St. Bibiana

Bibiana is remembered as a Roman virgin and martyr. Butler places her story among the trials of Christians in the time of Julian and records the traditional account of her parents, Flavian and Dafrosa, and her sister Demetria. After the loss of their parents, the sisters endured poverty while continuing in prayer.

The account describes repeated attempts to make Bibiana abandon her faith and chastity. Neither threats nor the pressure of the woman to whose custody she was entrusted obtained her consent. She was finally condemned to be scourged to death. A priest named John is said to have recovered her body for burial.

Her remembrance continued at the Roman church bearing her name. Butler describes its building and later restoration, including the work undertaken under Urban VIII. The detailed family narrative belongs to the traditional acts that Butler follows; this condensed reading distinguishes that narrative from the continuing public veneration of the martyr.