ON SAINT LUMINOSA
VIRGIN OF PAVIA IN ITALY.
AFTER THE YEAR 476.
CommentaryLuminosa, Virgin of Pavia in Italy (S.)
G. H.
Saint Ennodius Bishop of Pavia, in the Life of S. Epiphanius likewise Bishop of Pavia, his Master, which we illustrated on the XXI day of May, makes excellent mention of S. Luminosa, and first at number 26, where he has these things: There was to him, Epiphanius, a sister younger by birth, not unequal in religion, by name Honorata, whose life through each kind of virtues it is long to relate… whom however, to be imbued with celestial disciplines, as though holy nature did not suffice for her, the sanctity of Luminosa he committed to a certain Luminosa, a woman of stupendous sanctity and singular example: whose summits of birth perhaps it would be necessary to recount, had not her life been more notable than her religion. For this was such, of which he believed himself also to have what he might learn: to whom he committed the sister of the womb to be instructed. For in a short time with her the deposited pledge of the Bishop flourished, and brought the laden young plants to the maturity of good fruit. Again at number 34, when Ennodius described the plundering and overthrow of Ticinum, made by Odoacer the King, he indicates these things: His holy sister is also plundered, and apart from him is led off by the lot of captivity. All the families of the nobles are separated from their own. captivity, Luminosa, a most glorious woman, is constrained by the like condition of necessity. O grief! Both churches are burned up by hostile flames: the whole city flashes as one funeral pyre. Then at number 35 he adds: He rescued his venerable sister before the deadly light should glide into the evening of that day: he absolved also very many of the citizens by his prayer, before they should feel the bonds of a most hard condition; liberation mothers of families especially, whom in this necessity a more savage sojourn could await. Thus there, and among these we judge Luminosa, so beloved by him, to have been liberated.
[2] S. Honorata is worshipped on the XI day of January. sacred cult But that the festivity of S. Luminosa is kept on this IX day of May at Pavia, among the Canons Regular in the church of S. Epiphanius, Ferrarius hands down in the Catalogue of the Saints of Italy; and he asserts, that her body is piously preserved there, which he again repeats in the general Catalogue of Saints, and everywhere establishes her to have been the sister of S. Epiphanius, and of S. Honorata: which to us from the words of Ennodius accurately cited seems not only doubtful, but almost certainly false; granted that SS. Honorata and Luminosa, as sisters, were joined by the bond of intimate charity. The city of Pavia was taken by Odoacer in the year 476. But how long after S. Luminosa lived, is not clear.