Aug 312008
![[Saint Bibiana]](http://saints.sqpn.com/saintb17.jpg "22kb jpg painting of Saint Bibiana, oil on canvas, Mexican, 19th-century; Old Mission Saint Ines, 1760 Mission Drive, Solvang, California, USA; www.misssionsaintines.org; thanks Susan")
Also known as
- Viviana
- Vivian
- Vibiana
Profile
Her parents, Saint Flavian of Acquapendente and Dafrosa of Acquapendente, were martyred in the persecutions of Julian the Apostate, and Vivian and her sister Demetria were turned over to a woman named Rufina who tried to force them into prostitution. Upon her continued refusal to co-operate, Vivian was imprisoned in a mad house, then flogged to death.
A church was built over her grave, in the garden of which grew an herb that cured headache and epilepsy. This and her time spent with the mentally ill led to her areas of patronage.
Born
- in 4th century in Rome, Italy
- scourged to death c.361
- her body was left to the dogs, but none would touch her, and she was buried two days later
- against epilepsy
- against hangovers
- against headaches
- against insanity
- against mental illness
- epileptics
- Los Angeles, California, archdiocese of
- mentally ill people
- single laywomen
- torture victims
Additional Information
- Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
- Catholic Encyclopedia
- Catholic Online
- New Catholic Dictionary
- Saint Vivian Parish, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
MLA Citation