Saint Pudens

1st century Christian saint and martyr
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Pudens was an early Christian saint and martyr.

He is mentioned as a layman of the Roman Church in 2 Timothy 4:21.[1]

He is said to have been the son of Quintus Cornelius Pudens, a Roman senator, and his wife Priscilla. According to tradition, they were among the first converted by Peter in Rome.[2]

Pudens was baptised by Peter, who was a guest in his parents' house in Rome. Pudens was martyred under Nero (reigned 54–68). He is commemorated on April 14 in the Eastern Orthodox Church calendar and May 19 according to the Dominican Martyrology.

He is said to have[citation needed] had two sons, Novatus and Timotheus, and two daughters, Praxedes and Pudentiana, all saints, but if Pudens' life is documented, those of his daughters are derived only by the existence of two ancient churches, Santa Prassede and Santa Pudenziana in Rome.

The acts of the synod of Pope Symmachus (499) show the existence of a titulus Pudentis, a church with the authority to administer sacraments, which was also known as ecclesia Pudentiana.[3]

Notes

  1. ^ "Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus sends greetings to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brethren." (Revised Standard Version)
  2. ^ Chandlery, Peter Joseph. Pilgrim Walks in Rome: A Guide to the Holy Places in the City and Its Vicinity, America Press, 1908, p.104Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. ^ "Praxedes and Pudentia". Catholic Encyclopedia. Retrieved 26 October 2010.

References

  • Martial, Epigrams, ed. & trans. D. R. Shackleton Bailey, Harvard University Press, 1993
  • George Edmundson (1913), The Church in Rome in the First Century, Note C: The Pudens Legend
  • William Smith (1884), Smith's Bible Dictionary

External links

  • April Synaxarion
  • St. Pudens at Catholic Online
  • Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "St. Novatus" . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
  • Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Praexedes and Pudentia" . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
  • Dominican Martyrology for May
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