St. Martina, VM - January 30th

Cortona Martyrdom of Saint Martina (Wikipedia)

"O God, Who among the other marvels of Thy power, hast granted even to the weaker sex the victory of martyrdom: mercifully grant that we who celebrate the heavenly birthday of blessed Martina, Thy Virgin and Martyr, may by her example draw nearer to Thee. Through our Lord." - Roman Catholic Daily Missal, 1962

St. Martina, a Roman virgin of an illustrious family, lost her parents while she was still young and distributed her vast fortune lavishly to the poor. Under the emperor Alexander, she was commanded to sacrifice to the imaginary gods, and refused to commit this great crime. First she was subjected to many kinds of tortures and, finally condemned to the beasts in the amphitheater, was left unharmed by divine protection. Then she was thrown into a burning furnace, and again was preserved safe. Some of her tormentors moved by this unheard-of miracle embraced the faith of Christ and received the crown of martyrdom. At Martina’s prayers, God worked many marvels. Angered by these and confounded by the Virgin’s constancy, the judge ordered her beheaded. All this took place when St. Urban I was pope. Under Urban VIII, her body was found in the old church named after her at the Mamertine Prison together with the bodies of the holy Martyrs Concordius, Epiphanius and their companions. When the place had been renovated and decorated, her body was solemnly reburied, amid the rejoicing of the whole City. - 1960 Latin Breviary

In Christ Crucified and the Most Victorious Heart of Jesus.