ON S. IRENE, OR HERENA, WIDOW OF S. CASTULUS THE MARTYR, AT ROME.
ABOUT THE YEAR 300.
CommentaryIrene or Herena, widow at Rome (S.)
In the Acts of S. Sebastian, above on 20 January, chapter 22, mention is made of S. Castulus, the Zetarius of the palace of Diocletian, and host of the Saints, who was crowned with martyrdom on 26 March: and in chapter 23, Irene, or Herena, S. Irene tends S. Sebastian. or, as others write, Aerena or Syrena (perhaps Serena), his wife, a religious woman; who, when S. Sebastian had been pierced with arrows and left as though dead, went at night to bury his body, but finding him alive, took him to her house and carefully tended him, so that within a few days he recovered full health. Her name today has been entered by the manuscript Florarium in the register of the Saints, with these words: "Also of Syrena, widow of Castulus the Martyr." Whether she too underwent martyrdom, or died a peaceful death (either amid the storms of the persecutions or after peace was restored to the Church), we have read nowhere.