FAUSTINUS and Jovita were brothers, nobly born. Faustinus, the elder, was a priest; Jovita was in deacon's orders. During a time of persecution under Hadrian, the bishop of Brescia lay concealed, and the brothers strengthened and encouraged the fainting flock. The Acts of their Martyrdom are of such doubtful authority that it is unsafe to affirm concerning them more than that their zeal provoked the fury of the heathen against them, and procured them a glorious death for their faith, at Brescia. Their constancy, under the torments of boiling lead and red-hot iron, was the means of converting one Calocerus, who afterwards also suffered for the faith.
These saints are venerated as the chief patrons of Brescia, where their relics are preserved in the church dedicated under their invocation.
S. EUSEBIUS, H.
(AFTER A.D. 400.)
[Greek Menæa. Life from the Philotheus of Theodoret, c. 18.]
Was a hermit at Aschia, in Syria. Theodoret visited him, and was admitted into his cell. There is nothing remarkable related concerning him.
S. GEORGIA, V.
(DATE UNCERTAIN, BUT PROBABLY IN THE 5TH CENT.)
[Gallican Martyrology. Authority:—S. Gregory of Tours, De Gloria Confess., c. 34.]
This pious virgin was a native of Clermont, in Auvergne, where she served God like Anna, constantly attending in the temple. Very little is known of her life, which flowed on in calm simplicity, and would hardly have required a more particular notice than the insertion of her name, were it not for one graceful incident narrated by S. Gregory of Tours, to the effect that as her body was being carried to the cathedral for sepulture, a great company of doves or pigeons fluttered above the mourning train, and settled on the roof of the minster, whilst the last rites were being performed; and this the pious and simple people regarded as a token of divine favour.