian, a Scottish saint – Vivian is the masculine version of the name. Vivienne or Viviane (Breton) are the feminine versions.