Santa Bibiana, the saint who predicts the weather

Today we want to tell you the story of Santa Bibiana, the saint who was credited with the ability to predict the weather and whose memory is linked to a proverb that our grandparents often love to repeat and which reads "If it rains in Santa Bibiana it will rain for 40 days and a week". Her life is full of difficulties and pain.

The martyr born in 347 AD. she was the daughter of a Roman knight and a noblewoman. Her parents were Christians and Bibiana was a victim of the persecutions against Christians promulgated by Julian the Apostate. The terrible emperor raged against the young girl's family: first of all by depriving the father of his role as prefect, exiling him to Acquapendente e martyring him. Then it was the mother and sister's turn. There mother was beheaded while her sister, a few days later, he died in cell of starvation. The only one to be spared was the young Bibiana.

The martyrdom of Saint Bibiana

Despite her imprisonment and her young age, Bibiana's faith remained strong. As Apronian changed strategy. He had the young Christian woman supported by a procuress name Rufina who, to try to divert her, proposed a comfortable life made up of worldly comforts and pleasures. But the saint once again demonstrated her virtues, once again professing her faithfulness to God. Blinded by anger at the woman's strong and unshakable character, Apronian made her tie to a column and flagellate with leaded rods. Thus began an agony that according to tradition lasted four days. He died on 2th December of 362 only 15 years.

Santa Bibiana was buried in the cemetery of San Lorenzo in Rome, where he remained until 1624, when his body was moved to Church of Santa Bibiana, which was built specifically to honor her. It is said that her body exudes a sweet scent which is considered a sign of her holiness. For what reason she was associated with the weather or rather to rain, it is not known.