Description
St Pudentiana Healing oil (Virgin)
St Pudentiana Healing oil a traditional Christian saint and martyr of the 2nd century. She became controversial for refusing to worship the Roman Emperors. Marcus Aurelius as a deity. She is sometimes locally known as Potentiana. Also, she is often coupled with her sister Praxedes the martyr.
LEGEND
She was a Roman virgin of the early Christian church and a daughter of Saint Pudens. Also, she was a friend of the Apostles and sister of Praxedes. and Praxedes. She was the daughter of the Roman senator named in St. Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy. She gave away her wealth to the poor. Also, she aided the burials of Christians.
Together with Pope Pius I. she built a baptistry in the church inside their father’s house. Also, she started to baptize pagans. Pudentiana died at the age of 16, a martyr. She was buried next to her father Pudens in the Priscilla catacombs on the via Salaria.
There is evidence for the life of Pudens. Unfortunately, there is no direct evidence for either Pudentiana or Praxedes.
Saint Pudentiana from the church of Santa Pudenziana in Narni, Italy.
VENERATION
A basilica in Rome is called Santa Pudenziana and Pudentiana. It had a commemoration in the General Roman Calendar on 19 May until its 1969 revision.
The Spanish Conquistador Miguel López de Legazpid declared her patron saint of what is now the Philippines.
HOMONYMOUS TOWN IN NUMIDIA
The name Pudentiana is also the name of an unrelated ancient town and episcopal see in the Roman province of Numidia.
Tradition of oils
The tradition of anointing with sacred oil is very old indeed. It is used in sacraments and also as a devotional practice. The sick person applies the oil and blesses themselves. As they do so, they are asked to pray to whomever the oil is dedicated to. The Irish blessings oils do not have miraculous power. It is God who has the power to heal. Applying the oil while praying is an important way for us to express our faith in God’s power. Moreover, by doing so we place our trust in God.
