Saint of the day July 19: Saints Justa and Rufina. Catholic Saints

Every July 19, the Church celebrates two Spanish women from the 3rd century, the sisters Santa Justa and Santa Rufina, martyrs, patron saints of the city of Seville (Spain), as well as of potters, since they made a living selling ceramics.

In Seville, their homeland, they are celebrated on July 17, while in the rest of Spain and other places the central day of the celebrations is July 19.

Beyond the controversy

There is an ancient controversy surrounding these saints and their historicity, given that many of the sources in which they are mentioned lack absolute rigor, either due to their early elaboration or due to the typical errors that abound in the writings of antiquity. However, the tradition that venerates them enjoys such strength that it makes their testimonies perfectly credible.

The Catholic Encyclopedia notes: “Only Saint Justa is mentioned in the ‘Jerome’s Martyrology‘, but in historical martyrologies (Quentin, “Historical martyrologies“) is mentioned as ‘Justina’.” This has led more than one to certain misunderstandings caused by the name and to confuse the sisters with other women martyrs. Unfortunately, only in documents from the 6th century do both sisters appear with the names with which they are venerated today. In consideration of this (a source from the 6th century is a source considered “close”) and the tradition, reinforced by the Minutes, It is possible to maintain that “there is no doubt that both saints are historical martyrs of the Spanish Church” (Catholic Encyclopedia).

Daughters of the Church

Saints Justa and Rufina were two sisters born in Seville (Spain) in the 3rd century. While they were still very young, they died martyred during the persecution organized by the Roman emperor Diocletian, according to ancient accounts, for having refused to participate in the rituals offered to the pagan goddess Salammbo (Salambona).

Justa and Rufina were born approximately between the years 268 and 270, in territory belonging to Andalusia, Hispania, when it was part of the territories of the peninsula annexed to the Roman Empire. The sisters were part of a very modest family, but with firm customs and solid Christian faith.

Their parents died when they were little girls. Then, the bishop of the city, close to the family, decided to support them and watch over them, encouraging them to persevere in faith and virtue. Then, the Christians helped them learn a trade – pottery – with which they could earn an honest living.

Hard-working and honest traders

The sisters dedicated themselves to selling the ceramic containers they made. Grateful to God for not having abandoned them, they actively participated in the Christian community of their city: they prayed and attended the Eucharist.

The townspeople knew them for their charity and benevolence, which they granted to everyone without distinction, whether pagan or Christian. The sisters were not afraid to bear witness to their faith in front of anyone and, in an exemplary attitude, they always asked for the conversion of non-Christians. They proclaimed the Lord and taught his doctrine to the Gentiles.

Around the year 287, during the celebrations in honor of Venus, a group of women walked through the streets of Seville with an idol of the goddess Salambona (Babylonian equivalent of Venus) carried on their shoulders. When they saw Justa and Rufina, they asked them for the usual donation for the festival, in addition to kneeling and worshiping the statuette of the goddess. The sisters refused to give money and refused to pay any homage to the image. The snub provoked the anger of the mob, which attacked them.

Firm in faith by grace

Diogeniano, Roman prefect in Seville, in response to the “provocation” ordered Justa and Rufina to be arrested, interrogated and threatened with cruel torture if they persisted in defending the Christian religion. However, despite the threats, the saints refused to renounce their faith, exclaiming that they would only worship Jesus Christ:

“That which you call the goddess Salambona, was nothing more than a despicable pot of baked clay; we worship the only true God who is in Heaven, and his Son Jesus Christ who became man and died for us to save us from our sins. …”.

After cruel torture, Saint Justa died of weakness, locked in a cell without water or food. On her side, Saint Rufina, who briefly survived her sister, ended up having her throat beheaded by direct order of Diogeniano.

Brave Sevillians

Tradition has made the holy sisters the patron saints of Seville and the guilds of potters and potters. They are also from Valencia, Palencia and other cities in Spain. Her remains were venerated in this city from the time of her martyrdom until the Arab invasion in 711, when they had to be hidden for her protection.

Last century these remains were rediscovered in Alcalá de los Gazules (Cádiz); and today, under the Trinity Church in Seville, you can find the cells in which Justa and Rufina spent their last hours.

…

You can find additional information about both saints here: https://ec.aciprensa.com/wiki/Santa_Rufina.

More information: