flourished 4th century, Rome; feast day January 21
Legendary Christian martyr, the patron saint of girls.
According to tradition, she was a beautiful virgin who turned away all suitors, declaring that she could have no spouse but Jesus . The rejected suitors informed Roman officials that she was a Christian, and she was punished by being exposed in a brothel. There she was left miraculously unharmed; the only man who attempted to violate her was struck blind, and she healed him with prayer. She was later murdered during the persecutions ordered by Diocletian .