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Saint Constanza of Rome

Saint Constanza of Rome

Question: Hi, i refer to your excellent blog , with the confidence that you would resolve a doubt about Saint Constanza, I have read that you have a section on your page but I can´t find what I’m looking for, that is Saint Constanza , the daughter of Constantino the great, a saint as well as you might now it, the thing is that I have seen lots of images of this saint as well as corpo santos, that’s what I have learned on your page, and I would like to know if any of them is her or how it can be venerated and where, is there an image. Thanks.

Answer: First of all, I would like to thank your reading and attention to my little page , one more in a world full of websites about saints. Just by knowing you have learned something its worth all the efforts to do it , and doubles the satisfaction. and I get to the mater:

Saint Constanza of Roma, virgin, princess. February 19.
To begin it has to be said that saint Constanza its not included in the roman martir lists or whatever list its consider to be official , but she is in non official saints lists , sincerely , she not have gone down in history not for the beautiful mausoleum his father constantino dedicated to her in rome turned in to a basilica , that with time it ended up being called of “saint constanza”, because there is her grave (in the image).

Legend:
An analysis of her life what does is bring out the little historical value of the legends that narrate their way through life, hers an a couple of saints , some history is there but very mixed with pious fables So Constanza was the daughter of Constantino the Great, and suffered from scrofula (leprosy according to other versions). Constantino offered it as a wife to her general Gallicano, recently widowed, but this does not it funny and refused. Thus, Constantino sent him to Thrace, to defend the Roman frontiers against the barbarians.

Gallicano knowledgeable of the christian faith, made a vow of turning into the new faith if he came out with a victory. As one would expect in a hagiography, it happened: won and converted. Upon returning to Rome knew that Constanza had been miraculously healed by Saint ines and, with his own daughters Augusta, Attica and Artemia (also held on 19 February) had been spent as virgins consecrated by the church of santa ines. Constanza had two slaves in his service, Juan y Pablo, which he left to his death, freedom and her heritage. Upon assuming power Juliano the Apostate, Juan and Pablo, were martyred, with the intention of the emperor to restore the heritage of Constanza (celebrated on 26 June). After the martyrdom, three Christians Crispin Crispiniano and Benedict were buried. Gallicano was martyred in Alexandria, where he had been banished by Christian. The Roman martyrology picks it up to 25 July.

History:
It is true that the Emperor Constantino had a daughter, whose correct name is Flavia Julia Constantina, although usually called Constanza. However, it has historically, it was not a consecrated virgin, but was married to Annibalianus. And yet, if we believe the military historian
Amiano Marcellino was a woman completely unprincipled, "a devil in human form, female fury always bloodthirsty" (1). If Constantino had another daughter who was not involved in court life and public, is unknown to historians and chroniclers of the time. This is not surprising if, indeed, lived a recluse, first by the disease and then the virginal consecration. Remains in the shadows.

A couple more problems:
Even the name of Gallicano was common and was described at the time, there are two well-known, Vulcacio Gallicano, prefect of Rome in 317, and Ovinio Gallicano, consul in 330, but has none in the war against the barbarians of Thrace. On the other hand, it is incredible that a general was martyred such and such a legend. And second, the storyof the martyrdom of Saints Juan and Pablo, put under interrogation by Juliano himself in Rome, but it is known that after becoming emperor, Juliano did not set foot in Rome.

Therefore, there is every reason to have the legend as a great and senseless, bringing together characters from different times in the same situation. But calm, while the narrative of their lives and martyrdom is false there is reason to believe in its existence and very ancient cult! But that, in another article, this is very long. In addition, so will increase the interest.

 


(1) Stories, Volume I, books XIV-XVI.

By Ramon Rabre (text) and Marco Antonio Martinez Ruvalcaba (translation)