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Saint Giustina of Arzano

Saint

Martyr

Pre-Congregation

Feast Day: 13 July; 3rd Sunday of September (procession commemorates the attempted movement of her relics)

Died: Arrows fired at her would not strike her, and the archers would suddenly sweat blood; beheaded in Trieste, Italy; her body was transported to a planned burial site in Sicily, Italy; when the ox pulling the cart reached Arzano, Italy, it refused to go further; the people took this as a sign that the saint wished to stay there; skull enshrined in a glass case in the church of San Martino in Torre d’Arese, Italy; legend says that on the 3rd Sunday of September in 1670, the bishop of Pavia, Italy tried to take her relics to his city; when he reached the city limits of Arzano, a massive thunderstorm began, stopping the travellers; if they retreated back into the city, the storm would lessen; when they approached the limits again, it would get worse; when the bishop returned the relics to their original location, the storm stopped and the sun came out; a procession of her relics is still held on the 3rd Sunday in September, but they people are careful never to leave the city limits

Canonized: Pre-Congregation

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Biography

Saint Giustina of Arzano, also known as Saint Giuliana, was a young Christian woman who lived in Trieste, Italy during a period of persecution. She dedicated her life to God and refused the marriage proposal of a pagan friend, Fabiano, who was an imperial consul of the city. It was during this time that her faith was revealed, leading to her arrest and subsequent martyrdom. After refusing to renounce her Christian beliefs, Saint Giustina was sentenced to death. According to accounts, arrows that were fired at her miraculously missed, and the archers themselves began sweating blood. Yet, despite these signs of divine intervention, she was ultimately beheaded in Trieste, Italy. After her martyrdom, arrangements were made to transport her body to a planned burial site in Sicily, Italy. However, as the ox pulling the cart reached the town of Arzano, Italy, it suddenly refused to move further. The people of Arzano interpreted this as a sign that Saint Giustina wished to remain there. Her remains were then enshrined in a church in Torre d'Arese, Italy, with her skull preserved in a glass case in the church of San Martino. Many legends and miracles are associated with Saint Giustina. It is said that on the 3rd Sunday of September in 1670, the bishop of Pavia attempted to relocate her relics to his city. However, as the group reached the city limits of Arzano, a powerful thunderstorm began and prevented them from proceeding. The storm would lessen if they retreated back into the city, but worsened upon each approach to the limits. This phenomenon continued until the bishop decided to return the relics to their original location, at which point the storm ceased and the sun appeared. Since then, a procession of her relics has been held on the 3rd Sunday in September, ensuring that the people never leave the city limits during the celebration. Saint Giustina of Arzano is venerated as a patron saint of Arzano, Italy, and is also regarded as a protector of unmarried girls in Torre d'Arese, Italy. Though her canonization occurred before the formal process of canonization was established, she is recognized as a saint by the Catholic Church. Her feast days are celebrated on July 13th and the 3rd Sunday of September.