Faith and Fortitude – Saint Susanna died a martyr in the third century, after refusing to marry the son of a pagan emperor.
What can we learn from her? Her love of Christ is an example of how we should live our life. She chose a life of serving others in His name, and teaching them the simple truth about God – His love, mercy, and compassion. Legend tells us she converted many of her relatives and acquaintances to Christianity. This infuriated the royal who was humiliated by young Susanna.
It is written that she was beheaded for her refusal of marriage to the emperor’s son and her Christian evangelization. She was murdered in her own home, along with her loving father, who was also beheaded for supporting her and not his daughter into marriage.
Today a basilica is named in her honor – the St. Susanna ad duas domos in Rome. The beautiful church sits on the grounds of where historians believe the house she lived in once stood.
