Justina of Padua

Saint Justina (Justine) of Padua (it icon Santa Giustina) is a Christian saint who was said to have been martyred in 304 AD. Justina was said to have been a young woman who took private vows of chastity and was killed during the persecutions of Diocletian. She is a patron saint of Padua.

Medieval legends described her as a disciple of Saint Peter the Apostle. Thus, Saint Prosdocimus, the first bishop of Padua, is said to have been Justina's spiritual father; his legend states that he was sent from Antioch by Peter.

The abbey and the basilica of Santa Giustina, in Padua, houses art dedicated to the saint, including the "Martyrdom of St. Justine" by Paolo Veronese. The complex was founded in the 5th century on Justine's tomb, and in the 15th century became one of the most important monasteries in the area, until it was suppressed by Napoleon in 1810. In 1919 it was reopened. The tombs of several saints are housed in the interior, including those of Justina, St. Prosdocimus, St. Maximus, St. Urius, St. Felicita, St. Julianus, as well as relics of the Apostle St. Matthias and the Evangelist St. Luke.

Charles Borromeo dedicated a college at Pavia to her.

Her feast day is October 7.

External links

* [http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintj6o.htm Saint Justina of Padua]