Devota

Saint Devota was born around 283 in Mariana, in northeastern Corsica. As a young virgin, she chose to devote her life wholly to God, living in the household of the senator Eutychius. During the fierce persecutions under the emperors Diocletian and Maximian, the prefect Barbarus came to Corsica seeking Christians to force them to sacrifice to the imperial cult. When Eutychius refused to surrender her, he was poisoned, and Devota was imprisoned, tortured, and finally martyred at Mariana, tradition saying she was racked or stoned to death. To prevent the faithful from honoring her, authorities ordered her body burned, but Christians rescued it and placed it on a boat for a Christian burial. Caught in a storm, the vessel was guided—according to legend—by a dove to the shore of present-day Monaco, where devotion to her quickly took root. Venerated as a virgin and martyr, she is honored as patroness of Corsica and the Principality and Commune of Monaco. Her feast day is January 27.