I promised the rest of the story about St. Bibiana, so here it is.

Bibiana, also known as Vivian, was a child of the early Christian church, living around the time of Julian the Apostate in the year 363. Her parents, Flavian and Dafrosa, were also martyrs in the same persecution. Their execution left Bibiana and her sister Demetria orphans and at the cruel hands of Apronianus, the Governor of Rome.

Even though they were stripped of all their material possessions, they were able to stay in their home and spent their time fasting and praying. Their constancy of faith in Christ, despite these hardships, infuriated the Governor. He ordered the sisters to appear before him. Demetria professed her faith and then fell dead at his feet.

Unfortunately for Bibiana, she was still alive. She was turned over to the “care” of Rufina, a woman known for her wickedness. She tried to turn Bibiana to prostitution but met with failure. Bibiana remained true to God.

This faithfulness caused Apronianus to order Bibiana to be tied to a post and beaten with scourges that were enhanced with lead to make them cause more damage to her body. It is said that she died with joy – faithful to Christ until her death. Her feast day is December 2.

When I was a young child, we did not have a lot of money for extras, but we had a lot of books. My parents joined just about every book club that was offered. One of those clubs was a Catholic Book of the Month. Every month for years, we received a new book about the life of a saint. As the oldest child, I had first dibs.

I loved reading about the challenges faced by these valiant people because they loved Christ. I often thought that I would be able to take the same actions as they did, if I was in their shoes. Those were the thoughts of an idealist child. Age and maturity have cast their actions in a very different light.

But shouldn’t we be able to take the very same brave stands as these saints of old took? Shouldn’t we be willing to give our all, in defense of the Christ who gave His all for us, for our redemption?

It is much easier for me to write about these actions than it is for me to take them. I want to think that I will be able to stand my ground when put to the test, but a part of me hopes that the test won’t come. I am so human.

And I am still loved unconditionally by God who knows how human I am. Who knows how human you are and still loves you unconditionally.

Terri