Sts. Rufina and Secunda were two sisters who put God first and suffered martyrdom in AD 257 during Valerian's persecutions. Their names are mentioned in several ancient documents, such as the Jeromian Martyrology and the Marmoreal Calendar of Naples. This attests to the importance of the cult of the two saints, in whose honor a basilica had already been erected in the 4th century, with work begun at the behest of Pope Julius I.
According to tradition, Rufina and Secunda had been betrothed to two young Christians. At the raging of the persecutions commanded by Valerian, the latter abandoned their faith and tried to convince their two fiancées to do the same. But Rufina and Secunda refused to follow their example and fled secretly from Rome. Their flight was soon discovered, and they were overtaken not far from the city and brought before Prefect Junius Donatus. He imprisoned them with the object of making them apostatize, and when he found that they were unmoved either by arguments or threats, he ordered Rufina to be scourged, whereupon Secunda cried out, "Why do you judge my sister to honor and me to dishonor? Be pleased to beat us both together, for we declare that Christ is God."
After they both had been tortured in diverse ways, they were put to death by beheading in the woods called Silva Nigra. The bodies of the two martyrs were abandoned in the woods. The remains of the two sisters were given a proper burial, thanks to the efforts of a Roman woman named Plautilla. In a dream, the sisters appeared to Plautilla, revealing the location of their martyrdom and urging her to embrace faith. Many miracles were attributed to Sts. Rufina and Secunda and the faithful flocked to Silva Nigra to ask for their intercession.
Sts. Rufina and Secunda, pray for us to hold fast to and defend our faith in the face of struggles.
Jonathan Fabian Ginunggil,
Most High Servant,
Jesus, Mary, Joseph Ministry of Love (Blessed and Saints and the Nine Choirs of Angels)
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