Secundus of Asti

Saint Secundus of Asti was born in Asti in northern Italy, likely into a noble patrician family. Living in the early second century, he served as a junior officer in the imperial army, yet his heart was drawn to the suffering and the imprisoned. Tradition remembers him visiting the jails of Asti and befriending Sapricius, the city’s prefect. On a journey to Tortona, Secundus encountered Bishop Marcian, whose courageous witness helped awaken Secundus to the truth of Christ. Further strengthened by the example of other holy confessors, Secundus embraced the Christian faith with a steadfastness that would soon be tested. When pressure came to renounce his new allegiance to Jesus, even from his influential friend, Secundus would not deny the Lord. For this he endured torture and, under the emperor Hadrian, was beheaded at Asti around the year 119. Honored from ancient times, with a church dedicated to him by the ninth century, he is venerated as a martyr and patron of Asti, Baldichieri d’Asti, and Cortazzone. His feast day is March 30.