Saints Justa and Rufina

Now, it happened that on a feast day of the go ddess Vénus Pagan goddess whose idol was broken by the saints. Venus, some women of Seville, superstitious and idolatrous, wished to make a solemn sacrifice to her idol. As they needed earthenware vessels for this sacrifice, they went to Justa and Rufina, whose trade it was, and chose the vessels that suited them. The two virgins asked them what use they intended to make of them. These women, believing that they were pagans like themselves, replied freely that it was to make a sacrifice to the goddess Venus; but they were very astonished when they were flatly refused the sale of these vessels. "We are Christians," Justa and Rufina told them, "and we worship only one God; we detest all your idols, and we do not wish to give anything for their worship." These women then became furious; they put down the idol of Venus that they were carrying hidden in their bosoms, and throwing themselves upon the vessels that filled the house of these poor Christians, they smashed them to pieces.

Justa and Rufina, however, wept, not for the loss they were suffering, but for the outrage that these women were committing against Our Lord by preferring an infamous goddess to Him; thus, having managed, in the disorder, to seize the idol, they broke it with holy indignation and threw the pieces into the street.

The pagans immediately gathered to avenge the insult offered to their goddess; they forced the doors of the house, seized the two virgins, chained them, and led them to the judge of the city named Dioge nianus. T Diogénien Judge or president of the city of Seville who condemned the saints. he latter, after questioning them and seeing their constancy in the faith, ordered them to be put to the question. He had them stretched on the rack and torn with iron claws; then, unable to overcome their courage, he had them dragged to prison and thrown into a dungeon.

Some time later, the cruel tyrant had them appear before his tribunal, and thinking that their hearts had been changed by the sufferings, he spoke to them gently, seeking to win them over with his promises; but the two holy martyrs remained deaf to his flatteries. He then ordered that they be dragged, barefoot, through the midst of briars, thorns, and rocks, and then, when their bodies had been torn and half-broken, he commanded that they be locked up again in their foul prison. Saint Justa died there s Sainte Juste Virgin and martyr in Seville, a potter by trade. hortly after, being the first to receive the crown of martyrdom. Her body was thrown into a very deep well, from which the Bishop of Seville had it retrieved, to give it an honorable burial.

The president hoped to get better results fr om Saint Rufi sainte Rufine Virgin and martyr in Seville, sister of Saint Justa. na. He had her brought to him and tried once more to seduce her; but finding her invincible in the faith, he had her head c rushed. Sai Saint Sabin Bishop of Seville who buried the saints. nt Sabinus, moved by pity, gathered her precious remains with those of her companion. As they lived and suffered together, their souls live forever together in the joy of heaven, awaiting the glorious resurrection of their bodies.

Saint Rufina is still invoked by potters in the diocese of Montauban; in the p diocèse de Montauban Place where Saint Rufina is invoked by potters. arish of Montgailla rd, canton o Montgaillard Parish possessing a statue of Saint Rufina. f Lavit, there is a statue of her. In the past, people came there in procession from Auvillars. Her cult has diminished somewhat because the pottery industry has almost disappeared.

Ribadeneira Ribadeneira Hagiographer cited as a source. , and local notes provided by the R ev. Fr. Carl R. P. Carles Priest from Toulouse who provided local notes. es, of Toulouse.