Saint Reparata

Saint Reparata is honored in Christian tradition as a young virgin of Caesarea in the Roman Province of Palestine, born in the third century, who gave her life for Christ during the persecution under Emperor Decius. Still in her teens—often remembered as about fifteen—she was arrested for refusing to renounce her faith and endured severe torments. When her persecutors tried to burn her, a sudden rain is said to have quenched the flames. Forced to drink boiling pitch, she remained steadfast, and at last was beheaded. Tradition adds that a dove appeared at her death, a sign of her soul’s passage to heaven. As devotion to her spread through medieval Europe, especially in Italy, she became closely associated with cities that claimed her protection. She is patroness of Nice and is honored in places such as Aquila d’Arroscia, Atri, Casoli, Narbolia, and Terra del Sole, and as co-patroness of Florence, where her intercession was long cherished. Her feast day is October 8.