Simplicius, Faustinus and Beatrix

Who they were

The brothers Simplicius and Faustinus were martyred at Rome in Diocletian's persecution around 302-303, beaten and beheaded, and their bodies thrown into the Tiber. Their sister Beatrix drew them out and buried them, then lived seven months with a devout woman, Lucina, helping persecuted Christians day and night.

Denounced by a neighbour who coveted her land, she told the judge she would never sacrifice to demons because she was a Christian, and was strangled in prison. Lucina buried her beside her brothers on the road to Porto.

The miracles

There was never a formal cause: they have been honoured as martyrs since the early centuries.

Why that counted as sanctity

A sister buried her martyred brothers, served the persecuted and then shared their death for Christ.